UPPER THAMES. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) October 24.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIII, Issue 3209, 29 October 1867, Page 4

UPPER THAMES. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) October 24.

On the 17th instant, Mr. David Graham and his friends, accompanied by Ngatai, a chief of the Ngatipaoa tribe, proceeded to Te Taraia's settlement on the Ohinemuri, to have an interview with TeHira, Taraia, Robert, and the other chiefs interested in or owning the auriferous lands in this part of the district. Mr. Graham's object in paying them that short visit was to induce them to come to some Bort of arrangement, with the view of inducing them to lease or otherwise open their lands to diggers, and in which he signally failed. Te Hira did not come down from his mountain plantation to see him. Ngatai told the natives assembled that his pakeha had come up to ask them to open their lands to dig gold on; but Hohepa and Tukukino told him, " All our lands from Kauwaeranga to Mohihau we have agreed to let the pakehas have to dig on; if the pakehas go to dig gold, let them dig there ; and should any pakehas come up to dig gold in this part of the district, we will send them back month after month, as we will never agree to allow our land here to be opened to Europeans ; and therefore you and your pakehas had better return to Kauwaeranga." Mr. Mackay has written to Te Hira, Eopata, and Tukukino, telling them that he had returned to Kauwaeranga, and if they wished to have a torero with him they were to send him word. He also told them that any Europeans who went up to ask permission to dig gold were to be sent kindly back, but, if they still Eersisted in going to dig, they were to send im (Mr. M.) word, and he would soon send some pakeha and Maori police to bring them back. I stated in a former letter that Te Moananui was acting a double game. A native has since reported to me that Te Moananui, whilst up at Ohinemuri, told the Hauhaus that they were great fools to continue planting on the banks of the river, and that he would advise them to plant more on the mountains, and also that they had better be ready at a moment's notice. It is to be hoped that this report may turn out to be untrue. Whether that report be true or not, however, Te Hira is now planting on the mountains in some felled bush above three miles from his old settlement, This piece of felled bush they are enlarging, by felling more bush, and dragging away the tops, and planting potatoes between the green stumps. One of Te Hiras satellites, who has just returned from that plantation, says Te Hira is going to make it his permanent residence, as he is afraid of the pakehas, and that he does not wish to see any more new pakeha faces. Tukukino says that Mr. Mackays talk in his letter*, that they received, was very good : he is also going to plant on the side of the mountains, for the purpose — so he gives out— of guarding the gold ; but the Queen natives say the plantations are for a retreating ground when the pakehas come up to dig gold. Some of the landowners in tbis part do not appear pleased with the tardy manner displayed by Mr. Maokay in delaying to hand over the fees for miners' rights to landowners at Kauwaeranga, but there is little doubt, if Mr. Williamson and Mr. Mackay can only get Te Moananui's consent to the Upper Thames being opened, that those landowners who now oppose it will be forced to give way.