FIRST DISCOVERIES OF GOLD IN N.Z.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume XVI, Issue 2107, 21 September 1906, Page 2

FIRST DISCOVERIES OF GOLD IN N.Z.

AND EXPLORATIONS IN THE

MIDDLE ISIAND

MR JAMES MACKAY'S ACCOUNT

[All rights of .publication reserved.]

f Continued. 1

At the mouth of the Taramakau we I found three Natives, who at once volunteered to conduct us to the Grey to see the principal chief of the West Coast Ngaitahu tribe, Tarapuhi Te Kahuki, with whom I had become a special favourite on my trip up the Grey in 1857. He was without "exception the best walker I ever saw among the Maoris; and being myself considered, at Ooliingwood one of the best buehmen and travellers on the field, he, after weeing me walking over ; the grass lands from Ahaura to ' Totara.and Waipuna, and leaving him , behind, at once took to me, and on j ' our return to camp, told the Maoris | he was beaten in walking. On our arrival at the Grey wo met with a cordially hospitable reception. Before proceeding further, I will state that Ohio? Land Purchase Commissioner McLean had no knowledge of the West Coast or the Natives who resided there. His opinion (vide his report on land purchases in the Middle Island) was that there wore about twenty-five Maoris—at anyrate, a very small number—and that a moderate payment and a fow acreg of reserves would bo miUUmnt for their claims I was directed to pay £200, and make some small reserves. There were 57 Natives then at the Grey. At the Buller I already knew there were five. In course of inquiries it was ascertained there were Natives at Arahura, Poherua, Mahitahi (since known as Bruce Bay) and Jackson's Bay, the total number being 110 men, women, and children. 1 proposed that we should travel down the Coast to .lacksdn's Bay, but Tarapuhi objected, saying it Weis too risky for Europeans to travel in the wiuter time, but he: would despatch a messenger to the settlements and ask the Natives to assemble at Mawhara (Gray). This took some timo. Meanwhile, I cado a trip to Hokitika and back. We anxiously awaited a supply of provisions from Neleou. The Maoris had very limited cultivations of . potatoes, and had only three axes among them to clear bush with. They generously supplied us with . potatoes, dried white bait (inanga), preserved wood hens, and eels, when they caught any (scarce in the winter time). I had written from Ghristchurch to my father informing him that Mr Rochfort had arranged with the owner of the cutter " Supply " for the sum of £140 to bring stores for the survey party to the Grey River and requested him to pay half the cost and send me various articles which we required. However, the "Supply" met with bad wGather, and lauded her cargo at the Buller instead of the Grey, where, as far as I and my cousin were concerned, all the goods were useless to us. When Mr Bochfort had completed his survey of the boundary-be-tween the Nelson and Canterbury provinces, the stores were of service to, him and his party. We were delayed for a considerable period at the Grey, and when the Natives' finally ■assembled it was found impossible to complete the purchase. I urged that they had been conquered by~a division of Te Rauparaha's' invading army, and had no valid or extensive claim Ho the land. This was denied, they asserting that Te Aupouri, Niho, and Wiremu Te Kuihua and a fighting party of about 50 men came down the Coast, and the first place they met with any Natiyes was at Hokitika. They surprised a ?ew of the Ngaitahu eel fishing and captured them. Among these was the chief Tuhuru, the father of Tarapuhi Te Kahuki. The fighting party refrained from killing any person, and the resident Natives gave Te Aupouri a valuable mere known as Kai Kanohi (the eater of eyes), and a quantity of unmanufactured greenstone as a ransom for their chief, Tuhuru. I had previously seen the Kai Kanohi mere in the possession of Matenga Te Aupouri at* Takaka, and was acquainted with its history. It was stated thaif the invaders never resided on or cultivated any of the West Coast land. It had therefore to be admitted that according to all Maori custom the conquest was a myth, and there appeared to be no alternative but to treat the purchase as a new transaction, in nowise affected by Te Rauparaha and his army's conquest of territory at Wairau. Felorus Sound (Te Hoiere), Blind Bay (Mohua), Motueka, Takaka, Aorere, and Te Taitapu (West Coast from West Wanganui to Kahurangi I'oiut, the latter 30 miles south of Cape Farewell, Te Reinga.) I offered £200 and reserves at the Buller, Grey, and other places accu pied by the Natives They were were williug to accept the cash, but declined to sell any of the area between the Grey and Hokitika Rivars, extending Inland from the sea shore to the sources of those and other rivers (Taramakau and Arahura). Having no authority to make any such leservos the question was adjourned until I could, report to and receive fresh instructions from the Government. Myself and cousin then engaged a Native named Papara to accompany us via the Uppar Grey and Maruia to Nelsou. Tarapuhi went with us to a stream which hesaid if we ascended would bring us to a stream called Te Ruhu, a tributary of the Maruia. He also informed us that when we arrived at Maruia if we turned to the eastward we would find a pass through to the Waiau River knowu as Te i£opi p Kaitangata, by i which we could more easily reach j Canterbury than Nelgqn (Te Kopi o ! Kaitangata has a history). It js, that !at the"time thereat Coast Ngaii tahu were fighting against the remnants of the Waitaha tribe, who had been driven inland by the Ngatituahauriri hapu of the Ngaitahu of Kaiapoi and East Coast. ITo be Continued. J