THE "PROPHET" RUA.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9070, 22 April 1908, Page 4

THE "PROPHET" RUA.

A good deal has been heard for many months past about Rua, the Maori "Prophet," but the information that has drifted through* the press has not been very reliable or enlightening. For the most part, the reports of the movements of Rua have been more or less sensational in character, and Government intervention has been sought on various occasions on the ground that there was danger of native troubles arising out of the "mission" of the "Prophet," and also because Rua was alleged to be a tohunga of the first water. If the special representative of the "Auckland Herald," who has just visited Rua at his Waimona settlement, is to be relied upon, the latter is by no means the dangerous personage he is popularly held to be. The "Herald's" representative appears to have gone somewhat exhaustively into the subjsct, and has written some excellent matter regarding the "Prophet," his mission, and his following. He was the first European ever permitted to enter the "tapued" house of the Maori high priest, and has had much conversation with him. According to the correspondent, Rua's strong point is his religion, which seems to be a mixture of the Old Testament and the New, and is a sort of modernised Hauhauism. He poses as the Messiah come to save the world again. He emphasises the fact that he is not preaching "Maoriland for the Maori?," but is really Europeani3ing Maori customs and ways. He strongly objects to being called a tohnnga or prophet, claiming to be i above them in his desire for the 1 betterment of his race. On the question of the education of the Maori, he id in total disagreement with the pakeha system, and with Mr Fowlds' optimism thereanent. "He insists," says the correspondent, "that the pakeha is more than foolish (though admitting that he is actuated by good motives)) m trying to lift the Maoti to his level, with a few Shorr years of learning, whereas it has taken the white man centuries to reach his present standard of enlightenment." When twitted with the fact that many Maoris had superior to their teachers,, and held Ibigh political and legal positions,, Rua said this rather proved his contention that schools were rather for the evil than good of his race, for eventually such persons as those alluded to often became the enemy of the Maori through being bouglifeoverby 'ltaative billetn. Nevertheless, he declares that in his settlement he is trying to induce all who come into his fold to-adopt European ways as much. as. possible. His reason for withdrawing the children of his followers from the schools, is that after leaving these places the children soon forget what they have been taught educationally, but never forget the vices that: come in its train. This appears to be' the worst feature of the Rua propaganda, so far as the investigations of the "Herald's" representative disclose, and it is one that undoubtedly warrants Government intervention without delay. The correspondent entered the "Prophet's" settlement a much prejudiced person,, and left it with a feeling of admiration for its high priest. He does not think Rua is the eccentric and dangerous person he is made out to> be, "for he seems, outside his religion, sensible, kindly-disposed,, and amenable to reason." In his plurality uf wives he is believed to be following the Old Testament,, as he remarked, "I am a poor man compared with Solomon." Whether this referred to Rua's paucity of wives compared with Solomon's, plethoiia of them, or had reference to the. profound wisdom of the ancient king, is left to conjecture. The interviewer remarks:—"Only those; who are intimate with the Maori can. fully appreciate the fact that Rua has, so far as his settlement is concerned, completely eliminated that poverty-mak-ing, foolish generosity of the Native so conspicuous as ruinous tangis"; and he reflects that with a little discreet encouragement this man might be.productive of much good. Rua's settlement might, fee thinks, possibly be converted into a kind of halfway house between our ways and the Maoris. "I would say," concludes the "Herald's" correspondent, "that since we have spent large sums for ithfi betterment ef the Native race i without too encouraging results, and since we are living in an experimental age, we might do worse than ! divert a little of this money into another experimental channel, where, if not bringing forth the desired fruit, it would not altogether be wasted, for, in the words of Rua himself, 'The salvation of the Maori lies not in working with his head, but with his hands.' "