THE NATIVE MEETING ABOUT OHINEMURI. (FROM CROSS CORRESPONDENTS.)

Waikato Times, Volume VII, Issue 404, 15 December 1874, Page 2

THE NATIVE MEETING ABOUT OHINEMURI. (FROM CROSS CORRESPONDENTS.)

The meeting of the natives with Sir D. McLean was resumed at ten o'clock this momiug, in front of laipari's house. There was >i largo number of Europeans present. We give an abstract of the speeches : Te Hira commenced the proceedings by saying that he had no land beyond Ohinemuri, and therefore he would hold on to that. The land and the gold were in his hand-i. He reminded Sir D. McLean, that when he visited him some years ago, he (Sir D.) said to him : " Who is there to take them from you ?" His only desire was to remain peacefully on his own land. The Governor had also told him lhat his land was his own. Formerly, he was not driven t) extremities; now he felt that something of that kind was at hand. Mr Mackay replied that the gold had been given to him, and the land to To Hira. The tribes of Ohir.emuri had signed to that. Te Hira said he had not signed to giving up anything in&ide Ohinemuri. He wanted McLean now to answer his speeches. W. H. Taipara said McLean wa3 in the position of a listener. He would reply on Monday. Te Moanunui then went into the transactions, saying that he agreed to give up the outside for the food. He asked Sir D. McLean if the license system came from the Government. Mr Mackay said it came from the natives. Te Moananui procei did further to question Sir D. McLean, who said that money was the proper payment for land. Te Moanauui then proceeded to denounce the license system. Mr Mackay read a letter from Te Moananui's wife, asking for a petticoat and flannels, and one from Te Moananui himself, asking for trowseis* and a tent. Te Moananui : Well, how many acres would you take for these V Mr Mackay then read a letter from Te Moananui to the Native Ministor, saying that the Maoris weir to blame for the license system, and not to Mr Mackay. Te Moananui said he had told Mr Mackay to stop issuing orders to the people, but still he carried it on. He then asserted that the man who owned the land was the proper man to fix the price, and his price for Waikawau and Moehau was 10s an acre. A long discussion took place on this point, and also on the license 'system. *Te Moananui asserting that some of the flour supplied was. stinking. Riwui Te Rioro, of" Parawai, then commenced about some of bis own grievances ina'espect to his^ land near Shortland. He was told by some oi the natives that this meeting was dealing .with the subject of Ohinemuri at present. The discussion on the license system was then resumed, Te Hira and Te Moananui asserting that the pi ices of the things supplied had been enlarged, in fact, that their accounts had been "cooked." They asserted that they had also warned the storekeeper not to give any goods long ago, but the practice had still been continued. Mr Mackay answered that the natives who had got the goods had come to him and asked him to pay the storekeepers.