THE UREWERA COUNTRY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11055, 22 August 1907, Page 5

THE UREWERA COUNTRY.

PROSPECTING FOR (.OLD. SIH SEDDON'S PROSUSE TO THE NATIVES. (From our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. Last week the announcement was made that under an arrangement made by the Native Slinistei* the Urowera country would shortly be thrown open to prospectors for gold. Yesterday Mr Ngata seized the opportunity to refer tp a projftise wliich had been made by the late Premier to the chiefs of tlie Urewera country m 1896, which was contained m a memorandum attached to the Urewera District Native Reserve Act, 1896, wluch read as follows: "With regard to prospecting for gold I told you that the Government gave a reward to anyone discovering gold m now country, and that much money liad been paid away in ' that manner, the amount paid being m proportion to the number of people employed m digging gold ift such localities and the quantity of gold procured. The Government have received many applications to grant licenses for" prospecting gold, but I have not granted them. I consider that any rewards for the disoovery of gold should be paid to the Slaori owners of the land who prospect for and find gold. If you wish to prospect for and fii.d gold, and, it is proved to be of value, the Government will authorise a mining expert to go with the Maoris and teach -them how to look for gold and other'minerals, and the Government will pay a portion of the expenses of such a prospector, according to the scale laid down m the regulations for gold prospecting on. Crown lands.". Section 24 of -the Act above referred to had. been inserted to give effect to this memorandum. Eleven years ago the promise had been made that a mining expert would be sent to teach the Slaoris how to look for gold. The Ureweras bad .or years s-iood out against the advance of civilisation, and this Act was passed m order to bring them into line with the other Natives of the colony, and to enable them tp enjoy the benefits of civilisation. He was anxious to know whether the promise was to be respected. There was no Slinisterial reply to Mr Ngata's representation.