LATER.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 31, 5 February 1916, Page 9

LATER.

THE CONSTABLE'S RETURN.

HtTA REFUSES TO GO QUIETLY. i NEXT STEP AWAITED WITH INTEREST. J (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star."") TANEATUA, this day. The two native constables have just returned from their attempt to bring Rua in. They were told politely, but firmly, that Rua absolutely refused to come, and were asked to leave without delay. Acting under instructions they took no risks. Though the language was heated during the discussion, no blows were struck.

The nest step in the drama is awaited with anxious interest, as the iollowers of the "Kaiser of Irewera Country," Rua's new role, number over 300 pledged to resist his arrest.

The "prophet" Rua. or Ruawai. noted for his long hair and large assortment of wives, lives in the wilds of the Ure- > wera, and is the nominal political and religious leader of about half the natives | in those parts. The remainder owe| allegiance to Keren*- who is really the. hereditary chief of the l/rewera. Rua.j who has'given the authorities a good deal of trouble from time to time by committing breaches of the liquor laws, was ordered to appear before the Court last week on a series of charges, but merely sent an insulting message to the magistrate. The latter imposed a heavy iine = and issued a warrant for the "prophet's" arrest. A gentleman, who once made Rua's acquaintance, and has .*• o-ood idea of his influence upon the natives, told a reporter to-day that Rua's mana appeared to be on the wane, and had, in fact, been steadily decreasing for some years. £ome time back he was imprisoned, and as his followers nave no trouble on that occasion, there was little chance of their making any -erious resistance this time.