RUA THE FANATIC.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 35, 11 February 1916, Page 2

RUA THE FANATIC.

A MAD MAORI AND HIS PEOPLE

Rua, the Maori prophet 'and tohunga extraordinary of the Urewera country, who is '"wanted" by the police to serve nine months in gaol for sellingliquor to Maoris, is quite an interesting character. Somewhere about 1906 Rua founded a new and exclusive religion, and he had a good number of followers. He commenced operations in the Bay of Plenty, round about Whakatane, Taneatua, and Opotiki. . The chief of the tribe at Whakatane, one Hununui, was rather partial to Rua, but the majority of the natives would not have his blarney. He is a pclygamist, which fact probably accounts for the large number of women at the citadel of virtue in the heart of the Urewera country, territory into which no white man dared put his ' nose until a few years ago. Rua's male followers are distinguished from their less believing brothers by their long hair; it is a curious sight to see some fifty of these braves riding along on their Maori "weeds," with their long hair flowing in the breeze. The original intention of this new brand of religion was to create a separate State, or Government, in defiance of European or native law and custom, but here Rua fared badly. On one occasion a sensation was caused at the native settle, ment seme fourteen miles from "Whakatane, by the abduction of a girl, whe, it was thought, would adorn the harem of Rua. After a great deal of trouble the maid was rescued and re- *> stored to her heme, but net before an J ?nned force had frightened a few weeks' growth out of Rua and his

men. One season the crops failed and a descent was made upon the neighbourins; townships by the men of the proohet, whc disposed of their stones, weapons, bird-snares, and other valuable devices to the pakehas at ridiculous prices. The writer bought a beautifully carved pigecn-snare for 1/-, which he sold in Auckland a year 'a'ter for £4. Rua has caused a great cf troub'e to the authorities through his defiance of the laws, especially these pertaining to the use ci! iiciucr, -which he evidently manufac. true? en the premises, since the law pichibitg the sala of intoxicants to nat'ves for consumption off the premises. The present trouble is consequent upon Rua being sentenced to nine months' imprisonment for supplying natives with liquor. The difficulty in the whole thing is the catching of the long-haired tchunga. In the mountainous virgin country where he hokls sway, immeasurable trouble will be encountered by his pursuers, and if the natives round about decide to favour their own, in preference to the pakeha, the arresting forces will strike no end cf trouble. The Urewera country is essentially wild. Ravines, precipitous gullies, mountains, and full native forests wili provide ample shelter for the fanatics. If such a thing as a determined pursuit is necessary to secure this madman, the attackers will experience more trouble over their commissariat than Avill the pursued, the latter having all his native knowledge and devices, besides being accustomed to exist upon the fruits and roots of the bush. The true Maori (net the kind met in the cities) is deeply religious; he thinks more cf religion than he does of work. If, as the message from Whakatane suggests, Rua has secured the co-operation of hundreds of friendly natives, many as fanatical as himself, there will undoubtedly be trouble, as the leader is as defiant, dare-devil, and unscrupulous as the Mexican bandit Villa:

There are few tracks (no roads) and practically no telephone commu/nication in the Urewera country, but cue thing in favour cf the law is the assistance of a number of native police who know the country from end

to end. and who can live en piko piko and pciika just as well a s Rua can.