THE PROCLAMATION.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1924, 4 March 1875, Page 2

THE PROCLAMATION.

Captain Fraser at once took Mr Mackay's place with the Gazette in his hand, and a written document containing extracts from it, which he read to those assembled. He said : —" Gentleman,— On the authority of a proclamation in a Gazette of the Auckland Provincial Government, No.. 11, dated this day, and which I now hold in my hand, I announce the land kn«wn as Ohinemuri Block to be a proclaimed goldfield the G oldfields Act 1866. The boundaries of tbat block are defined in this Gazette, open to the inspection of the public. On the authority of a subsequent proclamation in the said Gazette. I have to further announce that, under the tenth section of the Goldfields Act, 1866, there is exempted from occupation for mining purposes, residence, or for business under any miner's right or business license, a piece or parcel of land situate at Te Kahakaha> within, the said Ohinemuri goldfield, and known as Mackaytown, or reserve B, the boundaries of which are referred to in the said proclamation. And there is exempt from occupation for mining purposes, or for residence, or for business under any miner's ri^ht or business license, all that piece or parcel of land situated at Karangahake, within the said Ohinemuri goldfield, measuring 500 feet in length and 300 feet in width, known as Reserve A, the boundaries whereof have been marked and defined on the ground. Also all the lands adjacent to the East Coast of the North Island between Te Papiri on the north and Nga-kuri-a-whare on the south within the said Ohinemuri goldfield, now occupied by aboriginal natives of New Zealand for residence or cultivation. And I have further to announce that for the regulation of the said goldfield certain regulations have been made, also set out in the said Gazette. The beforementioned reserve, known as Mackaytown, or Eeserve 8., is onen for occupation for residence or business under certain regulations set out in the said Gazette." It had pleased the Government to appoint him Warden of the field, and he hoped that there would be plenty of gold found, and all might get a share of it. He assured them that, in conducting the business of. the district, the laws would be carried out by him strictly, honorably, and without favor to one man more vfran another. (Cheers) He said that now the Miners' Bights would be issued. The next question was as to WHO WOULD GET THEIR EIGHTS FIRST ?

And the scene at. this stage would require the pen of a better scribe than your humble representative. The confusion and noise, the eager expression on the face of each applicant, and the struggles of those who wanted to get close in to the table, and of those who having received their rights tried to get atvay from the place, no description could give an adequate idea. Among the first rights handed out were those of Hennelly, (who handed it to S. Young), Hogg, Austin, Leydon, and W. D. Reid. There was then the amusing part to those not in the race, of seeing the men tumbling down the track to the creek, and into it, in may instances bodily, in their eagerness to ford it quickly* The bed of the creek is full of round boulders which were slippery, and tumbling was the order of the day. S. Young was about the first across, but lost time in getting up the spur which was very steep on the opposite side, and where the horses were collected. Adam Porter showed more sense by leaving his horse fastened on this side of the creek, although there was a great risk of breaking the horse's legg in rushing it over the boulders. However, he got over safe, beating the men on foot up the spur, and got half-way up to his pegs before others got on their horses. Sam. Young, Leydon and others soon got away ; Young gaining on several. There were a good many natives in the race, and one showed judgement by having his

horse further along the spur, opposite where the creek was deep, and getting a mate to swim orer with the rights. By this time tho scene was almost impossible to describe—the creelc was full of men stumbling, shouting, falling on all fours, splashing each other, and rushing in the most excited state. Their clothing was reduced to only what decency required, and in every belt was a bright tomahawk. Up the spur tried the wind of most of them, and when they got on the top many were not in good order to make the pace a killing one. The roa I could be seen from tho township most of the way up to the Prospectors, so the exciting raco presented a scene which had never been before witnessed by anyone present, and will not ho forgotten by tho'e who saw it.