OHINEMURI.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 146, 28 March 1872, Page 3

OHINEMURI.

THE SUPERINTENDENT'S VISIT. (from a correspondent).

March 26. Yesterdat his Honor the Superintendent and Mr Mack ay visited the natives, who were assembled at the “ place of mourning” at Opakura. Tliero were at least 300 natives present. The Europeans also mustered pretty strongly; amongst others I noticed Messrs Hannaford, O'Keeffe, Allom, and some few other Thames notabilities. His Honor was introduced to the meeting by Mr Mackay, and speeches expressive of welcome were made by Hori Tupaea (of Tauranga), Holiepa te Rauhihi, Te Kopara Tarapipipi (of Piako). To Hira te Tuiri, and Te Moananui. After which, Mr Mackay replied, and referred to the relations which existed between the late Taraia Ngakuti and the various tribes in former days, and, also, more recently, tlie Europeans. He (Mr Mackay) looked upon Taraia as beiug the last link connecting the two races with the past. He then sang a waiata having reference to the loss caused by Taraia’s death. Ilis Honor the Superintendent then rose and said : Friends from W aikato, Tauranga, Ilauraki, and elsewhere, salutations. I have come hero for two reasons. I came to mourn with you the death of Taraia Ngakuti, a man whose name was known far and wide. lie was known as a great warrior and an upright man. Iu time of war he was strong to battle, and in times of peace be was a wise counsellor. He thought that it was fortunate for the people of Hauraki that such a man had lived and died in their midst. He might serve them as an example. I have come to express my sorrow at his death. Ido not now wish to enter upon topics calculated to disturb your minds. However, if there be any subject on which you may desire information or advice I shall he most happy to assist you to the best of my ability. After a pause, PINEAIIA TE WIIAREKOwai said that ho was glad to see his Honor here, and felt grateful for the good opinion expressed as to the deceased. Te Hip.a also thanked his Honor for coining to pay respect to their departed friend. Wiremu te Faora spoke to the same effect. Tauapipipi agreed with his Honor that the death of Taraia caused a break. AT the same time ho feared that evil might arise iu consequence. He foresaw that disputes would ensue with reference to lands sought to he disposed of by his heirs.

Mr Mackay said that the Europeans were not to blame for their land disputes. They were caused by one Maori trying to best another. That had been the cause of trouble at Taranaki, and elsewhere.. He went on to say that Tarapipipi was in the habit of foreseeing difficulties which never arose. He might refer to the telegraph crossing the Piako, and would ask him whether any evil had yet resulted ? Tarapipipi wanted to know what was going to lie done in the matter of smveyTe A rob a Block?

Mr Mackay said that if the survey were made he would wish all the tribes interested to be present at the survey. lie was sorry that the Ngati mam had gone away so soon. Ihey might have discussed the subject whilst all were gathered together. Ilis Honor the Superintendent said the Government had nothing to do with the survey. The Native Bands Court had adjudicated the subject to certain conditions. He would merely remark that it was great folly to dispute about the simple survey. The act of cutting the lines would not remove the hills. Again, with reference to the much talked of telegraph, he would say that Europeans never objected to the wire crossing their lands. It did no harm, but was a source of much good by establishing speedy communication. lie would ask those who were stih disposed to object to the telegraph construction to carefully think over the matter in order to come to a better understanding. lIoNE Te Kuti considered that the telegraph was beyond their comprehension. They could not foresee where it would end. At this stage food (boiled rice) was brought on the ground. In order to help di gestion Tauaru gave the natives his opinion as to the survey of the Aroha lands. After a short interval Mr Mackay replied to Hone Te Kuti. He said that there was no evil in the telegraph —the evil was in men’s hearts. Hone Te Kuti repeated that they could not foresee what would result from the construction of the telegraph. At a certain distance a "gun would, kill. Ihe telegraph would have no limit, and who could predict the end. Mr Mackay again replied that the evil arose in men’s hearts. The gun and the telegraph were simply a means employed for certain ends. It was the fault of those using them if evil resulted. The gun was useful for shooting birds and cattle—the telegraph would bring men closer together, and good relations could he kept up between the people of both ends of the country. H repeated that it was the fault of man that either instrument were turned to a had use. What followed was not of great interest, being simply a discussion amongst the natives as to the respective shares of the tribes interested in Te Aroha Block. Hie principal speakers were Tauaru, Piueha, Tarapipipi, Reihana, Tutuki, le Moananui, Haora Tipa, Hone te Kuti,*Te Mokona, Te Mini, and Holiepa te Rauhihi. The speech of the latter brought on a small squabble between himself and Tarapipipi, who got rather excited over it. Boiled potatoes wel-e then served round. Te Hira came forward and shook hands with his Honor and friends.. Mr Mackay afterwards accompanied his Honor and introduced him personally to the principal chiefs, and the meeting closed. A deputation from the European settlers then visited his Honor, and were introduced by C. F. Mitchell, Esq., M.P.C. They requested his Honor to cause some small bridges to be erected over creeks between Hum huru and Opukeko, which were necessary in order to facilitate the traffic between Cashel’s and the East Coast. I Ilis Honor said that if it were found that ; a balance of the money appropriated rej mained, after constructing the Opukeko bridge, the works would he carried out. i The deputation thanked his Honor for Ilis courtesy and withdrew.

March 27,

At an early hour yesterday morning, numbers of groups of natives were to be seen wending their way upwards and downwards to the Paeroa, and by noon there were a very largo number present. In fact, at one time during the day, there were 400 natives on the ground, and then several had taken their departure. The object of holding this meeting is not of any public importance, it having been called together by Mr Mackay for the purpose of squaring up various money

matters and accounts amongst the natives present, and a better opportunity could not have occurred than this, as so many different people were brought together by the death*of Taraia. Business was commenced at about 1 p.m., and carried on unflaggingly for several hours by those engaged. "At times it was great fun to see the excited state into which some old fellow would work himself, hut the most curious thing was the apparent J feaso and rapidity with which they overcame their passions and quietened down. Ono old friend of our Piueha, well known in Grahamstown, created much amusement by his mode of going on when he considered himself insulted at some remark passed about him by another chief. These lively sallies served to throw a little excitement into the proceedings, which would otherwise have been rather monotonous. His Honor the Superintendent took no part in the meeting, being simply a spectator, walking round about and exchanging greetings with the natives, amongst whom wo noticed Te Hira, Te Moanannui, fieri Tupaea, Karaitiana, Mere Kuru, &t\, &c. The general tone of the natives at the meetings on both Monday and Tuesday may be certainly looked on as healthy and satisfactory. Not a word regarding the opening up of* the country was spoken either day, in fact, such was not the intention of the meeting at all, and consequently the subject was not, nor will it he mooted at present. Several of the speakers, as can be seen from the foregoing report, had a quiet growl at the “ Waea” being erected, as they said that when they allowed it to cross the Pialio they understood that that was to he the only line in this part of the country. Their objections, however, we only look upon as formal ones, and were made simply with the idea of impressing their hearers that as they had objected to the telegraph line in the liist instance, they had changed their opinions up to the present. They came to a very wise conclusion when they said that they could not see where the “Waea” would end. Now, as regards the receiving of messages from the King, and it is a fact that word did come down from him, ordering all kinds of impossible things to be done ; hut from what can be seen and heard, it is very plain that though his Majesty may be the means of putting a stop to the opening up of the country, ho has very little, if any, real authority at all. Some one or two, and these even leading men, may agree with his mandates, but European influences have made themselves felt to such an extent amongst tho natives that they will follow their own ideas in preference to his oiders, at least as long as such orders do not fall in with their ideas. A messenger was despatched to his Majesty with official information ot Taraia’s death, and bearing Te Hira’s congratulations, &c., nothing more. As regards the opening-up of the district,! he chances of-that ev.-nt are we think looking more promising day by day, even though no negotiations have taken place for a long time, nor are any likely to be started ; but, with tho introduction of European habits, the native mind seems to be gradually coming lound, and there can be no doubt as to ultimate success. Time is the only thing, and circumstances seem to be arising which may assist to shorten that time. One thing is ccitain, that the natives have no crops of any extent this season, and will ho very badly off indeed for food, unless they can get money to buy it. During Tuesday afternoon, the p.s. Effort arrived with a quantity of provisions for the assembled natives, and, after five o’clock, all hands ceased talking, and soon put a cask ot beer and several bags of biscuits out of sight, after which they all separated for the night. In the morning we had a couple of horse-races on the course, which is close to the Imperial Hotel. In one of them fivo horses started, and a capital set-too was the result between three out of the five. The distance was four times round the course, two miles, and the three leaders were never as many lengths apart. Renata’s bay pony Jack was the winner, though a line strong-looking roan, who was third, ought to have won easily, but the rider looked ns if he would have been more at home anywhere than on the outside of a horse, and actually prevented the animal from doing his best,instead of assisting him. The Fairy got up steam during the afternoon, and took Tc Hira and a party of friends on hoard, and gave them a run up and down tho river to tbe ; r intense amusement. The meeting is to be continued to-day, and probably to-morrow, as Mr Mackay has a lot of business to transact with several of those natives present, none of which, however, is of any public import. On Monday night, a meeting was held at the Imperial Hotel, with a view to raising subscriptions towards horse-racing. About £ls was collected, and much more is expected. The natives wished to have the races on Easter Monday, but most, if not all, the pakehas think that the meeting cannot he got up properly by that time, and propose to hold them on St. George’s Day, the 23rd of April, by which time they will be able to raise more funds and make proper arrangements for the meeting. They certainly have a nice little race-course, which is perfectly level, and a good view of the sport can be obtained all tho way ’round.