But Te Moananui’s earlier support for gold mining was hardly wholehearted. Some Ngati Tamatera had adopted the strategy of ceding their lands at Coromandel whilst retaining the upper Thames district. Te Moananui’s opposition to Te Hira’s handing the block over to the King is not inconsistent with his making common cause with him in retaining control of it. When concessions had to be made from 1874, Te Hira and Te Moananui were willing to sell Moehau and Waikawau before surrendering the gold in Ohinemuri.

Rather than pursuing a mining cession, Government action was directed to three other areas: bringing the Native Land Court to Ohinemuri, completing the Auckland- Tauranga telegraph line, and eventually, purchasing the block. The best explanation of the Government’s tactics is therefore that its goals had changed, or arguably reverted to the original primary goal of purchasing the freehold of land, either for mining or settlement. Opening fresh fields to mining was no longer urgently required as a source of social and economic growth. But a pressing concern was preventing private speculators from signing leases or purchasing land once it had passed through the Native Land Court.

10.1.5 The mail and the telegraph

Maori leaders were often opposed to the passage of the telegraph through their rohe, viewing it as the first step towards Pakeha settlement and stronger Government control. In 1871, encouraged by the Kingitanga, and supported by Ngati Porou at Mataora, Te Hira stopped the mail being carried from Ohinemuri to Waihi. Thorp reported that ‘only some 70 old men’ were so opposed and that most local Maori would accept a show of Government force on the issue.⁵⁷ McLean did threaten to arrest Te Hira, but that only increased his ire, and McLean’s action was criticised in the local press. The officials returned to diplomacy.

In the latter half of 1871, the telegraph reached Shortland; Maori were bitterly divided over allowing its extension to Tauranga. Mackay, though not then in Government employ, and, taking advantage of jealousies between Te Moananui and Te Hira, succeeded in negotiating the telegraph’s extension. It was understood that Te Hira could continue to oppose verbally; and that, as payment, Tukukino’s hapu, Te Kiriwera, could muru Andrew’s store at Paeroa (the only one permitted by Te Hira and Mere Kuru) to the tune of £80 or £90. On New Year’s Day 1872 at Bowentown, the venerable Hori Tupaea turned the first sod for the telegraph; Te Hira sent two of his nephews to endorse the proceedings tacidy. Tukukino still opposed the mail, but after further diplomacy it was allowed through.⁵⁸ A regular steam- launch service was commenced up the Waihou to Ohinemuri and in May 1872, Te Hira, Mere Kuru and Te Moananui joined in petitioning the provincial government for a subsidy to maintain it.⁵⁹

57. Document o6, p 216

58. Ibid, pp 221–226

59. Ibid, p 230