The Kauri Timber Company and Prospecting.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XXIII, Issue 6626, 3 June 1890, Page 2

The Kauri Timber Company and Prospecting.

(To the Editor,)

Sir,—Wo havo just boon favoured with a oopy of tho torpiH ander whioh the Kauri Timber .Company a~o < willing lo allow prospecting on their lands (copy dnolossd), I presume this applies to all their lands, as they do not specify Whaugapoua, or any other place; but, let us review, tho tnagoifibfeut terms for a miauie, and see what position the poor deluded prospeefer will be in who accepts, ' The first classe which calls for notice it sufficiently liberal a\ first view (15a per, week each'for two njpn for two.or three; months); but, the eouipany will only: grant a ten aore lease, and,retains one half the dlaim themsolvet, and a rontal of £2 per eoro is to be obarged together with a five p'ercent. Royalty oo thoi grqsß jioliluix-to two,ounces per ton, and »ijtbJ peruinf/ior a!r over that. Now, that of itself is enough to kill the whole Soppoeo yoa get quartz wbioh. yield# about oao ounce per ton, and just clears' expenses, five per oent. on that would kill it altogether; the per centago, if any, should be on the nett prooesds. But, tho worst is to come. If the pros* peotor is fortunate enough to find gold he. has to submit to a lease made avowedly in the Company's r interest, the ground is to be surveyed by tho Company's surveyor at the prospector's expense, and must be at least fifloea chains from the next application, wbioh the company reserve to them* solves. Now, Mr Editor. I, would like to ask what saiio man would 'go to work on fiuch terms'aii theso ?' sfou oan see with litilo reflection that you aro ontirely at the mercy of the Company, nnd tbere is no court for. redress, so that in fact a prospector is bribed by the offer of :15s per nook for two or three months to, 'perhaps, find gold, and-whon tho loaso is produced any obnoxious person can eaeily bo got rid of by the conditions, or swampod by calls. If 'hey mean to act honestly why do thoy not publish a form of loaee so - that these who wish to take up ground may do •o with their oyes open? My owu opiuion, Mr Editor, ia, that the whole affair is a blind, and is intonded to be a counter attration from Saell's cubo now botore the Supremo Court, but I think it only shbws tho greater reason why wo should fight lo tin death for oar rights, and if they are concoded the Company will not suffer; they will stand in the sumo position as the native ownor and draw their ront for land which is of comparatively. : littlevalue except forth© g01d,.a5 moat of the Kauri timber'has already been cut out. I trusty Mr Editor, you will not allow tho matter to drop, but koep it bolore tho publio, whon the Government must ultimately make good whatever has been left undone,' —I aMi &0., . ' Thomah SHELL,