RATANA’S POWER.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXII, Issue 4299, 3 August 1921, Page 2

RATANA’S POWER.

A WONDERFUL CURE.

A returned soldier undergoing treatment in‘the King George Hospital, Rotorua, writes to a. Taumarunui friend as follow® : “There is a most wonderful example of a Ratana cure here. A Maqri came in here three days ago. He had been at Narrow Neck hospital for two years on crunches, with a crushed hip. He was due to leave here on Saturday for Narrow Neck, but he asked the commandant’s permission to go to Orakei on Saturday to see Ratana, who asked him if he believed there was only one God, and if he Repented his sins, etc. His answers being satisfactory, Ratana said : Tn the name of ;the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, you are cured. Put away your crutches.’ He said a warm feeling like a hot wave went through him. He put away his crutches against the marquee, and then Ratana said ‘Walk,’ and he took his first step, feeling very uncertain of himself, not having been off crutches for two years, but he took another step, and then walked as well as ever he did. It all took place in under five minutes, and two days after 1 saw him running like a hare. ' Isn’t it miraculous ? He has just come s back here to thoroughly regain his strength. The doctors he|”e were very greatly interested.”

sonnel consists of Messrs H. J. Blow (chairman), late Under-Secretary to the Public Works Department, and who was a member of the Thames Harbour Commission, Mr W. S. Shortt, also late Under-Secretary Public Works Department, and Geo. Buchanan, late chairman Thames Valley Dairy Co. The Commission will inquire into and report upon the allocation of the cost of providing the funds required under the Waihou and Ohinemivi Rivers Improvement Act, 1910, and kindred matters.

Thqre was an eleventh hour reshuffling of solicitors in some cases, the previous arrangements being somewhat upset at short notice. Mr E. W. Porritt 1 appeared for the following bodies: Hauraki Plains County Council, Hauiraki Drainage Board, Komata North branch N.Z. Farmers’ Union, Hikutaia brancn N.Z.F.U., Netherton branch N.Z.F.U., settlers on the banks of .the Ohinemuri and Waihou Rivers, Paeroa Chamber of Commerce (incorporated), Tirohia Progressive League, TirphiaRo.tokohu Ratepayers’ Association.

Mr E. J. Clendpn appeared for the Public Works Department, and stated that he was instructed to tak.e a neutral attitude as much as possible. Paeroa Borough Council: Mr J. L. Hanna.

Ohinemuri County Council: Mr J, F, Montague.

Piako-County Council and Te Aroha Borough! Mir I’. Gilchrist. Waihi Borough: Mr A. H. Johnstone.

Waihi Companies : Mr H. P. Richmond.

Mr H. M. Jackson appears in support of both the Waihi Borough and the Companies’ counsel. Mr H. Poland, M.P. for Ohinemuri, Mir A. R. Robinson, chairman of the Ohinemuri County Council,, and Mr H. M. Wynyard, of Auckland, were present.

The chairman said it was suggested that the Commission should visit the Waikino and Waihi batteries in order to see the condition of the silt before i.t was precipitated into the river ; also, that a launch trip up the Fiver and motor run back should bo mad,e, for purposes of inspection of the river and liparian lands.

It was decided to start the visit of inspection by car, going tc see the batteries Tuesday, the Ohinemuri River up to Te Alpha on Wednesday, and '.the lower part of the river, from Netherton downwards and Ke|repeehi district on Thursday. On Friday morning the inspection of Mackaytown and Karangahake portions of the Ohinemuri River would be completed, and the Commission would resume its sittings at 2 p.m. on that day.

• It was stated that W Owen Campbell, of the Auckland office of 'the Land Drainage Department, was rt present at Kerepeehl, and he and the new resident engineer (Mr ETaylor) would doubtless assist the Commission.

Mr Johnstone, outlining the Waihi Borough Council’s case, said the allocation of £5OOO was quite inequitable at the present time ; also that while ■the works originally contemplated were to remedy damage said ,to be done by the river, the works actually done had, by draining and stop-bank-ing, made lands into profitable dairy farms. Also, the money already contributed by the mining companies was more than sufficient to pay for the rectification of any damage done by siltation from the batteries. The farming land which benefited by the work -should pay for it. Lastly, although an allocation of £1666 had to be paid by persons liable under the Act, these persons had not paid one penny within the last ten years. The Chairman : But you have not paid more than what you were liable for ?

Mr Johnstone : No, but the mining interests might have had an extra burden put on us all the same. We don’t know.

Mr Richmond said the claim for the mines was substantially the same as for the Waihi Borpugh, The works were of no benefit io the mining industry, also the works done were not necessary. The works for which the companies were paying had gone far beyond the extinction and prevention of damage by siltation. The drainage work would have been equally necessary had mining not existed. The Hauraki Plains would stilji have had to be unwatered, mining or no mining.

Continuing, Mr Richmond said .that the 1910 Commission found that slimes were carried without, depositing any residue. Mr Blow: Would that be at all. tides ?

Mr Richmond : Yes, and even ni slack water. He 'thought that :i there was any damage found from the slimes, then it could be attributed to the mines. There was a question before the Commission, and that was the position of the mining industry to-day. The Talisman was in liquidation, while two others had ceased. There were only two mine's of any consequence, and they, he had no hesitation in saying, were carrying on unprofitably, and the fact that some dividends were paid was simply due to other investments, rather than results from the mines themselves. The mining industry could not exist on any substantial basis for more than five or six years, and the commission would have to take into account that a far greater proportion of the money would cease. The time must be looked to when the cost of maintenance, .sinking fund for these works, must be paid by the Government or by the land-owner. Mr Johnstone said he understood an inspection world be made, and he wished to defer his evidence until the locality had been viewed. Mr Blow .then announced that the commission would adjourn until Friday afternoon, to enable the commission o view the localities.

— ftd yesterday, was adlunt of the sitting of

HRRIMVPMBmission, at which all the local solicitors are engaged. A number of minor cases were dealt with' by Messrs P. E. Bjrenan and A. White, J's.P.

Thomas Edmund McMillan, journalist, Paeroa was charged by the Police with having contravened the Arms Act, 1921, by being in possession of a firearm, namely, a double-barrelled shot gun, for a longer period than one month without registering the same. ■*

Constable McClinchy, resident constable of the Paeroa Police Station, said the defendant had secured a form from his predecessor at Paeroa, but had omitted .to (return -the same lo the Police with the necessary particulars. Defendant was a returned soldier, and the fact that he had, as soon as the Arms Act came into force, handed in his souvenir automatic pistol to the Police, was proof that he had no intention of wilfully evading the Act. Defendant pleaded guilty, stating that there was a ■ shortage of ‘he necessary forms at the time. After calling three times he had secured a form, filled it in, but apparently had failed to return the same to the Police.

The Bench said the omission was evidently due to an ovei sight, and was not intentional. —Couvictbd and discharged.

SCHOOL NON-ATTENDANCE.

Action was taken by the Truant Officer, Mr Small, against Wiljdam Williams, for that his three children had been absent from school frequently.

' . George Harry Taylor, headmaster, Paeroa District High School, said one child had attended 98 times out of 104, another 110 out of 184, and yet another 116 put of 184. The excuse had been given .that the children were ill, but' this was contrary- to fact', as they had been seen playing on the iroads on occasions when it was Stated that they were ill. None of the dates of sickness that had occurred were included in the statement of absences.

Mrs Williams, wife of defendant, saffl there had been a lot of sickness, and if they were not at school when not sick they were, unbeknown .to her, playing truant. Defendant was fined 6s on each charge, with costs, totalling. £3 19s.

The Bench expressed regret that such steps were necessary. »

DEFENCE ACT CASE.

Under the Defence Act B. Rae iv.as charged with Laving failed to attend parades. Staff Sergeant-Major Patterson appeared for the Department. The delinquent was fined £3, with costs 7s