THE UPPER THAMES.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 392, 2 November 1868, Page 3

THE UPPER THAMES.

By last advices, the Aucklanders were in high spirits at the prospect of the upper Thames being opened to miners, through the exertions of Mr Mackay. The following letter, that appeared in the Daily Southern Cross, of the 21th ult., must at least throw doubts on the realisation of these hopes.

Sir, —On the 12th instant, on a visit to Shortland, I learned by the Auckland papers that the Ohinemuri goldfields had been arranged for by Mr Mackay. Onthesame day, a report was eircu ated in Shortland thai, the natives of that district had come to blows. Deeming both reports to be worthy of little re liance, I resolved to visit the district and inquire into the state of things there. I have just returned, and now send you the result of my observation and inquiries. On my arrival there on the 14th (Thursday), I found, at a cluster of huts (Eobert's settlement), Mr "White, Mr C. O. Davis, and several other Europeans. Mr White was charitably engaged in endeavouring to persuade the G-erman taveller, Schafer, to return to Shortland and forsake his brown love, as she had forsaken him. Further on were half-a-dozen Maoris, club and revolver in hand, driviug about twelve Europeans into a boat On the opposite side of the river were some two or three old Maoris shepherding some halfscore of whites oveiland. In the evening of that day there was no European left on the creek but the G-erman mentioned, who was too ill, or pretended to be so, to be removed.

The same day John Thorpe was subjected to a fresh demand for payment for his land, not by Hauhaus, but by friendly natives. The following day (Friday) the shepherds went on to Thorpe, and, having driven away from there such Europeans as had remained there for the night, they gave notice to leave to Thorpe also I am told. There is little danger, however, that he will be expelled as long as he keeps a store. If some landless person takes up the trade of supplying the natives with liquor I fear his expulsion would be prompt enough, but they cannot bring themselves to do without a more proximate store than Shortland. I was informed by Hauhau chiefs that Mr Mackayandthe Assessor Shortland (or Tikapa) has sent orders to the whites to leave ; this is contradicted by some of the Queenites. Of course there has been no bloodshed or seizure of Europeans as yet, but that this will continue I much doubt, and now proceed to the conclusion I deduce from my inquiry

on the spot. The native population is nominally divided, but really united in playing one game with two packs of cards. The Queenites, so called, are composed of natives who have disposed of their lands to the Government, and others make use of the Kingites to recover their interests again; this, I believe, a certain Government official has assented to. The amount of public money which will be abandoned is about£ls,ooo. They have also obtained a promise of £IOOO for their assent to have their lands worked for gold. The area which this will open, if it be opened at all, will on survey not be worth the cost of survey ; but failing its being opened they feel assured of the £IOOO. The improbable contingency of a sufficient number of diggers congregrating there to feel themselves strong enough to offer resistance is provided for in this manner ; that is, the Queenites are prepared to see any number of diggers destroyed by the other party without alarm, and the prestige of the Kingites is to be secured by the destruction of a goodly number of whites before they submit to evacuate the district, should that become necessary. In any contingency that may arise, the lands and interests of both parties shall be secured, each land owner having his representative in the adverse camp. Over and above all this, it is the unanimous resolve to serve the insurgent or rebel interest in the best possible manner.

Were 2000 well-armed diggers once located in the district, and did it yield good remuneration, they might stand their ground for a short time ; but Shortland cannot furnish that requisite. Therefore, I consider that the assent of the Queenitcs alone is not worth having. I believe both sections are quite convinced of this. A Queenite chief declared in my presence that " the sword alone would open these diggings," an opinion evidently concurred in by all present. Yet, after all, it is hard to conceive how they expect to maintain this attitude, for they are too considerate not to have well weighed all the probabilities of being overwhelmed by numbers, and it is just possible that they foresee this probability, and are merely chaffing for the highest price they can obtain for the concession. I must, however, repeat that I have no faith in this supposition.—l am, &c, P. C. Thames, October 16, 1868.