This Week In 1916 Rua, The "Maori Prophet"

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 70, 23 March 1940, Page 6 (Supplement)

This Week In 1916 Rua, The "Maori Prophet"

Rua, the Maori "prophet," "who defied the police when an effort was made to arrest him, was captured at his pa in the Urewera country on April 2, 191G, by a party of about 00 armed police. In the battle which took place two Maori followers of the "prophet" were killed, including his son Toko, aped 22. Four police officers were injured by shotgun lire. After the white flap; of surrender had been flown from Ktia's pa, he resisted arrest, and when lie was seized by Constable Neil there was a fight. Maoris who had run for shelter gathered

weapon?, mid one of them fired at tlic party guarding Rua. This started a] general battle, the police replying with rifle and revolver fire. When (lie firing ceased a search was made of the pa and the police found about 30 Winchester repeating rifles and shotguns. Plans had apparently been made for a real ambush, but Run displayed had generalship. Rua originally resisted arrest in connection with liquor offences. Nine other Maoris, including his eldest son, were also arrested and brought out. The expedition into the Urcwern. is interesting as the first into the wild country since the campaigns against To Kooti and his band ceased 45 years previously. According to a Wellington announcement, made early in April, every discharged soldier would, in the event of sickness arising out of a wound or any other form of illness, be entitled on application to the Health Department, to curative treatment just as if he were still a soldier. Armlets fur men who were either discharged or waiting to go into camp were introduced in 1010, but they did not prove particularly popular. Many men declined absolutely to wear the badges which distinguished them, but the Trimc Minister (Mr. Masscy) said that they were proving more popular. There was, he said, power to compel the men to wear them. The armlets were one feature of the strong recruiting campaign which was then being conducted.

R.S. SOCIAL CLUBS To tlie list of returned soldiers' social chilis that appeared in last week's issue is to lie added that v of A Companv, 4th Battalion, X.Z.K.8., the secretary being T. F. Smith. 14, Palmerston Buildings, Queen Street, Auckland, C.l. + + + +■ ANSWERS TO PETER. SIMPLE'S' POSERS (Questions on Page 4) 1. Gin. 2. Forty-eight States and one FceUrol district. .1. The collar hone. ■1. The shoulder Made. 5. Two thousand miles from Hawaii, on the dir-ct route to Hongkong fi. Fifty (statute) miles. 7. Three Socialist Soviet republics in Transcaucasia, which js incorporated in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. 8. "And simple faith than Norman blood." fl. Eudyard Kipling; the Colonial Empire. 10. "Kathleen Mavourneen." 11. Henry the Eighth (1509-17). 12. King Richard the First of England (1189-09). 13. Twelve. 1-1. It is a play on "limbic pie," a delicacy made out of deer's innards and much enjoyed by Mr. Pepys. After the chase poor people in medieval times wore said to have been given the deer's limbics as being of not much account. lii. The science dealing with mental racial improvements. 10. Banyan. 17. In medieval limes bakers allowed retailers an extra loaf on (he dozen to repay them for their trouble. IS. One that lives two years, laying up food in the first, fruiting in the second. 19. Xapoleon Bonaparte, 20. Ballistics.