Methodist acclaim for Ratana

Delegates to the national Methodist conference held in Wellington. — Otago Witness, 15.3.1921.
Delegates to the national Methodist conference held in Wellington. — Otago Witness, 15.3.1921.
An interesting feature of the Methodist conference in Wellington yesterday was an address by the Rev Robert Haddon, the well-known Maori missionary.

Referring to the coming of the Hindus into certain districts, he said he had no objection to Asiatics coming, so long as they brought their wives with them, but the crossing of the Indian and the Maori was no good. Referring to Ratana, the miracle worker, he said Ratana was his second cousin. Ratana’s grandfather was a Christian man. The call came to Ratana to surrender himself completely to God and to isolate himself. He fasted six days, living on prayer, and then power came. He went to a sick child and prayed and immediately she was healed. The Maori sought more of mana than of Christianity. You must put away this mana idol, said Ratana. It is tohungaism. Have faith and I will have faith, and God will hear you. When they did this at Ratana’s request they were able to say: My eyes can see or I can walk. It was, declared Mr Haddon, out and out Christianity. Ratana was against everything that tied the Maori down. To accept Christ as his personal saviour was the only way to build the Maori up.

The novelty of surfing

Sydney: Surf shooting is a fascinating sport with which few New Zealanders are familiar although there is an eminently suitable surf at such places as Lyall Bay, New Brighton, Timaru and the Ocean Beach at Dunedin. All the young and agile on the Sydney surfing beaches ‘‘shoot the breakers” — a knack difficult to learn, but well worthwhile. A choice few of both sexes have learned to use the surf board — a light piece of timber about as long and as broad as themselves —  and, with this, they go out and meet the furthermost breakers, climb on to them the instant before they break, and ride them right onto the beach. Some, while driving forward at lightning speed stand upright on the rocking board.  One well-known surfer actually takes his fox terrier out with him, and comes in with the brute sitting complacently on one end of the board.

WCTU on venereal disease

At the first meeting for the year of the Dunedin District Women’s Christian Temperance Union the president, Mrs Hiett, read the following resolution, which was adopted by the National Council of Women (Dunedin branch) and asked the union for an expression of opinion on it: “In connection with the national effort for the reduction of venereal disease, this association congratulates Mr Parr (Minister of Health) on the good work which has already been done by the free clinics established a few months ago, and would support extension of the work on these lines, but strongly protested against any clause and any bill proposing notification and compulsory treatment.” Miss McCarthy, Mrs Don, and Miss Powell spoke strongly against compulsory notification. Considerable discussion followed. A public meeting to explain the probable working of the clause was suggested. Members agreed with Lady Stout that the carrying of prohibition of the liquor traffic would help greatly in preventing the disease. It was decided to forward the resolution as a remit from the union to the convention.  — ODT, 2.3.1921.

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