RATANA VISITS WAIRARAPA

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLI, Issue XLI, 11 August 1921, Page 5

RATANA VISITS WAIRARAPA

A REMARKABLE CUBE,

MASTERTQN,. - Aug. 8. An unofficial visit to ihe Wa'irarapa by Wiremu Ratana was terminated this -morning, when the faithhealer left for the other coast by the Wellington-Woodville express. A large number of Maoris were on the railway stfeation <t& faraweil the (party, and when the identity of its leader became known European travellers and their mends quidkly congregated about the carriage to obtain a glimpse of the "wonder man." Ratana's visit to the district was quite unexpected by the Natives, and very few of the pa'kehas knew of the ev^nt until this morning. The nealer arrived at PapaAvai on Friday, and proceeded thence to Greytown. Yesterday Carterton was visited, and during the afternoon the party came on to Te Ore Ore pa in motor cars. At every stopping place en route afflicted Maoris were granted interviews, and in every case, it is reported, received benefit. Owing to the visit being unexpected, many Natives from outlying districts were unable to see the healer; nevertheless Ratana was kept busy all last night curing sufferers. The most outstanding case treated at Te Ore Ore was that of Rody Thompson, a well-known Maori, residing at Lansdowne for over twenty years. Thompson tad been -the victim of severe rheumatism and for many years lie was practically bedridden. He was only able to move about with difficulty with the aid Of crutches. On Sunday evening ne was carried into the pa by rour men and seated on a bench. went over to him, *nd, placing his hand on the sufferer s shoulder, told tim to get «PA "Now throw away your crutches/' he said, but the Maori was afraid to comply with the request. Sp Ratana toot the crutches~~fr«m him, and told him to walk. The man was doubled up .at (first, but a few minutes later he 3iad regained the use of his limbs. This morning Thompson walked iabout the pa as though he had never -used crutches. Ratana told his people last night that he had, received 48,000 letters from all parts of the world. Some of them were from Indian Princes, who offered large sums if the faith healer would go to them. However, his first work was to cure his own people of. their ailments- after that he would treat the white races. Ratana has a number of |>outh Island Natives travelling with him. These people have been treated, but in order to ensure that the cure is permanent they are being kept for the time under the personal influence of the healer, who stated last night that the Maori is too much inclined to lose faith after being cured, thereby frequently undoing good' work. Fofr this reason Ratana \keeps thie crutches, sticks, etc., previously used by his patients^—'Dominion correspondent.