RUA’S PROPHESY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3640, 19 May 1927, Page 3

RUA’S PROPHESY.

Rua, the Maori celebrity of the Urewera Country, predicts that the second coming to earth of Christ will take place in August (states the “New Zealand Herald”). In anticipation of the event he has gathered his following, a much smaller following than of yore, at Mauugapohatu, the most remote village of the Urewera, and until recently had ruled that no one should he absent for more than one night. More extended “leave” is now granted. He has put his “house” in order to some extent by having the wharcs repaired and roofed with iron, the idea about the iron being that when Christ returns the stars will fall and that buildings with only shingle roofs will be burned. There is practically no stock on his clearing of 5000 to 0000 acres because, as he explained to a “Herald” representative who visited him a few days ago, if the interests of the people are centred upon cattle and sheep and money-making, their hearts cannot be ready to receive the Master. Owing to the shortage of stock for meat supply, the failure of the potato crop and the fact that few of the men are leaving their homes to earn money “outside,” the settlement is likely to experience a rather hungry winter. In appearance Rua is not the Rua of ten years ago. No longer does he wear long hair and, as far as the outer world knows, has ceased making his more extravagant claims as to Divine origin.