THE new owner of Eigg arrived unexpectedly on his island home

yesterday to an enthusiastic welcome from island representatives.

Lounging on the steps of the Grand Lodge, formerly the home of

unpopular laird Keith Schellenberg, Marlin Eckhard Maruma, a modern art

painter and professor of architecture, said that he had come first to

listen to the opinions of the local people. Then, he added, he would

make investments which he anticipated being around 10 times the purchase

price of the island, which is said to have been #1.6m.

Asked about his investment plans he said he had been aware from the

beginning that there is no point in purchasing a Rolls-Royce if you do

not have enough money for the petrol and had every intention of

investing money in the island.

As indication of his desire to be seen as a man of the people Mr

Maruma's first statement as laird was that on his first visit he did not

want any of the local people to have to come and see him in the lodge

but he would rather go and visit them in their homes to listen to their

opinions.

His subsequent tour of the island in a #700 former forestry minibus

brought about a flurry of spring cleaning in many of the homes of the

island's 75 inhabitants and many words of praise for the new owner.

Mr Maruma said that he had intitially signed letters of intent to

purchase the island from Mr Schellenberg as long ago as last August and

that he suspected that the former laird had been keen to get him to

withdraw from the deal, which was concluded on March 28.

Referring to the ownership of a map of the island which was disputed

last Tuesday, Mr Maruma said: ''The map doesn't belong to me, it belongs

to the island''.

Praising the local people for their ''healthy dislike of injustice''

he said that 20 years of world travel had taught him that his first

priority should be to listen to their views before proceeding to a

shared plan of economic development and then making the concept into a

firm reality.

Mr Maruma said that while he had not finalised anything he would even

be prepared to invest his own funds in the upgrading of the tiny island

pier, the responsibility of Highland region, as he saw improved

transport links with the mainland as being a vital stage in the island's

future development and would not be prepared to wait 10 years for the

Government to improve the pier.

His visit was greeted with initial enthusiasm by island

representatives, including Dr Christoper Tiarks who said: ''My wife and

I were delighted to entertain Mr Maruma to tea. I am sure that he and

his girlfriend are going to be good news for Eigg and I'm sure the

people will co-operate with him on his plans for the island.''

Mrs Marie Carr, the wife of Mr Schellenberg's former farm manager Mr

Colin Carr, who was recently under threat of eviction with her five

children, said: ''Our new owner seems very agreeable and interested

which is more than can be said for somebody else.

''He seems to be a genuine person with the island's interests at

heart.''

Also on the island was Isle of Eigg trustee and opponent of Mr

Schellenberg, Leslie Riddoch, who said: ''I am absolutely staggered at

this complete reversal of behaviour of this laird in contrast to the

last.

''I finally think that there is a light at the end of the tunnel for

this island and am convinced that all of us can work together.''