HIKUTAIA.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 109, 14 February 1872, Page 3

HIKUTAIA.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. Nothing of any importance is going on hero further than the Telegraph is proceeding on rapidly. I expect in another week they will lie through the forest and into the Wliangamata district. We had news from Wliangamata yesterday that the natives had a meeting at Parakaiwai on Sat urday to hear the result of a meeting that was held by the chiefs at the Kiri Kiri, Ilanraki. Wi Kotiro had arrived and addressed them. In the iirst pait of his speech lie expressed much indignation of some of the Maoris who had in liis absence all hut ordered aa agent employed by Mr Mackay to leava, as well as threatening to obstruct the progress of the Telegraph. He (Wi Kotiro) told them to desist from such nonsense, as Mr Mackay lied got all the support from the chiefs at Ilanraki as well as those of Tanrniiga, and it .vonhl he quite useless for them to do anything in opposition to their wi-dies. which was that Mr Mackay had their entire sanction to carry the Tclegrph through, and the mob upon hearing this completely changed their tune. Of course Matthew Black was present (the chief of Wliangamata) who knew perfectly well how it would end. This little affair, as most of your renders are aware of, happened about a fortnight since. It seeins Paora Toki, of the Kooti gang, was employed by the sub-contract-ors to clear part of the forest with a few of his rng-a-iniiflhi followers, and as he imagines himself now to be one of (lie Government, had hoard that more hands were wanted, and he actually took upon himself to address a most impudent letter to V. i Kotiro's people. < ffering them employment, and for them to come over. It was not very long before Paora Toki rel eeivod a peremptory reply to his. to the effect that he and his party were to leave the work immediately, as there were plenty of Europeans to carry it on with-

out him, and hinting that they looked on him only as a prisoner to the Europeans, or words to that effect, —at the same time not interfering with any of tha natives that were employed on the line by the Government surveyor, and those natives that have been employed since by the contractors have been working with the Europeans up to this time not having been objected to in any way. There is no doubt tin.}- would like to see Mr Maekay more frequently, and thought by burning a peg or- so would bring forth bis presence amongst them. 1 was nearly omitting To llira’s name was spoken of as entirely concurring in the opinion of the Jlauraki chief, but very little notice is taken of the latter party at Wliangamata. February 12, 1872.