Ratana Visits Wairarapa

Hokitika Guardian, 13 August 1921, Page 4

Ratana Visits Wairarapa

A KK.MAKRAISLK (TKK. MASTKKTON. Aug. s. An unofficial visit to the Wairaiapa by Wircniu liatana was terminated this morning, when the faith-healer and hiretinue left for the other coast hy (.lie Wollington-Woodville express. A largo mimlier of Maoris were on the rail wav station to farewell the party, and when the identity of ill's leader hecaine known Knropean travellers and their friends (Illicitly congregated a holt t the carriage in an endeavotti’ to obtain a glimpse of the ’'wonder man.” Katana’s visit to this district was quite unexpected hy the Natives, and very few pakehas knew of the evfnit until this morning. The healer ’arrived at I’apawai on Friday, and proceeded thence to (Ireytown, Yesterday Carterton was visited, and j during the afternoon the party came on I to To Ore Ore pa in motor cars. At | every stopping-place cn route afflicted I .Maoris were granted interviews, and it: i every case, it is reported, received honelit. Owing to the visit being unex]X‘oted. many Natives from outlying districts were nnahle to see the healer: nevertheless Katana was kept busy all j last night curing sufferers. The most outstanding ease treated at I To Ore Ore was that of Kodv Thompson. a well-known Maori, residing at Landsi downe lor over twenty years. Thompson had been the victim of severe rheumatism, and for many years lit' was practically bed-ridden. Me was only able to move about with difficulty with the aid ol crutches. On Sunday evening he was carried into the pa hy loin men ami sealed oil a hooch. Katana went j over to him, and, placing his hand on the suflcrer’s shoulder, told him to vet up. “Now throw away your crutches.” he said. Kill the .Maori was afraid to comply with the request. So Katana took the crutches from him, ami told him to walk. The man was doubled up at first, but a few minutes later lie had regained the use of his limbs. This morning Thompson walked about the pa as though he had never used crutches.

I Katana told his people last night that lie had received -IS,001) letters from ali parts of the world. Some of them were from Indian princes, who offered large sums if flic .faith-healer would go to them. However, his first work was to cure his own people of their ailments; after that lie would treat the white races. Katana has a number of South Island Natives travelling with him. These people have been treated, but in order to ensure that the cure is permanent they are being kept for a time under t.he personal influence of the healer,-who stated last night that the Maori is too much inclined to lose faith after being cured, thereby frequently undoing good work. For this reason Katana keeps the crutches, sticks, etc., previously used by his patients.