THE MAORI PROPHET.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 426, 20 August 1908, Page 4

THE MAORI PROPHET.

Meni Kerekere, Rna’s chief man or Premier, the man who attends to all the tohunga’s business, is spending ' a four weeks’ holiday in Gisborne. Lion Kurin, another of Rua’s followers, is also in town. Speaking of Rua’s movements to a Herald reporter, Lion said he was at present camped at Mangapohatu, where all his followers, consisting of about 500 Maoris, were engaged bushfelling. Rua had 600,000 acres of land, and he had about 2000 cleared, “He pay the Maori £1 is an acre to fall the bush,” said Lion, “also 7s for sow the grass seed. Then he sell to us at £2 and £2 xos an acre, and by and bye we lease to the pakeha. Winter _ and summer, all the, same,” continued Lion. “ Some men fall bush and some sow grass seed.” Lion said Rua had plenty of money and plenty kai. There was also plenty gold at Mangapohatu. The Maoris found some and sold it to the pakeha. By and bye when the pakeha leased the land and got the gold, Mangapohatu uo.ild be a big town. In about three weeks’ time Rua proposed visiting Rotorua and Auckland, and expects soon to have over 1000 followers at his settlement. “ Rua veiy clever man,” remarked Lion. “He the King of the Maori. I travel all round New Zealand and never see another Maori like him. He got plenty brains.”