OHINEMURI.-THE TACTICS OF

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1896, 17 November 1874, Page 3

OHINEMURI.-THE TACTICS OF

(fBOH A COttIiBSPONDENT,)

November 16. Te Moananui arrived from Shortland on Friday, and wus to have attended with his people at Mr Mackay's office on Saturday. A formal notice had been sent to him, and ho replied that he would attend at the time fixed upon. Saturday came, but Te Moananui did not put in an appearance. To save time, the .Ngatipare and others went through their accounts, and Monday was set apart for the Ngatitawhaki. To-day, Te Moananui and his people came to Pukateawairahi, but instead of going iuto business matters they started a paltry squabble with Te Hotcreni, of Shortland, about a small piece of land down at the Thames. Half the day was frittered away, and then food was provided. After ample time had been allowed for eating, and nobody showing up at the office for the purpose of investigating accounts, Mr iVlackay came out and addressed the nalives. tie said thai it was evident to him that Te Moananui and his people were trying to shuffle, He had given them two chances of going through their accounts quietly in the office, and they had not shown any inclination to do so. As it was now getting late, ho would simply inform them, in the presence of all assembled, that the total iimount due by the was £0,0G7 odd. Then Te Moananui got up and said tbt he thought Mr Mackay was very impatient, and that he need not have acted in that way. Mr Mackay said that he had other business to attend to, and did not mean to be humbugged. If they liked to go to the office at once, well and good. If not, they could do as they pleased, but he would show them what he would do, With the exception of about £500 the whole amount had been signed for by the parties liable, and the vouchers had passed into the hands of the Uoverument. With regard to the unsecured amount, lio would tuko other means to get it settled. He said that he would not waste time with them, but would go into the accounts against the Matawaru tomorrow, as previously arranged. When the steamer was ready to start, some of the .Ngatitawhnki were trying to get Mr Mackay into an argument about their individual accounts, but ho told them that if they wanted any information they could go to the office and get it. Ido not know whether those parties who issued the " hold on" circuits lately have been sohooling o Moananui down in Shortland or not, but it lo!>ks very much like as though this is the result of their mftcliinationg,