THE MAORI MIRACLE MAN.

Otaki Mail, Volume XXIII, 31 December 1920, Page 4

THE MAORI MIRACLE MAN.

TAHU WIREMU RATANA. A REMARKABLE CHRISTMAS - ' y ’ GATHERING-. When Taliu tViremu Katana gave up dairying . and wheat growing over twelve months ago to devote his whole time to ministering to the sick people of his race, he had not the remotest idea that ho was to gain such notoriety as he had done. For months past there has been a. long procession of sick and suffering Maoris to Katana, where the “Miracle Man” resides, and . while many have only been able to crawl in with the aid of sticks, crutches, etc., they have gone away walking without assistance and singing cite praises of the man through whom the alleged wonderful works have been performed. During the past week the incomings of healthy as well as invalid Maoris have been phenomenal, over 3UOQ having assembled to spend Christmas Day at Katana, and to participate in the opening of the new undenominational

church which Tahu AViremu Katana lias built of his own accord and mostly with his own money. The assemblage was probably the most interesting and the largest of any Maori gathering held along this coast for many years. Four large marquees, 130 smaller tents, a large meeting-house, and Tahu Katana’s big private dwelling wero all used to accommodate the visitors, practically every native tribe in the North Island being represented. The gathering was remarkable in that there was a complete absence of liquor, and the conduct and general behaviour, of the crowd were considered to be beyond reproach. The feeding of such a multitude was a task of Herculean nature, yet it has been performed in the most liberal manner. Borne of Tahu Katana’s wealthy cousins rendered aid in provisioning the larder. Borne idea of the healthy Christmas appetites enjoyed by jhc majority of the visitors may be gained from the fact that, the daily consumption of food included eight bullocks, twenty sheep, twenty pigs, and 350 large loaves of bread. Fifty tons of potatoes, six tons of sugar, dozens of boxes of butter, fifteen thousand fresh and smoked eels, sacks of mussels and pipis, thirty bags of mutton birds and fourteen hundred tins of biscuits, be-

sides many hundred tins of jam and fruits, several hundred turkeys, ducks, and geese were drawn on to supplement the daily ration. The transport of the Maoris, the live stock and the huge quantities of stores over the railway line will increase the Department's revenue to a very considerable extent. Anticipating a dry period, Tabu arranged for supplies of artesian water, and for four days last week motor lorries were engaged in taking water front Turakina to Katana, where it was stored in a concrete cistern large enough almost for a swimming pool. The encampment has been lighted, by electricity. The opening of the church took' place on Saturday. The ceremony was

most impressive, every denomination, including the Salvation Army and the Mormons, being represented. The religious arrangements were under the control of the Rev. K. Haddon. of the Taranaki and West Coast Methodist Maori missions. The Roman Catholic priest would not hold with Protestant ministers in holding a service. He said that Catholics had not worshipped with Protestants for 1600 years, and in deference to his wishes and those of his people assembled he was allowed to celebrate Mass at the conclusion of

the combined Protestant service. On Christmas afternoon Tabu Katana held a special, service covering a period of four hours. It is claimed that 100 sick and infirm Maoris were cured by faith in God during that time. Among the visitors is a Native woman who was conveyed by motorcar all the way from Gisborne, via Waiioa, Mohaka. and Napier. It is. stated that she was suffering from cancer, was unable to eat, and was in a critical condition when she arrived. Katana stimulated her faith, and to-day she was able to eat a good square meal, and showed great signs of improvement.

A meeting of the Maori Council was held the other day, and it was unanimously decided to support the suggestion cf Tahu Katana and appeal to all the tribee to abandon tohungaism for the true God. Also to ask Parliament to legislate so that the preaching of the doctrines of tohungaism might be a punishable offence.