THROUGH THE UREWERA.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 62, 13 March 1915, Page 6

THROUGH THE UREWERA.

HON. HERDMAN'S IMPRESSIONS. The Hon. A. L. Herdman, Minister of Ju.-ttke. recently inspected the Kaingaroa Plains prison camp, and from there went to Te Whaiti and Ruataliuna, and through the Urcwera Country to Wairoa, Hawkc's Bay. On his return to Wellington he gave a "Dominion" reporter an interesting account of hie visit to the Urewera Country. "Certainly the interesting part oi niy trip," eaid Mr. Herdman, "wee the ride through the Urewera Country. To anyone who has never before penetrated into really Temote parts of New Zealand, a visit to the Urewera Country is full of attraction. There the. native still lives Ju the bush, which grow* in the valleys at the foot of the high hills, hearing little, and earing little about -what is pawing in the pakeha world outeide. The Maori* interviewed mc at their meetinghouse at Te Whaiti, and I listened with deep.interest to the speeches of their principal men. The dWy-lighted room, with the nativei huddled together seated on the floor, smoking and listening to the speeches,'was a scene which will linger long in my memory. "I waa surprised to learn from membem of the deputation that they were anxious to have their lands opened for settlement Until I went into this country I had been under the impression that the Urewera was a territory in which the natives looked with suspicion upon the pakeha, and resented hie visite. I found when I went there that their chief desire ie that the Government fthould alter or repeal altogether ■ the legislation which makes about 675,000 acres of land a close reservation. I cannot understand winy the people of Rotorua have never taken thie matter up, and agitated for an alteration of the condition* relating to thie large tract of country: I personally know little about the value of land, and Ices about the value of timber, but I wae told by those who I believe are competent to judge that throughout the* reserve there is abundance of . timber—totara, rimu, and white pine—and I saw with my own eyes in places where the timber had been cleared acres of land covered with splendid pMturc It is no exaggeration to •ay that in some places through which we itawed the cocksfoot grass would reach to the horse's middle. Of course the country is rough—«teep hilbidue and deep valleys—but I saw enough to convince me,that (some competent judges should be sent into this territory to express an opinion on the value of the land and th* timber. On the Rotorua Bide especially the country appeared to be good, but on the Wairoa side it seemed to be poor. * "The natives say that they can do little with the land. It ie their land, and yet it ill not their*. It is reserved for them, but apparently they can neither lease, sell, nor develop it, and they are calling out for an alteration in the law. If a road were put through from Ruatahuna to Opu Ruahine, at the head of Lake Waikaremaana, one of the finest touriet routes in New Zealand would be provided, liisborne, Wairoa, and Rotorua would derive direct benefit, and communication would be opened up between the stock markets oi the Waikato and the East Coast. Of couise I did not see the part of the Urewera Country where Rua Hvee. That. L understand, is situated about 30 miles from where I passed. He ie probably opposed to 'any change, but in the country through which I passed I am convinced that the natives do want settlement. I understood when I was in tlie country that the natives were making arrangement** to hold a big meeting to consider the question of settlement of their lands in the neighbourhood of Te Whaiti and RuataAuna. "I should like to say that I wae treated with the greatest kindness and hospitality by the natives, ac I passed through their country."