AT THE SHRINE OF BACCHUS

NZ Truth, Issue 1103, 20 January 1927, Page 6

AT THE SHRINE OF BACCHUS

Miracle Man's Motoring Misadventure "BILL" RATANA RUINS HIS REPUTATION / ' ■ ■ . ■■■•'■ ■

t, • .'■•■-.,■■_• (Prom "N.Z. Truth's" Wanganui Representative.) Tahu Wiremu Ratana, otherwise plain" Bill "Ratana, as the boys m Wanganui call him, tired of listening' to the eloquence of the various tribes of his following", filled up his car with juice and motored to the river city. y

TT was a hot day, and even prophets 1 and miracle men get dry sometimes, so "Bill" adjourned to ci neighboring hostelry, where — meeting a few friends — he -made the glasses clink quite merrily. v , In fact "Bill" Jupt had on© or two too many, and. although he thought he could drive a car all, right, Constable Nairn and McAlpine thought different. "Bill" was describing a serpentine i course m the Avenue and the men m blue followed the car into Ridgway Street, where "Bill" had called a halt. He greeted them with his usual winning smile, but on this occasion it had no effect upon the. limbs of the law, for they quietly "lumbered" poor . "Bill." ' , i The niew_ .hat Ratana, the man who claimed to have healed the lame, the halt and the blind, yjras m "clink" spread like wild-fire, with the result that next morning, when Ratana was billed to appear, they flocked m droves to the court, and one would have thought ihata first-class murder trial was being I staged. , ':". .-..' | S.M. Barton was on the bench and Senior Sergeant Lppdell, with the two | men m blue who ha,d the unique dis- i tinction/ of arresting a miracle mam were m .attendance to represent law and order. "Bill," whethei^he felt It or not, appeared to be the,most calm arid collected man of the whole lot. When his name was called he walked quietly Up to where the clerk was sitting and when two charges had been j read out/ one of driving a motor-car Without .a license arid 'the other of being m a state of intoxication while m charge of a motor-car, ''Bill" calmly replied: right." IN HOT PURSUIT — — — — — —— -___-__— _— _ __________ -6 ' There was no need, then, for: constablp^ Na.i< n nnd* McAlpine to enter I the bbx and 'give testimony against "Bill." , Senior Sergeant liopdell enlightened thefcourt to the extent that "Bill" had steered : anything but a chalk-line course, so ; the constables clicked off even' time m hot pursuit, with the result, that.' they were short : of. wind when they overhauled Ratana ln Ridg- | way Street. ' i "Bill" gave them not the alight- | est trouble, but went calmly to the station, where he was locked up \ for three hours and allowed to defart In peace' for the night after aving left a tenner behind In the way of bail. The senior sergeant .further informed the court that last year "Bill" had qualified /or a driver's ticket, but did hot renew it, having selected for himself a careful Maori driver.' 1 The latter possibly might have eaten too much tuna the night before and was not available when "Bill" wanted to visit Wanganui on a thirst-quench-ing expedition, so "Bill"; to/ok 'the .wheel himself. He M.d a mate with him who had more stager juice aboard than the miracle saui.

For ail that/ "Bill" was not m such an advanced state, of inebriation that, the police would have arrested him had he been padding •■■'; the hoof along the Avenue and left motor driving alone. 7 The magistrate asked Ratana if he had anything to say, to which— quick as . /lighteningT-"Bill" replied: "No, Sir.'. .■■; '■■■.;;,; ;.-. ;■'{-. THE FLOWINa BO"WL . The S.M. then wanted to know whether this was an isolated lapse on Rataria's part, so the sergeant once more occupied the floor and told the court and jlisteners-in that ~ "Bill," some years ago had a bit of a liking for the Vjflpwing bowl, '-but had made a . complete break for aTlohg time. •. »' For the last 12 months, however, the obsex'vaht cops had noticed that he once more had beep making friends with Bacchus. "Bill" and. the sergeant then had a little. conference, and, as a result, the sergeant intimated that Ratana would like to have his 'name : suppressed. ' "On "the charge of drivinig without a license," said the magistrate, "he will be fined £1, and on the other he will be fined ;£25.; , ;■•-''..- --"In regard to the request "for suppression of the, name," said S.M. Barton' "I, thing this is not a case m which the name should be 'supprssed. .'Defendant urges his standing and Reputation. I think that there are some reputations whioh, m the ' public interest, should depend, upon character arid manner of life, and should not be bolstered, up by an arbitrary act Of a court m proceedings like this." "PECK'S" FOR 'THE HOLIDAYS. When you plan excursions necessitating an outdoor, lunch, you need a jar , of PECK'S Salmon and Shrimp Paste. : An appetising delicacy that no picnic party should be Without., Convenient, satisfying, and will keep m any clhjiate. A little goes a long way, because of its delightful flavor. British and Best. All grocers.* \ ...i _ "•"•"•' ■ •' — ■ FOR THAT RUN-DOWN FEELING. Take Dr. Sheldon's Gin Pills— They . 1 Give, Quick Relief.; Many " men and worrier, suffer habitually . fromT Sciatica, Rheumatism, Backache, Lumbago, or Nervous Depression Troubles that they ascribe to being, "rup down;" These symptoms are really the result of impurities Tin the system, due tothe Kidneys not performing their proper functions. . What you want to. set; you right, and 'make life a pleasure again,- is; Dr. Sheldon's Gin Pills; -':' to] cleanse the blood, , regulate the .Kidneys and torie up the nerves. Good health is natural to the human body. and. with the help of this valuable^ refriedy ; you can recover it, although you may have suffered for 1 years. So .don't suffer. Remember Dr. Sheldon's Gin Pills are the real remedy for Sciatica, Backache, Kidney Tand Bladder Troubles. Try them for ybur--Bei£, 2/- and 8/6.*.