THE MAORI MIRACLE MAN

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 79, 28 December 1920, Page 4

THE MAORI MIRACLE MAN

TAHU WIREMU RATANA

A REMARKABLE CHRISTMAS GATHERING

B.v TeleKEaDh.—SDecial ■ CorreßDondent. \ Mai'ton; Docember 27. When Tahu Wiromu Eatana gave up dairying and wheat growing over twelve months ago to devote his whole time to ministering to the sick people of his race, ho had not the remotest idea that ho was to gain such notoriety »as he lmd done. For months past thcre'has teen a long procession of sick and suffering Maoris to Eatana, where the "Miracle Man" resides, and while many havo only been able to crawl in with the aid of sticks, crutches, etc,, they have gone away t walking without assistance and singing the praises of the man through whom tho alleged wonderful works have been performed.

During tho past week the incomings of healthy as woll as invalid Maori# have been phenomenal, over 3000 having assembled to spend Christmas Day at Eatana, and to participate in. th« opening of tho new undenominational church which Tahu Wiremu ' Eatana. has built of his own accord nnd mostly with his own money. The assemblage was probably tho most, interesting and the largest of (any Maori gatherings held along this coast for years. Four large marquees, 130 smallor tents, & large meeting-house, and. Tahu Eatana's big private dwelling were all used to accommodate the visitors, practically every native tribe in tho North Island being represented, Tho gathering was remarkable in that thero was <l complete absence of liquor, and the conduct and general behaviour of the orowd were considered to bo beyond reproach. Tha feeding of such a multitude mas a task of a Herculean nature, vot it has been performed in the most liberal manner. Some of Tahu Eatana s wealthy cousins rendered aid » P ioning tho lartler. Somo idea of. the healthy Christmas appetites enjoyed by tho majority of the visitors may be gained from the fact that the daily consumption of food included eight bullock 6, twenty sheep, twenty pigs, and 350 largeloaves of brund. Fifty tons of potatoes six tons of sugar, dozens of boxes of butler, fifteen thousand fresh and smoked.eels, sacks of mussels and pipis, thirty bags of mutton birds and fourteen hundred tins of biscuits, besides many hundred tins of jam and fruits, several hundrod turkeys, duck 6, and geese were drawn on to supplement the daily ration. The transport of the Maoris, the live 6tock and tho huge quantities of stores over tho railway line will increase tlie Department's revenue to a very substantial estent. Anticipating a dry period, Tahu arranged for supplies of artesian water, and for four days lost- week motor lorries were engaged in taking water from Turakiria to Eatana, where it was stored in a concrete cistern large enough almost for a swimming pool. The encampment has been lighted by electricity. Tho opening of the church, took place on Saturday. The ceremony was most impressive, every denomination, including thp Salvation Army and tho Mormons, being represented: The religious arrangements were under the control of the Rcy. H. Haddon, of the Taranaki and West Coast Methodist Maori misThe Eoman Catholic priest'would not join with Protestant ministers in holding a service. He said that Catholics had not worshipped with Protestants for 1 1600 years, and in deference to his wishes and those of his people assembled he wai allowed to celehrato Mass at the conclusion of the combined Protestant service.

On Chrisimas afternoon Tahu Hatana Held a special service covering a period of four hours. It is claimed that 100 ■f* a . nd " lfirra Maoris were cured bv faith in God during that time. Among the visitors is a Native woman who wns conveyed by motor-car all the way from Gisborne, via Wairoa, Mohaka, and Napier. It is stated that she was suffering from cancer, wag unable to eat, and was in a critical condition when she arrived. Katana stimulated her faith, and to-day . she wns able to eat a good square moal, and showed great signs of improvement. A meeting of the Maori Council was held to-day, and it was unanimously decided to support the suggestion of Tahu Hatana and appeal to all tho tribes to abandon tohungaism for the true God. Also to ask Parliament to legislate 60 that the preaching of the doctrines of tohungaism might be a punishable offence.

The 'big meeting breaks up to-morrow, and the troubles of the railway officials will then commence. To lift 2000 Maoris ;ind convey them over the northerly and northern lines in one' day is a task "that tlio transport officials never anticipated. They.say that they cannot provide anything like tlio amount of rolling stock required. The Maoris planned for 2000 leaving to-morrow and 1500 tho next day, but it is extremely doubtful if the arrangements can be carried out.

The religious forvour of a goad many of tho younger men was overshadowed by the racing spirit, as quite a larße number left for the Manawatu races this mormntf.