OHINEMURI.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1914, 20 February 1875, Page 2

OHINEMURI.

(fbom oub special befobteb )

PUKETEAWAIBAHI,

. '• Thubsday Evening. A Tery general satisfaction was expressed at the termination of the meeting, as may well be imagined. It seemed rery probable at one stage that the meeting would not terminate to-day, one or two of the swell natives riding, slightly rusty. A matter' of difficulty occurred in endeavoring to remove a suspicion which the natives felt regarding the 10s consideration for signing the compact, and indeed it is not to be so much wondered at that they should fail to comprehend the custom of a legal practice such as that, which to their, unpolished reason seems inconsistent with the nature of the contract, they having given up so much lond in full consideration for so much money received. It is satisfactory to know, however, that all difficulties have been conquered. It was the statement by Mr Mackay that the Government wished to conclude proceedings rapidly, owing to the lamentable death of ]S[r John Williamson, that brought the objections of all to a close. One of them at once came forward, and, with one impulse, the rest followed, appearing like a lot of sheep to be controlled by the force of example ; and when they had fairly com. menced, they literally rushed the deed, so anxious were they to append their signatures. All that remains to be done now is to attach tfre schedule of the boundaries to the deed, and to make the necessary arrangements for proclaiming the field open through the publication of a notification to that effect in the Government Gazette. Mr Williamson's funeral will naturally cause a little delay, but it is expected that.the proclamation will issue next week. . '. '.■

Mr Adam Porter waited upon Sir Donald subsequent to the meeting to ask him if he would receive a deputation of miners to-morrow, regarding the probable, time of the opening. Sir Donald's reply was that he would receive the deputation at 10 o'clock to-morrow.

Anything that may be said here just now as to finds, or the locality of gold, it would not be worth the space to chronicle, my experience being that those men who know leastare those who are willing to communicate most. There will be a great rush to peg 3 out when the great event transpires, and then vre shall have revealed the direction cf these patches, to two at least of which there are several claimants. It will be a case of first come first hare, and if the parties peg out at the same time, those parties will be in a very unsatisfactory position. If there is, indeed, so much in Logan's "find," it would have been better for the opposition claimants to have amalgamated ere this, if they could have come to any reasonable terms one with the other, as there is lijbtle solidity in the idea that a prior right of former discovery can be sustained. Those for instance who put in a claim in 1868 for an area of ground in the Ohinemuri district, when that district was solely and exclusively. Maori -property, cannot hold a hope so chimerical as that the ancient date of that claim will give them any advantage over the counter claimants. lam rather of opinion that no such hope is entertained. Time will show us what is to come out of this matter.

I was speaking to an old friend to-day, who has obtained the color in reefs at Waitekauri. but he says he has seen nothing yet that warrants him in being sanguine of his own individual prospects. The Lalla Rookh made Thorp s this, morning, and. stopped there, not coming on to either of the townships. I shall be enabled to give you the result of the deputation of miners for Saturday's issue. Friday, 10 o'clock a.m. Ninety-seven signatures were placed upon the deed of agreement yesterday; there are very few unimportant ones to obtain now.

The miners, to the number of about 200 are now interviewing Sir Donald McLean at the Puki (Thorpe's) on board the Luna, which went from here at halfpast eight o'clock this morning. It is intended to thank Sir Donald for the successful completion of the negotiations, and to put the two following questions to him :—-What time will the proclamation be issued, and whether anj prospecting claims have been granted: I cannot send you the reply, as the .Pearl As just leaving for Shortland. A speculator interested in the coal country here asked Sir Donald whether he could give protection; others askedthe same question. Sir Donald gave a sweeping damper to the hopes of all, by stating that the Government would not recognise any such principle, and could do nothing towards advancing their interests save opening the country, when they will have to work their own game. Mr Mackay does not go down to Auckland by the Luna. Saturday morning. < At the interview of miners with Sir Donald McLean, after having thanked him, Mr O'Haire and others put. questions previously decided upon for the enlightenment of those interested and the mining community genorally. As to the question, when the proclamation would be issued, Sir Donald McLean stated that that would not take place for ten or eleven days. . Regarding the grant of prospecting claims, he said no such claims would be allowed, but that every man would be on an equality, that he must obtain his miner's right and then peg out. Forty-eight hours' protection will be allowed after tht land is pegged

out, to enable parties to procure implements etc. .. . " The place is very quiet since the Luna left, and those whose interests compel them to remain are melancholy victims of ennui.

I will give you full particulars about different matters of interest on Monday.