A.—No. 19.

6

CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO OHINEMURI,

I replied in the affirmative, telling them what the result of my interview with the diggers on the previous afternoon had been. Tukukino, after having addressed a few words of welcome, said it was well that I should have come there for such a purpose. He hoped that I would not content myself with merely sending away the Pakehas Avho were at Paeroa and Thorpe's (Te Puke), but that I should myself travel over the ranges, and send away those who were trespassing on their Maori land by prospecting for gold. Hohepa Te Rauhihi asked if I had really come there as Mr. Mackay's successor, and was my object to send back the diggers lest difficulty should arise; adding that he was very glad to hear that such was the case. Honihi said he was very glad that the chiefs of Hauraki had decided upon allowing me to meet Te Hira ;it had been his wish that I should not meet him. All the chiefs then present were men whose object it was to have been to prevent any person in any way connected with the Government from seeing Te Hira ; but since they had all agreed to let me see him, he was very glad. Kihirini Patutahi: " I was glad to hear Avhat Honihi said. When Mr. Mackay was administering affairs of Hauraki, he did not see Te Hira. It is well that Te Hira should see the Pakeha." Pineaha Te Wharekowhai said: " The Governor did not see Te Hira, the Superintendent did not see Te Hira, and Mr. Mackay did not see Te Hira, but you have seen him. You have been made a very great Bangatira indeed by our having permitted you to see Te Hira." Tarapipipi Te Kopara : "All these chiefs here present decided that no one was to see Te Hira. My word is the same as Pineaha's. All the Maoris ask if this is Mr. Mackay's successor. If he is so, it is proper to ask him questions." Hohepa Te Rauhihi spoke again in reference to my having seen Te Hira, while neither His Excellency the Governor, the Superintendent, nor Mr. Mackay had seen him. " This Pakeha's name is ' Paki,' which means fine weather. After fine weather the sea becomes calm. These Pakehas in the ranges, send for them. It is a word of long standing, that no portion of Ohinemuri will be handed over to you." Tarapipipi Te Kopara: " That was the decision arrived at when Mr. Mackay and we all met some time back. Present here are all the chiefs and owners of Hauraki. This house, Te Pai o Hauraki, was first built, then subsequently Te Whakahaere o Hauraki. In nineteen years the end of all things will be ; then there will be a yawning chasm betwixt us." Unaki commenced by greetings to the new Pakeha. They would not conceal anything they had to say from him. Ohinemuri will not be ceded to Government. If any of the Maoris sell or lease, they will not allow Government or Pakeha to have peaceful possession. Never! Hauraki is all that the Pakeha should have. Work there and enjoy the benefits. You may ask for Ohinemuri, but you will never get it. That word was for ever. Hohepa Te Rauhihi: " You have policemen here ; send them to remove the diggers in the ranges. Did you not hear what the Superintendent said, that if any Maori asked him for money as an advance upon Ohinemuri, that he should not have it." Rangi: " This Pakeha came to send the diggers ; let him go to the ranges and send them back. Mere Kuru: " I went and saw this Pakeha yesterday morning, and he told me he would send a letter to them. I told him that the present was his time to deal with the diggers ; and if they would not hearken to him, it would be my turn —I would take the matter into my own hands." Hopihona: " Write a letter and send it to the diggers in the ranges. If you give money to Bopata te Arakai, it is your own hand —the hand of the Queen party that takes it; but if my hand were to take it from you, the case would be different." Te Hira Te Tuiri: " Listen to what I have to say. You have caught me here to-day; you have caught me openly in the presence of all these. If you send your people away, and, after seeing them all leave, go yourself, well; but if you leave them in the hill, and I have to go to remove them, evil may result: the fault will not in that case have been mine. Ohinemuri is in my hand, I will not let it go. These hills ]and valleys shall never be held by people of a strange tongue. Let them go to Hauraki. As for me lam a Hauhau." I told Te Hira that if circumstances arose Avhich might make it necessary for him to send out a party to remove the diggers in the ranges, on no account to forget Te Pai o Hauraki. Pineaha then read some notices to persons (ndio had made application to the Native Lands Court to have their titles to lands at Ohinemuri investigated) requiring them to cause a speedy survey of the same to be made. It is a significant fact that none of the applicants Avere present. Tarapipipi Te Kopara then remarked that the causes of the difficulties at present existing between Pakeha and Maori had arisen in consequence of a question of title to land, and asked a Native sitting near him to read Tawhiao's JPauni, Avhich was issued to the Natives at the Tokangamutu meetings, which took place on and after the 20th January, 1868. He accordingly stood up and read: — ," Ke te patu kua kuhua Ko te reti kua mutu Ko te hoko kua mutu Ko te rohe Ko nga rori Ko te koura Ko te ruri," &c. Tarapipipi then went on to say that the Queen Natives had no right Avhatever to meddle with the land. Their share of it was safe enough; and that it was in direct antagonism to the King's Panui to lease this land to the Pakeha. After he sat doAvn I briefly addressed the meeting, and told them I had a few straightforward questions which I wished them to answer in a straightforward manner. Ist, Had not the Queen Natives an equal right with themselves in Ohinemuri lands ? 2nd, If they had equal rights with themselves, Avhy was it they were not allowed to exercise those rights in the manner best pleasing to themselves ?