GOLD FIELD REWARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume IV, Issue 1076, 26 April 1867, Page 3

GOLD FIELD REWARD.

Orn readers will rccollcct that during the last session of the Provincial Council, the Superintendent was empowered to offer a reward of £5,000 for the discovery of a paying gold-lield in the Province of Auckland. Mr. Williamson, we understand, has determined to put the vote if possible, to some practical purpose, and from what we have been informed the olfer of the reward will bo made widely known both in Jr.nglish and Maori, and care ho taken that copies of it be forwarded into Maoi'i districts, more especially the Thames.

The offer of so large" a sum would, one -would think, be very tempting to the native proprietors of auriferous lauds, but even this we doubt will not be sutlicient inducement to cause them to become claimants for it, unless at the same time means be taken to disabuse their minds of certain groundless impressions which have hitherto operated against the discovery of gold by Europeans on native land. That we have in all such arrangements dealt fairly with them can lie easily pointed out, as wituess (Joromandel in this province, and tlie strict justice extended to the Maori owners of native reserves in the IS elson and Canterbury provinces, which have turned out to bo auriferous, and where the rights of the natives have never been infringed upon, numerical ly weak as they arc in those places. Indirectly the natives, would of course be as great gainers as we should, for tlie lauds surrounding those ceded or leased to us as gold fields would, whether auriferous or not, become largely enhanced in value, cither for sale or lease, while, at their very doors, the Maoris would create a market which would, tax their utmost industry to supply. If we could get the Maoris collectively to recognise these and many other important advantages which would follow the discovery and working of a gold-field upon equitable terms, in Maori districts, we should have some hope that the offer the reward would induce the individual owners of auriferous lands to come forward as claimants.