The Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1907. TOHUNGAISM.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3777, 7 November 1907, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1907. TOHUNGAISM.

Ol t k Palmerston morning contemporarj' refers to the recent happenings at Moutuiti re tohungaism as exaggerated. Onr contemporary knows absolutely nothing of what has been going on there for months past. Otherwise it would not endeavour to treat the matter lightly. However, seeing that our morning contemporary is ignorant of the subject it is, therefore, useless to take notice of its utterances. We have absolute proof that tohungaism has been rife at Moutuiti for some time past, and if a thorough enquiry were made, some startling revelations would be disclosed. Napoleon Heta, who is chief of the Turauga tribe, to which the tohungas "belong, has given these individuals every chance to cease their carryings-on, but the} r have persisted until at last, much against his will, he has been forced to appeal to higher powers. He is determined, no matter what the risk, to stamp tohungaism out. The Maoris, almost without exception, object to post mortem examinations, in fact, Heta informed onr representative that if any attempt were made to cut the body of the child who died recently, he would also raise an objection. It will be seen, also, that incases of death, much is suppressed for fear of a post mortem examination. At the inquest held on the body of the child at Rangitane on Sunday, Heta gave evidence to show that tohungaism is practised among Maoris in the Manawatu. He stated that the deceased child had been under the care of a tohunga, and had been treated by him. _ He also accused the man of practising tohungaism, and the latter, after admitting it, promised that it would not occur again. One of those present at the inquest, who transacts considerable business with the natives, said that measures were adopted by the Government some time ago to prevent tohungas from carrying on their evil practices. Despite this, however, there are still one or two tohungas in the Manawatu district, who have no difficulty in persuading the Maoris that they possess supernatural powers for healing and curing the sick. He was well aware that the fact had been denied, but to his own knowledge it was absolutely true. Since action had been taken by the Government the more enlightened Maoris had respected their wishes ; in fact, the measures adopted were the outcome of a strong representation on their part that tohungaism should be put down, the representation having been made through the Native Minister. The men who practised the arts had been sorted out and made acquainted with the provisions of the law, and most of them had agreed to stop their practices. Since they had agreed not to practise any more, however, several subjects had been under treatment by certain tohungas. The child which recently died was suffering from inflammation of the bowels, which necessitated a qualified doctor’s attendance. The parents being ignorant of this, allowed a tohunga to practice on their child, with the result that death followed. Heta took occasion to inform the the gathering of Maoris belonging to both his tribe and the Rangitane tribe that in future any attempt to practise tohungaism would be put down with no gentle hand, and he himself would take active steps to bring the offenders to book. A resolution was then passed in which it was decided to ask the assistance of the Government in subsidising a doctor for the district to attend to cases of necessity. The Rangitane tribe' is very wroth that the death of the child should have occurred at Rangitane, as they absolutely refuse to countenance anything in the nature of tohungaism. Captain Mowlem, at the conclusion of the inquest, promised that the resolution passed would be sent to the Government. The matter is also being reported on by the police.