PROPHET and PROGRESS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 111, 30 November 1908, Page 2

PROPHET and PROGRESS.

Ru& and Land Settlement.

Rua, the Maori "prophet," who i» settled amongst a colony of Natives in the heart of the Urewera Country, has thrown himself into the van of progress, and evinces a desire to open the country in that locality to European settlement. He interviewed the Cook County Council on Wednesday last respecting the further opening of the Maungapohatu Rotorua stock track to through traffic, and as a return for the expenditure borne by the Council undertook to maintain a portion of the road. He waited upon the Minister of Native Affairs (the Hon. James Carroll) next morning, and offered 100,000 acres of land for purchase by the Government at a fair valuation, The land is owned by members of his following, and it is Rua's idea to obtain the money to clear off the liabilities and encumbrances, survey charges, etc., for the purpose of clearing further areas, and to purchase stock. He aIBO asked that a special sitting of the Native Land Court should be held at Maungapohatu, the site of his settlement, to consolidate the interests o? the different, blocks of land under his jurisdiction. He assured Mr Carroll that ho would render the Government every assistance in opening up the country for settlement.

Mr Carroll, who informed a Herald representative that Rua'g proposals were quite reasonable ana necessary, told the "prophet " that he would accept his offer for the sale of the land, and on his return to Wellington would place the matter before the Department. As to the Court, it woull be sent to Maungapohatu as soon as officials were available. Rua also asked for the Government a distance in the matter of providing roading facilities between Gisborne and Maungapohatu, and Waimana and the Bay of Plenty district. He stated that he had cleared 1400 acres of bush, and it was now down in grass.

Rua, who is followed about by several young Maori girls and a number of patriarchs, attracts a good deal of curiosity in the town. He has a weakness for motoring, and is a frequent client of the owner of a motor 'bus.