UREWERA COUNTRY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2151, 28 March 1908, Page 2

UREWERA COUNTRY.

NATIVE DISPUTE ENDED. N ATIVE MINISTER ACTS AS .MEDIATOR. Press Association. AUCKLAND, March 2/. The Hon. J. Carroll lias performed a great service by promoting peace between the rival Maori parties represented by Rua the “prophet and Kereru, and obtaining from the assembled Natives at Ruatoki concurrence in tho Government s proposals for opening up the vast area ot Liewera country for settlement and prospecting for minerals. Europeans in the vicinity bad feared the Maoris would come to .blows, and were much relieved at tho somewhat unexpected pronouncement that all difficulty had been overcome by Rua s followers fallin" into line. Rua hail been demanding £11,400 to allow Europeans to prosnect the U rower a, while lveieru, the rival chief, declined to recognise any .prospector who did not produce a- Government permit. Mr. Carroll warned them that Rua s permit would be useless. 'He said: ‘lt would be better to leave your new Messiah, open your lands, and improve them.” Hurunui, a Rua clnot, suggested sending a committee to Wellington. Mr. Carroll agreeing, Rua’s followers jumped to their feet Hurunui announced that they would fall in with tho Government s proposals. 'This -announcement was received with wild cheering by the other Natives, during which Hurunui s party chanted an old war cry, signifying that the dispute was ended.