OHINEMURI.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 15, 24 October 1871, Page 3

OHINEMURI.

VISIT OF DR. POLLEN AND MR. JAMES MACKAY, JUN. THE TELEGRAPH—THE ROAD THE SOVEREIGN THE GOLD. (from our own correspondent.) October 21st, 1871. For the last two or three days we have been in a position singularly like that of a showman that I recollect to have seen when I was a school boy—a time that is a year or two ago now* Every hour we have been expecting the donkey to go up, to leave his mother earth, thistles, and all other sublunary things and go away with space. But as in all the times that I have seen the exhibition, or heard it promised rather, so in this case the even twopence has not been forthcoming. We have been so long expecting the telegraph line, so long on the eve of getting it, so long expecting the opening of the country, and the country has been so long just about to be opened—only the odd twopence,, ladies and gentlemen, and up goes the donkey—that we had made up our minds on this occasion to sec the telegraph wire an accomplished fact. However, as the Sparks do upward fly, So man is born to misery. And we don’t get the telegraph line this time. Dr Pollen and Mr Mackay arrived here late on Thursday evening. Yesterdny morning there was a grand muster of natives in one of the rooms of the late Pairoa store, now the Imperial Hotel, Oliinemuri. The korero lasted for nearly two hours, the only speakers being Tiraripoalia and Holiepa, of the Uriweras. The talk may be very shorily summarised in this. Hohepa represented Oliinemuri as his heart, and he did not like the telegraph wire going through his heart. I have no ill-will to this most respectable old gentleman, but I don’t think that if two or three yards of a good still telegraph wire were through him, and he was hung up out of the way "somewhere that I should either be inconsolable or die of grief at the catastrophe. The meeting having adjourned at mid-day, the utter inclemency of the weather—there being strong wind and heavy squalls of rain during the afternoon—prevented its reassembling. It was therefore arranged to further adjourn until eleven o’clock this morning, at which time the meeting again assembled. This time the meeting was held in the open air. There was a very good muster of Hau Hans and Queenites, the Queenites numbering more than five to one of the other side. Wi Ivoko, hitherto the right hand man and chief councillor of Te Hira, and although less mentioned than others, one of the very best natives of this district, briefly opened the proceedings by stating that he was favorable to the wire going through Ohinemuri. So far as he is concerned this was a great concession, because he is one of the largest owners of laud here. He

was followed by Ropata, Hohepa, the Qneenite, and others on their side. Te Moananui, who had ranged himself witTi the Hau Haus, spoke against the wire.'passing tlirotighp as did Ho? hcpha te Ruhihi. It was then determined to adjourn the meeting for the purpose of procuring the attendance of Te Hira, who had not filed an appearance up to this time, although Mere Kuru, Mere Tete and others of the army of Amazons were present. After an adjournment of two or three hours, the proceedings were resumed, and Te Hira, who was then present, went over the formula which we have heard so often repeated here, that Ohinemuri is a small place, and that he wished to live long and die happy in it. There was an evident reluctance on both-sides, and the proceedings very strongly reminded me of what I have seen in other deliberative assemblies, when the question had been previously fully discussed and filially settled either in the Library or Bellamy’s No one seemed inclined to commit himself by saying too much, and his majesty Tawhiao’s Opposition w r as as mild as if they expected to be members of the Ministry next day. It was now intimated to Dr. Pollen that the korero was closed, and that ho was expected to reply. The Doctor rose, and in his calm deliberate way told the meeting that he should be sorry if the wire could not be carried through. The Government was not asking for the land, not to survey, nor yet for the gold. They were merely asking to send a message through the air that could hurt no one, and would be fully as beneficial to the Maori as to the European. There were two ends to the telegraph: the one at Kati Kati, the other at Shortland, and it was desired to unite these two ends by bringing the wire through Ohinemuri, the shortest, the cheapest, and the best route. The Assembly was sitting at 'Wellington making laws for the European and for the Maori, and they wished to hear what was being done in Auckland and at the Thames. What was now asked, the passing of the wire through Ohinemuri, had been waited for long and patiently, and he now asked them to consent to a course which was for the benefit of both peoples, a course in which the Maori was as much interested as the European. When Dr. Pollen had concluded his address, there was an ominous p.ause, and after a short time Mr Maclcay rose and addressed the meeting very warmly and at considerable length, urging them to concede what was asked by the Government. When he was waxing warm in his appeal to them, Mere Kuril made a laughable diversion. She told Mr. Mackay that he was all right, that they were quite satisfied with him, but that they would not give the line to the Government; and now that she was at it, the old lady said she would have it out with Dr. Pollen about the guns and the ammunition, and she gave it to the Government pretty strong. The Doctor, however, took the pitch-in very philosojihically, answered nothing at all, and the breeze blew over. There was again a pause in the proceedings, and Hohepa, in conjunction with Te Hira, asked that time should be allowed to send a deputation to the King. This ■was assented to by Dr. Pollen, and the meeting then broke up. You will thus see that again there has been a slip between the cup and the lip. However much the delay may be regretted, I fully believe that it is only a delay. I have no doubt whatever that the natives will concede to Mr. Mackay all that the Government now require ; and I have no doubt that once the concession for the telegraph is made, that the opening of the country for gold-mining will rapidly follow. One great reason ivhy the natives are so persistent in their opposition to the telegraph line is the fixed idea in their own minds that the road, the surveys, the land, and the gold follow. On this point I cannot help stating my own conviction as to the inaccuracy of the statement attributed to Mr. John McLeod, the member for the Bay, as having been made by him in the Assembly. Mr. McLeod says that Mr. Mackay has prevented the opening of the country. I do not think that, and I think, at the same time, that I am better informed in the matter than Mr. McLeod is, or is likely to be. But I do not see, on the other hand, why it should be a charge against Mr. Mackay that he required a sum of LI,OOO, or L 5,000, or LIO,OOO for this purpose. I say that clearly in my opinion Mr. Mackay is entitled to a handsome compensation for the time, the money, and the effort he has bestowed upon this subject; and if the member for the Bay, and others, would put the question in the same light as the cession of the lease of the Kawa Ivawa Coal Mines to the Kawa Ivawa Coal Mines Company by Mr. John McLeod, of Helensville, was put by Mr. John McLeod, it would not be an unreasonable proceeding. If reports speak true, and I quote from recollection merely, a report read to a general meeting of the Kawa Kawa Company by Mr. Thomas Russell, its chairman, Mr. John McLeod received for his interest in the lease of those coal mines the sum of LIO,OOO. I am not afraid that either the Government or the public will trouble Mr. Mackay with any such sum, but I do know this, that he could obtain from private individuals a very considerable sum for the monopoly of a right which there can be no doubt that the native owners of the lands here will concede to him personally, and to him only. Dr. Pollen and Mr. Mackay leave here at once, but it is understood that the reply of the King will be telegraphed to them at Auckland, and that they will then return here to take such steps as may be necessary.