Opukeko Ohinemuri June 14th/70 Dear Sir, Thanking you would hear all that was going on here from Puckey and Bush I have not written to you for some time. I am sorry to say that after the Natives Land Court had sat more than two weeks and when it gave its decesion on the first and only block put through the Court in favour of Ngatikoe, the hauhaus used such violent and threatening language towards the successful claimants the Ngatikoe and also told the Court that it might decide in favour of Ngatikoe but they the (hauhau's) would not let them have the land -one old ladie went so far as to put out her tonge at the judge - the Judge thought it most prudent to ajourn the Court to Shortlands but would not fix the time for it to hold its sittings there. I think he did quite right in ajourning the Court as I heard at the time that if another block was put through the Court and decided in favour of Ngatikoe the hauhau's would commence fighting against and try and exterminate them. Mr. Mackay who was acting for Te Hira and Te Moananui - said that if five or six of the Ngatikoe were killed he did not care, I imagined from the way he spoke he would be only too glad seeing it would remove a number of the real and successful claimants against him, from still opposing him, for a J. P. to express such sentiments is very wrong, seeing it is his duty to uphold law and order and see justice dowe to all, instead of which he was with Davis telling the assembled hauhau's that the decesion of the Jude in Owharoa case was wrong and that he would get a rehearing of the case. Tarapipipi said if they the meeting were short of food they could kill Ngatikoe for food. While the Court was sitting Te Moananui with a party proceeded over to Waihi and one of his people threatened to shoot one of the queen's natives named Haira of the Whakatowea's and they stole 24£ worth of property from the Ngatikoe's whiles they were beusy at Court. Te Moananui held a meeting and told the Ngatikoe that they were to cease from letting the gold go to the pakehas and wished them to give Owharoa over to him for Te Kooneko cursing him. Ngatikoe and others told him they would not cease from their work i. e. the opening of the country for' gold mining purposes, and the Ngatikoe also told him that they would not give up Owharoa to him for the cursing but that they would give him a block of land on the Waiho river this the Moananui did not appear very willing to take and the meeting broke up. I think the government should support the Ngatikoe and other friendlies in this district by lending them a supply of some arms and amunition to defend themselves from the hauhaus and if it come to war send two Com. of Thames Volenteers to defend the right against might. The Governt. are certainly doing wrong in trying to impose any ristrictions in the Crown grants of the few blocks of land that the natives wish to have reserved for themselves. We all know that if there should be found good gold on these blocks afterwards the natives be quite willing to open them for mining purposes sooner or later but to try and put restrictions on the small lots now going through the Court with so much difficulties and opposition from Queen and King natives, is not alone unjust but cruel and will tend greatly to deter the opening of the whole district. I have been repeatedly told that if the reserves are kept for the friendlies and their children that they will at once as soon as the Court has finished its sitting hand over all the auriferous lands into the hands of the Govt. If the Govnt. think they have too many reserves I have no doubt but that I may be able to get the owners to relinquish in favour of the Govnt. a few of the blocks. I think the Govt. should act in a liberal spirit towards the friendlies as they are our friends and should be treated kindly and justly, if your Govnt. will do this I will try and procure a tracing of the boundaries of all the lands claimed by the friendlies and forward it to you for your use and information. One of Te Koti's ex followers Paura Toki of Ngatirahunui arrived her from Te Aroha (where he has been residing) a few days ago, he speaks very sensibeley he has told Te Hira and his party that it is no use him holding out against the opening of this place any longer because in his (Paura's) opinion this place has gone into the hands of the pakehas. He told Te Hira also that it is no use him talking of fighting it would do him no good ''have I not done that work and what good has it done me or any others'' and when told about the ratus and the run to separate etc. he said down at Nipia did not we the lower class oppose the chiefs in the Lands Court and did not we get a large lot of the lands that the chiefs laid claim to. I therefore tell you that those that are called ratus but are the land owners will get the lands to Te Hira he said do not you go too far in your' talk of killing Ngatikoe you may say so and then let the matter stop there; my word to you is go away from this district leave this part of Hauraki to do the work's of Hauraki i. e. open the gold to europeans. I think he will do a deal of good among the hauhaus and Te Hira. Word has been sent down by some natives from Tokongamutu for the Ngatihauas to leave the Aroha and upper Thames and go and live at Mangatautari. I have been told that they are going to leave the Aroha because they are unjustly blamed for leasing or selling that part of the country to the Govt. I have been told that the Ngatihaua's are going to lease that portion of this district to the Provincial Govt. for gold mining purposes. Would you kindly write to me and let me know what I am to do to further the views of your Government in any matters pertaining to the opening of this district, or the continuation of the electric Telegraph. I will be only too happy to assit the Govnt. in any such important undertakings. I am dear Sir, fatihfully yours, John W. Thorp To Honble D. McLean P. S. I will write again soon seeing the Court took more than two weeks to deliberate and hear that case and decided rightly and justly I have heard that Mr. Mackay through the natives has applyed for a rehearing in the Owharoa case I do not think it is fair to grant a re hearing.