UPPER THAMES. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) April 3.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIV, Issue 3348, 9 April 1868, Page 3

UPPER THAMES. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) April 3.

April Ok the 19th ultimo, at the meeting-hetue called by the late William Thompson Te Pai o Hauraki, Tukukino andHohepa called on the friendly-disposed native! to give up all leased lands to the King—that is, lands leased to pakehas. This the friendly natives firmly refused to do. Tukukino gave notice that he would order Thorpe off his farm. Te Kihi and others told him that Thorpe would not leave his farm, as it was his own piece and not leased land; he also told Tuknkino that he talked foolishly. On the 83rd ultimo, the potis [meetings] having heard that Tuknkino had been, unknown to them, receiving money which was rent for land, while he was trying to foioe others to give up their lands, Te Hira called a meeting, which fined Tuknkino 30s. for so strongly advocating the introduction into this district of the King's laws, while he was him* self breaking those laws. Te Hira told Tukukino, and his violently-disposed companions, to treat Europeans kindly, and: to remain quiet And peaceful, and allow Europeans to come and go when they liked. TeHira also blamed Turner te Waharoa for declaring the roads aukati, and then giving apakeha (Mr. Wriglej) a pass to proceed down the Thames to Shortland. He said that Turner was only a foolish boy, and unfit to have the direction of affairs. Te Hira is kept out of sight of the pakehas. Tukukino did not tike the way he was handled by the meeting. He told them that he thought he would leave this district and retire to Tokangamutu. He has been trying to procure some powder and caps down at Shortland Town, and it is reported that those forbidden articlescan be procured by the natives in that township, which, if true, ought to be stopped. The Nga'tikoe and Whakatohea, with Sehana, of Ngatdmaru, have proceeded to a meeting' held at Waihi, East Coast. The object of. the meeting is to mature a plan for the final opening of their auriferous lands to the pakehas. When they hit on the best way to proceed, they will then inform the poti here of their decision. Unfortunately Bapata was not there to attend that important meeting. The natives report that seven diggers have been seen on the upper branch streams of the Ohinemuri. The Hauhaus believe that Tawhiao is endowed with prophetic and miraculous powers, and can cause the rain to fall or cease, just as his royal pleasure may think fit. Tobu, the great Taranaki prophet, is similarly endowed. Whilst the King is writing a letter to him he can read it off a week before he handles the letter. Some of the Tekau-ma-rua were on their way to Taranaki to fight, and he sent them word not to came there, but they persisted in coming, when Tohu caused them to be covered with lice, and their camping-ground to be overrun with large rats, the size of rabbits. Thus, by propagating the most gross falsehoods, they seek to gain proselytes. One old man, who had been a Tekau-ma-rua, and had fought at Kotorua, stated that he did not care a fig for the pakahas now, as twelve of them could put to flight hundreds of the pakehas, or Arawas, if they came to fight them. He stated that, during the Waikato war, the Maoris fled when they saw the pakehas, but now the case was altered ; the Maoris since that time have become a favouted people of God, and could not be so easily destroyed. Hobson.achief from this partwho has returned from Tokangamutn,reportsthat some pakehas have written to Tawhiao to abdicate his throne in favour of the coming Prince, when he will receive £70,000 as compensation for the loss of his kingship. Our new Governor Sir George Bowen will have to act with a judicious firmness towards his rebellious Maori subjects to keep them in check, otherwise any show of weakness will bring on another extensive war, and its attendant loss of life and property. Some natives appear to think that hostilities will be recommenced at Waikato in November next It is to be hoped that the Prince may visit Shortland, for many of the natives that would not go to Auckland to see him would be pleased to see him at Shortland or Hauraki. Mr. Mackay was expected up by the meeting that is looked for daily, but the Haub.au chiefs with Te Hira express their determination that, if he does come up to be at the meeting, they will clear out or absent themselves from the meeting. We had a heavy blow with rain from the eaat on the 30th Maroh. April 6. On the 4th the Dgatlpaoa, with Mr. Maokay, arrived at Opukeko. Te Moananui bad proceeded up with his people the previous day to Ohinemuri. We have now some sixteen boats and two wakatauas that have been brought up by natives attending this meeting. Te Moananui and Ngatipaoa have come up^quite indignant with the Hauhau chiefs who so kindly handed their hinds over to the King; upwards of 400 natives have come up to the tangi to discuss and demand their rights. On Monday, the 6th, Mr. Mackay and the Ngatipaoas proceeded up to Ohinemuri, but they found the Hauhau chiefs who had been to the great Tokangamutu meeting with Te Hira had fled to the hills at their approach. They stated before Mr. Mackay arrived that if he, came up to Ohinemuri they would' nob see him. After firing three volleys the tangi commenced. In the meantime processions arrived with cooked food for the strangers, and nine bullocks were killed for the feast, besides a very numerous supply of potatoes, which were provided for the same purpose. ' The meeting of the Ngatikoes and Whakatoheas, at Waihi, East Coast, have come to the determination not to allow the King to have any sway or control as to the disposal of thtir lands. They mean, to dispose of them as they may think fit. Mr. Buckland's cattle that were seized at Patetere have been driven to Tokangamutu to feast the ntxt great meeting.