The Ohinemuri Question.

Thames Star, Volume VI, Issue 1864, 23 December 1874, Page 2

The Ohinemuri Question.

TE HIE A AND TE MOANANUI INTEItVIEWED.

The .Natives who have been throughout consistent in their desire to open up the Ohinemuri district for goldmining purposes were very indignant yesterday about Te Hir.i and Te Moananui not having informed them of their intention to see the Native Minister with reference to the question, and they naturally felt sore at the ob'tinacy of the two chiefs, which has kept them in a state of agitation, and caused them much trouble and expense during the last two months. They therefore proceeded in a body to Pai'awai to interview Te Hira and Te Moananui.

Hata Paka opened the ball by reading a translation of the Advertiser Extra, announcing the consent of the two obstructives to opening the country for goldmining. He then asked if the statement was correct that they had seen Sir D. McLean and surrendered gold'to them ? Te Hira did not take any notice of the question, and laid down looking uneasy about the action of the tribe.

Te Moananui said: We went last night to see Sir Donald McLean, and we promised to arrange the Ohinemuri question on his return from the Bay of Islands. If you want any further information, you can go to Sir Donald McLean, •

Hata Paka : That is not the fair way to act towards the tribe. The gold was in our hands, and you had no right to give it secretly at night. We also hear you objected to Mr Mackay carrying on any further negotiations for Ohinemuri. We will not consent to this. He is the man in whom the tribe have confidence.

Harata Patene (addressing Te Hira): Listen Te Tuiri. I have not heretofore gone against you, when you were holding the land, out of consideration for you. I now hear you have given the gold away without consulting me. That ends the question as far as I am concerned. I shall take all my pieces out of your hand, fuid^every olher person had better do the sapfe. You may give yours to Sir Donald McLean, if you like. He is your friend of old times, and left to remind you of things done with those who have departed from among us.. "I give mine to Haora (Mr Mackay) who is the depository of the last words of our deceased chiefs, and has been bequeathed to us by them. (Mr Mackay is called Haora Make by the Natives since the death of Haora Tipa, it being a common Maori custom to honor a particular friend by conferring the name of a'deeeased person on him. Haora Tipa was Mr Mackay's assistant in restoring peace in this district in 1863 and 1864.) Tarapipipi went into the land league

question, and said —That he had.helped Te Hira to retain Ohinemuri until the last few months. Now he had given it up, that ended the question. It would, however, have been better to have consented to the wishes of tho tribe before, and saved time and trouble. (Turning to Te Hira—) You have now done it by yourself and I concur. The Natives then retired to Shortland. The chiefs of the anti-land league party met Mr Macky afterwards, and agreed to sign all necessary deeds and clocui inents at' the next meeting when Sir Donald McLean returns from the Bay of Islands.