Ohinemuri.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2117, 16 October 1875, Page 3

Ohinemuri.

(fb'om a cobbespondeht.)

October Hth., The Great Native Difficulty Solved.

At the time that*, I wrote you oh Tuesday morning the Native difficulty loomed large upon our horizon. Dire threats were uttered and great deeds were to be dared. The Natives defiled upon the field of Oerangi in eschelon of battalions, and Mr Cock stood like a wall of brass, —although, alas, alone. Five ploughs were started at one time tiy the enemy. Six men, independent of the ploughman and driver, inarched with each plough, and headlong upon the foremost plough rushed Cock A moment of terrible suspense ensued—but the plough was quietly stopped ; not a< word was spoken by the enemy ; not a muscle of any one's face moved to show, that there was a good joke on ; and'the other four ploughs went ahead full swing. ; Go6k rushed upon another, and yet another plough ; but as he came up each one quietly called a halt, and allowed the others to go on. So was exemplified the great policy of passive resistance; and at once comprehending the situation, Mr Cock, again showidg the great ability which made him so distinguished when he led the Shortland Juveniles to glory, met the native difficulty with the still greater policy of compromise, and licked passive resistance hollow. Ihe native difficulty was at once solved. Mr Cock will get at least the thirty-second part of an pcre of land in which he may plant this year, and has most undoubtedly won a great battle—and a bloodless one* for not even a pig was killed on the occasion.

Peace is restored and the most amicable relations now exist, even with an old Maori named Blue —who, having sold his share of the crown grant to Mr Cock, was amongst the most active in trying to keep him off the land. There is a heavy rush to Waitekauri, and if we only had a few- more people here it would be still greater. It was at first thought of turning out the A. C. to take possession of the claims until Adam could come up, but the idea has been relinquished. The men who started to blaze the new track to Waitekauri via Paeroa have come in reporting a break in the leading spur ; but there is a way out of that by going round it.

The reported teu ounces to the ton found at Waitekauri is hardly correct. The stuff' will not run over nine ounces nineteen pennyweights.