SIGHT RESTORED

Hokitika Guardian, 15 June 1929, Page 3

SIGHT RESTORED

MAORI’S JOYFUL EXPERIENCE AUCKLAND, June 13. Kekua te W lino, residing in the vic,nitv of Lake Waiiiarcmoana, Northern Wairoa. whose sight had long i/cen very indideiMit,. went Mine some yeais ago, and he has been an object of pity amongst Jiis people at that pa. thanks to niouerr European research and surgery, he is "now able lo see. When tiie heavy bandages were removed from his eyes at the Auckland Hospital a few days ago, Keltua, who is a Pout fifty years of age, knew once more the realities of the world about him, for he was lilted from the realm ot blank darkness. It took a deal of persuasion to induce this man to allow himself to he brought to a big stiango city and permit a specialist to remove the cataracts which had grown across his eyes and had caused blindness, hut the jvisclom of good Native friends prevailed, the venture was an ordeal to a Native who was almost a recluse and was quite unfamiliar with the English language, now generally in flueiu use amongst his race. Kekua’s joy when he could see the'doctor and his surroundings was in the nature of a shock, mingled with unspeakable gratitude. In the next bed at the hospital lie identified another Maori man. llis supreme pleasure, however, was to behold the face and form of a “kotirp,” no other than one of those ministering angels, a Maori maid, who happened io lie a nurse.

Sweeping away the prejudice and |Y,|lv that adheres from pint rec gnijp, u ‘•tohunpai'in." I ekua te Wliao, when he returns to his pr-vdo. will he a living tribute to the skill o! the European medical profession.