REMARKABLE CURE.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19624, 21 May 1929, Page 8

REMARKABLE CURE.

WITHOUT MEDICAL AID. RUA'S FAVOURITE WIFE INJURED. (rasas aseocuTios rauaoautJ AUCKLAND, May 90. A remarkable recovery from fracture of the spine and paralysis, sustained in a motor-accident, by Patu Ru, fhief among the wives of Rua, the Maori •prophet," of the Urewera country, was described in the Supreme Court to-day. The matter arose during the hearing of an action for £ISOO damages orongbt against Hugh McPberson. storekeeper, of Buatahuna, and bis *ne, before Mr Justice Herdman and jury. sums of £SOO each were claimed by Patu Ru and the sons of tbe Maoris »ho were killed when a lorry, driven bv AlcPberson, overturned nemr Te tthaiti, while returning to Ruatahana with a party of Maoris, who bad av tended a tangi. Mr Hodgson appeared for plaintiffs and Mx Roe for defendant.

It waa stated in evidence that Pata Ru sustained a fracture of tbe spine and paralysis. She refused to go to the hospital at Rotorua and was carried 34 miles to Maungapobatu on a blanket litter A few days after the accident she was treated with herns and water, being able to walk witbm six months. A medical witness staged that a surgeon could not bare improved on the cure. Speaking through an interpreter, Patu Ru said she was carried on a blanket litter bv Natives for 94 miles to Maungapohatu pa. Her injuries were treated with herbs and after two months she was able to sit up Four months later she was able to walk with t!h o air? of a st : ck Mr Roe: Is it not a fact that you would not go to hospital in an atnbu!!>nee?

Witness: "Yes. There were mo prayers. I am not a Ratanaite." She said she heard that Dr. Bertram was annoved bf-cause she was put into cold water after her injury, but she waa mrc warm water bad been used, and then only to wash her. "Cold water treatment is part of Ringntn's treatment, but Run has changed that now, and made nx use warm water," she said. His Honour: Did Rua s*-nd instruction* that no one was to go to hospital ? Witness: It waa two days after the accident, before anyone came from Rua. Mr Roe: Did yon tell anyone at the Da jou were awaiting instructions from Una ? No. His Honour: How did you get from Te Whaiti to Maungapobatu pa? "I was carried by men on a litter," replied witness. Mr Roe: Would it not hare been easier to ride in an ambulance'' Witness: I could not bear to be handled. Mr Roe: The whole truth is that Rua said you were not to go to hos-p-'tal ? Witness: Rua waa not there Witness denied that the action would not have been brought but for the insistence of Rua- Litigation waa first suggested by the son of one of the Maoris killed. Mr Roe ■ Rua is very unfriendly with the McPhersons, is he not? Is*there not a great deal of ill-feeling P Witness: Not as far as T know. Mr Roe: Constable McPeterson, defendant's uncle, could not visit the pa without a lot of police some time ago?

Witness: This case had started before then.

Mr Roe: Did vou have any medical treatment at all?—"No," replied witness. The hearing was adjourned.