Page image

G.-l

7

No. 35. (Telegram.) Auckland, 3rd November, 1879. W. H. Grace, Esq., Kihikihi.—l will meet you at Hamilton to-morrow, either by first or second train. In the meantime say whether you think we can put on three survey-parties at once; if so, I must send into the country to warn the surveyors. —S. Percy Smith. No. 36. (Telegram.) Alexandra, 3rd November, 1879. S. Percy Smith, Esq., Inspector of Surveys, Auckland. —I will meet you early to-morrow afternoon at Commercial Hotel, Hamilton. I think one survey-party will be sufficient for time being.— W. H. Grace. No. 37. (Telegram.) Alexandra, 3rd November, 1879. R. J. Gill, Esq., Under-Secretary, Land Purchase, Wellington. — Be Patetere. In reply to your telegram of Saturday last, on inquiry I find that Hare Heimana must have been misrepresenting matters to you, as he has not been sent down by consent or at wish of majority of tribes interested, but has done so as the paid agent of Messrs. Moon and Hay's party, and is but speaking words which they have put into his mouth. There is no danger of any surveyor being shot by Maoris, unless they are put up to it by Europeans. The survey of eastern boundary of block as proclaimed has been cut and traversed from Okoroiri to Whakatutu, a distance of twenty miles. This line also forms western boundary of block outside Government claims, which is being surveyed by Mr. Oliver Creagh, with view to private purchase. The character of opposition to survey is not as between Maoris and Government, but as between Messrs. Hay and Moon's party and Government, and as between the first party and Mr. Creagh's party. If differences between these parties are adjusted, no fear need be entertained of Maoris doing any mischief, for the Maoris interested are all partisans of either one or the other of the parties referred to, and will be led by them accordingly. Moon's party have been indefatigable in their exertions to thwart survey. Moon's especially, on seeing that a new Government was about to take office, and hoping for better terms from them than from late Government, did their utmost during last month to delay survey until the new Government were safe in their position, when they at once sent down Hare Heimana to Wellington. These Europeans will continue obstructing surveys until they get a settlement with Government. As my brother knows the whole history of case, and as some arrangement must be made with the parties referred to, otherwise surveys must stop to assist in coming to some settlement. If such is undertaken, I would respectfully suggest that you send for him to go to Wellington, where he will be of great help to you in matter. It would be unwise to abandon survey operations now, especially after having gained over more than four-fifths of Maoris to Government side. Do not attach any weight to petition which Hare Heimana has taken to Wellington.—L. M. Grace, Waikato. No. 38. (Telegram.) Alexandra, 4th November, 1879. Richard John Gill, Esq., Under-Secretary, Land Purchase, AVellington.—Received your telegram, No. 1,880, last night, too late to reply to. lam somewhat puzzled with Mr. Smith's telegram. Following are facts of the case: Mr. Creagh has been and is surveying a block to east of Government proclaimed block, otherwise called Patetere Block. Its western boundary forms part of eastern boundary of proclaimed block. Mr. Smith is fully aware of this, as I informed him some few weeks back. I do not know who is paying Creagh for his work; I only know that his survey is authorized according to law. When he came to cut boundary between Government block and block to east of it, I went to Tapapa to overcome a difficulty at request of Natives, and to see that Creagh did not encroach on to Government block. The survey of this boundary will eventually form part of survey of proclaimed block. I assisted to overcome obstacles to running this line by Creagh, because by his doing it it would be a saving to Government of both expenses and work. The line has been run to a point at Whakatutu, near Te Whetu. Here Creagh's western boundary ends. The survey of proclaimed block has not yet commenced. I have been interviewing the different hapus claiming, and, as matters seem satisfactory, I hope to see surveyors on the block next week. I do not know why Mr. Smith expects considerable opposition; but it seems time to survey a large block such as this, we must expect to meet with difficulties, and they must be faced sooner or later. I anticipated none from the Hauhaus; though protest which Mr. Smith has received, and to which he alludes, is to a block some distance from proclaimed block, and, I believe, comes from, some Rotorua Natives. I hear the protest is withdrawn. Yesterday I had a long interview at Rewi's settlement with Hauhau Natives from Aotearoa and other Ngatiraukawa Hauhau settlements. I told them all about survey of proclaimed block, and they said they would not interfere. I asked them if they were aware that Hare Heimana had gone to Wellington, and had told Native Minister that, if survey of above land was attempted, there would be bloodshed. They replied that Hare Heimana had not been authorized by them to say so, and that he was not sent to Wellington by them. They also added that Hare Heimana is trying to get hold of some money. They did not even know that Heimana had gone to Wellington until told so last Saturday. I meet Mr, Smith to-day at Hamilton. — W. H. Geace. MWMVMOHM No. 39. (Telegram.) Hamilton, sth November, 1879. R. J. Gill, Esq., Under-Secretary, Land Purchase, Wellington.—Have met Mr. Percy Smith, and arranged that surveyors start for Patetere Block about Wednesday next. I hold a meeting with Natives at Waotu on Monday, and would like to have copies of documents applied for, as without them I cannot get on,—W. H. Grace.