THE Thames Advertiser. FRIDAY, NOV. 10, 1876.

Thames Advertiser, Volume IX, Issue 2467, 10 November 1876, Page 2

THE Thames Advertiser. FRIDAY, NOV. 10, 1876.

The good people of Tauranga have been sorely perplexed about the opening of the supposed auriferous lands of the Kaimai district for prospecting, and are inclined to attribute all the vexatious delays and obstructions which have arisen to the Native Department. Our contemporary, the 'Bay of Plenty Times,' than which there was, until recently, no more faithful follower and devoted admirer of the head of that department, is now found pouring forth vials of wrath upon all and sundry connected with that branch of New Zealand administration. But a worm, it is said, will turn when it feels the heavy footstep of an enemy; and so it is with our contemporary, acting in the interest of the district he represents. Tauranga appears to have suffered through the red-tapeism of the department to a degree almost unparalleled in our recollection of even Native Office obstruction. The residents are indeed a longsuffering, patient set of colonists, who have always evinced a desire to strengthen the hands of those in authority rather than interfere in matters which were under the control of the Government representatives in their midst, But their patience, always over-taxed, has at length given way under the severe tests endured, and they are now determined to push matters to an issue. With this view a sort of vigilance committee, representing the inhabitants, has been holding daily conferences, and keeping up a regular correspondence with the Government on the subject of the opening I up of the district for gold prospecting and mining. They have had a hard struggle against officialism, but appear in a fair way to accomplish some good at last. The latest phase is that recorded in a telegram announcing that Mr Commissioner Brabant had received full powers and ample means to secure the opening of the lands, as the Hon. Mr Whitaker, who intended calling in at Tauranga in connection with the matter on his way to Auckland, was compelled to abandon that intention. Mr Brabant has accordingly interviewed the natives at Wkarehoa, but so far has not succeeded in inducing the ICingites. to consent to the opening of the coveted district. The Ngaiterangi tribe are willing, but require the consent of Tawhaio and his people, which is still withheld. The latest telegram intimated that Mr Brabant had gone over again in conjunction with the Ngaiterangi "to endeavour to bounce the Hauhaus," but success was considered doubtful. The natives are not so easily bounced as formerly In our own district we have seen it succeed, but we have oftener seen it signally foil, even when attempted by a far better man than Mr Commissioner Brabant. It is a favourite plan of Mr Commissioner Mackay's, but it does not appear to succeed even with him as it formerly did. What can have become of the

powerful influence, for good said to have been wrought by the Native Minister upon Tawhaio's mind during liis presessional visit to the King's territory 1 Surely lie ought to be susceptible to Government rewards for the opening np of these lands, if not to Sir Donald McLean's great influence, but unfortunately for the people of Tauranga he seems obdurate and relentless -in his determination not to grant their re quest for the opening of his territory for gold prospecting. Possibly he may be waiting to enforce better terms at the hands of the Government. He never had any idea of consulting the desires of the Pakeha in such matters, much less any regard for an economy of time in negotiations of this nature, and we are afraid that the Tauranga settlers have not surmounted every obstacle to the opening of the Kaimai, even although they have succeeded, after a long struggle, in inducing the Government to take the

matter in Land with some show of earnestness, and some appearance of justice to a district long held fast bound by Native Office circumlocution and ral-tapeism.