"I AM A GOD!"

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11669, 8 April 1916, Page 1

"I AM A GOD!"

1 STORY OF RUA'S DEFIANCE. BULLETS COULD NOT TOUCH HIM. ' 'Additional details of tho circumstances in connection with tho prophet Rua's defianco of the law are given as follows in the " Now Zealand Herald 3 ': Constable Grant, of Tc Wliaiti, who speaks tho Maori languago and knows Rua well, was 'sent, witlv . a polico sergeant to .try and executo the warrant issued by the convicting. Magistrate. "Rua was then at -his Wai-iti pa, about eight miles from Ruatuhuna. W hen tho- police officers arrived and stated their business ho said: ''First we will have breakfast; it will make us stronger for the fight. Afterwards wo. will hold our ko'rero (talk)." - Accordingly, the police officers breakfasted with the " prophet" and his wives. They were told to eat what was set before thorn, but that there was no butter and no salt. Thoy discovered that this was uni tiue, both commodities being plentiful ai tho other end of the board, where sat Rua- and his wives. When the meal was over tho promised korero was held. The official visitors explained their errand, endeavouring to persuade Rua to come quietly." He laughed the idea to scorn, and, surrounded by admiring subjects, said: '• ion make one mistake. You take me to be a man; I am not;T am Atua, a god.. You pakehas have no right here, nor in Now Zealand. You are kuris (dogs), and I will drive you into the 668* , As to the offence for which ho was " wanted," Rua. declared he had been already punished for that, and would go to gaol no more. Not that gaol mattered, he said, to a god, but all the same ho would not go. "If ,you want me," Rua added, "you must send a force and tako me." The police officers, being in a helpless, minority, thereupon left the pa:- ; Rua now retired to his village at Maungapoliatu, and, in anticipation of the sequel, sent for. all his followers m the surrounding districts, telling them he wished to hold a, korero and* would give them a good time. Thei-e was a large gathering at the pa about three weeks ago, when llua told his subjects that <a force would soon come to try and take him. He bade them he with biira and note how he "would defeat the pakeha. Bullets could not touch him, he declared, for'he would rise up to Heaven if he were attacked. All he had to do was to hold out his hands and the pakelia forces .would fall to the ground. He wag the Holy Ghost. So the followers remained with him, and awaiited itho great 'Occasion. Scouts, were Kent out towards Rotorua to watch for the coming of the white men._ A, week' before; the force actually "arrived Rua had eight sheep killed for the feast bo proposed to offer them, but he and his people had to eat them, for tlio expedition failed-to arrive. In the interval Wore they, did, the idea of hospitality was-appai ently abandoned/for, as has 'been previously narrated, when the police came their reception was hostile, \ and rifles . and shotguns took the place -of* the suggested feast.