RATANA AT OTAKI.

Shannon News, 23 August 1921, Page 3

RATANA AT OTAKI.

Friday’s Otaki Mail says: Ratana, the miracle man, with nearly twenty followers, arrived in Otaki by the New Plymouth train on Wednesday afternoon, when , a crowd, practically all Europeans, gathered at the station to see him. Ratana’s identity, however, was kept secret, and not one of his followers would divulge it. After motoring from the station to within a short distance of the raukawa, the party walked, and were greeted in true Maori fashion by the Natives, while several Europeans watched the proceedings from outside the enclosure. Speeches were delivered, after which Ratana treated a number 01 patients. Ratana and his followers left yesterday afternoon for Wellington. - ' 0 During his stay Ratana, who treated some 150 cases, gave a very interesting and earnest address to a large gathering of Natives, when he requested all to have faith in God, drop all evil ways, and thus keep to, the righi path. By so doing they would benefit, and reap the pleasures of life. He implored all to pray to God, and ask for his blessing, without which they could do nothing. The address was listened to most attentively. . Ratana treated a lad who has been in the Otaki hospital with a bad leg for some weeks during which time he was unable to walk. The lad this morning is quite bright, can walk, and appears anxious to put more vigour into his activities. Another case treated was a Native from Porirua, who has been blind for four years. After treatment he admitted he could see objects, and was able to distinguish various articles ..