THE THAMES GOLD FIELD.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 247, 25 March 1875, Page 3

THE THAMES GOLD FIELD.

At a meeting of the Warden's Court, held at Ohinemuri, to decide upon the claims to the prospector's ground, Mr Mackay gave the following history of the origin of tho Thames gold field : Mr James Mackay, jun, said he wortVl give the history of gold discoveries since I<9(U, or the time of the native war. There wiii'o residing here one American, suspected of selling powder to the natives, and two European deserters from Her Majesty's ships while in Auckland harbor. At that time it was not safe for any European to be in the place. This state of affairs lasted until 1868. The old settlers, Thorpe and others, could not live here at that time ; and I, though well known to the natives, came on several occasions at the risk of being shot, and I feel certain that the only persons who procured gold here previous to the year 1867 were : King, in 1852, and Colonel Chesney in 1862, or the year before the war. In 1863, a native named Napier Te Ngarara found gold at Rotokuhu, about five miles from here, and it is generally known by that name. The Maori had been on the Nelson goldfields. He cut a slip in the hill, which had caused a diversion of the water from one of the creeks—that which we can see from here. He shewed me this in 1864, which is duly reported by me as Assistant Native Secretary, in April, 1864. He also shewed me goM near Thorpe's place, in 1866. Messrs Walter Williamson and Smallman obtained permission through me, of the Thames natives, to go on land belonging to Taipari, between Hape and Karaka Creeks. I also got permission from them to prospect at Mercury Bay. The statement made by the first witness, Rawson, refers to Walter Williamson, in my opinion. The meeting spoken of as having taken place in July, 1867, relates to the Thames, not to Ohinemuri; and the gold, which led to the opening of that field was found by two natives, and the agreement thereupon transpiring corresponds with the extract from Herald, of July, 1867. The next time we hear about gold at Ohinemuri was at the end of 1868. I was going down the Thames in a cutter to Turner. The occupants were, Turner, McKay, Arnold, and self. I was shown gold, and told it was found here early ia 1869. I was engaged at that time turning trespassers off this block, James Smythe came to me at Creighton's settlement, and asked me whether he must go with the rest, and I said yes. He said it was hard, as he had found gold. I said he had better keep theknowledge to himself, andwhen the place was opened he could find it again. He told me it was on that hill, pointing to Karangabake. As an officer under Government, and since I left, people have told me of "finds" in different directions, but they referred to Waitekuri and Waihi. With respect to the claim made by Logan : I have not known him long. The first man that has spoken to me for the last six months is Beeche, who was introduced by Mr Allom, and who told me that he found some gold. Beeche said he found the gold at a place pointed out by a native named Aoera Te Minihia : that it was on the burnt spur at Karangahake. He said he had applied to Allom in your (Warden's) absence, and that Mr Allom told him the Warden had no power, and that he had better apply to the Government. I told Beeche I would make a note of his claim. Shortly after, Logan came to me, and said he had an application to the Superintendent, and that he had found gold. This application appeared to clash with Beeche's, in consequence of which the two parties met and came to some arrangement, which was broken up when they found there were other claimants. Thorpe represented that he, Arnold, McKay, and Holes were the same party, and that they had found gold in it when they surveyed it in 1869, with the view of getting it put through the Native Lands Court, also that I had consistently opposed them in attaining this, and that they had not got it in consequence. The ground surveyed was 144 acres, 80 perches of which included Reserve A. [Mapof reserve shown J After Thorpe's statement a meeting was held at Cassel and Bennett's on the 22nd January. There were representatives of Logan's party present, and of Beeche and Thorpe's parties also. They had a great deal of argument as to who first discovered the gold. I told them they had better all go in together and apply for a prospector's claim, and divide it into three equal parts. Beech, Thorpe, and Logan's application was put in to the Government on behalf of the whole. The natives wanted the whole of the 144 acres, but I told them the most they could get would be 30 acres. I said I could not tell the quautity Government would give, but would recommend their application. I was not at that time Government agent, but Land Purchase Agent, paid by commission. I may say that Logan, although he stated what I believe to be incorrect about Mr Allom, forgets to say that he offered me one share in the claim, which I refused to accept. The application for all three parties was then sent in, and I recommended it.