ROTORUA

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 119, 20 May 1892, Page 3

ROTORUA

MR CADMAN AND THE NATIVES,

PROPOSAL TO REGULATE CHARGES

(BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

,'»■-..:• Ar"■: -..' '■ %' ■ Rotorua, this day. The Hon. Mr Cadman arrived ab Rotorua ib lunch time yesterday from Okoroire. Nearly the whole of the afternoon and evening were occupied in receiving deputations of natives. The only mabber _of public importance raised was bhe question of charges to tourists for visiting placeß of interest in the districb. So far the deputations have applied to the charges in connection with Tarawera Mountain, Mokoia Island, and the landing place of the steam launch on the beach at bhe back of Lake House, and bhis morning the Minister visits Whakarewarewa wibh reference to bhe collection of tolls and bridge. The attitude taken by the Minisber is bhab if the natives try to enforce exorbibanb charges bhere will be such an oubcry bhab bhe Governmenb will, have to exercise its right to take 10 per cent, of the land for roads to these places, which will bhrow bhem open to all, bub bhab if natives are willing bo agree bo a reasonable and moderate fee and leave bhe sebblement of the whole question of charges and collection of bhe same to him, and will wribe to him to thab effecb, he will try and do whab he can to help them. He proposes to fix a scale of fees for the pririeipal sights, and arrange that bickebs could be purchased ab hotels and other suitable places, and thab the money derived from their sale should be afterwards divided amongst bhe nabives who were entitled to share in the proceeds somewhat on bhe same principle as miners' righbs are dealb with at the Thames and similar places. It was necessary, he said, thab all the sights in the disbricb should be dealt wibh on bhe same lines, and that all bhe natives should agree to the proposed course. So far the depubabiona appear bo be quite agreeable bo this, and if the people interested in Tikitere, Waiobapu, and obher places nob yeb dealb wibh fall in wibh his views, there is every hope thab bhe vexed quesbion will be finally settled to the advantage of both Europeans and natives.