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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 31, 30 January 1862, Page 3

To the Editor of the Hawke's Bay Times. Sir,—As there is great interest felt in this Province, on the subject of Gold discovery, I beg you will make known to its inhabitants (tlirough the columns of your paper,) the fate of their Petition to the Superintendent for a grant in aid of an Exploring party, having written to his Honor the following note.

“In accordance with a unanimous desire of the Gold Exploration Committee, I beg to present to your Honor, the accompanying Petition signed by 84 inhabitants of tliis Province. lam also desired to beg your Honor’s earliest convenient attention thereto, that they may make such arrangements as are necessary before next meeting of the Provincial Council.”

I have received from his Honor the following answer.

“With respect to the first portion of the Petition, viz. a request for a grant from the public funds of £IOO to help to defray the expenses of an exploring party, the Provincial Government do not feel justified in appropriating the amouut desired, considering that the expense of the object in view should be maintained by public subscription only.” “ Also with respect to the request that a reward should be offered for the discovery of a payable Gold Field I shall have no objection to place the sum of £SOO on the Estimates for this purpose, subject to the decision and any conditions to be determined on at the next meeting of the Provincial Council.”

By what rule his*Honor arrives at’the decision contained in the first part of his letter I am unable to make out, (as no doubt will be many of your readers,) there being precedents, both for and against, which would be difficult in application, as the amount required to pay the expense of an exploring party would be very little felt if raised solely by public’contribution in a populous province, which in a small place as this is, it would be a considerable tax on the number be expected to subscribe. As it is more desirous than ever that a party should be organized at once, (there being a certainty from the evidence ofjdifferent parties living fifthe interior, that gold actually does exist in this province and at Poverty Bay,) it is to be hoped that general interest in the subject’will be shown by a good attendance at the advertized meeting, to be held at the Settler’s Hotel, on Monday next, for the purpose of considering the best forwarding the object, and presenting the Petition to the Provincial Council through one of its Members. I am, Sir, Your obt.~servant, J. A. Turner, Secty/to Exploring Committee.