THE SOUTHERN MAORI.

Temuka Leader, Issue 10589, 26 August 1930, Page 3

THE SOUTHERN MAORI.

iox'n;.\(Hj)MN.\ifv o< rriUCGM'i'is in due of a series of pa pers w retell by Air 11. lieallie for the "Oiago Daily Times,'' on Ihe Sou; hern Maori,-under the heading of "extraordinary experiences." he refers lo the alleged doings of lohungas or lohukas, as related lo him by aged .Maoris. "In Ihe Hall al Aro when iia. To Alaiharoa (prolmbly Hie man who preserved most of the ancient power in modern limes) gave a demonstration of bis powers. lie paved the way hy pulling a. fowl to sleep in the approved schoolboy method of placing ils head under ils wing and rocking it. This wan new lo most, if no! a,!!, his audience, and he added to the effect hy staling how long, it would sleep. Then he asked those of his audience who had watches to look at I hem. "There is only one welch in this hall thai is exactly righl. In two minuies the town .< lock in Teinuka. will strike. See if il he so.' ill tindeep silence lhal ' followed the distant sinking of the clock could he heard, -iiiurt, .true/-to Hie-.LoJutka'.s prophecy, only one watch was in exacl unison wiilt it. Then the tohukii took a. hoy. on to the singe, seized : him hy the ankles, whirled him over his head several limes, and let -'. >. The hoy sailed over ihe heads of tin- startled audience, but landed on his feet at the door and walked hack to the slage. Again (be tohuka performed ihe feed, the boy bur: ling over ihe amazed people as before, alighting on his feet, and walking out of the door and tint o r this mtrrai ion." These things (says ".Mr I'.eallie) were lold to me hy venerable and reliable men who implicitly believed what Ihey had seen wilh Iheir own eyes. The writer did nol disbelieve his informants, but he pondered over (he problem and its solution.