Warned N.Z. Of Destruction by Fire

Northern Advocate, 26 December 1940, Page 3

Warned N.Z. Of Destruction by Fire

Prophets are notoriously... without honour in their own countries, and while some of them live to confound the sceptics, the majority, of them merely live to be confounded. In this category undoubtedly falls the fol lowing cheerful communication recently unearthed in a Rotorua office. It was despatched in 1912 to the late Mr William Hill, then resident tourist agent in Rotorua and as head of his department in the district fulfilling the functions of mayor. Those who* are prone, in these present dolorous days, to listen too readily to prophecies of doom and disaster, may possibly derive some comfort from the contemplation of the non-fulfilment of at least one prediction of impending calamity. The letter runs: “Your Worship.—l am instructed to advise you that New Zealand is going to be destroyed by fire. This is part of God's great plan to bring peace on eartli.

“A great religious war will take place in New Zealand, when the rebel Turks, Russians, Chinese and the worst people out of every other nation will come here to fight. When they are all collected here, God will destroy New Zealand and all in it. J am told that God wants all those who love the Lord Jesus Christ to leave the country and go to British Columbia,and I have written to the Mayor of Seattle, who will give them a welcome. “A boat will leave Auckland about the 25th of this month to take the people who cannot afford to pay. Apply to the captain, who will allow all good people to go free. Scandalmongers and hypocrites are not wanted at any price. Put all childi-en on boai-d first (they, can go free) with all the bedding and clothing you can lay hands on. Do your best to get the good people together in time for the free boat. Tell them to bring their valuables with them, as there will be no returning. You must all get away by the first boat, otherwise you may not be in time. —I am. Yours faithfully, E.W.G.”