THE NATIVE MINISTER'S VISIT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 8 May 1907, Page 2

THE NATIVE MINISTER'S VISIT.

DEPUTATIONS AT OPUNAKE AND

RAHOTU.

( I'roni Our West Coast Correspondent.

Ihe Hon. Jas. Carroll, Native Minister, arrived at Opunake from Ifawera 011 Sunday. 011 Monday morning he was dcputalionisod by the members of the League and the Town Board. Mr v,. Dudley, chairman of the Town Board, welcomed the Minister, and pointed out the necessity for the Opunake railway, and asked him to use his inflnence with his colleagues when in session. The Minister stated that he was in sympathy with tile league, as 111 his own district the people also wanted a railway. ITe suggested that the people should lind the money oil the same lines J 1 ? W«ihi G.M. Company did at ailii. \\ itli reference to the native inierest t], t . railway, he thought they should bear the expense in proportion to Ihe benefit that will accrue lo their lands.

Mr. Dudley ]iointed out to the Minister that the Town Board had been notified that they could not borrow money lor lighting, etc., and would like to see tile Act amended so as to give Town Hoards the same borrowing powers as other local bojlic-a. The Minister promised to make a note of tlje"matter, and l bought it would be better to get an Act passed. 6

Air. Koss asked if anything could be done to preserve some of tic old pahs near Opunake. Mr. Carrnl: ii> : | i] l; ,l Ihc matter was now in tli. p ! -, ~j- ji,,, I'liurisl Department. Air. Moore staled that h nants of native land were very discontented, and asked if the Native T.aiid Commission could come lo Opuuake to Iry and smoolh ma 11 crs a lid It*. The Minister said something would have to be done to make tin; natives contribute more in

[>ro|)oi-linn to the nniomit tliev receive. The lion. .las. Carroll left for llnhot n 1 lie afternoon.

'l'he Hon, .las. Carroll, Native Minister arrived at liahotu from Opuuake. oil Monday afternoon (writes our corrcsj poinlent i. and was deputationised by a number of local natives on various mailers. Mr. -leanings, M.11J1., introduced the deputation. The principal matters that were discussed was tile question of natives being included oil rolls, both lor local elections ami general elections. The i|alives expressed themselves Milling to be rated the same, as Kuropeans, provided they received the same privileges. Mrs. Kahili, Kangi, and others spoke. Several grievances were then brought- forward with regard to gravel being taken oil' sections, and road deviation. Ihe .Minister, after hearing the grievances addressed the meeting" and said if the natives would put the'statements ipade in writing, he would have a lull enquiry made into them.