THE MAORI KING AND THE AUSTRALIAN HEALER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7161, 29 October 1884, Page 5

THE MAORI KING AND THE AUSTRALIAN HEALER.

Me. Geobge Milner Stephen, " The Australian Healer," is, we understand, makiog arrangements for giving lectures, with practical illustrations, of his gift of healing, at St. James's Hall, commencing probably on Friday evening. Yesterday he was introduced to ' Tawliiao at his lodgings, with a view of seeing whether he could give relief to him, as he is suffering from rheumatism, principally in the loins and legs, contracted for some time, and for which he had been using lotions and liniments both in England and on the return voyage. Mr. Stephen at once declared his ability to cure Tawhiao, if the latter would abide by His directions and instructions. This Tawhiao professed his willingness to do, at the same time enquiring from Mr. C. O. Divia, who acted as interpreter, whether this pakeha tohunga. like the ancient Maori priests, used any incantations, or simply used "passes" over him ; to which Mr. Davis said that Mr.' Stephen only laid his hands upon him, in the manner spoken of in Scripture. Mr. Stephen then commenced operations, and made a number of magnetic passes" over the parts affected by rheumatism, aud asked Tawhiao to walk briskly aud see if he felt any pain or stiffness. Tawliiao did so, dubiously at first, but as he walked faßter and faster, aud felt no pain, a gleam of delight passed over the tatooed visage, and pulling out of his coat-tails the two bottles of lotion he had purchased, he dispensed with them, and went in tor a bottle of magnetised oil to take up with him to Whatiwhatihoe. He told Mr. Stephen that if the cure remained a permanent one he would send a letter down to Mr. C. 0. Davis, testifying to the fact. Tawhiao, who appeared, as did the other natives present, to be greatly impressed with the method of treatment adopted, said if the pakeha tohunga had proposed to rectify the cast in his eye or to change his hair from a grey to a dark colour he would not have agreed, asthe people knew him by these signs, but that it,was good for the tohunga, Tipene, to take the pains out of his limbs. At a later hour our old friend, Paora Tuhaere, of Orakei, who also suffers from rheumatism, heard the glad tidings of the royal cure through Mr. E. T. Dufaur, and Paul, amidst much pantomimic gestures, said he must gc and see that tohunga Tipene, and get "passes" made over him. He leaves for Mercer this morning, but on his return will interview Mr. Stephen. As for Tawhiao, his proceedings of late have not been of an apostolic character, but this " laying on of hands" business gives him a good lift in that direction.