Wallace Tako and his sheep. (Photo: John Ashton) Ngati Porou Farmer SAW THE WORLD by MEL TAYLOR From the remote lands of the Ngati Porou tribe, dominated by majestic Mt. Hikurangi, to the gay capitals of Europe and America, and to the teeming cities of the East was the recent thrill-packed journey of Mr Warihi Tako, East Coast sheep farmer. Mr Tako is well known to the “Ngatis” as “the Lion Man” or “Maori Millionaire.” He comes from Waiomatatini—the settlement famed as the home of the late Sir Apirana Ngata. Reputed to be New Zealand's wealthiest Maori, he is sheepfarming in a big way. The round-the-world trip whetted his travel appetite. When he arrived home he felt that he might make a trip to Australia about next Eastertime. Also, he had a hankering to go big game hunting in India. It is 46 years now since, as a seventeen year-old lad, Mr Tako started breaking in virgin land. It was hard work. There followed long years of toil, working his way up to his present status in a class with the country's most substantial sheep men. One of the Lion Man's best known characteristics is the fact that he does not like to spruce up—even on trips to Gisborne. Formal education finished for him at standard two. “For the rest,” he says, “I let nature take its course.” During both world wars Mr Tako helped finance entertainments for many Maori servicemen. As another social service he helps with the expenses for Maori meetings. While in Dublin on his recent trip he bought a 900-guinea racehorse. He hadn't intended buying that horse—he just saw it at the Dublin Horse Show, thought it looked a good yearling, and bought it. Also, while overseas he bought some watches. He found the idea of having to set his watch to different times in various parts of the world too confusing. So, as well as his New Zealand watch, he bought one in London and one in Switzerland, hoping that one at least would give him the right time, but when he arrived in Auckland all three were wrong. Mr Tako had had the travel urge for a long time. Finally he decided to go overseas at Coronation time, leaving Wellington last May. He flew to Sydney, where he stayed a week and then to Singapore for another week. Then, with stops at Ceylon, Bombay, Karachi