COROMANDEL—THE GOLD-FIELD.

New Zealander, Volume XVIII, Issue 1650, 8 February 1862, Page 5

COROMANDEL— THE GOLD-FIELD.

There is, are glad to find, reasonable ground to hope that the value of Coromandel ns a gold-field will soon be fairly tested. After having run the gauntlet of the goodnatured friends of Auckland, who devote themselves to encourage newcomers with doleful forebodings of failure and distress—the diggers from the South have determined to give. Coromandel a trial, and, furnished with the necessary appliances for prospecting, have set about their work in earnest. They appear to have succeeded, after the little mishap which we have before noticed, in finding tbc “ Government” and in making such arrangements as appear to be satisfac° tory. The following intelligence in reference to this matter was yesterday communicated to the Provincial Council in the Message, Nc. 57 : The Superintendent submits ior the information of the Provincial Council, copy of a letter from the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, detailing the measures which have been taken to facilitate exploration of the Coromandel District by the diggers newly arrived in this Province. The Superintendent thinks the suggestion that provision should be made for rendering aid to prospecting parties, worthy of serious consideration, and invites an expression of opinion on the subject by the Provincial Council. J. Williamson, Superintendent. Superintendent’s Office, Auckland, 4th February, 1862. Colonial Secretary’s Office, Auckland, 4th February, 1862. Sir, —I have the honor to inform you that I have had, during the last few days, interviews with several deputations of miners who have recently arrived in this City with the intention of proceeding to Coromandel for the purpose of prospecting the gold fields in that District. They were desirous of being informed how far they would be protected in their claims, if they should discover gold in paying quantities. I informed them of the position of the Government in reference to the matter, referred them to the written agreement between the Natives and the Government, and procured a meeting between some of them and a number of leading chiefs who happened to be in Auckland, thus laying, I hope, a foundation for friendly intercourse between them at Coromandel. I have also sent with them to Coromandel, a Resident Magistrate (Mr. Hanson Turton), who will, I hope, with the assistance of Mr. Preece, the Sub-commissioner of Waste Lands, facilitate the operations of the party, and prevent misunderstandings with the Natives. Some of the miners referred to the subject of a reward for the discovery of a gold field, which, they had heard, was likely to be offered by the Provincial Government; and they suggested that a better method of aiding the object in view would be to give some assistance to a select prospecting party, as was done in Melbourne where a sum of about £30,000 was voted for such purpose, and which led to the discovery of some of the most important gold fields. I consider it my duty to mention this suggestion to you, in order that you may, if you think proper, take some steps in the matter, it being one which has rather the aspect of a function of the Provincial than the General Government. I have, &c., William Fox, Colonial Secretary. His Honor the Superintendent, Auckland. The question here raised is very important, and is one that will, let us hope, command something like attentive consideration from the Provincial Council. There has long been a desire on the part of the people of the Province to have the value of this gold-field determined, to have it settled finally whether —the existence of gold and rich quartz being ascertained—it might be included in the category of “ payable” fields. There is now a favorable opportunity to have the Coromandel District thoroughly explored ; if it proves to be what it has been so confidently predicted to bo, rich in the precious metal, the General Government and the Province are now in a good position to meet the difficulties which are every where contingent upon the sudden rush of masses of people to any particular locality, a difficulty which, in the case of Coromandel, might undoubtedly be very seriously enhanced by the presence on the spot, of a considerable Native population. It seems then desirable that the experiment now being made should be rendered as complete as possible, and that, failing pecuniary contributions from private sources, or to supplement such contributions, the Local Government should lend its aid. The public object being the discovery of gold in “ payable ” quantity, it would appear that that object is more likely to be attained by affording assistance judiciously to seveial properly selected prospecting parties, than by offering a large reward. Prospecting in a country wooded and broken, like that at Coromandel, is necessarily a very laborious, and expensive process, and one which, except in rare cases, cannot he sustained for any length of time by diggers of the ordinary class without assistance. It might be that, in hopes of obtaining a promised reward, one or two parties would be able to undertake an exploration ; but, stimulated by the hope of discovery alone, if aid in the shape of rations and tools were provided, a dozen or more prospecting parties might be started, and the public object be thus all the more effectively attained. It may he said that, in this latter case, a certain amount of expenditure would he inevitable, whatever might be the result, whilst if a reward only were offered no part of it might ever be claimed ; to this it may be answered that it is worth money to have the question settled—payable gold-field or not payable? —and that the method of subsidizing small parties, by enlisting the greater number of hands for the work, is the best for solving the problem. Whatever it may seem fit to the Provincial Council in its wisdom to do, we think that the citizens of Auckland, who would profit most by the gold discovery, should not be apathetic in the matter. Their subscriptions might supplement the grant of public money, supposing it to be made, or if not made, might furnish the means of accomplishing that which all must desire to see accomplished—a speedy settlement of a most important question. — New-Zealander, Feb. 5.