THE THAMES GOLDFIELD.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 467, 18 February 1869, Page 2

THE THAMES GOLDFIELD.

(from a correspondent.) Since my last letter to you, I have reached Ohinemuri with some of the Maoris,, and I must say that I have never in my travels seen a finer country. I left Shortland on Monday, and arrived at Thorpe's station at six o'clock on Tuesday morning, when I was informed by some of the people residing there that I would not be allowed to proceed up the river, as the Natives had ordered all the white men to leave by "Wednesday, as they did not want to see any white men on their ground. It seems, however, that they had changed their minds, for I went up the river to their meeting on Wednesday, and staid there throughout the day. There was nothing done but opening the meeting, and presenting such presents as they had for each other. For instance the King Natives presented to the Loyal Natives some two tons of cooked potatoes, when the Loyal Natives gave in return some tons of flour, biscuit, sugar, &c, and this was followed by the Hau-haus giving the Loyal Natives some ten ton«

of potatoee. When the business of the meeting was opened, the object of the meetir g seemed to be to express sympathy with the rebels for the stand they were making in the war, but this was all humbug, as they all knew what was wanted, namely, the opening up of this part of of the Th&,mts District. It appears that all the King Natives are against it, and what they intend to do is not at present apparent. I think, however, that there is very little prospect of this place being opened up for some time yet, and even if it is opened there are plenty of miners here to take up all the payable ground that may be discovered for some time to come. The country which the Commissioner is trying to open is some forty miles from Short, land, and there is a fine river up the whole distance, where a small steamer goes once a week. The tide runs up a distance of fifty miles from the mouth of the river, so the country is very flat all the way. The meeting of the Natives begins again to-day, but as there is a boat going to Shortland I send this as I don't know when the mail leaves Auckland for the West Coast. On Thursday last, when a number of us were bathing, one of the best swimmers in the place, whose name was James Mitchell, and who came from the Buller about six months ago, was drowned. At present there are about 800 Maoris and 200 Europeans here, so that you see that there are plenty ready to take up a bit of ground, when you consider that there are four or five thousand in Shortland and its neighborhood literally doing nothing. If the country is opened, there is very little chance for anyone from the West Coast. This morning some men were brought in from the ranges by the Maoris, and they have them locked up till Mr Mackay arrives here. He is expected to-morrow morning. As regards the payable nature of the ground there are various rumors. Some of the diggers who have been in the ranges say that they have not got the color of gold in the district. Others of them say that they have found gold in payable quantities in several places, and in some places very good reefs, but since I have been here I have not seen the color of gold with anyone or anywhere, so that I cannot say whether there is gold or not.