THE PREMIER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9193, 24 March 1908, Page 1

THE PREMIER.

♦ MEETING WITH RITA. THE MAORI PROPHET REPROVED. AN IMPORTANT CONFERENCE. [Per Press Association.] 1 ROTORUA, March 23. On Saturday the Premier telegraphed from Opotiki to Rua, the notorious Maori chief of the Urewera Country, whose opposition to the Government policy in regard to the natives has caused the Government some trouble, inviting him to a conference at Whakatane. To-day the Prime Minister and his party left Opotiki shortly after _ a.m. for the meetingplace, and arrived there at half-past 8. The picturesque little . town of Whakatane was full of Maoris.' On the narrow stretch of beach were grouped Rua and his followers, while a little distance away foregathered the loyal clan that is led by Kerera. The two groups eyed each other with distrust, and there were occasional differencebetween the outposts of the two camps. With much Maori talk and gesticulations, the loyal Kereras greeted the Prime Minister with ringing cheers. The * Ruaites remained sullenly silent. Rua himself was seated on. a chair in the centre of the bodyguard he had selected to accompany him on this important visit. He affected all the kingly dignity of a great sovereign, and steadfastly refrained from displaying tlie slightest curiosity about the Prime Minister. Grouped behind him were three pretty young wahines, who amicably share his sovereignty as queen consorts, for Rua is one of the few native chiefs who still affect plurality of wives. He is strikingly handsome, and hi- sombre black eyes have a peculiar fascination in their glance. It is said, indeed, that Rua has a kind of mesmeric influence over his followers. The Prime Minister advanced down, the beach 'towards 1 the Maori chief, who was seated on a chair close to the water's edge. The "prophet" remained sitting, with downcast eyes, but greeted the Prime Minister with a bow. The Prime-JVlinister, through the interpreter, greeted the recalcitrant chief with courtesy, and then delivered a tactful little speech, in which he thanked Rua for bringing his followers down from the Urewera country to meet him. Rua heard Sir Joseph in silence, and afterwards condescended to accompany him apart with the interpreter for a private interview. What happened at that interview is not known, but it may be assumed that Sir Joseph Ward diplomatically convinced Rua of the futility of trying to sweep back the Atlantic Ocean with a Native brooni, for Rua came back a different chief. He walked down to the beach and harangued his followers at some length. "What is he saying?" whispered one of the white bystanders to a half-caste Maori linguist. "Telling them that it's no use trying to go against the Government j their chiefs too powerful — too much power behind him," was the reply. "He says he is going to fix it all up to-morrow." .. Shortly afterwards Sir Joseph .ad-/ dressed both groups of Natives separately. He thanked the Kereras for their loyalty to the constituted Government, and advised them to ■ try and settle their differences with the Ruaites and live happily. . Kerera himself had previously complained that Rua had threatened to shoot his son with a rifle, and Kerera had advised his son to shoot Rua. Sir Joseph gently chided him for this threatened relapse into barbarism, and pointed out the consequences that would be likely to ensue from such a misguided act. " Let there be no more talk of shooting," he said. Then Sir Joseph addressed the Ruaites, and his remarks were listened to with the closest attention. He told them he had promised to consider the matters their chief had placed before him, but he frankly stated that he did not agree with all Rua had said. "Rua especially desires,'' continued Sir Joseph, "that he and his friends should be on the rolls to vote for members of Parliament, but I have pointed out to him that the Maoris have special representatives of their own, and they cannot have both Maori and European representatives." The Prime Minister then went in for some pretty straight talking about disaffection in the tribe controlled by Rua. " I told Rua," he remarked, " that in New Zealand King 1 Edward is King and is represented here by his Government. There caii be no other Government or King. The Government will do what is right hy Rua and the rest of the Maoris as long as they do what is right t but there cannot be two suns shining in the sky at the one time." Sir Joseph laid particular stress' on the fact that there was never the slightest interference under British government with the religious belief of any section of the people, Maoris or anybody else, and concluded by assuring Rua and his followers that the Government had the welfare of the whole -Maori' race deeply at heart. This morning Sir Joseph left Rotorua by special train for Auckland. Tomorrow night the Prime Minister will deliver an address at Onehunga. To-morrow an important conference will be held at Ruatoki between Rua and other Native chiefs of the district and the Minister for Native Affairs respecting the mining rights of Native lands in the Urewera district. _———»—————«-■-------------