False Prophets.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XVIII, Issue 1683, 1 April 1885, Page 2

False Prophets.

And so despite all that has been prophesied by that Maori chieftaiuess, Marie Pungare, the world has not come to an end after all. That alleged day of fate —Saturday, the 28 th of March, has come and gone, yet the sun still shines, the grass springs up green, men and women still pursue their daily pursuits, and the world wags on just the same as before. It is curious what a strange hold superstition can take of the Maori mind. Twenty years ago the Pai Marire creed spread over the laud and nearly all the West Coast natives become Han Haus. That superstition in course of years worked itself out and became a dead letter. Then in latter times Te Wbiti and bis strange teachings exercised an all powerful influence over a considerable section of the natives, and that old Maori was legarded as a demi-god. When at a native meeting Tito Kowaru chal lenged Te Wbiti’s power, and asked “Who is behind you,” the old prophet sprang to his feet and electrified the assemblage by exclaiming in a voice of thunder-” There is no one behind me. lam the Father, 1 am the ISon, I am the Holy Ghost,” The voice, tone, look, gesture and words of Te Whiti completely cowed his questioner and established his supremacy for the time. Yet when a year afterwards Te Whiti was handcuffed and taken prisoner at Paribaka, his influence crumbled away, and now hi# ascendancy amongst the native race 13 e,l ! ireJ y This last essay in the prophetess line of business by Marie Pungare has been a comparatively small affair and mainly confined to a single locality. As last Saturday, (he 28' hj of March which was to have been “ The Day of Destruction”— has passed over without anything happening, we suppose the natives will disperse fropi ICaikote, and by and bye that Mario Pun<nire and the sensation which she has "created, will sink into total oblivion and be altogether forgotten.