RUA AND HIS WANTS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 225, 16 June 1908, Page 7

RUA AND HIS WANTS.

9 ON HIS WAY TO WELLINGTON. (by telegraph press association.) Napier, June 15. Rua, tho prophet, arrived here on Saturday, on his way to Wellington to interview tho Hon.-James Carroll on Native questions. " I am going," said Rua, in an interview, "partly to try to draw European and Maori together, and also to answer certain accusations made against mo. I want tho Government to help us to dovolop tho mining prospects of the Urov.era country in such a way as shall be fair to the Natives who own tho land and_ to tho peoplo who work tho mines. I desire that this wealth shall not bq idle and unprofitable, and I wish to get miners' rights tor the Maoris who own land whore thcro are. minerals. Then I want tho Government to help us to improvo our land, so that wo may work it for ourselves, and advanoe money for that purpose, which will be repaid. 1 want tho Government to make roads for tho Maoris as they do for tho Europeans. Tho Maoris aro willing to bear the burden of such works, just as Europeans do. I want to get tho right to fish in our rivers without tho necessity of buying a liconse." Rua and his party proceed by easy stages to Wellington. (ur TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) Napier, June 15. Rua, the Maori prophet, and some eightoen of his followers, passed through town today and created "Some mild oxcitement. The prophet, however, proved a distinctly mildniannored individual His long, wavy black hair gave him a distinguished appearance. The collection of followers was notning more than an average lot of Maoris, although they included one or two chiefs of tho Rolio Pota'o district. Questioned as to his movements, li.ua expressed bis intention of visiting Hastings to-day, and then continuing on lington, which ho hopes to reach next week.