The Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 1908. THE “PROPHET” RUA.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 376, 23 April 1908, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 1908. THE “PROPHET” RUA.

Rua the Maori prophet or fanatic, is apparently an interesting personality and has managed to attract a large number of followers. He is thus described by an Auckland pressman : ‘ ‘ Apparently forty years of age, slim built and tall, his long wavy hair worn as in the pictures of Christ and his pleasing features (but slightly marred by the typical flat nose of his race), illuminated with a pair of fascinating eyes, Rua impressed me as a very charming personage and the reverse of the overbearing despot one expected to meet. He effects European clothes and is scrupulously clean. The profusion oi hair completely removes any resemblance to the Maori as he is commonly known ; in fact, the greater number of his followers have rather the appearance of Mexican Indians. Others remind one forcibly of the fuzzy-headed Fijian, while those who allow their hair to fall down in ringlets, after the manner of their leader, have a great likeness to the characters depicted in scriptural illustrations, which is, perhaps, not surprising, considering they take these old Israelites for a pattern. As far as I could learn, only Rua affects a plurality of wives, and during the talk that took place that evening in his commodious dwelling, the heads of the various members of his harem could be seen slyly peeping from behind the many doors that open out on either side of the Hall. I may say in passing that the honour of being the first European to enter the tapued house of the high priest was conferred upon me as a token of appreciation of my abstinence from tobacco. ’ ’ The article concludes, “ I went into Maungapohatu a much prejudiced person and would therefore like to place on record my impressions of this singular man and his work. In the first place, I certainly do not think Rua is the eccentric and dangerous person some writers would have us believe, for he seems, outside his religion, sensible, kindly disposed and amenable to reason. True, he speaks of gold-bearing reefs in the Urewera, for the right to work which he demands staggering royalties, but recent prospecting parties have put those ideas into his head. He also disturbs the native mind by dwelling upon the treaty of Waitangi. Rua also wishes to have a reserve made of some 20,000 acres surrounding his settlement for the entire benefit of his race, but he is reasonable enough to wish to have the remainder,

which he computes as 300,000 (?) acres, cut up for European settle ment. Possibly future events may show that his policy is one for his people and two lor himself, but in this he is no more than human. Though, literally speaking, religion is his strong point, it is also his most vulnerable spot, tor through continually basking in its limelight the pakeha only sees this side of his character. In his plurality of wives, I am sure he is interpreting an Old Testament passage. ‘When I am touched upon this subject' he said, ' I am a poor man compared with Solomon.’ Only those who are intimate with the Maori can fully appreciate the fact. That Rua has, so far as his settlement is concerned, completely eliminated that poverty-making, foolish generosity of the native so conspicuous at reunions and taugis, one who in a remarkably short space of time can induce some of his race to abaudon old traditional customs that we have been endeavouring to eradicate for close on a century, cannot be altogether a fool.”