Opening of Ohinemuri.

Auckland Star, Volume V, Issue 1485, 13 November 1874, Page 3

Opening of Ohinemuri.

rill portant Letter by Mr m Mackay.

<*. Threatens the Natives * with Writs.

CRUSHING RETURNS.

COI jtfClL RETRENCHMENT,

I GBAHAMSTOWN. I (Mia our own Correspondent.) I I l' This day. I , ls y bassent along letter to the I lli'r i n reply to the statement made at I jJi^i meeting held in Shortland on I 4« "V- -^c c°ntends tliat n°act °f ■ committed by the Government in I jjif^j proclamation preventing natives I 'an(*s to Private Parties, as by W p ■ tvO f Waitangi the Crown acquired ■ einptive right to purchase all lands I Vf J; natives were willing to sell. I fi fovernment don't say that natives 1 \ not sell, but that if they wish I s0 the Goverment will buy. I '.f persons sometimes give more for I V l' jjjocks, but they do not purchase the I ' tainoiis and bad pieces. As the result of IMb persons buying, he points to the I fu. 6 \ Snllivan, and says had land been ;.f X j.j, c hands of the Government his f I jJlrLnld not have been shed. In the ■I W w here there were difficult quesI those connected with Ohinemuri I blocks it was better for the I •* who are answerable for peace S negotiate for lands, than for private ■j \J iin addition, theie is not a block of I Pi within the ooundaries of proclamation I jihas not favoured the subjecbof dealing I jfjle Crown or agents in reference to pay--1 J\s goods. He declares he never asked H f^ives to take them, and rarely ever H all. The difficulty ■.0 other way. He has to withstand ■ 4ierable applications for money and goods ■ Moi out those who are really entitled I kin land. The goods consist of clothing I Jtoodonly. He has never charged profit, 1 Kceived discount when dealing with ■ (fortieepers for the goods supplied at his 1 j ff , The only liquors ever charged were I btwomeetings heldin 1872. Hereminds the 1 utives of the Ngatimaru Tribe who held I femeeting, that they owe large sums which I demands on the first of December, or a I nil will be issued against them. He denies git be is making a wrong survey at Piako, J blames Taipara for not setting matters At at the meeting, especially as he is a paid idjait of the Government. Mr Mackay totclodes by stating that the letter is written it interpretation, so that the natives may ujeretand his movements. It is generally understood that a few utires at Shoitland are trying hard to prewt the country from being opened, but till not succeed. Ohinemuri correspondent rrites tbat the Kiriwii hapu has gone over feii land accounts with Mr. Mackay BJcertin'ed to them. Others follow, and (kthsiness is expected to close next week, italhe whole of the natives will be summl to attend a meeting. Some natives tafit until yesterday, that the Waikawau Mwuld cover the claims of the GovernB^ainst them, but were soon undeceived rienirMaekay told them that block that rai/only be a3 one potato in a kit. The Hires now want to compromise and open tie country on the terms agreed on when HeThames was opened, viz., flat lands to be reserved and miners rights handed over after Jekting amount due for cash and goods tranced. The Government are not likely iaagree to this. Mr, McLean is expected at Tauranga on Friday, and will probably visit Ohinemuri Kit week. A firm in Auckland offer to build an iron ittamer for the Thames trade, guaranteed tpeed of seventeen knots, and take the ilarcs in any company floated by Thames importers who will co-operate. The people ira now complaining of the delay in getting foods, The Advertiser says the Superintendent tti Mr. Sheehan's trip is absurd in the lighest degree. It hopes they will go, and points out that the delegated power over the pMfields will then be taken by the General Cweniment. There is a general howl of indignation about the affair here. Mr. Mackay's letter is to be distributed mongst the natives at the Upper Thames. The Exchange crushing of 89 tons, yielded S3 ounces melted gold. The Whan got 12^ lbs of nice specimens iut night from the stopes on the main reef «Wfe the adit level. The have touched the aanieefatthe 116 feet level, but have not Wen down quartz yet. They started falling to-day at the Herald battery. Smile retort to-morrow, and **toe a good average yield, although last few days the mill has been 'Won inferior stuff. City's retorting of the pro*»«t the blanket washings is not yet The total crushing average about 'lonnoe.

the Resident Magistrate's Court to-day, appeals against the assessment levied by the %ongh Council on the Imperial Crown, Mey, Caledonian, Golden Crown, and fomping Association were called, and adWraed for a week, on. the application of MDMeI (or appellants. At the Borough Council meeting, the question of atriking out the Mayor's salary, and f ed »cmg the Town Clerk's from L3OO to was discussed. The first motion was

Degatived, and on the second an amendment ?*! carried, that the Town Clerk's salary be

Sales: Caledonian, L 5 2s 6d; City of «>ndon, 24s ; City of York, 6s 6d. Buyers: ate» 9s; City of London, 23s 6d ; Watch*»»i Is 3d.