THE THAMES GOLDFIELD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume VI, Issue 1628, 9 February 1869, Page 3

THE THAMES GOLDFIELD.

OHINEMUEI. THE GREAT NATIVE MEETING. (From the Thames Advertiser, Feb. 8.) Ohinehubi, Friday evening. I continue my report of this day's proceedings, my previous letter having been dispatched before the conclusion of proceedings. Mr. Mack at : You have been a long time here, but you are sewing together the garments of Hauraki. Although they get torn, sew them together. Formerly Hauraki was inhabited by your tribes, but although they were distinct, they all lived in the same house. Now you are separated into Hauhaus and Queenites; but there is no reason why you should not be unanimous on this question. If any limb of a man's body is injured, it affects the whole more or less. In the same way, if evil arises about this gold, it will affect the interest of the whole of the people of this district. Reihana, you say, you will not enter into the house, because I am in it, but that if there were Maoris alone, you would do so. The fact is, that when the war commenced you jumped into that canoe called Pare Waikato, thinking it was a good sea boat. It upset, and. you came back into Pare Hauraki. Although you say you have not entered the house, I say you have, for you have come into this canoe. You are now living at the same place as Robert, so therefore you must be in the same house. Now with respect to the giving np of the gold, or retaining it, you say that in both cases there is evil. The holding of the gold will in time cause trouble, as many natives wish to give it up, and numbers of Europeans wish to get possession of it. You say that on both sides there is trouble. On the one sido (the holding) there is a precipice; on the other side there is a scrub. By holding you will fall down the precipice. It is not pleasant to walk through scrub. Still it does not kill anybody, and it does not always continue, because you come out into clear places. The same with giving up the gold. Certain things will take place which are not in accordance with your own customs; but you on the other hand will receive certain benefits and advantages. These are the clear places. Now with respect to the management of this district, You have now had five years to judge in what manner I have conducted affairs here. You recollect that when. I came here several of you had been in the.war. You made peace, and since then none of you have gone away again. During that period there have been many difficult questions to arrange: These have all been settled in most cases to your satisfaction. The gold at Shortland and. elsewhere was not opened without a great deal of trouble. Hid w« been deiirou* to quarr#l about

it, nothing would have been easier than to have caused evil. But we discussed the question carej l uieU y- If obstinacy had been shown, and threats used, there would hare been evil, bat one party or the other assisted in calming such opposition. The result was that the affair terminated amicably. So it will be in this case if we will employ the same means. All I have to say is this. There being a number of Europeans here makes no difference to the Government. Those promises made to you at the time of the peacemaking, have been hitherto fulfilled, and will continue to be so ai long as you adhere to the conduct hitherto pursued by you. After some further discussion, Mr. Mackay said: You say I know about giving up, and about holding back. I recolleet the ease of Taranaki. Teira gave up the land, but Wi Kingi held it back. The result was war. Now the Government have been blamed for that. I consider the natives were more to blame. If one had given way to the other, the Government would not have been drawn into the war. Now I think it would be better for the parties in this case to consider this question i? 3am e light, and give way to one another. Now, as to there being death or evil in giving U P' caa se e that difficulties will probably arise in other course. As to what has been said about judicious management of affairs. I do not think that Eapata or others wish to press the mattei too far, but they would much rather see their opponents give way, and join them in ceding the gold. So far as lam concerned, it is not possible for me to eat the words which I have uttered at so many public places and different meetings. Therefore, the conduct of affairs on the Queen's side will be the same as before.

Te SofABA, addressing Mr. Mackay, said: I have seen your words about Waitotari and Bangitake (William King) and I will hold them. You have held out the candle, and the foolish one will take it. Your goodness is only for one day, and will not last so long as my goodness. Mr. Mackay : Waitarawent wrong because of Wi Kingi Rangitake's obstinacy. If. he had discussed the question properly when the Governor was present his statements would have been listened to ; but instead of that, he told the Governor he should have no land, turned his back on him, and walked away. That is very much the case with Te Hira. He rang away and will not talk over matters. If he remained, the question might then be arranged. Another thing that will cause difficulty is that on February 22nd, a Native Lands Court is to be held at Matamata to investigate the title to the A rob a Mountain. If Ngatihaua get that land they will hand it over for gold mining. Trouble will then arise, as people will pass behind our backs. Tho (rouble will be Ibis: if gold is found there, you will not be able to prevent people from travelling through there. You had better agree to hand over the gold, and then no difficulty will arise. If people get behind you, it is not my fault but yours. Pineaha said: Leave Hauraki to be quiet. Do not take up the gold; let it remain. Te Hira has as many people as you see here. I have not given up the gold. Te Hira will not give it up. You think the chiefs have all given up their lands, but there "are other chiefs. I and others have not given up ours. Some have given land which does not exist. Your management has been right, but let us go on quietly. Those who come to buy land will pay their money and lose it. Taraia is a stupid man. (This was said in reference to Taraia having signed some documents of sale.)

i Pine aha was very vehement, but not nearly bo much as on the last meeting. He denied I that Te Hira was without support in refusing to hand over the land. He wanted to live at peace, and when the Superintendent had said that he wished to unite the two peoples, ha cordially said aye. He would leave Mr. Mackay the regulation of the Queen's side, but he himself belonged to the King's side. Frcm the | time that the Superintendent had come in the ! steamer, down to this day, he bed been consistent in resisting the opening of the land. The discussion then, in great measnre, left the subject, and was about the different divisions of land, arising from late attempts at purchase ! on the part of Europeans, and the consenting of some natives, who have taken money upon , pieces of land. Mr. Mackay again addressed the meeting, showing how the Maoris had declared that if Coromandel were opened the whole island would be thrown into confusion; the cry was the same with reference to Shortland, and so with Tapu Creek and the other places. Yet none of the dire results prophesied took place, and so it would be with. Ohinemuri. In concluding, he said: It will be better to leave off about peices of land and return to the question whether the land shall be given up or withheld. Now I have come to the conclusion that you have given up the gold, as -you have begun to discuss questions about the boundaries' of your different pieces. If you had not made up your minds to give up the gold, there is little use in entertaining questions of ownership. You bad better return to the question which is to be discussed. When a fish is in the sea it is not possible to cut it up ; but when it floats ashore and is dead then it can be cut up. Now, with respect to this Hauraki, the head and body have been cut up, and we are now talking about the tail. I would now suggest that to-morrow we go on with this question—about the giving up or withholding.

The Queenite party, though quiet in their speeches, are as determined as ever to open their land. Ngatai was accused by one of the speakers of having sold some land, and got money, part of which ought to have gone to others. .Ngatai at once answered, " Well, the reason why I ask Mr. Mackay now for money for the gold is, that I may pay these sums back." There were only a few Europeans present, one or two of those who have been living amongst the natives, and, of course, tlie irrepressible Press. The men who are living in the neighbourhoodj waiting for the opening -jof the land, knowing that their presence was not wanted, stayed away.

The weather Las been extremely hot to-day at Ohinemuri. The natives adopted a very excellent plan to form a shade, by cutting large branches of ti-tree, and sticking tliem in the ground where the meeting was held."! Thus an excellent shelter was formed from the burning sun. SATUBDAY'S PROCEEDINGS, Ohinemuki, Saturday evening. The parties assembled on the ground to-day about ten o'clock. The Hauhaus, or Kingites, marched down to the ground in a body, and, forming two deep, recited the well-known Hauhau chant, which is '* Glory to the Father." &.C., in Maori fashion, " Kororia kite pata," with the addition at the end of every line of " Eire, rire." They then squatted on the ground, and the priest, standing, prayed, invoking God's aid for their King Tawhiao. One of the men then fired the Hauhau flag in the ground, and also two pegs, with others to back them, representing "hold" and "letgo." Mr. Mackay went up, also stuck up two sticks, and then pulled them out again, saying that it was not the land that made the trouble, but the acts of man. - It was a man who put up the sticks, and a man could pull them down. ...... Beihana said ; You are right. It is not the land which is causing the trouble, but the men who are troubling it. . Mr. Mackay then spoke at some length, saying that the trouble was caused by those men who wished to withhold the gold. Everything in this world had been made for the use of man, tnd ought not to be withheld. , All their •peiking could not hide the gold, and th«y codd

not conceal it, when the Europeans wished it. He did not want to take their gold by.torce, but quietly, and its being discovered would increase the power and wealth of the natives. Peihana said that Mr. Mackay should not mention that now. They should try and keep peace BDd quietness in Hauraki by making proper arrangements about the matter. a man's box is locked, how can another get into it rightly. You would not like me to go into your box. , Mr. Mackay, after some further remarks, said : The earth was made by God for man, and not specially for any men. Providence brought you here, and brought me here also. Te Kopaba : If T went to England, would I get land there ? And do you ant me to give up this P Mr. Mackay said that if Te Kopara went to England, and had money to buy land, he would get it. Te Kopaba : Do not settle this matter now, but let it stand for a time.

The Xingites then engaged ill prayer, using the same form as they bad done previously. Afterwards the discussion was renewed, and gradually changed to a political turn, in which almost the whole history of .New Zealand was dragged up. Mr. Mackay spoke of Kingism and Hauhauism as having caused the divisions amongst the Maoris, and between them and the Europeans. TVben Mr. Mackay blamed the king for having been the cause of the Poverty Bay massacres, Te Kopara, Pineaha, and .Eeibana vehemently denied it, and referred to the banishment to the Chatham Islands. Ihey also denied that the king had incited Titokowaru to begin the fighting at Patea, and asserted that the king was against war. Te Kopara (who has assumed William Thompson's name of Tarapipi) said that he had first made peace with Mr. Mackay, in the Thames, and that William Thompson had made peace through Mr. George Graham, in Waifcato. Maoris are good arguers, and I do not think that in any capacity or on any occasion Mr. Mackay displayed more ability than he did today, having to contend single-handed with three or four acute Hauhaus. The mere physical exertion, under the hot sun, would have been too much for any but the strongest and most determined man.

The hot contention seemed to raise the spirits of the Hauhaus, and make them more good natured and polite than before, and when, about mid-day, Mr. Mackay told them he was going away to get some food, they gave some good humoured and complimentary "chaff.'' Some time after, a shower fell, and the Hauhau party left the ground. Te Hira's sister, Mere Kuru, and others of the principal women remained behind, and had a long and quiet talk with Mr. Mackay upon the position of affairs in the district, which they influence not a little. It was understood that there will be a meeting on Monday. The JSgatimaru, Ngatiwhanaunga, and others from Hauraki, left on Saturday evening, and it was understood that the Ngatipaoa will leave on Monday evening. I do not know that I am competent to give an opinion as to how matters are progressing in reference to the opening of the land, as the talk at the meetings may not be a true indication of the progress that is being made. A great number of the landed proprietors of the district have signed a document agreeing to give up the land, and I hear that Mr. Mackay has obtained further signatures since he came up. How far and how fast the negotiation is progressing in this respect is not known. From the rumours that had reached Shortland relative to the late meeting of the natives previous to the arrival of Mr. Mackay, I was quite prepared to find the temper and disposition of the Hauhaus worse than it has proved to be. Things are therefore moving, but they are moving slowly, and it is perhaps better that they should do so. I was present when his Honor the Superintendent went to Ohinemuri on the first occasion (about eighteen months ago), and I was struck yesterday and to-day with the difference in the tone of the Hauhaus between then and now. The fact seems to have pressed itself upon them that the opening of the land is inevitable, and that, after all, it must be a matter of arrangement. At the same time I would advise no man to remain idle waiting upon the opening of the land. Shortland is near enough, and abundant not'ce will be given of the time when men may go on. to the land.

MINING MATTERS. The shareholders of the Union claim, next the Sink to Rise, on the Moanatairi, have had a crushing of ten tons of stone at the Ruranui Company's battery, with a yield of four ounces to the ton, including specimens. We perceive, by advertisement, that a meeting of the shareholders is convened at the Crown Hotel, Grahamstown, on Friday evening next. The shareholders of the Bobbie Burns claim, now called Well's Reef, have about 40 tons of stone raised, and ready for crushing. A rich lode about two and a half feet thick was struck in the adjoining claim, the owners of which had obtained permission from the manager of the Bobbie Burns to enter a drive through their ground. This concession has proved of great advantage to both claims, as it serves to prove the value of the ground. The shareholders are now waiting their turn for a crushing at the Dna Company's machine, which is expected to give a remunerative yield. MEETING OP SHAREHOLDERS. AUCKLAND GOLD-MINING COMPANY. A meeting of the shareholders of the Auckland Gold-mining Company (Registered] was held at the Governor Bowen Hotel, Grahamstown, on Friday evening, for the election of two directors. There was a good attendance, James Smart, Esq., occupying the chair. Messrs. Powleyand W. Sigley were duly elected to the office of directors to the Company, and it was announced that a manager had been selected in Victoria, who might be shortly expected out. It was also intimated that a number of the company's shares had been eagerly taken up by gentlemen in Hobart Town, but this would be made known in a report of the company in due time. A meeting of engine-drivers and others was held at the Governor Bowen Hotel on Saturday evening last, for the purpose of forwarding the eight-hour movement. The chairman stated yiat he had waited on the owners of the dinnrent batteries, who had almost unanimously declared themselves ready to meet the men half way. It was then resolved that the meeting express its satisfaction at the almost unanimous support and approval received from the proprietors of the crushing machines, and beg that thtry will convene a meeting amongst themselves, and resolve on a day when the eight-hour movement shall be established. Another resolution thanked the Magistrates and others for the interest they had taken in the movement, and also those who had given their signatures to the petition. We have been compelled to withhold a fall report of the proceedings.

(From the Timet, February 8.) We have been informed by a shareholder in the Tweedside claim, thatthirteen tonsof quartz crushed from their ground realised 67 oza. 12 (Iwts. Five tens of the stuff were crushed at the Hape Gold Mining Co.'s battery, and the eight at Eaton's battery. During the last week some 160 lbs. weight of splendid stone was turned out, and it is anticipated that the dividend for the month will be about £30 per •hare.

We hear from a shareholder in the Go-ahead claim that three shares in this claim have brought excellent prices—viz., £800, £785, and £853, being purchased by Mr. K.B.Scott. The ' purchaser has offered £1000 for any share in i the claim, which Ims been refused. Me has also 1 offered the loan of £2500 for the purpose ot I putting up a twenty stamper battery, which will ! be proceeded with at once.