TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 January 1921, Page 1

TELEGRAMS.

BY TELKOItAPH—PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT

MAORI MIRACLE MAN

HIS POWERS WITH THE MAORIS

WANGANUI, Jan 26

Considerable interest was evinced in a meeting of the Wanganui Ministers’ Association to-day, when a, statement was made by the Rev. Wilfred Williams Church of England Missionary amongst the Maoris, who has been investigating the work of the Maori “Miracle Man,” Rat-ana. who is reported to have effected many wonderful cures of sick people. The Rev. Williams said that he bad examined Ratana’s register which contains over eleven hundred signatures of Maoris, who claimed to have been cured of various ills. Recently two thousand natives gathered at Ratana’s Pa. As to actual cures, Williams would not express an opinion ( as be bad not bad an opportunity of thoroughly investigating any particular ease. Ratann was a wealthy man and entertained all visitors free of charge and refused any contributions. He did not claim hypnotic power, but held it. Tohimgaism was renounced, and the Maoris had a simple faith in God. All their diseases would be cured. The Rev Williams said Rntann had an extraordinary power over the natives, and the speaker, after an investigation, was satisfied that his work was genuine. There bad been a wonderful increase of spiritual fervour amongst the natives, who bad come under Ratana’s sway and many of the men bad given up drinking and gambling.

CRUISER CHATHAM ARRIVES AUCKLAND, January

The light cruiser Chatham, the flagship of the New Zealand division arrived from England this morning. Later in the afternoon Commodore Captain Alan G. Hotlinm, C.M.G. in full uniform, came ashore in the Harbour Board launch arid, was formally welcomed by Commander Williams, Nava! Adviser to New Zealand Government representing the naval authority, and Mr Heather, chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board. The party entered waiting motor cars and were driven to the Government House where they were received bv the Governor-General ■and by Mr Massey on behalf of Goveriu nvont. Subsequently Lord Jellieoe went aboard the Chatham being received with the customary salute l .

THE RAILWAY SETTLEMENT

WELLINGTON, Jan. 26.

Ihe General Manager of Railways, interviewed regarding the reported unrest at Auckland arising out of the desire of the loco, men to participate in ' benefits of the recent arrangements made with respect tp the handling of, bad coal, said the Department had qr-' lived at a settlenient with the executive ol the loco men’s Association, and that the settlement applies not only I to Wellington, but to the whole Do-; minion. j

SCHOOLS BULBING CONFERENCE Wellington, .January 20. |

At the conclusion of the Schools' Building Conference, the delegates thanked the Hon. C. J. Parr, Minister of Education and pledged themselves tp take into serious consideration the problem of providing school buildings at a more reasonable cost, and also | the question of whether the erection and maintenance should not be carried out by the Board's Staff. The general feeling of the conference was in favour of the adoption of thp direct system. ; Tin* Minster expressed the belief that the conference would achieve vain- 1 able results. The building of schools nowadays was so unsatisfactory that somthing had to he done. Boards adhering to the contract system had to ti’l'iiii that thefr procedure required reconsideration and revision. j