Page 6 Advertisements Column 3

New Zealander, Volume XVII, Issue 1629, 27 November 1861, Page 6

foro be best served by agreeing on their part to any measures which should bo found necessary for these objects being taken by the Government; and that as a considerable expense might ultimately be found necessary, some source of revenue must accrue out of which the same could be defrayed. The Natives are probably aware that a fixed duty of 2s. 6d. per oz. is levied on the export of gold. The application of that revenue is limited by law, and it is not possible therefore to make any appropriation of it towards such an arrangement as is contemplated with the Natives. But it appears to the Government that, for the present at least, an equitable basis for that arrangement would be, that the Natives should receive out of other funds, for the permission of prospecting, a sum which should bear a proportion to the total amount of gold revenue collected in the district during a given period. You are authorised therefore to treat with them either on that basis, or (if you find that impracticable) then on the basis of a fixed annual payment, or as a last resource., of a sum for the present year so as to allow exploration to proceed without further delay. You will take the earliest opportunity of communicating to the Government the progress of your negotiation ; and I need not assure you that they rely on your ability and zeal to assist the Province of Auckland in this most desirable measure for the developement of its resources. The Government desires that you should lake the opportunity, during your stay at Coromandel, of reporting specially upon the negotiations for the purchase of land now pending under the management of Mr. Preece ; specifying the blocks which are likely to he acquired, if any, and the comparative amounts of payment and acreage ; also stating the apparent effect which those negotiations have upon the Natives, and accompanying your own opinion with a careful review of the facts on which it is When it is known whether your first steps at Coromandel open the way to a satisfactory arrangement, more detailed instructions will be forwarded for your guidance. I have, &c., William Fox, In the absence of Mr. Mantell. The Chief Land Purchase Commissioner.

Waiheke, November 7th, 1861. Sir,— I herewith enclose the translation of an Agreement entered into with the Natives of Coromandel Harbour for the exploration of their lands lying between the Waiau river and Cape Colville, including the East and West sides of that Peninsula. The Natives, at a Meeting held with them on the 2nd instant, assured me that every facility would be afforded to parties searching for gold within their territories, if only, in ihe first instance, they gave notice to the Native proprietors of their intention to do so. They considered the discovery of gold as calculated to be beneficial not only to Europeans but to themselves also, as affording them a readier market for their produce, enhancing the value tff their property, and yielding them an immediate revenue, should gold be found in any considerable quantity. They are prepared to abide by the Agreement of 1852, for the working of the Gold Fields; or, if necessary, to enter into a fresh Agreement for an equitable proportion of the yield of gold, or some equivalent in money "upon a scale to be fixed hereafter between themselves and the Government. Gold has not yet been found in sufficient quantities to admit of any prospective arrangement regarding it, beyond that of obtaining the sanction of the Native proprietors Prospecting parties should be prohibited from extending their operations south of the Waiau Creek, or Clastic Rock, until arrangements are made with the several claimants for that purpose. A tract of country near Koputauaki has been reserved, in compliance with the wish of the deceased Chief Paora Te Putu, to the effect that this land should be worked by Natives. Some of this Chiefs immediate relatives have, however, waived their previous objections in favour of parties wish--1 have not been able to see some of the claimants residing on the East side of the Cape ; but I am satiiied that they arc not likely to offer any decided opposition to the search for gold, as most of them are under the influence of the well-known Chief Puhata, who has been a firm and consistent friend of the Europeans since their first settlement in this part of the country. The names of these claimants are, Maka te Kahui, Paengabuka, Kiria, Harata Tikaokao ; and Parakaia Puhata, who accompanied me, informs me that he will communicate with the above Natives to obtain their sanction to extend the search over their lands. I sent up the Thames for Te Hira Kake, one of the Ngatitamatera Chiefs, who represents Paora Te Putu. Ho attended the meeting at Waiau, and expressed himself favorable to tho arrangements entered into with the other Chiefs. He himself did not .sign the agreement, but most of his relatives, including a grandson of Paora's, attached their names to it. Should any unforeseen objections be raised by individual Natives not parties to this Agreement, the Chiefs and others who signed it should be communicated with before urging a search for gold upon the particular spots owned by such persons; and, in every instance, Native cultivations, graves, or other sacred spots, should be carefully respected. The Natives claim to themselves the right of pointing out their respective boundaries to the explorers. This will be dono at Cabbage Bay, near Cape Colville, by Moananui, and at Waiau by Te Taniwha or such Chiefs as Mr. Preece may select. On my return, I saw some of the Chiefs interested in the gold-fields on the western shores of Hauraki, and they appeared quite ■atisiied with the proceedings of their relatives at Coromandel, as detailed to them ,by Puhata. From the disposition evinced by tho Natives, I am satisfied that, as a body, they will not throw any serious obstacles in the way either of prospecting or working the Coromandel gold-fields, if they are treated with a just consideration for their prejudices and customs, and with an equitable recognition of their rights as proprietors of the soil. Care, however, should be taken Hint the opening of (lie gold-fields which they have so readily granted may not involve them in difficulties with Europeans, in the event of any large influx of people to the diggings W»d their po-opermjon with Hip