NATIVE DEPUTATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3687, 6 September 1927, Page 2

NATIVE DEPUTATION.

COURT TROUBLES TO PARLIA MENT IN WHEELBARROW'.

The native deputation, from the King Country which waited on the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. J. G. 'Coates, in regard to Native lands and rating in the Rohe Potae last week had with them documents to prove that when the turning of the first sod of the railway took place at Te Awamutu, the natives were then informed that their lands in the Rohe Potae would be exempt from rates.

The wheelbarrow used in connection with the turning of the first sod was taken by the natives to Wellington last evening. They declare that the wheelbarrow was the means of giving the Government the right of entry into the King Country.

It is reported that, when the natives gave the Government permission to proceed with the railway, the chief Wahanui dug sods of earth and placed them in the wheelbarrow, and Rewi Maniapotae called 'Sir Robert Stout, who was present to wheel th» load away. Six’ Robert responded to the call of the “haeremai” and took off his coat to do the deed.

One member of the deputation stated last evening at Taumarunui, that the wheelbarrow gave the pakeha entry to the King Country, and to-day it is intended to wheel it to Parliament buildings full of the burdens of the present-day natives. The wheelbarrow is still in a fair state of preservation, and is about 43 years old.