WONDERFUL RATANA.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 December 1921, Page 5

WONDERFUL RATANA.

“BONFIRE FROM CRUTCHES.” THOUSANDS OF NATIVES TN CAMP AT WANGANUI MANY CURES REPORTED. Wanganui, Dec. 27. One of the largest gatherings of natives , that has ever been held in the Wanganui district is at present congregated at Ratana. For the past week natives have been arriving daily, ■ and at the present time there are over 5000 under canvas, with further contingents to arrive. The gathering is essentially a native one; no Europeans being allowed into the camp, except they can produce the necessary passport. It will be remembered that last Christaias a similar gathering was held, when there were many wonderful cures, and during the year still more wonderful cures have been effected. It was the wish of both Ratana and the natives in various parts of New Zealand that this Christmas re-union should be made an annual affair, and invitations were sent out to both islands. Prior to the visitors arriving, a very large number of tents and marquees, over 100 altogether, were erected, in addition to a large number of halls and meetingplaces, so that at Ratana there is plenty of accommodation for the crowd present. THE WORK OF RATANA. The object of the festival, which is of a religious character, is to review the work of Ratana during the year and in assisting all Christian teachers to win the people’s faith from superstitions to the true God. One of tana’s ambitions is to destroy the tohungaism prevalent among the native people, and he issued a challenge to Maori tohungas throughout the Dominion to come to the gathering and show proofs of the efficacy of their mission. His challenge was really one of defiance to tohungas to show any results from their system of witchcraft, whereas he would show abundant proof of what God had done for those who had reposed' complete faith in Him. It is needless to say that no tohungas have dared to face the music. The religious part of the gathering is under the direction of the Rev. T. Haddon, district superintendent of the Methodist Mission, whilst the Rev. A. J. Seamer, general superintendent of the Methodist Maori Mission for the Dominion, is also present, and is taking part in the services, together with the Rev. Mr. Williams, of the Anglican Church, and others. LIKE A MILITARY CAMP. Elaborate arrangements have been made to supply the wants of the inner man, and the cooks nan be numbered in scores. The arrangements go with clockwork precision, the control of the camp being under the management of a committee, there being various responsible heads on lines similar to a military camp. There is abundance of food, and everything is produced under the most hygienic, conditions. Instead of the slaughtering being done on the holding, as was the case last year, arrangements were made for a Turakina butcher to do ,the killing. The meat arrives from the butchery by every train, so that there is nothing for the cooks to do but to prepare it for the tables. The only hitch so far is in regard to water. A well had been sunk near the main gate, but something went wrong with the pumps, and it was found necessary to supplement the supply by carting from Turakina, a few miles distant. The lighting of the hapu has received very special care and attention, and a brilliant electric illumination has been established throughout the camp.

FOOD BY THE TON. The food supplies requisite for such a large gathering run into a few tons, but the majority of the tribes are helping Ratana in "that respect Tons of potatoes and other vegetables have been sent from all parts from which visiting natives came, and plentiful | supplies of shellfish, etc., are arriving regularly. Camera fiends are not allowed. The reason for blocking the camera men is to prevent one of them snapping n i picture of Ratana which might be used lin moving pictures. For instance, it was stated that a moving picture was recently screened at some of the Dominion picture houses featuring “Ratana, the Miracle Man.” This picture, it is said, was an absolute fake and as Ratana strongly resents publicity from such a source, photographers will find there is “nothing doing” in that direction. MUSIC A FEATURE.

Maoris are known to have tuneful voices, and evidences of this are given morning and evening when services are held on the marae or courtyard. There are several. Maori Methodist choirs from the North Island in camp, and one from Kaiapoi, in the South Island, and at some services a choir from Kaipara rendered the musical portion. The blending of the voices with a characteristic all their own was very fl’he, the basses being particularly mellow and strong. The tenors were poor, but the sopranos and altos were well balanced. The conductor, who used a good old tuning fork to get a start, the choir being unaccompanied in its effort, could give points to some conductors in technique, there being no ragged ends. The tuning fork was used as a baton and was made to strike the cover of a book for the first beat of every bar. The effect from the massed choir and congregational singing is very fine indeed. RELIGIOUS SERVICES.

Religious services are held regularly the first commencing at 5 o’clock, followed by another at 6.30. This was a special baptism service at which 50 children were baptised. It is also in-’ teresting to mention that there have been two births in camp, one being of Wanganui parents, namely, Rakei Taituha. There was another service at midday, at which the Rev. Huata presided, the next preacher being Tahua Potiki. All th'e above services were held in the little church which was erected by Ratana a little over a yqpr ago. ; Ratana addressed a large gathering comprising practically the whole of the visitors. His address, which was delivered in Maori, was on very simple lines and practical. He sought to direct the attention of hifj hearers to the true God, and pointed out that it did not matter by which road they went or by what religion, giving as an illustration passengers seeking various modes of locomotion, but getting to their journey’s end just the same.

BROAD-MINDED VIEW ON LIQUOR*.' QUESTION. Ratana’s views on the drink question! are also broad. One of his committee in conversation with a paper representative, stated that Ratana’s advice was to leave drink alone, but he had no objection to the natives taking an occasional glass provided they did not let drink get the better of them. The camp is conducted on strict, prohibition lines, and no liquor is allowed within the gates, the native police being very strict in this respect. Occasionally the regulations regarding going out and in are relaxed to a certain extent, and taxi-drivers do good, business. Evidently there was an ultimatum regarding the races, for no Maoris left camp for the Palmerston races. Heavy rain set in on Monday and continued during the greater part of the morning, with the result that part of the programme had to be curtailed. Judging from appearances there does not appear to be many sick natives in camps but a number of cures were reported this afternoon. Discarded crutches are to be seen jn hundreds, and as one native stated, “There are enough crutches to make a cord of wood.” THOUSANDS OF LETTERS. All the secretarial work is carried ou!( by Mr. P. Moko. Neither does he accept remuneration for his work. This year 71,000 letters have come to hand. At first replies, which had to have stamped envelopes, were sent to everybody, but as the mail grew to be such a huge thing, that practice had to be discontinued, although the embargo did not apply to foreign inquiries. It is stated that there are still come 10,000 letters awaiting to be opened. Ratana’s good work is to go on, but it will be restricted to the native people. Already he has accomplished wonders in getting them to live better lives, and in a brief year‘he has accomplished more for their good than others who tried did in almost a century.