MAORI DOCTOR

North Otago Times, Volume C, Issue 13178, 6 October 1914, Page 6

MAORI DOCTOR

PECULIAR PRESCRIPTIONS. , FINED FOR TOIIUNGAISM. , WANGANUT, October 3. A case of alleged tohungnism was heard nt the Paten Court to-day. A yoimg Maori named Poi Awnrua, was charged with having pretended to euro disease by supernatural powers,'this being an offence under the Tohunga Suppression Ant, 1880. It is stated that a Maori woman from Pnrownnui had come to Little Tai'anaki to bo treated by tho divine healor, and that she had died. ' Anotlior young Maori woman maintained that Poi had treated Itor and had put tea and mixed potatoes on her head, whilst anothor man, who believed he had an evil spirit, Avns alleged lo have been hit on the noso and thon inhilOHo'jilriiik iii's.owmiifoocl, witluthe; object of driving out tho evil spirit.

J'or the (lofcnco it to stilted Hint tho Maori womnii from : Parowanui had not linen (vented by Poi, 'Tho young .Maori woman, who clnimoil to'have hnd lea pourntl on her head, was alleged to lie suffering from swollen eyes, which had'ill tho appearance oC having been paused by blows, mid whon Poi saw her lie bathed her eyes with tea but ditl'iioIhiug beyond that, With regard to the ease of driving the evil spirit out it was maintained that the man in question hnd violently assaulted Poi, Several young fellows rushed him, and he wns struck on the nose, and this accounted for the bleeding, but tho drinking of the blond wns stoutly denied, Two witnesses for Pqj maintained that the defendant had never protended 1o possess supernatural powers, lie was a preacher, however, and hnd exhorted the Maoris to give up the worship of Maori idols and the gods of their •ancestors.

The Magistrate accepted the evidence for the prosecution, mid lined defendant £lO and costs, . Ho said that he would have imposed a term of ini: prisonment instead of a lino were it not for the fact that defendant did not make money out of Jiis practice.