UPPER THAMES. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) November 11.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIII, Issue 3230, 22 November 1867, Page 4

UPPER THAMES. ( FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) November 11.

On the 7th instant two natives arrived here from Tokongamutu. They report that King Tawhiao and Itewi had received a letter from the Governor, in which he stated that he wished their sons or young chiefs to come to Auckland to see our illustrious visitor Prince Alfred, when he honours Auckland by a visit. Tawhiao says, " if all the tribes consent, then the young chiefs may proceed to Auckland." Mr. Williamson, our Superintendent, has kindly promised to place two steamers at the disposal of the friendly natives in this part of the district, and those at Kauwaeranga, as a means of conveyance for them to Auckland to welcome our Royal visitor and guest. On the 7th our honourable and just Judge Monro, and Captain Heale, arrived at Ohinemuri from Tauranga and Taupo on their way to Auckland. They report that when they were at Taupo Mr. Firth was trying to induce the King natives to allow his herd of upwards of three hundred head of cattle to pass through their territory to his Matamata run. It is to be hoped his negotiations may turn out successful, and that the Kingites may come round to see the injury they are doing to themselves and their pakehas by their vile aukatis. A Waikato native came down from Tokongamutu on the Bth, with orders from the King that all the Waikatos at Ohinemuri are to repair to his royal residence at Tokongamutu, to hear the talk of the great Taranaki prophet, Te Witi, and, some say, to be installed in the humane and benevolent billet of the Tekau-ma-rua, or Twelve Apostles. Te Hira came down from his mountain plantations on the 10th instant.

November 18. A settler had an interview with. Te Hira, who is now residing at his old settlement at Ohinemuri, and asked him why he did not come down to see Mr. Williamson at the meeting. He answered, " I was on my way down, but was sent back by the Poati which was headed by Wi Koka " [one of the Wairoa murderers, who has heard that Mr. Mackay means to catch him if he can]. The said Wi Koka intimates that if he sees Mr. Mackay up in their part he will either shoot, or otherwise make away with him. This vagabond is doing everything in his power to keep the lands in their district locked up from the Europeans, as he knows full well that, when they are opened, justice will demand the surrender of murderers. Te Hira was then asked why he objected to the opening of their lands to Europeans to dig on. He answered, " The patehas have all our land from Hauraki to Moehau j let them work those lands ; they will not be run out in a short time." As for this, the smaller part, we wish to keep this in our own hands, and have our own laws, and keep our own mana ; and alto to have some voice in any important matter. If we agreed to open our land to the pakehaß, we should then be like animals-*-our voice would not be listened to or heard. If I agreed to let the Europeans have the gold to work, I should then be cast off by my people, and should be compelled to go over to your side; but if the new Governor or the Queen's son listens kindly to grievances, and redresses them, and opens to us the powder and guns, so as to place us on an equality with Europeans, then we may ohange our minds [i.e., by welcoming the pakeha, as we shall then know that they meditate nq> evil designs against us]. We have heard that the Queen's thoughts towards us are very good. It was her love to us and the pakehM that caused her to tell the

Governor to cease fighting, as she was verydaik ato the great loss of lives of both races by the war." One native told your correspondent that a small party of them were going to run away into the mountains to look for gold ; but cautioned me not to tell any Maoris they were going. He also added with a knowing wink, " By-and-by you will see." This native is one of Te Hira a counsellors. Another of .his counsellors tdd me to do my best to open the gold to the pakeha, saying that he was afraid to give his public consent to its being opened, but that he would give me his private consent ; he also said, "Write to your pakehas to come up to dig." This native is one of the landowners. This warm summer weather is bringing on everything very well; the native wbeatj potatoes* and maize are showing very well.