THE "PROPHET" RUA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 152, 18 June 1908, Page 4

THE "PROPHET" RUA.

Will' HK HAS SEVEX WIVES. U)l\« UAIR AND NO RAZOR. " Is it true that you have stopped the Maoris sending their children 10 the schools J" Kua was asked by a Ilawke's Bay Herald representative. '" Yes,'' hj« replied, "in some places. 1 have watched the schools for seven years ami have seen no good come from them. 'J'he parents do trot compel their children to go regularly; they go one day and stay away the next, and tho\ do not stay long enough to complete tiiei/ education. Then many live a long way from the schools, and they can exercise no supervision, over the children, i do not prevent the natives sending their children to a school in their own kainga; they can look after them there, anil see that all goes well. Hut in my country the people are like sheep without a shepherd. I am going to ask the (uivcrnnient to let me have a school of my own, and they cannot refuse to give so large a settlement a school. ■' 1 teach liist of all cleanliness. 1 v.ill not allow rubbish and dirt to gather and I have forbidden dugs to be kept about the kainga. I have put an end lo drinking and smoking. And 1 have .slopped tiie li.il.it of bathing in cold ■water and even 'of drinking it. I follow the Bible, and teach it to the people. In our services we have no prayer books, but we sin;; psalms and hymns and have pravcrs. Then l arc three good religions liial of the Father, that of the Soil, and that of the Holy Ghost. Ours is I lie third religion, and the Holy Ghost speaks through me. There were two •lacob's ladders leading to Heaven —one for the white people and the other for the dark-coloured people.'' •' Is it true that you claim to prophesy and work miracles V" • Those are the stories that my enemies have (old about me. As the Bible says, let him that is without sin throw the lirst stone at me. Solomon bids us avoid a falsi 1 witness that speakelh lies and him that sowcth discord among brethren." "How did you begin your mission?" " I was born just over forty years ago at .Mainigapulintu, beyond Waikarenioana. My mother Harai was engaged to be married to a man called Kenana, but before Ihey could lie married li? ••.vent oil' In the war and was killed, ai'.d Hiree month* after I was born. Kenana v.as only lily father as .loseph was. the lather of Christ. My people rejected me, and I was homeless. So j. was brought tn Napier, and I staycll here and at l'akipaki and Waimarai'.ia and Te Ante until 1 was nine yeAirs old. Then I went back, but I waa •again rejected and despised by my (>?oplc, so Hint the llible words were lullUled. But, as the Scripture says, the .Lord called •in-, and I knew what I luyl to do. I I have been carrying on the work for I throe years now.' '" Is it a mark of your :l'aith to allow your hair lo grow long!" -Yes. It is said ill the Bible that Xnzarites were obliged to. let their hair grow and to allow no razor to come upon the head. We beep to that rule, which was also the old custom of the, Maori people. " And have you Bihlionl authority for having more than one wife?" ''Oh, yes. The Bible, speaks of me in the fourth chapter of Isaiah. 'in that day shall seven women take, hold of one man.' I have seven, wives, in fullilment of that word. All my teaching 1 have found in Hie Scripture,." And Rua began to expound a mythology composed oE fragments of Bibiieal. lore combined in strange shapes and i with strange interpretation*. i f '.-~ —■»—"■■■—<——— —**•