RATANA, FAITHHEALER.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 August 1921, Page 4

RATANA, FAITHHEALER.

AIARVELLOUS CURES CLAIMED

: t • WELLINGTON, Aug. 9. katana, the Maori healer, who has been in the South Island on a mission ty, tfiose of his own race for. some weeks past, arrived in Wellington yesterday by the Lyttelton ferry steaniei, and proceeds this .morning to the Wairarapa district. -..His private secretary, Air R T. Moko, who was seen by a “ New Zealand J Times ’ ’■■ representative yes, terglay, Katana, himself being busily engaged in giving audience to the many- Maoris who wished to see him, stated that the healer’s mission had proved a great success throughout tho South Island, Ho- had visited Rapaki, Temuka, Otago, Little River, and Kaiapoi, tho Hon. J. H. Uru accompanying him throughout the tour; and at each place lib stayed at the nn- ! tives had come from far and near to [ tneet him. Wherever lift went he urged the natives to abandon Maorism, I'! oliungaislii, and all belief in false i gods, and to have faith only in one God j God Almighty and His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. The hospitality accorded I him everywhere was warm-hearted and i most gratifying and encouraging. AFTER- FOURTEEN YEARS.

At. Rapaki, one of the oldest natives, Taarc Tiknu, who'had not been out of bis own pail for fourteen years on account of gout and vlicumatism, and who also suffered greatly from insomnia, was treated by Katana and cured, lie afterwards travelled with tho party, to, Tomuka and the people there were very much surprised to see him after so many years. Asked how tho cure was effected, Mr Aloko said that Ratana first spoke briefly on spiritual matters, and then said to Tikau:..*! You go over to your house now and go to bed. You will find’.you will sleep all night. Wo will have to pull you out of bed in thtninorniug/’ This was quite right. Not only did Tikau sloop soundly, but he had to be wakened to catch bis train back to Rapaki. Our representative was shown a report ol an interview between a pressman and Tikau. in which tho latter said: “ 1 have been bad for forty years; ami since niy son went To the war six year s ago 1 nave not slept- good at night. But .1 slept good last night ; and now,” he added, jubilantly, “ I am well.” “ I DIED FOUR TIMES. Another ease mentioned was that ol llami, a native of the Chatham Islands, who was hurt in an accident six years ago, having two of liis ribs broken and bis spine injured. Since then lie had. been operated upon four times. “ I died four times,” said Hnmi, evidently alluding to the administration of an anaesthetic. “Tf I stopped at the Cliathains, I would have been dead all right proper.” On the occasion of the last operation, he was in idle Christchurch hospital for some months, and only came out a few weeks ago, when he beard of Katana’s intended visit. He ‘could not stand upright, his body was always bent forward, and he could only walk on crutches; but a Christchurch “ Press ” reporter, who had known of his previous disability, stated that the day after his treatment by Ratnna, TTami was walking with only a. .slight stoop, while his daughter curried the crutches. “ Ra.tana fold me,” lie said, “ that T must not expect to get better all at once, hut T would now start to got better; and I a much hotter already.” FROAf SCIATICA TO WAR-DANCE. There were not many serious eases in the South Island, stated Air Moko. “ They were mainly minor complaints—skin diseases and such like. But there was one bad ease at Temnka, that of a, woman who was suffering from sciatica. She was brought on a stretcher, but before she entered the big meet-ing-house, slip requested ber bearers to allow her to walk inside. This almost proved too much for her; hut she managed to get there, though suffering terrible agony. She was treated by Retail*. He asked her, “Have you any faith in God Almighty?” She replied that she bad, and that she put her whole trust in our Lord Jesus Christ. Katana, then commanded the diseaso to disappear, allowing her a quarter of an hour afterwards to get. better. But before the time was up, she was up and doing the war-dance. Reporters were present all the time, he added; and local people, who knew her well, and what she had suffered, testified to the cure. They were greatly surprised when they saw her walking about the town.” Mr Moko showed the reporter many treasured newspaper extracts relating to tho above and numerous oilier euros.