RUA.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1533, 8 April 1916, Page 4

RUA.

AN OLD-TIME MEETING. PREMIER AND “PROPHET.” Attempts to deal with Rua by conciliatory methods have been made at various times, says the Auckland Herald. One of the principal ot these fruitless efforts was that made by Sir Joseph Ward as Prime Minister, just over eight years ago. It was on March 23, 1908, that Sir Joseph Ward met Rua and bis followers on the Wbakatane Beach for the purpose of a “korero” concerning the claims pul forward by the “prophet” at that time. On the narrow stretch of beach which is washed by the Bay of Plenty in front and buttressed by frowning cliffs, which rise abruptly from behind the township, were grouped Rua and his followers, while a little distance away foregathered the loyal clan led by Kerera. The local Kereras greeted the Prime Minister with ringing cheers and the Ruaites remained sullenly silent. Rua himself was seated on a chair in the centre of the bodyguard he had selected to accompany him. He affected all the kingly dignity of a great sovereign, and steadfastly refrained from displaying the slightest curiosity about the Prime Minister. Grouped behind him were three pretty young wahines, who amicably shared his sovereignty as queen consorts. Rua at this time claimed to be a tohunga, and all the trusting natives who followed his leadership implicitly accepted him at his own valuation. In addition to arrogating to himself the position of witch-doctor in the Maori religion he asserted that he was John the Baptist, sent to prophesy the second coming of the Messiah. This was also profoundly believed by the simple natives who had come under his spell.

The Prime Minister advanced down the beach towards Rua, who was seated on a chair close to the water’s edge. As Sir Joseph Ward approached him the fanatical Maori remained sitting with downcast eyes, but he greeted the Prime Minister with a bow of Chesterfieldian condescension.

The Prime Minister, through the interpreter, greeted the recalcitrant chief with courtesy, and then delivered a speech, in which he thanked Rua for bringing his followers down fropi. the JJrewera

country to meet him. Rua beard him in silence, and afterwards condescended to accompany him apart with the interpreter for a private interview. When Rua came out from the conference he walked down to the beach, and harangued his followers at some length.

Shortly afterwards Sir Joseph Ward addressed both groups o f natives separately. He thanked the Kereras for their loyalty to the constituted Government, and advised them to try and settle their differences with the Ruaites and live happily. Then Sir Joseph addressed the Ruaites. “I told Rua,” he remarked, “that in New Zealand King Edward is King, and is represented here by bis Government. There can be no other Government or king. The Government will do what is right by Rua and the rest of the Maoris as long as they do what is right, but there can’t be two suns shining in the sky at one time.” This conference, as subsequent events showed, was productive of very little result.