A VISIT TO RUA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 9 January 1929, Page 6

A VISIT TO RUA

TRAM PENS’ EXI’ERUiXI'Ii A surprising welcome awaited a party of young men from Auckland who were Lumping, iti the,, llmvyrp.. 'pfd, who visited tlie pa at Maimgapohatu (he day before the arrival of the police, anj spent nearly 48 hours in the vicinity (states a Rotorua, correspondent). Owing to the expected visit twin the authorities they were closely questioned by Rua and lps followers, who, suspected them ,of representing the police. A letter was produced, written to Rua by a native of Te Wliaiti, which proved the identity of the.young men. The trappers, a party of three, .sir. \V. T. Dobson, Mr V. Eraser, and Mr J). L. Bone, qll of Auckland, made a similar trip last Easter. This year they have spent a week in the Urewcra, covering in all about 100 miles, mostly by foot. They commenced their expedition at Waikai'emoana, from whence they carried their baggage to Ruataliima. Here they secured a packhorse and set out for Maimgapohatu. . Owing to the narrow and tortuous track they hail great difficulty in reaching tlie pa. They state that this track is used very little by the Maoris, who usually travel t,o the coast by the Whakatane route. At Maimgapohatu they found Rua sitting oil the verandah of his home, surrounded by half a dozen disciples of the Bingatu religion, of which he is regarded as the head, me trampers state that these disciples number a dozen, and are called Levites, Rua appeared to be in good health and enjoying an apparent prestige among Ins followers. W hen receiving the visitors lie was dressed in long-llowing night attire, an. overcoat, gumboots and a l’aiiama bat, . After being convinced that his visitors . were in no way connected with the police authorities Bua allowed them the freedom of his pa, where they stayed one night, spending the next m a deep gorge between the pa anc. Btiatahuna. The partv visited the meeting bouse lit Matatua. This house is reputed to be the finest in New Zealand. me building which 'Contains much pine carving was built specially for le Koo ti, and was formerly the chief centre of the religious meetings of the Bitiuatu. At present it-is in need of repairs, and the chief of the village, Hokori, is at the head, .of a body ot Natives who are effecting the necessary renovations. . . It is proposed to thoroughly clean the carvings and effect general repairs. At present an aged Maori in the village is making new carvings to supplement those already erected. Reference was made by a member ot the party to the new scenic- route between Hopurualiine and Ruatahuna, which the Public Works Department is constructing. About six miles have been completed at the Lake Maikaremoana end.