NATIVE SETTLEMENTS INSPECTED

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 105, 28 January 1935, Page 8

NATIVE SETTLEMENTS INSPECTED

Mr. Forbes Continues Tour SIR APIRANA NGATA’S DREAM By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wliakatane, January 27. Continuing his tour of the Native settlement schemes as Native Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, Prime Minister, spent Saturday in visiting schemes around Rotorua. These are about nine in number, including Horohoro, where 35 families, including a number from Wairoa and Hawke’s Bay, are settled in tiny cottages on 3000 acres, and at Tikitere, where the Waikato, East Coast and local Natives have reclaimed ISOO acres from gorse and scrub. Unfortunately, Sir Apirana Ngata, who is in Rotorua, was unable to accompany Mr. Forbes, owing to illness. At midday Mr. Forbes, visited Whakarewarewa, where be' was given a. ceremonial welcome and paid respects to the meniory of the late Chief Mita Taupopoki. Addressing the Maoris, he said the chief Mita had done a fine service to his people by wise council and active assistance in laud development. In the afternoon he was welcomed witli much enthusiasm by a. large gathering at Mourea, a. village between Lakes Rotoma and Rotoiti. where speakers assured him of their people’s keenness to push on the development of their own lands and provide a future for tiieir children. Mr. Forbes's Tribute to Sir Apirana. Mr. Forbes, in his replies to botli welcomes, expressed his pleasure at the way in which tlie Maori people had supported Sir Apirana Ngata in the fulfilment of his dream. He was satisfied from his earlier and present inspections that the schemes which .had been commenced were wise, and that the Maori people were doing their best in a determination to 1 see tlie thing through. To-day Mr. Fqrbes continued his journey” to Wliakatane, inspecting schemes near Lake Rotoiti, Te Puke, Tauranga and Maketu; calling at the native villages nt Ilairinf and Maketu, where he received ceremonial welcomes, and reaching Wliakatane in the evening.