HAUHAU PROPHETS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 168, 17 July 1926, Page 23

HAUHAU PROPHETS.

AND A QUICK-WITTED MISSIONARY. MAORI APOSTLES ROUTED. (By J.C.) Here are two incidents in the life of one of the famous Williams missionary family which have not previously seen print —episodes which deserve record as examples of the courage and resourcefulness in great emergency, which distinguished several members of that little "hapu" of pioneer preachers, teachers and counsellors. The hero of the episodes was Archdeacon S. Williams, second son of that splendid figure in New Zealand history, Archdeacon Henry Williams, who began his missionary work in the north over a century ago, after a gallant career in the Royal Navy. "Like father, like son," said the Rev. F. E. Spencer, of Kotorua, in recounting these deeds of his old friend, Archdeacon Williams, which he heard from the lips of the chief actor in the episodes many years ago. William the Second (not then archdeacon) had, like his fighting father, great influence with the Maoris, and when the Pai-marire fanaticism spread to the Bay of Plenty and the East Coast in 1865, he was called on to play an important part in combating the debased rebel propaganda. He was at Pakaraka, Bay of Islands, with his father when Sir George Grey, Governor, sent up the Government steamer Sturt to Russell to bring him down. When he reached Auckland the Governor asked him to do what he could to counter Pai-marire, and that the Sturt was at his absolute disposal, and he empowered him to do what he thought best. First of all, Mr. Williams went to Opotiki, where Mr. Volkner had been murdered, and found that the Rev. T. Grace was safe and that the Hauhaus had gone to Poverty Bay. There were two apostles of the new faith, Kereopa and Patara Raukatauri. He went to Gisborne and out to Waerenga-a-Hika, where Bishop Williams lived. There he found the fanatics who had worked up the feelings of the Maoris to a perilous pitch. As Mr. Williams entered the village there was sudden absolute silence. Not even a dog barked. Asked to Work Miracles. Mr. Williams went up to the prophet (either Patara or Kereopa) and challenged him to exhibit his power, saying: "I hear that you are able to bring vessels ashore by your magic incantations. Well, there is the steamer out at Turanganui yonder. Come and drag it ashore and you can then have all on board to offer as a sacrifice to your gods." An old Maori catechist came up and said: "Do you really mean what you say, Wiremu?" "Yes, I do," said Mr. Williams. "If the prophet is able to drag that vessel aahore we will give up ourselves as a sacrifice to his gods." There was tense, expectant silence for a while. Then Mr. Williams rose again and said: "You recollect that when Elijah all by himself met the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and they were challenged to bring fire from Heaven, they failed to get any response; and that when he called the fire came down and consumed not only the sacrifice, but the very stones and water; and then he called out to the people to take the prophets of Baal and not let any escape, and all were slain. Now then, if this prophet fails to drag that vessel ashore, be careful that neither he nor any of his party escape. Let all be taken and slain!" This bold demand completely changed ,the aspect of affairs. The people who were being fooled by the Hauhau emissaries felt ashamed of themselves, especially the younger men, and these now ran for their guns. But the fanatics did not wait to put their magic to the test. They took to their heels and were soon out of sight. The Prophet Who Didn't Know Hebrew. From Gisborne the Rev. S. Williams went on to Napier, where he heard that the Paimarire apostles were at work. He went on to Omahu (nine miles out), and found the large Wharepuni there filled with people. One of the old chiefs of the place, Mr. Williams' friend Hapuku, was sitting outside the house with his blanket over his head, a token of resignation to some dread fate. Oh, Hapuku," said the missionary. ' "What are you doing here, and what ' is going on?" The old chief replied, "They have been bewitched and have become mad. I am awaiting my death." Mr. Williams went inside, followed by Hapuku. The place was crowded. At the far end of the house a prophet was holding forth and uttering all kinds i of gibberish incantations; he professed '. to speak all the languages of the world. "Stop," said Mr. Williams. "You are '. talking foolishness to this ignorant crowd. Let us two talk in the Hebrew ' tongue, for that is the language of the ' gods." ° ° 'I do not know the Hebrew tongue," ! said the prophet." f '(oT^ 31 ? You P rofess to be a prophet ot the gods and do not know the sacred • language? Who are you? You must pc of this earth, and very low down in H too!" And with inimitable skill af language : tbe Hauhau ora tor thoroughly i P rJ h t *! anatic > according to the story, crouched down among his sympathisers , h. f^ 6 6nd 0f the house ' and cu t a h °le - ™ tne raupo wall and sli d out into WW darkness and off. He didn't wait ■ learn Hebrew from the missionary. M^-n 5 time Ha puku had come -p to ■ «£ Williams, the blanket off his head, ' «na down over his shoulders, and he was rejoicing at the changed situation. When the Haiuau w ar party "? Te Haroto, on the Napier-Taupo rack, came down to the plains in order attack Xapier, it was Mr. Williams rn ;° S a , u ' Umel y information about the ' raiders intentions, and Sir Donald Mac- « an acted so promptly, in conjunction < «Ttn Colonel Whitmore, that the rebels' ] crengtu was completely smashed and < apier town was saved from a night ' by a band of fana- i