Ohinemuri.

Thames Star, Volume III, Issue 1661, 27 April 1874, Page 2

Ohinemuri.

(feom ovs, own correspondent).

The Late Land Purchase.

Probable Native Disturbance. . April 25, 8 a.m. I would have written before this week, but the state of our postal nommunication is so disgraceful that there is no knowing when the steamer which is sup-, posed to carry the mail here comes o* goes. On Monday last the mail which was closed on the previous Thursday at Short! and reached here. To-day, no mail has come, and the person who is in charge of the steamer, whether owner or captain I do not know, announced on his arrival here thafc " if any one was waiting for a mail, there was, n p mail I,'.'* I;will give one more instance showing how the mail service is conducted. A telegram was sentpfrom, Cambridge on the 15th inst. to be posted at Shortland and sent on here. The sender of the telegram left Cambridge on the 16th, arrived here on the 19th, arid:on the 21sl his telegram came to hand!

In my last letter I stated that a large land purchase had been made here. Since then I have tread in your Thames contemporary a denial authorised by Mr Young the person who has made the purchase. The denial is simply an evasion of the truth — the name of the block being incorrectly given. The purchase has been made of the block of land between.Thorp'Sj or more recently Cashel's (now Creagh's) farm, and Hikutaia. This is really and truly-a portion of the^gbldfieldiifor there are more indications of gold within the area of the block, than, there are within many miles around. That, however, is not the only difficultyin the matter. The Crown grant issued by the Native Lands Court for this block had in it the names of eight natives as owners, and as representing the owners. Four of these natives sold to Mr. James Mackay ;< four others have sold to Mr. H. C Young. A meeting was held on Tuesday last* when one of Mr. Young's friends attempted to argue the question; The reply of the other side was that they, would have the remainder of the argu-; ment out with their guns. 3 v '■'; Arrangements are being made by the vendors of the land, for a great feast on Monday next. Three tons of flour, half-a-tou of sugar, two casks of rum, eighteen sheep and five bullocks are now, on hand for the > supply of the guests. There is bitter feeling, however, on the side of the opposition, or Kiriwera tribe. > It is a fact, and a singular one, that the Maori name of the tribe to" which the vendors of the land; belong turned into English i means " the thieving tribe.','

There is a story current feere which is not bad, and is certainly true. . The principal objector to publicans' licenses in Native districts went to a publican here on Monday last, and borrowed his steamer fare to go to Shortland to attend the Licensing Court. The publican, whether a sinner or not, feels bitterly repentent, and says he won't do so again. While writing, I am told that it is definitely decided amongst the natives here opposing the sale of land, that they will shoot two of the offenders. ,