AUCKLAND.

Press, Volume XI, Issue 1303, 10 January 1867, Page 3

AUCKLAND.

DEATH OF WILLIAM THOMPSON. The " Southern Cross," of the Ist inst., says :— Intelligence reached town yesterday that William Thompson, the renowned Maori leader, died on the way between Cambridge and Matamata. He expired on the 28th December, while being conveyed across the Maungakawa ranges. We believe that Thompson wrote to Mr Firth, stating that he would die on the 28th; and accordingly, at half-past four o'clock on that day, he expired. Up to the hour of his death Thompson used his influence in favor of the peaceable settlement of the country by leasing land to Europeans. The same journal of the 3rd, adds: — A large quantity of provisions, including three tons of flour, was purchased in Auckland lately, and sent to the Thames by relations of William Thompson, for the purpose of feasting the large numbers who were expected to assemble from all quarters to weep over his remains or his grave. We may state as a curious fact that the goods were purchased, and the vessel despatched, before Thompson died, and several days before his' death was known to the Natives who purchased the provisions. One of the first things occurring to the mind on hearing that William Thompson was dead, was the effect that the event might have upon the cause of peace. There can be no doubt that Thompson's influence has been steadily exerted for a considerable time past to repress disturbances and to save the lives of Europeans. We are inclined to think that it was very much owing to his efforts that the Tauranga difficulty was so far settled without bloodshed, the Pirirakaus having been always under his influence. Further down the East Coast, too, his power has been considerable; and perhaps we may congratulate ourselves that the most critical period, as regards this part of the country, is past, as the Natives have lately shown a disposition to settle down to agriculture. "With the tribes on the West Coast, Thomson's influence has not, since the war, been very great. DISCOVEBY OF GOLD. The "Southern Cross," of the 2nd instant, reports the discovery of a large extent of auriferous country in the district of Kawhia: — Although many of our readers are aware of the fact that gold has been found in the interior of this province beyond the confiscated boundary, still it cannot do any harm to repeat it, with the addition that the ground has been partially prospected during the last twelve months or more by men from the Alexandra military settlement. It will be in the public recollection that from time to time prospecting parties were reported by our correspondent as having started from the settlement /or the Pirongia ranges, but little or nothing has ever been heard of them since. Yesterday, however, we were waited on by one of the prospectors —a man who, with one other companion, stuck to the work from the first up till the present time. "We believe that he waited on his Honor the Superintendent on Monday, and informed him of the nature of his discovery. From this man's statement we were able to glean the following facts. That he is an experienced digger, having been on the California and Australian goldfields in the early days, and took service in the Waikato Militia on the outbreak of the war. He served his time in the 2nd Waikatos, until struck off pay; and then formed one of a party under Lieutenant Brown, of his regiment, to prospect the country across from Bangiriri to the Piako. That party did not once find the color; but our informant adds that this was by no means a satisfactory test of the country, because the gentleman in charge was inexperienced in mining, and that the most likely places were not tried. He next went to work with a party, prospecting on his own account, and Btates that he found the most likely washdirt in the Maungapiko creek that he has seen anywhere in the country ; but he was unable to follow it up to its source. From the Maungapiko he worked up and across the Pirongia ranges, and along the bush to Kawhia. When at Kawhia, the Natives detected the two prospectors in the bush, by the smoke of their camp fire, and a visit was paid them by the Maoris. Kewi enquired what brought them there, and he was told that they were prospecting for gold on their own account, and had nothing whatever to dp with the Government. Eewi told them that he could not allow them to do so, that his land was tapued, and that if the prospectors found gold the Government would step in, and that they (the Maoris) would be forced to fight. He gave the prospectors food and shelter for the night, and told them to go away and not return. pßut in the meantime John Cash.and his companion Brennan, had seen enough to satisfy them that the precious metal existed in paying quantities; that it was diffused over a wide extent of country, and would be found all along the western slopes of the ranges from Pirongia to Taranaki. Cash, the prospector, who is now in Auckland, bottomed a hole in this district, but

was forced to give up working until he got a pump, which he proposes taking back with him. He is confident of ultimate success. The only obstacle in the way of thoroughly testing the value of this information lies in the fact that the auriferous ground belongs to the Ngatimaniopoto and neighboring tribes ; and as is well known, they will have nothing to do with Europeans if they can avoid. However, John Cash, who spent ten months prospecting in these ranges, and as far as he could testing the level country, has a high opinion of the ground. His discovery may be of no present value on account of the Natives ; but we would advise him to send in a written statement of the facts to the Superintendent, and should the goldfield be opened within a reasonable time, his claim to a portion of the reward offered for the discovery of a payable goldfield could not be overlooked. THE WAJKATOS AT TABANA.KI. The " Cross," of the 31st ult., reports a movement of the Waikato and Ngatimaniopoto Natives towards Taranaki:— Some weeks ago we published a communication from Kawhia, stating that a body of rebels had left that place for Taranaki, to fight. The newspapers of New Plymouth seemed at first inclined to doubt the truth of the statement, as no news had been received there of any Waikatos having been seen in the district. The " Taranaki Herald," of the 22nd instant, has however the following paragraph, which shows that the information we published was quite correct: — " A party of Waikatos, sixty or eighty in number, on their way south, were seen coming along the beach from Parininihi. They turned up the usual track at the Waipingao gully, and are probably some of the party reported from Auckland as on their way down here. They told the Natives at Tupari that their orders were not to interfere with pakehas thereabouts, if the pakehas did not interfere with them. We hear from the South that small parties of Waikatos have been arriving in the neighborhood of Pungarehu, and inland of Waingongoro." We have received a communication from a Native who was at Kawhia when the war party started, from which it would appear that the whole of the Natives there have determined to fight again. A great meeting was held, at which it was resolved that they should fight at Taranaki. True, however, to the traditional character of their tribe, the Ngatimaniopotos, who are the strongest and compactest tribe at Kawhia, declined to take immediate action, saying to the Waikatos, " Go you first to Taranaki, and we will follow by-and-by." Thereupon 200 fighting men of the remnants ot the Waikato tribes mustered. The tribes were the Ngatipou, Ngatimahuta, Akitai, Ngatimaoho, and others. The fighting chiefs were, our informant states, Henare, whom we know nothing of, and Te Ahiwaru, a son or nephew, we presume, of the aged chief Te Waru. We are afraid that we shall hear soon of more fighting in unfortunate Taranaki.