Lord Ranfurly's Tour.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7793, 18 March 1904, Page 5

Lord Ranfurly's Tour.

(Per Press 'Association). GISBORNE,:. March '■ IS

The Herald's correspondent tele~ graphs that the Ruatoki meeting opened formally on Tuesday with a tatagi re the •demise of Tamahau and Tomoana. The scene was very im-

pvessive. In the evening Native land U\v and Council ousincss were nissussod till a late hour.

Owing to the bad state cf < Jig roads through the floods, i ::e G ovejoior was not expected till mid-day on Wednesday. There were seventy natives at work clearing slips end other obstructions to enabio tho Governor and party to get Uiro:-t>,:i.

A later message states ihc Gc^er-n-or and party arrived he>-e at -1 p.m. after a very rough joume-y.

They received a great (tem.ms-ra-tion.

The welcome meeting openitfv. on Wednesdajr at 11, about a thousand natives being present. .Most o£ thy leading chiefs spoke.

The Herald's correspon--ia?it r< ntinues : —" The Governor, in opening the meeting, made one of the most practical and. impressive sp<-c<iies I •have ever 'heard, lasting about, an hour. It has mad)a more imprr.r-sicn on the Natives than any s:><jcch which has been 'delivered by any other G-overaor or Minister of the Crown as far as the Native rase is concerned. The visit of the Governor to the different tribes will do an immense amount of good1. He has dealt with <the practical skle oj" the Native question."

Thy Governor left at 4 p.m. !:or Tli a kat«ine. T)ie Coxmcil started work next day. Most of the leading chiefs spoke in the evening. The Governor's speech was well received-.