THE URIWERA COUNTRY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10640, 18 April 1906, Page 3

THE URIWERA COUNTRY.

« ! IMMENSE DEPOSITS OF IRON ORE. A statement- was published recently with regard to steps being taken by the Hon. J. Carroll, Native Minister, for gold prospecting in the Uriwera country. Conversing with Capt. Preece, the well-known native interpreter, for the subject a representative <»f the Munuwatu Standard learnt that Capt. Preece has been all over the count ry and 2> l'»---bably knew it better than many of the natives themselves. He has been over all the ranges audi down almost every stream, both on the Bay of Plenty and Hawke's Bay sides, and has, therefore, some little knowledge of the country. He stated that during the whole of his experience he hud never seen the slightestindication of -gold. He has been down the Whukatane river from its source to its outlet- in the Bay of Plenty, down the Waimana nearly from its source to the Bay of Plenty, down the Waiau from its source to where it .joins the Wairoa river ■**«r__a.vlEbsßa3^^ covered a hot spring at the head nf the Wuiau in 1872, he has been down the Ruukituri from its source at Mttngapoluitu to whore it joins the Waiaiv, in fact all over the Uriwera, and without seeing a trace of gold. He, however, stated if the Government were to take stops to search for coal from Mangapohatiii up the Hopuruwuhinc river some good might be done, especially since in that region there arc millions of tons of iron ore. The discovery of coal in the same country would place the essential., of a great and valuable industry within easy reach of the people, more especial.)' since this latter country is close to the proposed route of railway from Gisborne to Auckland. Captain Preece is very positive on the absence of gold, but thinks the probable coal and the iron deposits shon'd be worked for all they are worth.