DESPATCHES FROM THE GOVERNOR OF

A.—No. 1

92

paid to exchange friendly sentiments; and as the Governor was so seldom a visitor to Ohinemuri, he expected to hear Te Hira, who was present, give expression to his views and feelings. The Governor then spoke to the following effect:—Salutations to you, my friends ! I thank you for the welcome you have given me. This is my second visit to Ohinemuri, and I have received a hearty welcome on each occasion. My first visit was made four years ago ; and your celebrated chief Taraia then welcomed me in person. He was a great chief in war, and a great friend to the Pakeha in peace. He was known to all the tribes throughout the Island as the principal chief of Hauraki. I heard with great pain of his death, and am now come to join you in lamenting him. I have arrived, accompanied by chiefs from different parts of the Island, who, like me, have heard of his death and regretit. I have now been through all the Native districts from Wellington northwards. I have seen the Ngatikahungunu at Napier, the Ngatituwharetoa at Taupo, the Ngatiraukawa at Orakei-Korako, the Arawaat Ohinemutu, the Ngaiterangi at Tauranga ; and I have now come here among you, the Ngatimaru and Ngaitamatera. Everywhere I have found the death of Taraia regretted. However, if the old chiefs, the aged trees of the forest, are falling, lam glad to see such a fine growth of young men to take their place, I have not much to say to you on this occasion, except to thank you for the welcome you have given me, to tell you I shall be glad to come again to see you, and to wish you all happiness and prosperity. Te Hika : Welcome, Governor ! All I can do is to greet you. I cannot make myself one with you, so thoroughly as your friends around you have, because our thoughts are not yet the same ; but when I find that I can dwell quietly and without being disturbed at my own place, then perhaps I shall see my way clear to do as the others have done. Although your friend Taraia is dead, he is but one man. It were better that the position of the land were made clear. My hands are quite clean. As soon as I hear your word that my land shall be mine, then I shall be clear. Welcome, 0 people ! Ido not know your thoughts. There is no course of action decided upon here. Come when you like. Unite yourselves to us now to-day, because it has been through you that this place is what it is. It will be remembered that Ohinemuri has long been one of the principal strongholds of Hauhauism and rebellion. Tet it will be seen that the Governor was heartily welcomed by all parties. It may be mentioned that, in honor of his arrival, union jacks were hoisted in every place where formerly floated Hauhau flags. April 21. —This day being Sunday, the " Luna " remained quietly at anchor at Ohinemuri, and was visited by large numbers of the Natives. On the 22nd, at 7 a.m., the Governor and Mr. McLean proceeded up the River Thames (so Captain Cook named the noble river called Waiho by the Maoris) for about fifteen miles above the junction of the Ohinemuri Creek ; that is, to a point about forty miles from the mouth of the river. For several miles above Ohinemuri the river runs through the forest ; further on the open country begins. The Governor and party here ascended the hill " Te Eae o te Papa," that is, the brow of the plain, whence there is one of the' most extensive and interesting prospects in all New Zealand. Below, the eye ranges over the whole of the wide valley or plain watered by the Eivers Thames and Piako, with their numerous tributaries, from the sea to" the north as far as the mountains round Lake Taupo to the south. On a clear day, Tongariro and the snowy ridge of Euapehu are clearly visible, as well as Tauhara, the remarkable mountain at the north end of Lake Taupo. To the east is the richly-wooded Aroha Mountain, in which the gold-bearing cordillera of the Cape Colville peninsula appears to terminate. To the west are the bush-covered ranges hanging over the Piako Eiver, and where these end there is an extensive prospect over the plains of the Waikato, bounded by the Pirongia Mountain, which is not far distant from the West Coast of the North Island. The great plain of the Thames is still almost without cultivation or human habitation, with the exception' of a few Maori villages ; yet, in all human probability, the time is not far distant when it will be covered with flourishing English farms and herds of cattle and sheep. The Thames already supplies a liquid highway, and the towns on the gold fields near its mouth a ready market for pastoral and agricultural produce. On his return to Ohinemuri the Governor was present at the arrival of a large number of visitors from various tribes, who had conic, according to Maori custom, to join in the lament (tmgi) for Taraia —a ceremony resembling the coronach of the old Scottish. Highlanders, and the "keen" of the Irish peasantry. The wailing of the women, and the chants celebrating the deeds of the departed chief, were very striking. It is considered a fortunate thing that the Governor visited Ohinemuri at a time when so many of the leading chiefs of the principal Maori clans were there assembled, and thus had an opportunity of paying their homage to the head of the Government. April 23. —The " Luna," the largest vessel which had ever previously ascended the Thames, left Ohinemuri at 7 a.m. with the ebbing tide. Owing to the hitherto imperfect survey of the river, she grounded about two miles from the mouth, but floated again with the rising flood, and reached the wharf at Grahamstown at 5 p.m. On the 24th, a deluge of rain having set in, the Governor was unable to visit the gold mines, but held a reception, at which were present the principal officers connected with the Thames and the leading residents. At 5 p.m. the " Luna " left Grahamstown, and after landing some Native chiefs at a village half-way, arrived at Auckland at 11 o'clock p.m. So ended an important and memorable journey.

No. 67. Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir G-. E. Bowen, G.C.M.G., to the Eight Hon. the Earl of Kimberley. (No. 48.) Government House, Auckland, My Lord,— New Zealand, 16th May, 1872. 1. I have the honor to report that Auckland and the northern districts of this Island have at length been placed in communication, by the electric