THE GUMFIELDS COMMISSION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9229, 17 June 1893, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE GUMFIELDS COMMISSION.

Wk give to-day sketch portraits of the members of tho Gumtields Commission, one of the most important Commissions that has ever sat in Auckland. The great misfortune of the gumfields industry has been that for many years, although it has produced a large amount of wealth, it has done nothing whatever for the permanent benefit or settlement of tho country. We know that if there ia a certain amount of dairy or agricultural produce exported, that involves a permanent benefit to tho colony in land brought under cultivation, but when wo send away, as we did last year, over half a million's worth of gam, wo have nothing left but so many awkward holes in the land, which is injured for all settlement purposes.

Dr. Giles, R.?»L, the presiding Commissioner, is a gentleman in whoso fairness and "open mind" everyone has the utmost confidence. Ho is of a strictly judicial turn, and his natural capacity for weighing evidence has been perfected by his long practice on the Bench. Dr. Giles was a resident in Auckland about thirty years Ago, when he practised his profession as a physician. At that time ho was a regular contributor to the Southern Monthly Magazine, in which ha published some tales and several exquisite translations of some of Horace's odes.

Mr. J. C. Firth does not require a word of introduction to Auckland readers. It is quito well known that for many yearo he has held a strong opinion that a duty might safely be levied upon the export of kauri gum to be devoted to the construction and maintenance of roads in tho North. Mr. Firth baa given a considerable amount of attention to the trade, and is familiar with the method in which tho Bales are conducted in London.

Mr. G. Mueller ie the Commissioner of Crown Lands in the Auckland district. He has no special knowlodge of gumdigging, as he has only recently come to this part of the colony. The utmost confidence may, however, be felt in his fairness, and we are sura thab he will give full consideration to all tho complex and conflicting interests involved. Mr. Mueller has one special qualification of very greab value. From his office of Crown Lands Commissioner, and his position as Chairman of the Crown Lands Board, he is intimately acquainted with the position of the different blocks of land in the North, and will be able to be of great service to the Commissioners in determining on any scheme ,of settlement j which may be promoted by the Goveroi montv