Page 4 Advertisements Column 1

Kumara Times, Issue 794, 17 April 1879, Page 4

The representation of the Southern Maori District in the House of Representatives having become vacant by the elevation of our ; dusky friend Hori Kerei Ta aroa to the “ Lords,”- the natives ate beginning to cast about for some one to fill the seat, A well-to-do native in the Nelson district is named as a probable candidate. The gentleman in question resides at Wakapuaka, and bears the name- of “.Martin,” He has probably as comfortable a homestead there as any of the. European population, and has surrounded himself with many of those little comforts and luxuries which none but a man capable of appreciating the advantages of civilisation would care to secure. The Nelson Mail, in alluding to the subject, says “ .who occupies a high standing among, the natives as a son of a leading chief arid son i'n-law of another, and who is looked up to and respected by the Maoris generally, a man of considerable shrewdness, possessing a large amount of good plain common sexjpe, and one who has always taken an intelligent interest * n going on around him, he (Martin) is in every way adapted for a representative of his people in the Parliament of the Colony, and we should be glad to see steps taken without delay to induce him to offer himself as a candidate. Tainui, of Westland, is also named as an intending candidate, and it is not at all improbable that he may be elected.