"MATE MAORI."

Timaru Herald, Volume XC, Issue 13277, 4 May 1907, Page 3

"MATE MAORI."

The best of (missionaries would poobably not be pleased to bear a Maori show liis knowledge of the Bible by quoting it in •support of what is' gen orally regarded as a native superstition. It was at the Te Aute Students Conference at Awapund recently. . In the couies of a discussion on " Mate Maori," .'aid to be a disease due to the evil influences of the gods and incurable by pakelni- doctor:;, most of the speakers agreed wi;.h Dr. T. Wi Rspa that no such disw-e existed. They pointed out, however, that some people were known to be posscssei of evil spirits, and tlie fact was mentions:! in the Bible. This, tlisy considered, should ;;urely be called "Mate Maori." Hone Parata, of Tokomnni. said the Maoris had their own gods, which guided the hi "t.orie_ canoes from Hawaiki to Aotaaroa. Whether these spirits were good or no L he did not know; perhaps they wee wirkecl and had something to do will ",Ma*e Maori.'' Dr. Wi Repa, who is hovs-' surgeon at Dunedin hospital, in a paper on the subject fia tly denied the existence of such a disease. Clever tohungas, he said, in order to get all the practice and out-do the pakeha practitioner, were 'cuts enough to tell every Maori who came to them that he was suffering from "Mate Maori," and that it would be a waste of money to go and consult a pakeia. The doctor deplored the fact that- these notions about "Mate Maroi" 'had been, and always would) be, obstacles in the path of the medical men amongst Maori patients.