THE ASHANTEE GOLD FIELD.

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1949, 4 November 1874, Page 3

THE ASHANTEE GOLD FIELD.

A correspondent sends to the " Ballara Star": — " A gentlemen well-known on Ballarat wrote to the Imperial Government as soon as the wonderful richness of Ashantee was made known, to ascertaid what inducements and facilties wouln be afforded to miners • proceeding to the Gold Coast, who would introduce powerEul machinery for mining purposes, and otherwise open up the country ; and by the last mail he received a reply> of which the followingis the principal portion: — "Downing street, 25th July, 1874. Sir.— l am directed by the Earl of Carnarvon to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the nth May, on the subject of mining enterprise in the Gold Coast Protectorate. In reply to your inquiries, I am to acquaint you that the Crown isnot the owner of the soil in any part of the Gold Protectorate, except on the immediate seaboard, and is not therefore in a position to make grants ot land, or concessions for working it. lam further to observe that her Majesty's Government would be disposed to look favourably upon any well-consider-ed plans for the introduction of capital and commercial enterprise into the Gold Coast Protectorate, and would withold no proper or reasonable facilties to that, end which, it might be in their power to afford. But it is only right that persons contemplating any investment or undertaking within the Protectorate should be aware that, in the opinion of Her Majesty's Government, there may be independently of the risks of climate, many obstacles to the success of such enterprises, as regards the supply of labour, and native rights in land and minerals. Nor is it to be forgotten that, in consequence of the recent war, the country is, and for some time to comemustremain, nnsettledand disturbed. In view of these considerations, Lord Carnarvon cannot take upon himself the responsibility of advising or encouraging, at the present time, an enterprise of the nature contemplated. (Signed) Robert George Herbert.