OHINEMURI

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1622, 27 April 1875, Page 2

OHINEMURI

(FROM OUR SPECIAL REPORTER.)

P aero A, April 24.

THE ROTOKOHU.

At the Rotokohu affairs at present look rather gloomy. Several of the claims in that locality have been abandoned, and the diggers departed for Tairua. There are now only four claims working, and these are immediately adjoining Smith and Snowden's, and consequently close to where the gold has been found — hence their perseverance in endeavouring to pick up the run of gold. It is the opinion of several miners that the gold obtained by Snowden is a slip from the adjoining spur through which the Evening Star people are driving. If the above theory should be correct, the reef proper ought to be cut in the tunnel of the Evening Star claim -which is now in a distance of 130 feet, with strong quartz stringers crossing the face of the drive, evidently coming from a reef not far away. Mr Hunt's prospecting party at the Rotokohu discovered in their shaft at a depth of 30 feet a large piece of gum, which, strange to say, was impregnated with mundic. THE LAND DISPUTE. Respecting the rliepute as to the ownership of a certain block of land at Komata, from enquiries which I have made, it appears that | about three years aeo Mr Young of Auckland purchased from certain natives to whom a Crown title had been given, a parcel of land consisting of some 700 acres of splendid land. As I stated in my telegram Mr Young accompanied by Mr Dufaur and several Europeans engaged for the purpose, went on to the ground to take formal possession of the aforesaid block. Upon arriving, Mr Young and x>arty found Tukekino, a chief of the Kiriweras, evidently waiting for them. Tukekino energetically dented the right of Mr Young to any of the land, asserting that the block was passed through the Court and given to certain natives who had no valid title to the ground, and without his (Tukekino) consent the l»Bd in dispute belonging to him ; and as he had not sold it, he did not intend to allow anyone to take possession. After a long korero Mr Young and party returned to Paeroa, and started again this morning to the scene of action. Tukekino is a very fiery sort of character in his way, and it wo aid take but very little to turn this land dispute into a row. If it should ro happen that the Government, who doubtless were, to a certain extent, guided by'the advice of Mr Mackay, have given a Crown Grant to the wrong owners, Mr Young will, of course, have his remedy against the Government. On Friday morning, Mr Young again returned to the Komati and the wily Tukikino, who he found surrounded by about sixty of his dußky followers. During the day, a report reached the Paeroa and Mackaytown that the natives had burned down a whare belonging to Mr Young, and that a great row was a-brewing. The police departed in hot haste to uphold the majesty of the law, and, if need be, to put down the terrible Tukikino and his bravos. Fortunately, however, their services were not required ; and the afternoon was amicably spent in discussing potatoes, pork, and whiskey, to the apparent satisfaction of all parties. Before the matter is finally settled, it would be speculative to say how many pigs and gallons of whiskey will be consumed : but, no doubt, a goodly number. TE HIRA DISPUTES A TITLE.

While the above affairs were being enacted at the Komati, another misunderstanding, respecting the ownership of land, took place at Louis Deharis place, where it appears that Mr (Jocks, of Grahamstown, upon attempting to land a boat load of timber for the purpose of building, was stopped by Te Hira, who threatened to throw it into the river. Mr Cocks, some years ago, purchased the land upon which stands Deharis whare, and also Beveral whares belonging to the natives, the whole constituting a small settlement. Mr Cocks had the title with him, upon which was the native owners signatures, but Te Hira, as in the case of Tukikino, said he personally had not sold, although he had, it is well known, participated with the rest in the proceeds of the sale. However, last night all the • timber was landed without any row, and it remains to be seen what is going to happen when the building commences. THE MAZBPPA. The Mazeppa Company adjoining the Prospector's, Karangahake, started work yesterday, and we may shortly expect to hear of a good find in the new company's ground, the richest of the prospector's reefs running direct into their ground. THE DESERTION OF THE FIELD.

The exodus of miners and storekeepers continued through the week. Strings of men, heavily laden with all the paraphernalia pertaining to a digging existeace, were to be daily wending their way along the dusty roads, the majority en route to Tairua. Buildings, of greater pretensions than calico shanties, in coui ac of erection have suddenly been seized with paralysis, and stand a spectacle to gods and men, scarce half made up. Perhaps some day, if there is another rush, the carpenter will be summoned to complete his work ; if not, they will in all probability rot where they stand—a caution to store and hotel-keepers. Goods, instead of being carted from the Paeroa to Mackyt wn, were being carted from Mackytown to Paeroa, and re-shipped on board the steamer Pearl for Puriri and Tairua.