THE "PROPHET" RUA.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13095, 21 April 1908, Page 7

THE "PROPHET" RUA.

AN INTERESTING SKETCH

(press association telegrams.)

AUCKLAND, April 20,

A special commissioner of the "Herald," who has made a vieit to the settlement of Rua, the Maori "prophet," thus describes the prophet's, personality. Apparently 40 years of /ago, slight built and tall, his wavy hair worn as in the pictures of Christ, and hi*» pleasing features (but slightly marred by the typical flat nose of his race) illuminated with a pair of fascinating eyes, Rua impressed, mc as a very charming personage, and the reverse of the over-bearing despot one expected! to meet. Hβ affects European clothes, and is scrupulously clean. The profusion of hair removes, any resemblance to tho Madri as ho is commonly known; in fact, -the greater, number of his followers nave rather the appearance of Mexican Indians. Others remind one forcibly of the fuzzy-head-ed Fijian, while those who allow their hair to fall down in ringlets, after the manner of their leader, have a great likeness to tho characters depicted in Scriptural illustrations, which is,' perhaps, not surprising, considering that they take these ola Israelites for a pattern. As far as I could learn, only .Rua affects a plurality of wives, and during the talk that took place that oveuing in his commodious dwelling, the heads of the various members of his harem could' be seen slyly peeping from behind the many doors that open out on either side of the hall-way." The article cpincludos:—"l wont into Maungapohatu a much prejudiced person, and would therefore like to place on record my impressions of this singular man and his work. In the first place, I certainly do not think Rua is the eccentric and dangerous person some writers would have us believe, for he seems, outside his religion, sensible, kindly disposed, and amenable to reason. True, he speaks of goldbearing reefs in tlhe Urewora, for tiho right to work which he demands staggering royalties, but recent prospecting parties have put those ideas into his head. He also disturbs the native mind by dwelling upon the Treaty oi Waitangi. Though, literally speaking, religion is his strong point, it is also his most vulnerable spot, for though continually basking in, its limelight, the pakoha only sees this side of his character in his plurality of wives. I am sure ho is interpreting an Old Testament passage. When I touched upon the 6ut>ject, ho said: 'I am a poor mon compared with Solomon.' Only those who aro intimate with the Maori can fully appreciate the fact that Rua has, co far as his settlement is concerned, completely eliminated! that poverty-making, foolish generosity of the natives so conspicuous at reunions and tangis. One who in a remarkably short space of time can induce, some of his race to abandon old traditional customs that we have been ondeavouring to eradicate for close on a century, cannot bo altogether a fool."