A.—No. 19

8

CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO OHINEMURI,

I learnt subsequently that Te Kepa and the Ngatikoi from Waihi, who had been invited to attend, were present at the meeting. These also tried all their power to induce Te Hira to yield to the wishes of the people ; but as he still continued obstinate, Te Kepa told him that, so far as he himself was concerned, he would no longer wait for him ; he only waited now for the coming of Mr. McLean. With reference to the ten men mentioned in my last Report, as having been sent out to search for diggers in the ranges, I need only say that they returned after a fruitless search of five days by the one party, and four days by the other party ; but though they did not see a single white man in the hills, there were many traces of their having been there a short while before. To show the state of feeling at present existing amongst the Hauhaus at Ohinemuri, I need but instance the case of Tukukino, who but a few short months since was one of those most bitterly opposed to the ceding of Ohinemuri for gold-mining purposes ; he now, I am told by Te Koroneho a Native from Ohinemuri, has had a survey made of land in the Waihou, immediately below Thorpe's, with a view to passing it through the Court. I have, &c, E. W. Pucket, The Hon. the Native Minister, Auckland. Native Agent at Thames.

No. 7. The Hon. D. McLean to Mr. E. W. Pucket. Sic, — Auckland, 19th November, 1869. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of the interesting account of your recent visit to Ohinemuri, and to express my satisfaction at the judgment displayed by you on that occasion. I approve of the arrangement made Avith the party of Natives in search of gold diggers, but their services need not be retained beyond three or four weeks. E. W. Puckey, Esq., I have, &o, Native Agent at the Thames. Donald McLean

No. 8. Notes of a Meeting which took place at Ohinemuri, on Thursday, 9th December, 1869. Present —The Hon. D. McLean and H. T. Clarke, Esq., Civil Commissioner. Peior to the arrival of Te Hira and Hauhau party at " Te Whakahaere o Hauraki," the place of meeting,—• Karaitiana addressing the Native Minister and Chiefs with him said: " Welcome hither, Chiefs of this place. You, our parent, come inland. Welcome hither, friends. You and the people, although all the old men are dead, you our parent represent those that are gone. Welcome to the people. Show kindness to them. You who went aAvay to another place, since you left the old men have died. You bring their remembrance back to us. I thought you were never coming back to see your children any more." (Song.) Moananui replied: " I have brought our parent here to see you, because you are living here on your own piece, on your share. Had he been a stranger he would not have come. He has come here to see you and save you from your troubles; Aye have only brought him to see you. It is for you and him to speak. It is not as though this Avere a windy place. No ! there is no wind here, therefore it is right he should be brought here." Matai: " Although you (Moananui) have come lately, come again. Welcome you and your parents, come and see this place. Welcome, come and see the sources of Hauraki. Welcome, my father ; the old men of the people, Epiha and others, have gone ; come you, come and look at your sea, the waters of Hauraki. Although you and the Governor came last year, Aye are very glad to sec you again. The old chiefs are dead, Taniwha and the rest of them ; their souls live again in you. Welcome, there is no one to speak to you. They are all gone; if, my father, you have come to see us as of old, it is good." Wiremu Te Paoro : " The day and the month and the year is yours. You see, however, that troubles have risen up amongst ns. Welcome, Moananui; come hither you and your friends, come to see me. Welcome you and your parent. Welcome, sir. You who have been left by those that are gone. Your words and acts of kindness are still borne in mind. Although I tried to stand in the waterfall, when I had made a place for my feet to stand, where I thought you could not go, you followed me up there. If your plans in respect of that waterfall are good, they will be carried into effect. Welcome Mr. McLean, you Avho laid doAvn that which is good, who made plans for good, and then left this part of the country, and went South. Welcome; come and see those of your children Avhich are left. Most of your old friends are gone; some are still at Hauraki, only a small portion of those which are remaining are here." Moananui: "It is correct. Although you prepared a place in the waterfall for you to stand upon, I climbed up by the rafters of my house and got up that way. Listen, my friend. I said when the great rain clouds go, Igo there to see the fall of my house, the upsetting of my canoe. We came backwards and forwards to see our house. The word is not a word of to-day. The head of Hauraki is all that now shows above the surface of the water; all the rest is covered by the tide." The Hauhau party headed by Te Hira Te Tuiri, preceded by a Hauhau flag, now approached the meeting place, making the usual exclamations of " Welcome ! Welcome ! " Then followed Hauhau prayers; after which Reihana te Tahua, addressing the Hon. D. McLean and party, said: " Welcome you and your friends, come in accordance with the words spoken long ago. The name of the words laid down by the