THE Thames Advertiser. TUESDAY, DEC. 1, 1874.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1907, 1 December 1874, Page 2

THE Thames Advertiser. TUESDAY, DEC. 1, 1874.

The 'Southern Gross' has an article about Ohinemuri, of which the whole gist is given in the following" There seems to be some absurd idea that the General Government is opposed to the opening of the land. Anything more ridiculous, both in a local and general Bense, can scarcely we should imagine be conceived. Why should the General Government oppose what is clearly for the benefit of the province and of the colony 1 If the Ministry are a government of fools we could suppose their throwing obstacles in the way of securing a desirable district of country in which it is believed, rightly or wrongly, that alluvial gold exists?" It doe's seem absurd that if such a district can. be opened, the Government should not do it, but we assert that, from whatever cause, it is so. Ohinemuri is the great lever of the Native Office, and the Southern people are led to believe that the miners and residents at the Thames are eager to seize the land, that such a proceeding would mean war, and that only by. the able diplomacy of the Native Office is such a war averted. If Ohinemuri were opened,- and. a. European population settled there, people might begin to think that the colony could do without a Native Office, native expenditure, and native officials. The old stock argument used to be that if Ohinemuri were to be occupied by Europeans, there would be danger of outbreak in the Waikato. < We do-not believe there ever was any truth in this argument, and the sayings of the King party, and of the few natives at Ohinemuri who object to the opening, make it quite certain that there is no idea of interference either at Te Kuiti or Ohinemuri. That.is a.bugbeaiv which ought no longer to be allowed to impose upon anyone. Those who wish to close the country never mention the King as their support in keeping the country closed. They fall back upon the Native Minister, and cite him as their support. We . believe that the Native Minister'could open' Ohinemuri in a fortnight, if he were determined, by arrangements which • would not bring the slightest danger to the colony, and which would be for the immense benefit of the natives themselves. It is all very well, for a Ministerial organ to assert that no Ministry composed of men of common sense would keep such a country closed if it could by any means be opened, but we submit it ought to descend to particulars, and let us know exactly what the obstacle is, and why Sir Donald McLean,, does not come and use his undoubted influence to have the country opened. If the natives are able to force Mr Mackay to put all the money [they have got.,on Ohinemuri upon Waikawau and Cdpe Colville, they will start with a clean sheet, and after having been paid for. Ohinemuri, will clear off the debt by charging us ,£1 an acre for land which is not worth Is. ,