RUA THE “PROPHET”

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2358, 26 November 1908, Page 7

RUA THE “PROPHET”

ANOTHER VISIT TO GISBORNE.

INTERVIEW WITH THE COUNTY

COUNCIL

Rua, -Mah. (his wires and' a number of his followers, made another descent on Gisborne yesterday and in one sense, “painted the town reap’ Vermillion being the predominating color worn by the party. The leader himself looked rather picturesque dressed in a sac coat, .grey riding breeches, new tan leggings, fashionable collar, red tie, and a broadbrimmed felt hat fastened to his long hair with ia hat pin. As he moved about the streets be was immediately followed by his wives, and the party attracted no small amount of attention. At one'time Rua stood in the doorway of a'fruitshop, and a wahine, who did not belong to his hand, a,s- ---' sailed, hint on his iniquity in keeping a harem. Rua was told that he was a disgrace to the Maori people, and was lowering 'the pakelia opinion of the Natives, tie listened patiently to his condemnation 'Until the- good " lady was finished, when he forcibly -repliech and appeared to be thoroughly satisfied that lie had answered the charges made against him. Before the wahine could file a. fresh indictment, Rua remembered that be had an appointment with the Cook County Council and with his followers mov--ed off. On arriving at the Council’s offices, was met by the Hon. ■Captain Tucker, and Crs. “White and ''Sherratt. The “Prophet” was most respectful in liis attitude. Captain Tucker acted as interpreter, as the “Prophet” preferred to speak in his native, tongue. Rua, who spoke in the usual declamatory style of the eloquent Maori, said that lie wanted the County Council to help, him, and that,was tlic reason lie had come to Gisborne to make the desires of the native people known. The road that led to his , settlement was, for the most part, good, and he would like members of the County Council to visit his place; but be-was afraid that through a- bad portion of tlie road they would not be able to get there. lie would like to see the road made as jar as "Wihakatane; because then the pakehas •would come to the district* and rent the lands they need so much. He hid horses, but had_corne over tlie bad portion of the road on foot. In regard to camping places for men driving stock, he would like to know when they would be placed along the Rotorua stock track, and whether they would be placed on Government land. Cr •Sherratt said they would lie placed at Hukanui, Rangiora, Anini,. and Rotorua. Mr Sherratt added that Rua had shown him a place at. bis settlement which he intended to make a resting-place for stock travelling from the East Coast to Rotorua. .The Hon. Captain Tucker explained that the Council had already spent nearly £IOOO on the track, and suggested that as Rita’s people would derive so much benefit from the opening up of tho track, they should be willing to tender the Council, some assistance to keep the road in repair. Rua replied that bo bad made a ■proposition to the Roads Department while in ’Wellington that lie should look after the track from the Anini to Rotorua. Captain Tucker asked Rua if he was prepared to cover any of the cost of forming the track. It was only fair that "Rua should pay £lso' towards the cost of forming the road near Anini. Rua replied that lie would oontri- , luite £l5O, and' would also maintain a fair portion of the road in future if the bad l hart was repaired. Captain Tucker asked Rua when the Council could expect to receive the money. Rua replied that be would first have to consult his people. He added that AVi Pere had 80,000 acres of. good land in the Anini district. Captain Tucker told Rua that the Council: did not care who contributed the money to'repair the road ; the Government’ grant had been spent, and the Council’s funds for the' purpose had been, exhausted. If the natives wanted, good roads to their lands they would have to pay 'for them. The ' road led to a native settlement, and ' the county ratepayers would object to their money being used to repair a road chiefly used by natives. _Cr Sherratt said Rua bad, lots of money. Rua laughed heartily at the statement, and shook his head. He said that if the Council would meet during the afternoon: he would auk the. Hon. AVi Pore to be present. Captain Tucker promised that the Council would keep the track open to Anini if Rua would keep at open from there on ’to his settlement. Rua. then went to see the Hon. AVi Pere about raising funds to defray the cost of repairing the road. In the afternoon Rua and the Hon. AVi, Pere had another consultation with the Council. Rua intimated that he was willing to maintain eight miles of the road from Anini. The Hon. AA r i Pere approved entirely of Rua’s actions. He -asked that the- Council should continue with tlie work of forming the road, -and put parties on the work, stopping 2s a day out of their wages to the -amount of £l5O. ; • Captain /Tucker explained this was impossible. The Council 1 could not expend more. It meant tlie expenditure of £IOOO to get £l5O hack. The Council had expended its money, and if the Natives did not care, to pay their .share, then the Council would certainly spend nothing further. After some further -discussion, during which Mr. AVi Pere denounced all -arid sundry concerned _ in the -representation of the district, Rua was told that the Council, looked to him to carry out his promise to find £l5O -• -and to form a portion of the road.