THE THAMES GOLD FIELDS.

27

A.—No. 17.

and his assigns, within the meaning of the statute intituled " The Gold Fields Act, 1866," —the boundaries of the said land commencing at the mouth of the River Harataunga, thence by the sea coast to Te Harakeke, turning thence inland to Hapapawera, thence to Te Tapuae, thence to Kaipana, thence to Tokatea, thence to To Ranga, thence to Pukewharariki, turning thence towards the sea to Taraingapouto, thence to Piripirikahu, turning thence along the boundary of the land reserved for Native occupation and cultivation to the "Waimoho Stream, turning thence by the "Waimoho Stream to its junction with the Harataunga River, turning thence along the course of the River Harataunga to the point of commencement at ils month, as the same are defined in the sketch map hereunto annexed. The terms and conditions under which the said piece of land is given over for gold-mining purposes are, viz.:— 1. All lands included within the boundaries above described, are open for gold mining to all persons, excepting the pieces of land leased to James Smart and Alexander Hogg, as delineated in the map hereunto annexed; but the said pieces of land which are leased to the said persons are subject to certain provisions of the statute intituled " The Gold Fields Act, 18GG." 2. No person will be allowed to mine for gold on the piece of land above described, unless he be the holder of a miner's right empowering him in that behalf. The payment for every such miner's right shall be one pound per annum. 3. Miners' rights shall be issued by an officer of the Government. Any person being the holder of a miner's right shall be entitled to mine for gold, construct dams and water-races, to cut timber for firewood and for gold-mining purposes, and do all other acts (or works) connected with (or appertaining to) gold-mining operations on places open (not reserved) within the boundaries of the land hereinbefore described, excepting that the right to fell kauri timber is reserved. Any person desiring to cut any kauri timber must pay the sum of one pound five shillings for each tree required by him. No person will be allowed to cut ordinary timber for iirewood or fencing, or for any other purpose for sale to any other persons. Any person desiring to do so must obtain a miner's right and a timber license empowering him in that behalf. The payment for every such timber license shall be five pounds per annum. The money derived from such timber licenses and from the sale of such kauri timber shall belong to the Native owners of the land on which the timber is situate. This money shall be paid to an olficer of the Government in the first instance, and shall be paid (or handed over) by him to the Natives to whom the land belongs. The days for the payment of the said money shall be the same as the days for the payment (or division) of the money for the miners' rights hereinafter specified. 4. In consideration of the Chiefs and People of Ngatiporou, of Harataunga, and their heirs giving over all the said piece of land to Sir George Ferguson Bowen, Governor of New Zealand, and the Governors who shall succeed him, he hereby consents to pay to the said Chiefs and People of Ngatiporou, of Harataunga, and their heirs, one pound for each miner's right which shall be issued to any person for gold mining or for cutting timber within the boundaries of the said land during each year of the continuance of this agreement, the first year to commence from the 13th day of May instant, 1868. The days for the payment of the money shall be the 31st day of March, the 30th day of June, the 30th day of September, and the 31st day of December in each year. 5. If any person, being the holder of a miner's right for the gold fields at Harataunga, shall remove to another place before the expiration of the year specified in his miner's right, there shall be paid to the said Chiefs and People of Ngatiporou such portion of the money of such miner's right as shall be equivalent to the period for which such person shall have remained on the said land. 6. The duration of this Agreement shall be for such term as Sir George Ferguson Bowcn, Governor of New Zealand, and the Governors who shall succeed him, shall require the above-described piece of land for gold-mining purposes. Provided that if at any time Sir George Ferguson Bowen, Governor of New Zealand, and the Governors who shall succeed him, shall desire to terminate gold mining on the said land, or on a portion thereof, a previous notice of not less than six months shall be given. In witness of the consent of the Chiefs and People of Ngatiporou, of Harataunga, to all the terms and conditions of this Agreement, they have hereunto signed their names; and in witness of the consent of Sir George Ferguson Bowen on his part to all the said conditions, the name of James Mackay, jun., is hcrcunder subscribed, on the day and in the year first above written. ropata noatai, Tapiata Kiwi, Parateke Pahatj, his x mark, HiniNi Kouta, Matiit Paeboa, Hakatiera Humaee, Hakopa Ihaka, James Mackay, jun. Witnesses to the signatures of Ropata Ngatai, Tapiata Kiwi, Paratene Pahau, Hirini Kouta, Matiu Paeroa, Haratiera Humare, Hakopa Ihaka, and James Mackay, jun.— John Gwynneth, Gold Fields Surveyor, Kennedy's Bay. W. Charles Spencer, Interpreter, Civil Commissioner's Office, Auckland. Ko tenei Pukapuka i tuhituhia i tenei te iwa o nga ra o Noweina i te tau o to tatou Ariki Kotahi mano c waru rave ono tekau ma whitu (1867) He pukapuka whakaae na matou nga Rangatira me me nga tangata o Ngatitamatera mo matou me o matou uri kia tukua atu ki a Ta Hori Kerei Kawana o Niu Tireni me nga Kawana i muri i a ia o maton piihi katoa ka timata i te Mamaku haere tonu i te taha o te moana ki Moehau haero tonu i te taha o te moana ki Whitianga haere tonu i te robe o nga whenua o Ngatihe me Ngatimaru ma kite Mamaku kite wahi i timata ai Ko enei whonua katoa he whenua mahinga koura mo te Kawana me ana c whakarite ai ara ko o matou wahi katoa ki roto ki aua rohe kua puaro he whenua mahinga koura hcoi nga piihi i kape ki waho ko nga whenua o etahi