A MAORI AND A ROAD.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1681, 22 February 1913, Page 8

A MAORI AND A ROAD.

' — : —♦——— ■ AN AMUSING INCIDENT. - ' (By TeleEraph.—Press Association.) Wanganui, February 21. A very amusing incident occurred at the-Maori meeting which tho Hon. W. H. Herries addressed at Hiruharanm on Wednesday night.'. During tho ivhich followed the speech, one Native rose to make a complaint. What ho desired to do, it transpired Afterwards, nai to protest against a proposed road being taken- through his property on a certain line, as he wished it to take another line than that- oliosen. The excitement of tho occasion probably confused him, 'or what he actually said was to protest against any road being put through at all. Koars of laughter shook the meetinghouse as the Minister, smiling broadly himself, expressed his pleasure at meeting for the first time in his political experience a man who did not want a road. Amid another shout of laughter t lie Minister remarked that it was said - that among the pakeha each man wanted a road all to himself. "I don't understand my friend not wanting the road," lie continued, "because I'll • guarantee it will add X 2 an acre to tho value of his land. Howover, I'll bo kind toliiin,aiid— — the Minister paused for one silent moment, which was broken by another roai ns Mr. Perries ■ added, ."I will let tho road stop there, and in ten years' time he will coins to m« and call me a kapai Minister." Later on tho .Maori excitedly explained to tho Minister what lie did wnnt, and it is to be hoped.il* received mor« satisfaction.