TOMB FOR RUA

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 35, 25 February 1937, Page 10

TOMB FOR RUA

i— Presa asbOciation. i

Construction Belay Postpones Cereuonies PROPHET'S CAREER

(B, Telearapl

BOTORIJA, Last Night. Heavy rain fell at Matahi to-day but ' ■large numbers of representatives of Maori tribes continue to arrive for the tangi over the body of the prophet Rua .who died last Saturday. The men engaged in the construetion of the con-. orete tomb have found the task a longer job than expected and the actual burial ceremony has not yet taken place. Kua was born at Maungapohatu, in the centre of the TJrewera Country, in 1869. As a young man of fine physique he interested himself in farming pursuits, and in company with Taukarua Tamarau, went to work on the Waipawa aheep station, Gisborne. Later he moved abont the East Coast, occupying - his1 time with sheep shearing until he returned to his own district and worked on the Opourao Estate and also for Mr: P. Keegan'at Taneatua. During this time he studied the Bible, and about 1905 returned to Maunga-' pohatu and set himself up as a prophet. Although not of high caste, his strong' personality and profession of prophecies won for him a large following. About three years later he endeavoured to force the late Tuhoe chief, Kereru, to link up with him. Kereru held out against Eua's threats, and a war between the two factions was averted By the then Prime Minister, the late Sir Joseph Ward, going to Whakatane to enforce law and order. The natives of the district assembled there in- an agitated state, and. the Prime Ministet explained to Eua that New Zealand Was under demoeratic Tule by Enropeans, and that he had to abide by the law of the major ity. "Two Suns Cannot Shine" ■•'Two suns cannot shine in the sky at the one time," was Sir Joseph 's reply to Rua's demand for xecognition as ruler of his people. Although the heat of the conflict had heen somewhat subdued there was an ,undercurrent of unrest in regard to the occupation of the TJrewera lands and 'in' the following year the Governor, Islington, went to Whakatane and was jaecorded a stirring reception at Wai- ' kirikiri (Huatoki), when over 1900 jnatives danced a haka of welcome. With his knowledge of European jmethods Rua started a farming settleIment alt Maungapohatu. ■ He and his jfollowers-grdw' their hair lohg and Rua 'took unto himself twelve -wives. He aCted banker- for his people, - taking lO'-per cenfe of their earnings> '&hd also jbuilt a tfemple and a trading station. [ To supplement . his earnings he commenced to obtain-liquor for -dispbsal to 'the Maoris, and in 1910 ' Gonstables T. ■;J. Cummings and Keepa weat to the TJrewera;armed with-a warrant to arrest Rua and eight of his followers, who were taken -to Whakatane ■ and fined considerable amdunts. ■ • « In the seelusion • of -his mountainous country Rua soon regained his courage and again traded in liquor. In 1915 .Commissioner Cullen condueted a party ,-of 42 police constables to the Prophet 'a istronghold, via Rotorua and Murupara, !to arrest Rua, who subsequently stood' this trial at Auckland and-was seutenced ;to a term of imprdsonment. • - . ■' Since then he had lived in xetirement !as a law-abiding subje.ct. He had been in failng health for ,the .paat.few years. How He Won Three Wives Some of the best stories aboufc Rua •concern* his hold over credulous folllowers, and the story of his walking on iWater is typical. ' Rua told his people Jthat be could "Wal'k on the' fkce of the jBea, " 'and led the faithful d6wn to the ishores of Ohiwa harb'our. Stariding on 'the beach he ' asked: "Do you believe ithat I can w'alk 6n';the water?" When 'ia.ll had answered that they did, Rua isaid; "Well," if yotx believe I can there is no need fbr'me to do it," and tpromptly maTched * thein agaiii to the !tTrewera. : An'other story ;illustrates his alertness ;to s'eize ari. Ppportuhify.- He already jhad :'d Wives, but he decided to marry ithree iriore and three East Coast girls were sent over. However, the'"Mesdames Hua" alfeady in possession lobjected to the addition to their numibers, and' si'nce they we're supported by a large section of the people the girls were held at Galatea until the matter was decided. Rua demanded his brides in vain and finally retired to his templo an sulked there, refusing all food until an opportune rainbow appeared in the sky and arched over the temple. The prophet then called his people together and told them that the rainbow was a sign that he must be given -his brides. His people believed this and the girls were sent to him immediately. One, unfortunately, was not sensible to the honour of being the prophet 's bride ahd ran back to the East Coast- and coul'i. never be enticed t.o return- to the prophet 's vxllage.