The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING GISBORNE, APRIL 2, 1900. PROSPECTING IN UREWERA COUNTRY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1713, 2 April 1906, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING GISBORNE, APRIL 2, 1900. PROSPECTING IN UREWERA COUNTRY.

When passing through Auckland the Ho,p. J. Carroll informed a repren sentatiye of the morning journal, in regard to the opening up of the Urewera country for prospecting', that the proposals submitted to the natiye owners of the territory were agreed to by tho latter after a long discussion. The stipulation made by the natives

is. that the Goyevunjept shall be responsible with a certain number oi their chiefs for tho proper opening up of the country, they relying on the Government to conserve them due rights by framing regulations suitable to the circumstances, and to ensure that everyone shall have a fair opportunity to engage in the prospecting operations. The Minister states that after consulting with his colleagues, he expects that it will be possible to draw up » set of regulations which will place the matter on a footing satisfactory to all concerned. The natives, he said, would appoint their own chiefs to work with the Govern* ment in the matter. On being questioned as to the prospects of gold being discovered, Mr Carroll said that nothing'could be said on that point at present The reports as to the existence of the precious metal in the Lfrewera had always been /in the ab-

sence of prospecting) of a vaguo and indefinite nature, and until the country was actually prospected it would be premature to hazard an opinion on the subject. Commenting on the subject the N.Z. Herald states : From time to time during the past twenty years reports have been current of the existence of gold-beariDg quartz in the rugged TJrewera country, whose forest clad ranges stretch towards Cape Eunaway and the East Cape. But little or nothing of a definite character has been ascertained regarding the authenticity of these rumors, owing to the persistent objection of the natives to allowing prospectors to explore the country. The whole of the land is in possession of Maori owners, who have hitherto maintained an attitude of aloofness and refused to permit it to come under the prying eyes of Europeans. Lately, however, they have

shown a disposition to abandon thoir old polioy of isolation, and to opon their doors to the palceha. Wo are able to announoo that as a result of an ofßoial visit to the TJrewera chiefs made by the Hon. James Carroll, Ministor for Native Affairs, arrangements liavo boon rnado whereby under certain conditions prospoctors will ho allowed to ponotrato into the Urowora country, and subject it to a thorough examination for traces of gold-hearing roofs. Tho importance of this now doparturo is vory groat. From, what is already known thoro is every roason rto believe that gold exists in large I quantities in the Urowora country. Should this provo to bo tho case an enormous stimulus will bo given to tho mining industry iu this province.