NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3647, 7 December 1920, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

THE MIRACLE MAN.

WANGANUI, Dec. 6.

There was great excitement at Ratana Maori village to-day when a large number of Maoris, some oi whom bore the imprint of sickness and disease, arrived by the Main Trunk train. Most of these affected visitors came from tHe Bay of Plenty. They are all sanguine of being cured by the Maori miracle man. About two hundred Maoris have been a't Parana within the past couple of weeks. The feeding of this number is a big task, but Tahu Ratana says: “I feed ’em all right. I catch plenty of fish on the coast sometimes, and I grow plenty of spuds; we never short of tucker.” The only thing that is worrying Tahu is the probable shortage of water. He is making provisions for summer requirements by building a large accumulator, capable of storing a few thousands of gallons of rain water, which will flow into it from the buildings in the rainy season. The excavation has been completed, but the work has been held up owing to shortage .of cement. The erection of a new undenominational church will be finished for worship at Christmas time. The Maoris appear to be greatly benefited by their' stay at Ratana, and all convalescent patients attribilte their cures to faith in God.

THE GISBORNE SENSATION. HARRY PRITCHARD DISCHARGED f GISBORNE, Dec. 6. The Supreme Court was opened this morning before Mr Justice Salmond. “No bill’ was returned in the case of Harry Pritchard,’ 'charged with the manslaughter of a man named Alexander Rae Williamson xh a" fight at a foundry.

GOVERNMENT * CARPENTERS RESIGN. WELLINGTON, This Day. Owing to some dissatisfaction over the wages paid to casuals, a number of the Government carpenters have resigned. They allege that casuals are paid more than the regular hands, and further, that wages have not been increased in the same proportion as those of other tradesmen. A THOUGHTLESS ACT. ‘ WELLINGTON, This Day. ■ Officers of the Agricultural Department are concerned about the action of a fruit grower in the Nelson district, who asked someone in the North Island to send him a specimen of wood affected with fire blight, in order that ha could sea what it was like and guard against its introduction. The wood was sent unprotected by' chemicals. Agricultural Department considers this Is a good way to spread the disease. Application should have been made throligh the proper channels, and the Department desires it to be known that prosecutions will follow if persons ignore the regulations as to the spread of this disease.

THE LE BRUN CASE. AUCKLAND, This Day. The vaudeville artist. Louis Le Brim, charged wiith having assaulted Alice Emery on 24th November so as to cause actual bodily harm, was committed for trial at the Supreme Court, hail being allowed. ALLEGED BRIBERY. PALMERSTON N., This Day. Thomas Martin, labourer, on a charge of having attempted to bribe a' juryman, and .on three similar charges, in connection with the Easton case, was committed to the Supreme Court for trial.