THE TAURANGA MAIL QUESTION.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 17, Issue 988, 10 April 1871, Page 3

THE TAURANGA MAIL QUESTION.

The Thames Evening Star, in its issue of March 20, contains the following paragraph :—" We are glad to health at the Government have made arrangements for the continuance of this service, which are ltkely to prove sue cesstul. The cause of delay has arisen from the fact that Mr M'Lean would do nothing until he had obtained the con currence of every friendly chief concerned in the matter. By this means he has taken it out of the power of any of them hereafter to stand upon their dignity (?) and refuse assistance * because action was taken without having consulted them.' We believe that the means to be adopted for carrying on the service for the future are as follows :- The contract from Katikati to Tauranga will remain in the hands of Mr Wai brick ; that from Katikati to the Thames will be let directly to the natives, with Hopihona at their head. The question thus hecoming one essentially of self-interest, the friendlies are not likely to let a good thing in the way of money be lost to them through any action of Te Hiras. In fact, the native greed will be set against the native obstinacy, and is pretty sure to overcome it." The Ohinemuri correspondent of the same journal, under date March 23, supplies the following :—" I have simply time to say that Mr Puekey arrived at*the Maori settlement eaHy this morning, an-d was met on the way by the .chief Karairiana, Wi Hopihana, and Wikirinihi, who, in the most lusty and feeling manner, gave the representative .of Government a welcome. The assembly took place in the large hou.se belonging to the chief Mataea, the chief Kapata and others being present. There was no speechifying. A recital of events as thev had taken place since Mr Puckey's last visit was given, and Mr Puekey, in a few remarks, explained to them the object of his visit, which gave not only great satisfaction, but also encouraged them to hope for the future. A proposition was proposed by their chief, which resulted in a deputation being appointed to wait, in conjunction with Mr Puekey, upon rhe hon. the Native Minister, on his expecced visit to the Thames. At the conclusion of the interview, Bapata intimated to Mr Puekey that, the natives opposed to the Mail Service were desirous of seeing him at Te Hira's settlement; an assent being given, Mr Puekey, with his friend?, at once repaired to the settlement, and were lustily received with shouts of welcome by these disturbers of the peace, who, on the whole, are not more than a dozen in number. Mere Kuru, with two native female attendants, preferred receiving the European guests inside her building, and in introducing her friends did not forget to remind Mr Puekey that the two individuals near her were visitors from the Waikato, whom she had been given to understand had been multiplied into 12 or 20 men, sent by the King to oppose the Mail Service. She expressed much indignation at the vaiior.s reports which were alike false, which were continually being forwarded from Ohinemuri to the Thames pros. Mr Puekey, having taken up his seat in front of the assembly, which—men, women, and children altogther—did not number more than twenty or thirty, was addressed by Hohepa, Pene, Kaipara, and Tukukmo, the substance of their speeches being to acquaint him that the obstruction which they had placed on the road to stop native or European, was a permanent obstruction, and would not, with their consent, be removed. M r Puekey rose several times, and in plain and ummistakeable language, warned them of the danger of their present attitude."