DEFERRED OPENING OF THE UPPER THAMES.

[From the New Zealand Herald, February 13.] A gentleman who visited the above district a few months ago, and had a long conversation with Te liira, respecting throwing open the Upper Thames, and who recently repeated that visit in company with some Ngatimaru. chiefs, gives the following as his impressions touching the long expected aud much desired opening of the Ohinemuri country :: — • The causes which have retarded the progress of negotiations may be summed up shortly:— l. The action of the obstructive party headed by Te Hira. 2. The covert support furnished to that party by the Ivingites. 3. A profound distrust of tho good faith of the Government. 4. A prejudice (rightly or wrongly I do not say) on the part of some of the most prominent dissentients to Mr. Mackay. Some of them also allege, with what truth remains to be seen, that they are awaro that the moneys arising from the miners' rights, fees, &c, agreed to be paid at fixed periods to the Shortland natives, are very largely in arrear ; and that in consequence they have no faith in the word or stipulations of the Government. If this be true, it should be inquired into at once, as nothing can be more fatal to the success of Mr. Alackay's mission than such a state of things. The Upper Thames natives are by no means indifFerent to the pecuniary advantages arising from the presence ot the miner, and the King also has reason to appreciate the fact, as it is notorious that his treasury is replenished by a quofca of miners rights' fees, from the Lower Thames natives. I fear however, that our patience will be well tried before Ohinemuri is fairly opened to the miners, and I should certainly regard those who frittered away their means lounging about Thorpe's, or who registered their claims in the expectation of " something turning up " at Ohinemuri, as being unwise in the extreme. There is plenty of ground at Shortland still unprospeefced, which it would be well to test, for it is in our grasp. The restless nomadic spirit which possesses a section of the diggers, involves a loss to themselves personally, and also to the community deprived of the product of their labour. Ohinerauri will come into our hands in good time without " teasing," either through the force of commercial or political circumstances — perhaps both. This district seems likely to be the arena in which will be solved the problem as to the future relations of the two races, in the South at least. The Kiugites regard it as the key of the position. If it goes, the King movement falls to pieces " like a rope of sand." Intelligent Kingites frankly admit that, it' Ohinemuri is thrown open, aud the thin end of the wedgo of European industry and civilization is driven in, the whole country must inevitably go up to Taupo. There is a little bit of Maori pride, therefore, at the bottom of the opposition made by the King party. It is their last kick ; but, like the last kick of a dying donkey, it may prove an unusually vigorous one. As the Native Lands Court will shortly investigate the title of various tribal claimants on the lands at Te Aroha, preparatory to their being passed through the Court and thrown open for lease or purchase, perhaps some beneficial influence on the question of settlement generally in the Upper Thames may result therefrom. It would bo extremely hazardous to commence mining operations on the strength of Ropatti's cession, as the claims of the contending parties overlap to an amazing extent. In fact, without Te Ilira's consent, and one or two others, it would bo Waitara over again — " It is Eopata's, but it is ours ; it belongs to all of us." The colony since 1860 has had grave reason to know what that answer means, and what it has involved. Ohineuuri, Friday. There is little to report since my last communication, beyond the return of the diggers to town, and tho effects of the heavy rain-fall of the last two days. Mr. Mackay still remains camped with the natives at Ouekaharu, midway between this place (Belmont) and Ropata's settlement. lie appears to be waiting the departure of the last digger with that patience and coolness which characterize all his movements. Thepaddle-stearnerClydesfceamedup yesterday morning, with a view of taking away the last batch in accordance with Mr. Mackay's instructions — or, at any rate, as many as were willing to avoid incurring the displeasure of the Commissioner and escape the pains and penalties of the law. On arrival, however, Captain Williams found the place inundated and the diggers' encampment afloat, with almost a sufficient depth of water in the paddock in front of Belmont House (late Thorpe's) to carry the steamer over the bank and up to the gateway. Such a flood has not been known in the district for three years past, and then the amount of rainfall was some inches below what it has been on this occasion. During Thursday the water rose at the rate of three inches an hour, and continued to increase all the evening. Tho river-bank had overflown, aud the encampment was flooded almost before the occupants had time to awaken to a sense of the danger of tlieir situation, and take refuge as a dernier resource in the house now occupied by Mr. George Cashel. The rising of tho water was observed at daylight, but the

'rapidity with which it increased took the tent owners by surprise, and all were forced to tho necessity of deserting them. Messrs. Cashell and Co's store, consisting of a large double mai'quee, erected near i the centre of the paddock in front of Belmont House, was now flooded, and the stores and other merchandise forming the stock-in-trade were conveyed to the latter place and to the pataka close by, raised some five or six feet above tho ground, and also occupied as a store by Mr. Anson. It was thought that the goods would be perfectly safe here, but the water increased to such an extent that even the floor of this building was covered some two feet before it had reached its height. Stores, cases, and sundry articles were washed downwards with the flood, followed by gigantic trees, pigs, goats, &c, from settlements occupying the banks of the river for some miles beyond Belmont, all of which were swept by the current at a speed of several knots. At the junction of the Waihou and Ohinemuri streams at this place, the two currents merged into one with such force as to cause the sound of " mighty rushing waters" to reverberate over the low-lying lands. The current was so strong that it was very cliflicult to row against, whilst the number of trees whicli swept along the stream rendered navigation very hazardous to canoes and boats rowing against the stream. The communication between Paeroa, Onekaharau, and Belmont was stopped by the flooding of the lands, and several parties who attempted the (journey were compelled to return. On Wednesday evening Mr. Commissioner Mackay sent a message to the diggers remaining, intimating that they would all be expected to return by the steamer's next trip, and those remaining behind would be escorted overlaud to Shortland by his orders. The diggers, with the exception of a few who are said to have packed up their swags and wended their way to tho mountains, have generally complied with tho order of the Commissioner, and the balance leave by the Clyde to-day. On her arrival the men were unprepared to leave in consequence of tho flood, but the steamer's boat and hands were placed at tlieir disposal, and a large number of the tents and their contents taken from the flooded encampment. Mr. O'Brien, on behalf of the miners, requested the detention of tho steamer until the tents could be struck, and the request was conveyed by a native with a canoe across the flooded ground. Mr. Mackay readily assented to the detention of the steamer until this morning, stating that he was aware of the difficulties under which they laboured, and could not expect them to get their tents down. The native encampment where Mr. Mackay had been staying was covered with water, aud he had also been compelled to strike tent and take shelter at tho nearest Maori settlement, where, at the time of writing, the flood had reached within one foot of of his house of refuge. It is needless to say that the settlement was also flooded during the evening, whilst the entire native encampment had been under water some hours previously. The ground for miles on both sides the river being level, was covered with water to a depth of some feet by the overflowing of the stream. Mr. Mackay has been informed that there is a band of armed diggers out in the ranges who have expressed their determination to set him at defiance in his efforts to remove every digger on the ground, and we understand that a party of native police have been sent out in search of them. No doubt (ho Commissioner will make an example of them should the natives be successful in discovering their whereabouts and apprehending them. The s.s. Clyde will return to Ohinemuri to-day, to await Mr. Mackay's orders.