THE Thames Advertiser. TUESDAY, NOV. 10, 1874.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1891, 10 November 1874, Page 2

THE Thames Advertiser. TUESDAY, NOV. 10, 1874.

During the past few days unpleasant rumours of various kinds have been floating about regarding some alleged interference on the part of certain Pakeha-Maoris—in combination with one or two land-sharks in Auckland— with the negotiations that are now going on for the immediate opening of Ohinemuri for settlement. We do not know what amount of truth there may be in the statements that have been whispered about in the streets, but one little fact has been brought to our notice which tends to show that there are men among us who desire to see the country still locked up. A small printed circular—got up in Auckland we are told and printed there—has been circulated amongst the natives of Ohinemuri, urging them to " hold on 1 ' to the lands that they have sold to the Government, and for which they have received payment, and telling them to take no notice of Mr Mackay, but to wait for the Native Minister, Sir Donald McLean. We have not yet received a copy of this document, but we believe that it has been very generally circulated amongst the Maoris, and that the only object it is intended to serve is to delay for a period the opening of the Upper Thames, and thus enable certain speculators to secure a few fine blocks of land. The scheme is a very nice one, and those who are at the bottom of it are evidently not troubled by any very conscientious scruples, but on this occasion their plans are likely to miscarry. The natives are favourable to the opening, of the country, the great bulk of the supposed auriferous land has. been secured by the Government, and the opening cannot be delayed for auy lengthened period. But notwithstanding this, we hope the Government will endeavour to discover the mischievous individuals who have distributed these circulars amongst the natives.

His Excellency the Goyernou has administered a very severe snubbing to Sir George Grey, which we hope will have the effect of stopping the fever of petitioning which seems to have seized him. His Excellency tells Sir George that so absurd is the petition which he was asked to transmit to her Majesty that he will not send it, and has charitably consigned it to the wastebasket. The Governor points out that Sir George is altogether wrong in sup posing that the Government of New Zealand intend to ask the Imperial Parliament to pass an Act" to destroy completely representative institutions iu the colony," and so tells him in a civil way that he ought to have more sense than to embody iu a solemn ; petition the, gossip printed in news-

papers. The reply is about ;as severe as it could well be made to a person ia Sir George Grey's position, and it has the merit besides.of completely disposing of the elaborate arguments used in the petition; ,