OHINEMURI.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 117, 23 February 1872, Page 3

OHINEMURI.

To tlie Eilitor of Till; THAMES GCAIUIIAN. Si a, —The anxiety with which the population of the Thames goldfields anil the province of Auckland look upon the opening of the Ohiiieinuri and To A roll a district for gold tiling purposes, and the splendid prospects we all have before us of a successful future, may he to a certain extent allayed by the following opinion.; I give it, as I think myself, leaving everyone to take it for what it is worth :—Referring to the meeting, which was held at Ohiticumri last week, of the natives with Dr l’ollcn and James Mackay, Esq., it was decided that i:o talk should take place about the gold or the opening of the country until the wire w; s completed. This telegraph line I am certain, and have it on the best authority, will take three months to complete. It will take another two months to get a meeting of natives together to have the talk about the gold, another four or six months to finish their arrangements, —in all, at least, nine or twelve monthts truin now before this coveted land is opened to European enterprise. The mining population, who are anxiously waiting, will say, “ this is a consolation hut 1 shall he only too pleased to see the place opened before—if possible. The most strenuous efforts are being made by the General Government and those concerned. 1 hear considerable blocks of land have been purchased ; also, that the natives, who only recently objected to part with their lands, or even allow Europeans to go through thei** district, arc now only too anxious and desirous to dispose of the same to the Government ; therefore, however willing the natives are to open the country, it will, and must, take considerable time to complete the purchase and survey of these lands. Therefore it is useless to assume Iho country will he open in two, four., or six months, or any definite linn*.—l am, Ac., W. J.