OHINEMURI.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1915, 10 December 1874, Page 3

OHINEMURI.

(from our own correspondent.) December 8, Mb. MackJlT and a number of the principal natives of the different hapus have been engaged all day in Messrs Oasrels and Bennett's large room! fixing the goldfields boundary, marking off native reserves, and arranging other matters in connection with the proposed opening of Ohinemuri. I say " proposed" because there is nothing certain in this transitory world. " L'homme propose, mais Dieu dispose." Sir Donald McLean, I hear, will visit the Thames on Thursday, and will meet the natives on Friday, when I have no doubt that the Ohinemuri question will crop up. V- e poor ignorant savages up here are anxiously waiting to see whether Te Moananui's star will then be allowed to remain in the ascendant or whether it will be knocked into space—or a cocked hat—by violent contact with a star of greater magnitude. Mr Severn and the rest of the savans can stare Venus out of countenance through their (telescopic) eye-glasses for all we care. Their rudeness will not affect us in the least. However, it looks at present., as if Jupiter Pluvius intends coming to the fair lady's assistance so as to allow her to transact her little business with Sol in private. As the poet says," The best laid schemes of mice and men aft gang agee." But to return to Ohinemuri. About sunsot, Mr Mackay brought out a map and showed the natives present what had been dono. Then Pineaha te Wliarekohai rose to propose that something should be given by way of bonus for their having agreed to open the district for mining purposes, lie said that lie had heard that the same was done when the opened the Thamos. and also when certain of the Ngatitamatera Waipatukahu (Tapu Creek).—Mr J -■ Mackay told him UiafcJNgatimaru had not received any advance, and that Ngatitamatera only got £500, which was deducted from the miners' rights fees received. He said that he had, however,, given liopata te Pokiha an order for £1500 in December, 1868, with the understanding that £1.000 would be by way of advance on account of miners' rights fees receivable, and the remaining £500 by way of bonus. He would not now draw back from what he then agreed to do so far as the bonus was concerned. After everything had been settled in reference to the lands outside and here, he would consider whether the amount should be deducted frorni the debt owing, or what should be dono in the matter.—Mr Mackay and a number of natives will . leave for Shortland early in the morning.