PROPHECY FULFILLED

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 40, 15 January 1935, Page 9

PROPHECY FULFILLED

SIX MAORIS DIE. DEATHBED PRONOUNCEMENT. NEW PLYMOUTH, Jan. 14. Superstition and fatalism still play a large part in Maori life, and a remarkable story of a prophecy fulfilled comes from South Taranaki. On December 4, as Roera Pouwharcumu lay dying at Hawera, she foretold that, besides herself, six of her kin would die within a short time. On Thursday night the death at New Plymouth of the 11-year-old daughter of Mr and Mrs R. lvopu completed the fulfilment of the prophecy. As the wife of a man of high rank, a chief of the Ngaruahine tribe, which is a sub-tribe of the Ngati-ruanui. and as a woman of over 80 years, Roera Pouwhareumu was held in esteem by the Maoris of Taranaki. Her age and rank made her deathbed pronouncement more portentous to her relations, who all feared they would be inclutVd, as no particular persons and no definite times were stipulated. The first to die was an uncle, Tapuke, of Kaipakipalti. Since then have died Charlie Isaac Kapui, a cousin living near Waitara, Jim McLeod, of Smart Road, a second cousin, Hiki Hoera, of Waitara, a cousin, and the thuee-year-old daughter and 11-year-old daughter of Mr and Mrs lvopu. With the death of the sixth relative a great weight has been lifted from the minds of the remaining relatives, who resignedly waited in a state of oppressive uncertainty for the next to die. Never for an instant did they imagine the non-fulfilment of the prophecy, and perhaps their fatalistic attitude helped in its working out.