VISIT OF MAORI PROPHET

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21247, 20 August 1934, Page 12

VISIT OF MAORI PROPHET

RAT AN A AT TUAHIWI l'A .SKrNIFK.'ANCK OF (i.VT II EKING The visit of Ratana. the Maori prophet, to the pa at Tuahiwi. is being made the occasion for a traditional lament among the Maoris gathered there for Arepa, one of the sons of Ratana. who died some time ago. Tins is said lo be the main reason for tine visit of Ratana and his big band of followers to the Sooth Island. Arepa, his son. married a South Island Maori, and in accordance with the customs of the natives it is incumbent on Ratana, on his first, visit to the country _of the wife of his dead son. to tangi for him. Consequently, when Ratana arrived at the pa on Saturday, lie was greeted with the traditional loud wailings and lamentations of the tangi. That there is also a political significance in the visit of the Maori leader to the south was stated by Mr Te Ari Pitama, one of the men in authority at the gathering. Ratana himself does not give personal interviews to newspaper reporters, it was stated by Mr Te Ari Pitama. Speaking to a representative of "The Press,'' he said: "it is true that there i.s a terrible undercurrent of unrest and distress among the Maoris generally, and this visit will give some of them the opportunity of giving vent to their feelings and expressing their opinions." Itijj'hls of Maoris Mr P. Paikea, private secretary to Ratana, said yesterday afternoon that Ratana had been invited to the south by members of the Ratana movement throughout the South Island. He stated that the visit iiad not been made for political reasons, but only at the invitation of the southern Maoris. Mr Paiken referred lo the petition presented to Parliament by the Ratana movement, praying thai tlm rights and privileges of the Maori people as set out in the Treaty of Waitangi be granted. The policy of the Ratana movement, he said, so far as political matters were concerned, was to seel; the entry of the Treaty of Waitangi into the statute Mr Te Ari Pitama stated that, today local Maoris would meet the visiting members of the Ratana movement, and discuss the Treaty of Waitangi, and the petition, together with other native alfairs. Growth of Movement Since its inception m lf)l!! the Ratana movement: had grown to he the largest Maori movement in New Zealand, Mr Paikea said. He gave statistics. which showed the strength of the movement. Church workers numbered 2230. made up as follows: Registered Apostles under the Marriage Acl .. I.'J I Apostles wlin have power o| faith healing in the Ratana Church . 24'J Lay Readers (Almnga i f»si{ Sisters lAwlunas) .. . . 1032 Wardens < Kai Tiaki Wltakaiiioemit 11 . . 11 (J Total .. .. 2230 There were 110 church committees (Komitj Ilaaki) and aO choirs (Koeat. Th r, re were 40.1)00 members of the church, out of a population of 7-1.000 Maoris m the Dominion. \\ ELCO.MI*; AT Tl AHIW T run i; i: nim>u i: i > .m\ouis (;a i IIi:u Ratana. the Maori prophet and national learli r. \va.- greeted by an a--,'i:nib!v of mere than 200 member of his race when he arrived on Saturday at the Tuahiwi pa. of the movement cair.e from Port I.evy. Uapal.i. and Picton to join the rimanga at Tuahiwi. and will remain there throughout Ratana's vi.-dt. li\inn a communal life under the direct control of Ratana. With his party the number of Maoris at Tuahiwi has reached SiH). [n Ratana'.-. parly are rcpresenta--li\- of all the tribe?, of the Xorlh Maud, and al.-o of tlie South. He i* accompanied by Mr E. T. Tirikatene. member of Parliament lor Southern Maori. The party also includes Rataua': own hand of mu.-icians i clot lied in bright blue blazers'. The visitois were met at the station by Te Ari Pitama and taken by motor-bus lo Tuahiwi. where a lar'te ';at iieriu.s awaited him in the biu ruuamja hall. With Ratana were also the women of the party, ihe two apostles i Rewctite When,-) and Mete Keepa > and other die.iutaTies. E. Tt: Aike tne head of Ihe Tuahiwi riman.c.a, c:;leaded the official welcome of Ihe pa It) the visitor.-. u-'iiv; the traditional "haeremai te Maunsa lei lei" iWe greet you, of lofty mountain i. Others who spoke at the welcome were W. Rehu, E. T. Tirikatene, M l'.. P. Memo, Te Ari Pilama. and M. Whiiau i from the Temuka Maoris 1 . Grcctinßs and I.;'.mwitalions The welcome was replied to by Ratana's two apostles. Then followed the

pilny ill' tin.-es, tin. 1 traditional ex]J] (- i ()t I if H I','it i 1 (Hii- 111 MK'C't ill.U. !lll(l ! ill' m 'i' 11 n(I pro-sin;;. 1h < • i'\pn's.- ion of ■\mpathv willi lln#e uhn have died. Katana stood ;it (he head of the hull. - 11;<■ 1 a.- the M;mns fll <■ ci past. him, there wi re lout! wads of lamentation and eryinc from Ihc women. Afier the ciTinniiiv of :;rcetin,:; ihe marae <eourt,\ ai d I wa- ;;iv< ti mvc to Katai.a. ami the tai:i was continued. A .1 rvire '.'. a- conduct! <1 I>> Mete Kei ]ia. and the !■ ..-a! Mauri' cnterta.ned their v; -itor- at a cocci rt. which em it i m sei i mit , I midnight. The 11 hid fur t lie 'A llele eat hi nm.: :. ii. the charae Hcnarc IVhio r.ml Mr.Tetiki. who ;> < -teniay afternoon had prepared an attractive meal which mehid"d -tail del icacie.- as I rifle and lrn;t salarl. Ye-ierday the 300 Maori-coii-mned l:! earca-'m of shet p. tinder Kalana's control they are allowed .iiily two meals a day. They wall l;\v a communal life during I'atana's visit, a.-v-einbled in the runam.;a hall ClKlllvlliiC Cup (iIVCII llaiana 1-j r-111 ;j, I; 1 with him a cup named " r l'e Arepa Te Omeua. \V. T. I!al.ma Cup." It i.- a challenge cup •;iven by him loi Maori football I hronuliont the South Island, in memory of his two sons. The North and Sowtn Canterbury representative met at Temuka la.-t week, and the mate'i eiified m a draw. Tin.' cup will be de-played a! all marac- in North mid South Canterbury. Kahlua's baud, in brieht blue unilorm. ; 111 raet <ci a lar:-' number of pi;ss"r.--b\- as it played i:i the open air ye.-ici day afb rnoon. Ainiui:; its mnn--lii r are several boys who are tinder , the a'le of 11. and yc.-terday the\ ' pla;. eil several items by themselves. , Las! tii!:hi Katana'.- parly entertained ' tlie lociii Maori.-. To-day. Kataua'- parly a! i< I local Mauri:, will di-cu-- variou> native alJair-. Uaiana will remain at the pa until Tilur.-day, and po. -ihly latei com i:k i s nv katan.vs I' AKT Y Alcmber- of UaUinn'* party who are vi.-ii in:; the pa at Tuahiv.u will :;iw ■a concert in the Ram;iora Town Jlall this eve nine,. and another in the Kaiapoi thratre to-morrow t vmiii;;. The ' brass band which nas accompanied Katana will piay, and there will be poi--. hakas, and vocal items. The proceed- of the concerts will be devoted to the purchase of instruments lor a juvenile band Yesterday, Katana offered to the Mayor < .Mr I). C>. Sullivan. M.P.t the m rvire.- of his party for a concert in Christchurch to assist the Mayor's Rela 10l Distress. Fund. I'rubnbly this ; will be field on Wednesday evenin;;.