MR. MACKAY AT OHENEMURI-THE BLOCKADE.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 737, 8 March 1877, Page 2

MR. MACKAY AT OHENE-MURI-THE BLOCKADE.

A correspondent of the * Thames Advertiser' has the following respecting the visit of Mr. Mackay to the Upper Thames :— Paeroa, March 3. Shortly after 10 o'clock this morning Mr Mackay proceeded to the pa, and was received with shouts of welcome. Then followed a war dance, m which about fifty warriors of all ages took part. After this, Tinipoaka, Hohepa Kapene, Timatiu te Hati, Hata Paka, Takerei te Putu, We Hopihona, and Te Moanui addressed him with speeches welcoming him to the district ; bnt they all said that, after having seen for himself what was going on, he must return the way he came. They referred to the visit and return of the Hon Dr Pollen and Mr Puckey. They disclaimed having commenced the trouble, and blamed Tutuki and his people. The lastnamed speaker said that if the Ngatir&hiri people would come here and talk over matters, all might yet be well. Kiki Paka attempted to defend m some measure the action taken by Tutuki and his people, whereupon Te Hira apoke at length, condemning Biki Paka's statements, He also said that if Tutuki and the others showed any disposition to be conciliatory, they would assume a clearer aspect. They need not think to bounce it out. — Mr Mackay then spoke, holding m his hand a finelycarved taiaha named "Te Aroha," which had been given up to him by the Ngatihaua tribe when he paid them the balance of money agreed upon by the late Sir Donald McLean m settlement of their claim to the Aroha bjock ? tlnjs indicating that they invested him with their (( mana " over the land. He said he did not take cognisance of the good or the bad fortifications, or what not. The first curse had been directed towards himself, and the Aroha people had threatened to shoot him. He would take no notice of what they said about his proceeding or returning. He would please himself, and they could please themselves. "Who cared about curses, which killed nobody 1 He would not ask their permission to go, but would how inform them that he intended to go to Te Xrofia. IJe had been free to travel about m former times, and did not intend to be stopped now. He would go up to Te Tutuki's pa, and invite {them to carry out their threat of shooting him. He held m his hand the taiaha

Aroha. That fTr^as mv|i^quietly, and nothing was. heard d&Q.ut guns and B^oot\ng tf • „$$ ha^a^e certain , arrangements at Oambrldge, and! now hefhadvCome to Hajji'akv.yi Let them- .remain fWl^^Y where ithby were,- and jiolj conderii.;. themselves about his n g 3 > as lie was not compelled to tell them where he was going (Or.- what .he intended; to, do, As for •Dr Poilen, he ' waW not accuato.nied r tp; travel abQiit^asiihe was, and what he did was no criterion for him- to be guided by ;"°Di v Pollen had no particular reason for going to Te Aroha, but"lie ! had been cursed and threatened, and he, was determined to.' see it out. "He might'have' come down from WaikatoV but he had made his .arrangements to' come to Auckland,, and §0 to Te Aroha this way.. Who wojuld . stop, Mm ? — Mere Kui-u said he had done so witk the .. deliberate . intension p,f trampling ,upon ; their, arrangements, and it would: lead io fighting. She asked Mr Maokay, ff How about Her head, whioh had Been stuck up m eflßgy on Tutuki's pa ?"r^^r i^acka^ said, " How abput his,.;!)^^-'^^^ they had threatened to ridd]^ ;l/ wjth bullets ?" — Mere Kuru said he ought to have brought,his belly^dpwn from Cambridge to se^k;;. satisfrtoi^oii. r lf lie .w^nf upy^his .way.it wßuld .cause i; as, .the ; peopje|^hope. would follow him up. and fight. *-•