AUCKLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 97, 26 March 1853, Page 3

AUCKLAND.

A meeting of the native tribes in Auckland was held in December to make satisfactory arrangements for the working of the gold fields — present, His Excellency the Lieut-Governor, the Bishop of New Zealand, Chief Justice Martin, and other gentlemen. His Excellency addressed the chiefs, stating, that the discovery of gold was likely to lead to the arrival of many thousand people from all parts of the world, as in California and New South Wales, and that his Excellency had come to offer the protection of the Government to them the same as if the gold had been found on the land of the Europeans, to protect them from all annoyance they might be exposed to from the strangers that mii^ht come there. The Queen's authority, said his Excellency, is at hand to prepare such arrangements with your concunence as may keep these strangers in order and check. His Excellency, after a few fmther remarks, concluded by saying ha would be glad to hear the sentiments of the native chiefs.

The first speaker was Te Taniwha (the celebrated Hook-nose) chief of the Ngatiwhanunga; he was unanimously chosen to introduce the subject. His speech was as follows : — *

" O son,'" (meaning Puhata, a chief of consequence who claimed conjointly with him the Matawai gold field) " let thi.s be our motto, ' it is well, it is well.' These are tokens of peace, the presence of the Governor, the Bishop, and the Chief Justice. Ye who are here acknowledge these your parents. My children be not sad :— it is well— all is well. The messengers of God — of truth, stand here, even the EONE (meaning the solid substance, ccc.) of that winch is good. The ajrangemonts are U-ft to \ou, O Governor, the Bishop, and Chief Justice."

Several other chiefs spoke in a>similnr strain, expressing their willingness to allow the Europeans to search for gold on their lands, provided they receive a sum for trie permission, but would not part with any of theiv lands. The following Asrreemcnt between ihe Government and the Native Tribes for the management of the Gold Fields has been entered into for the term of three years : —

1. That one system be adopted for the regulation of .ill persons searching and digging for gold between Cape Colvilfe and Kauairanga.

2. The Government undertake to pay in 7 expect of the iv hole land within the above limits, foi three years, for any number

under 500 £'iOO 500 to 1000 £9H 1000 to LSOO £1200 1500 to 2000 £ 1,300 and so on in the same pioportion.

3. The native owners to register themselves and point out their boundaries to the Government, and the monov paid to each body of owners so lPgi^terod, to bear the same pioportion to the whole sum that their land does to the whole block.

4. All owners to be free to dig gold on their own land, without payment to government, but not to permit other persons, whether native or English, to dig without a license.

5. The Government guarantees protection to all classes of persons ; in consideration of which, a License Fee will be required from all diggeis not being owners of the land.

fi. The Native owners undertake to assist the Government as much as possible by reporting all persons who are found digging without a License.

7. The Govei nment to be at liberty to issue Licenses immediately, but the payments to be reckoned from the Ist December, 1552; the first payment to be made on the 31st March, 1853, anil quarterly afterwards.

8. The property of the land to renviin with the Native owners; and their \ill;igps and cultivations to be protected as much as possible.

9. If any of the tribes of the Peninsula decline this proposal, their land shall not be intruded upon till they consent. Note. — The foregoing arrangements include the consent of three tribes, and comprise about 16 square miles, or 10,000 acres.

The opinion of the " Southern Cross" on the Maori schools, and generally upon the appropriation of revenue for native purposes may be gathered from the following paragraph;*: —

Our objections to the past Maori expenditure, and to the funds proposed for the future, may be summed up in a few words which we think necessary thus plainly and palpably to record for the benefit of all those who may wish to know 'what we have really said, or who may desire to offer any remarks either for or ag.dnst our views. 1. We affirm that Governor Grey, in the matter of the Maori schools, has carried on for the last four years an " illegal and profligate" expenditure of the public -revenues 5—5 — spending £3444 per annum, instead of £1000, as allowed by law. The people have, therefore, been " fleeced" to this extent, and their money sacked.

2. An illegal practice has been further carried on in reference to these appropriations — inasmuch aa no report has yet been furnished, showing where, and for what the said monies have been expended — although the ordinance peremptorily requires that the s-chools " shall be inspected once at least in every year."

3. "We have alleged that vast sums In money have been given for schools under the Wesleyans — besides very large and princely grants of land — and that it is therefore to be presumed that such handsomely endowed institutions ought not only by this time to be completely self supporting, but so fii inly establish^ ed as to afford a larger shaie to be given to other schools less favoured — nay, to enable themselves to throw off and to sustain swarms from the well paid and highly endowed parent hive. 4. We have further objected to the proposed Maori civil list of £7000, reserved by the new constitution out of our provincial revenue, on the ground that the appropriation is purely of a charitable and philanthropic character, and as such cannot justly be taken from the revenues without the coLS-nt of the people.