THE MAORI "PROPHET."

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 175, 18 April 1908, Page 3

THE MAORI "PROPHET."

- "SOME STARTLING, RUMOURS. ' 1 . (BT, TELEGRAPH.—TRESS ASSOCIATION.) ~' ■ Wairoa, April 15. -,Rua. ; is expectcd to arrive by launch at Waikaremoana to-morrow, and will stay two dayb .at, Awaawaroa Bay. He brings eight wives, this " prime minister," ■ and private secretary. ' Great . preparations are being made : .for,his reception. ■ ' ThoWairoa natives- express -annoyance : at til's 'visit. .' • : i'B Y TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) ' .. :■}'" . , Napier, April '16. . ;It- -was rumoured about a week, that Rua,, the Maori "prophet," was going to Wairoa' by way of Lake Waikaremoana, ■ and in consequence of this a number of Natives in'Hawke's Bay are supposed to have left to join his followers. On inquiry, however, the local Natives deny, that'their object was to attach •, themselves to the prophet, but said that,they were going to Wairoa to attend a tangi. A number of those Natives left the .district last Sunday, and nothing was lieard; from the centre of action until this morning, '..when a message was received similar to that sent through by the Press Association, but' containing further startling details.' It is stated that to-morrow' (Good Friday) Rua intends to bury himself in the ground, and to rise again on Saturday. Tho sacredness of the day chosen for the latest freak of the "prophet" makes his act rather a staggering one. If lie successfully accomplishes his resurrection, it is stated to be his intention to proceed on to Wairoa, and from there to Wellington, where he may. seize tho seat of Government and otherwise astonish humanity..