MAORI “MIRACLE MAN.”

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2221, 30 December 1920, Page 3

MAORI “MIRACLE MAN.”

RATANA’S. FAME SPREADS. . GREAT NATIVE GATHERING. 1 "Wanganui, Monday. When Tabu Wircmu Ralana gave up dairying and wheat-growing over 12 mouths ago to devote his whole time to the sick people of his race, lie had not the remotest idea lie was to gain notoriety to the.extent he has ( writes the . correspondent of the New Zealand Herald). For nionilis past 1-hcre-lias been a long trail of sick and .suffering Maori humanity leading to Ralana, where the “miracle-man/ resides. Over 3,000 assembled to spend Christmas Day at Ratana, and to participate in the opening of the new undenominational church which Tabu has built of hi.s own accord, and mostly with his own money. The assemblage was probably Die most- interesting and largest of any Maori gatherings liking this coast for years. Four large marquees, 130 smaller tents, n large meeting house, and Tabu Katana’s private dwelling were all used for accommodating the visitors. Practically, every native -tribe in the North Island was represented. Even then hundreds wore obliged to sleep in the open. The largo gathering was unique in that there y.iis a complete absence of liquor and the conduct and general behaviour of the crowd was considered lo he beyond reproach. Of course, the feeding of such a multitude was a heavy task, yet it has been performed in the most liberal measure. Some idea of the healthy Christmas appetites enjoyed by the majority of the visitors may he gauged from the fact that the daily consumption of food included 8 bullocks, 20 sheep, 20 pigs, and 350 large loaves of bread. Other supplies which were used to supplement this food as occasion required included: —t)0 tons of potatoes, (i tens of sugar, dozens of boxes ol butter, 1,500 dried shark, It),000 fresh and smoked eels, sacks ol mussels and pipis, 30 bags of mutton birds, and 1,400 tins of biscuits, besides hundreds upon hundreds o! this of jam and fruifh. Several hundred turkeys, ducks, and geese were also drawn on. It is needless to observe that the transport of the Maoris, the live stock, and the huge quantities of stores over the railway line will increase railway revenue lo a. very .suhsl initial extent.

Anticipating a dry period, Tabu arranged supplies of artesian water, and for four days last week motorjerries were ‘engaged in tanking artesian water from Turakina to Palana,- about 20,000 gallons having been transported to the feasting rendezvous, where it is stored in a huge concrete cistern large enough almost for a swimming pool. Tin; encampment has been efficiently jighted by electricity, A large j >iant. has been installed for steaming potatoes. Thus it will he seen [hat the commissariat arrangements were on the most, extensive scale. Ten Maori butchers wen; engaged iu killing uiul preparing Ihe meat for Hie evens. The hygienic side was iml neglected. All rubbish and food from the dining tables was cleaned up after each meal and burned. The opening of the church took place on Saturday, and was most impressive. Every religious denomination was represented. 1 lie religious arrangements wore, under' the control of the Rev. R. lladdoii, or the Taranaki and West Coast Methodist Maori Mission. The Roman Catholic priest- celebrated Mass at the conclusion of the combined Pro tesfhnt service.

On Christmas afternoon laliu Katana held a special service, covering a period of tour hours. He claimed that .100 sick and intirm .Maoris were cured by taith in Cod daring that time.

A, meeting, of the Maori Council was -held to-day,‘ and unanimously decided to support the suggestion of Tabu Katana and appeal to all the tEhes to abandon loliungaism for ife true Cod, and to ask Parliament to legislate so that the preaching of the doctrine of tohungaism might be a punishable offence. The meeting breaks up to-morrow,

and the troubles of the railway officials will commence. Mow they are going to'convey the Maoris over the Northern and Southern lines in one day is a task (he transport olli(ials never anticipated. They say they cannot provide anything like the adequate rolling stock required. The Maoris planned for 2,000 leaving To-morrow, and .1,500 the next day, hut it is extremely doubtful if these arrangements can he carried t.ul.

The religious fervour of a good many of lift younger men was obershadowed by the racing spirit, as quite a large number left for the Manawatu raee%^

WELLINGTON VISITOR’S IMPRESSIONS. . A well-known Wellington business man, who has been spending his Christmas vacation in Wanganui, motored out to Ratana, the tent village between Wangaebu and lurakiua, to see Ratana, the “Miracle Man,” at work among his patients. He went out in a spirit of idle curiosity—he" returned fully convinced of the marvellous powers of the hiith healer, “He is a wonderful man,” said the visitor, in describing his experiences to a .Wanganui Chronicle representative. “Seeing is believing, and in this ease the evidence of my eyes is enough for me. I personally saw and interrogated tive people who were stone blind and who now enjoy the blessing of sight.” He learned that, during the holiday season Ratana has treated 347 cases, of whom 17 were totally

blind, and in every ease —num, woman, or child —a seemingly complete enre Ims been effected. Here is one typical instance, of the bona fines of which I have no reason to doubt* A young ‘girl, .hopelessly crippled, was driven out in a taxi. At the tinidof her arrival Ratana Was conducting service in his- church. They told him,of her arrival, and (if her sorry slate, and he said, “I will come lo her when the service is over.’-’ “But she is in terrible pain/-’ they pleaded. “Go hack to her,” he replied, “and you will see that (he pain has passed away.’ ’ They wen I, and found it so, and later, when Rat ana caine, he said, “Dome, child, walk with me to the church.” Her friends, smiling t hrough their tears, told Ihe hearer (hat his command was in vain, as the poor girl could not move hand or foot, much less walk. But Ratnna only smiled —he has a rare and winsome smile —and turning lo the girl, ho said again, “Come, walk, with me to the church.” And, to Ihe amazement of her friends, the sufferer stepped out of the taxi, walked to the church, and a little later relumed healed and in the full enjoyment of her limbs. The visitor spent some hours at the camp chatting among the assembled Maoris, of whom there u'bre fully 3,250 in residenee in tents, and from all with whom he spoke he gathered testimony lo tlie wonders that are daily being worked by Ratana. -At present the healer is devoting his powers lo the benefit of his poorer brothers and sisters of his own raeQ, hut the visitor learned of two urgent European eases that had been treated during the past, few days. One was the crippled girl above referred to, and another a gentleman from Gisborne, who arrived on crutches, and within two hours went away without them. A chief, in telling the visitor about this case, mentioned that as the joyful patient left the church he quietly deposited a £SO note on a table near the healer, ■hid before the man got out of the building Katana saw the. note and exclaimed, “Friends, someone has k-ft some money. Who is if I” Turning - back, the happy Gisborne man said, “1 have hut left you a small recompense for the great good you have done, me.” “You must take it away,” said Ratana, “for I cannot accept payment. My work is a labour of love, and I am but doing my religions- duly.” in concluding the account of his impressions, the Wellington visitor said that after what he had seen and heard he regarded Ratana as a man whom ii was an honour to meet and a pleasure lo speak to. lie is so quiet, so gentle, so unassuming, yet withal helms an-impressive and commanding personality.