RATANA RETURNS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18263, 23 December 1924, Page 16

RATANA RETURNS.

SUCCESSFUL TOUR ABROAD. (aracut to "ibb rasas.") AUCKLAND, December 22. Still preserving bis incognito with a tenacity that is little- short of astounding in this self-advertising age, Ratana, the Maori healer, stepped ashore from the Niagara this morning, surrounded by his party, after a nine-months' tour of the world. Although everybody enjoyed the trip, they were all obviously delighted to get back to New Zealand. In nine months a big party, such as Ratana'a, can spend a lot of money, no matter how economical they may be, and it is not surprising to hear that the expenses of the trip have been no£_far ehort of £IO,OOO. The astonishing thing is that the Maoris did not finance the affair by giving entertainments; nor did they expect to do so. Some .Luropoans looked on them as a sort of touring entertainment company, tTDt that was quite a mistake. They were tourists, and though they eschewed the first saloon they lived well and suitably. With other parties of Maoris that have left New Zealand we hajve seen rather distressing cases of stranding, and in one notable instance the leader of a party was afraid to show his face again at Rotorua. But it is not ao with Cherry Peter Moko, the private secretary, advance agent, and right-hand man of Ratana,. Peter need have no fears of the welcome he will get at Ratana, the village that has grown up round Ratana's manorial property on the banks of the Wanganui. Already the clans are gathering, and at Christmas Ratana will be addressing one of the largest gathering? that has been held sinoe the visit of the Prince-of Wales. Fully five thousand peoplo are expected to "keep their Christmas" at Ratana, and one can imagine that the travellers will have plenty of small talk with which to entertain their numerous guests. While in England Ratana preserved his incognito just as strictly as he does here, but Peter says that over 5000 letters were dealt with. Ratanai declined to see any Europeans personally, but he was always open to receive their letters and to send instructions. Peter says that out of 5000 people who were communicated with some 3500 sent letters saying that they had been cured. Apart from some entertainments given for charitable purposes, hospitals, and similar institutions, Ratana's party did not give any performances. They had a good look at the Wemblev Exhibition, visited Scotland and Treland, and then went across to the Continent. In Germany they were received, and then they went East, touching at Port Said, Ceylon, India, and then on to Japan and home by way of the East Indies. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TZLBOEAK.) • AUCKLAND, December 22. Referring to the reported complaints of fellow-p:issengers on the voyage from Japan, Ratana's secretary said tlie trouble arose from the disagreeable conduct ,of an American passenger on. the Japanese. steamer. A New Zealander also behaved in a surprising manner towards the party. "I had to slap the face of the American and the New Zealander, too," said Peter, "and. as.a matter cf fact, what else could I have done? They insulted our girls and our whole party. 1 simply went up to tlie "American, asked him if it was true that he had said a certain thing, and when he admitted: that it was true, I slapped his face."