THE TAIERI PASTING GIRL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1273, 23 July 1886, Page 3

THE TAIERI PASTING GIRL.

Recently Mr G. F. Mayhew, one of the reporters connected with the ‘ Daily News,’ waited upon Miss Wilhelmina Ross (tho Taieri fasting girl), and had a long conversation with her. The reporter informed Miss Ross that a number of inquiries had been made respecting her alleged wonderful recovery, and that if she had no objections ho would put a few questions to her beariug upon the case. Miss Ross was somewhat averse at first to having the conversation reported, but after bring informed of the interest taken in her welfare by the public, she consented. Miss Ross is staying at a friend’s house in Dunedin, and when interviewed was busily engaged with some needlework, thus showing that she had the full use of her hands and arms. The young lady is in very good health and spirits. Her mother is also in town.

The Taieri fasting girl is now 35 years of age, and looks much younger than she did some two years ago, when our reporter last saw her at the Taieri. The following is the conveisation that took place between Miss Ross and our reporter : Reporter : How long is it since you were first afflicted ?

Miss Ross : About 18 years ago. Rep. : When were you in the trance ? Miss Ross ; About Hi years ago.

Rep.: How long had you been confined to bed before you recovered ? Miss Ross; From His commencement of my illness up to the Cth Jane last Rep. ; To what cause] do you attribute your recovery? Miss Ross ; To God, as my healer. Rep. : How long ago is it since you looked to God as your healer ? Miss Ross ; Three years since ; but I was not able to come to a decision until May last, whan i was visited by Alisa Fulton, of the Taieri, anil Miss Shephaid, of Timaru. Rep.: Are you able to walk about ? Miss Ross: I am able to take a little exercise.

It jp. : When you were laid up was your left arm paralysed, ami oid you suffer from weakness in your left side ? Miss Eoss : Yes ; but I have now the full use of my arm, and have no pain in my side or any other part of my body. (Miss Loss then lifted her left arm, and moved it about freely.) llep. : Have you gained in weight since your recovery ? Miss Ross : I have never been weighed since my illness commenced, Rep. : Your left hand was in a wasted condition when I saw you at the Taied about two years since. Has it gob better ? Miss Eoss : Aly hand developed to the present natural state from the time of my recovery till now, Eep. : Are you able to sleep well! Miss lloss : Yes ; pretty well. Our reporter thanked Alias Eoss and her mother for the interview, and withdrew.

As there is a cert da quite unintentional indetiiiiceuess about these questions and answers which fails to satisfy the critical inquirer, it occurred to us that probably another reporter might get some further and more minute particulars, and accordingly Miss Ross was again waited upon, but she declined- quitu gently, bus declined all the same —to leave generalities. When urged, as far as politeness might urge, to be communicative, aud furnish such proofs as were available touching her bodily weakness up to the time of her recovery, and also the precise circumstances attendant upon the recovery itself, in order to enlist a reasonablu'pubiic conviction on the subject, ber answer (beyond saying that there were several parsons in the room, and that they engaged lu payor) was that sne did not care whether the public believed in the mode of her recovery or not. It was pointed out to her that the querist was not a-king out of idle curiosity, but from a dim and iudis tinct hope in a spiritual philsosphy of human nature, and a recognition of forces diffeieut from those of mere physical laws, which might bo strengthened by further knowI echo, but she invariably fell back upon her not caring whether anyone believed in what she stated or not. Of course MUs Boss is quite entitled to take up that position if she thinks it is the fitting one in the circumstances ; but if she does not care for the public estimate, the public will pass on, and there is no more to be said. It came out incidentally, in the course of conversation, that there is a class of literature on this subject of faith healing of which the general public have no knowledge. It was a book given to Miss Russ by the Rev. Mr Gillies, of Timarii, which first turned her mind to the subject, and she added there were numerouibooks and pamphlets now published on tHE same theme. V/o are sorry to be able to add so little that is definite or useful to this story of healing, but onr effort was made lu good faith, and must be taken for what it is worth.