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New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 692, 1 December 1852, Page 2

Tije intelligence from Hie Gold Field since our last issue is not very copiou?, bin, so far as it goes, it is confirmatory of the expectation that the discovery will prove remunerative, —although the requirements of those who make it a condition of their confiding in its value, that the Gold shall be sold in some quantities as an article of commerce in Auckland, still remains unsatisfied. According to a report received by His Excellency the Liculenani-Goycrnor, dated Friday last, the diggers were in high spirits, and wore banding themselves together for the purpose of constructing a tram-road to carry the earth to the river side, The amount of success realized by some of the parlies is stated as follows: —one party of two (an European and a Native) got 1 oz- in the day ; another party of two, the same; a. third party of two, i oz. per diem ; and a party of throe, 4^ oz. What the getlings of others are, we are not informed, but if we could suppose these to be average and not exceptional cases, the yield must be deemed very paying indeed. It has, however, been 100 common in all the Gold Fields that the in-

slanccs of " luck" Ime been singled out and related far and wide ; » hilo the more nunioi'ous instances of disappoinlmcnl have been overlooked. But the productiveness of the Auckland Field being as yet a matter of experiment, it is not only admissible but necessary to a right conclusion, thai the genius of the most prosperous diggers should be distinctly known. It by no means follows that all who athenturc will be equally successful. On the return of the Messrs. Ring, more testing explorations than ha\c hitherto taken place are likely to be made, as, during their M'sit to town this week, they have, amongst other articles of outfit, provided themselves with mining implements for the purpose of sinking and tunnelling to a greater depth than could have been accomplished with the tools previously in use. Jtis lo be borne in mind that all that has yet been done has been, comparatively speaking, dibbling near the surface; and moreover that the physical character of the country has presented obstacles to prospecting so rapidly on an extensive scale as was practicable in the open tracts constituting a great part of the Australian Gold Field; particularly as the number of efficient diggers working here has hitherto been very small — as compared with the hun- [ dreds, or thousands, who almost immediately thronged there. Hitherto, therefore, the actual wealth of our Gold Field certainly has not been adequately tried. A few words supplementary to what we advanced in our last on the terms of agreement with the Natives, and the regulations for diggers, may not be uncalled for here. At first, the amount of remuneration to the Native owners for permission to diggold on their lands may seem unfairly and even ridiculously low, as it certainly would be if they wore to receive no other recompense than one pound (II.) per annum per square mile. But this is only part—- and byjno means the chief part— of the payment. They are also to have two shillings out of the thirty shillings charged for each digger's license. This was specified in our own statement on Saturday respecting the terms agreed on, but it did not appear in the Ga die of the pre\ioi/s evening wVich was at the same lime transferred lo our columns. Another Ga die was issued, however, in the course of Saturday in which this part of the contract was notified in the following terms: — Further Guarantpe in respect to the Natives WHO HAVE AGREED TO LEASE THEIR Lands to Government. In addition to the terms of the agreement or lease drawn up and signed on the 19th Nov., 1852, I guarantee that a Fund shall be created by a Tax of Two shillings on every License, for the purpose of paying (independent of the rent thus agreed upon) and for rewarding the native owners for their faith and confidence in the Government, as well as recompensing them for any damage, annoyance, or inconvenience they may experience from Europeans while digging on. their lands. (Signed) R. H. Wynyard, Lieut. -Governor. Now although a portion of this will undoubtedly be swllowed up by the losses the Natives will sustain in the prosecution of digging operations, yet it is (airly lo be assumed that a portion will still remain as "payment, independent of the rent agreed on;" and we trust that the good sense and good feeling of the diggers will ensure that the least possible amount of ''damage" or "annoyance" shall be inflicted upon them Again, it is provided that the owners of the soil shall be free to dig for Gold without payment of the license fee required from all others. Even should it prove (as sonic anticipate) that few of them will avail themselves of the privilege, this does not affect the intrinsic worth of the pmilege itself — if those to whom it is offered will only take it with the hard and persevering labour indispensable lo its profitable employment. Besides, in various less harrassing labours than Gold digging, they will be sure to find remunerative occupations, arising from the great influx of population with its attendant wants; and an ample and immediate market for their provisions, <!sc., will be a source of revenue well adapted (o their tastes and far from inconsiderable in amount. Giving all these considerations their due weight, — while we frankly acknowledge that we should have been better pleased had the more generous plan of paying ihe Native proprietors one-third of theamountof the License Fees (which we believe was originally contemplated by the Government) been acted out— still, we see, in the direct and collateral advantages which they may derive from the present arrangement, a lotal of which we do not complain under all the circumstances, and which we trust the Natives will themselves be satisfied with. We refer in a a seperale article lo other points connected with this branch of the subject. There is not an unanimity of opinion respecting the expediency of the immediate issuing of licences, some thinking that it would have been more judicious to lea\c the field fora longer period open without charge to the exploration of all who might be willing to investigate its capabilities. Viewing the whole case, however, we cannot share in this objection. It is to be remembered that the diggers already on the ground, and lo whom permits have been issued, are entitled to continue their search free of charge until the \st of January next ; and we question greatly whether there would be any preponderance of advantage in throwing the field open, without even this moderate restriction, to all who might choose to visit it. Some would probably go from mere curiosity, or from motives little differing from those with which they would engage in a pleasure excursion, — abandoning their regular occupations, without entering into the spirit or being prepared to endure the toils and perform the (oilsome work of efficient diggers. Besides, it should not be forgotten that the harvest is now about to set in : we have been blessed with a most favourable season, and the fruits of the earth will soon— in an abundance exceeding the average even of our fertile soil— await the hand of man lo gather in their treasures. One of the most serious drawbacks lo be ,arf?prehended from a rich Gold discovery has from the- first been seen

lo he the desertion of those agricultural pursuits by which ihis district has already , made such cheering advances, and through ' which it is qualified to attain so much ' higher a slate of prosperity, for the comparatively precarious and frequently illusory paid pursuits of the gold-digger. So far as the requirement of a license fee operates in keeping a sufficiency of labour al home for harvest work, it will, we are thoroughly persuaded, an as a great benefit lo the country. There is no danger that the Gold ( Field will be unduly neglected : there are active minds and busy hands engaged | upon it, and there will be others whom I the lax of thirty shillings a month will not I deter from joining them. Moreover, the produce of a Gold Field can wait without sustaining any injury, while the produce of the eorn-iicJd cannot be neglected without— not the mere risk — but the certainly of its destruction. Balancing one consideration and prospect against another, we sec no valid reason for wishing that this Regulation ! had not been adopted ; although it is of course open to consideration whether any improvement can be made in the details of its administration.

Another Government Gazelle was issued on Saturday, in which Ihe "Provisional Regulations and Agreement" respecting the Gold Field, as they appeared in Fridaj 's Gazelle were re-pub-lished, with the addition of (he "Further guarantee to the Natives" which we copy in another place to-day. It will be seen that by this the" Lieulenant-Governor guarantees to Ihe Native owners that a Fund for their benefit shall be created " by a Tax of two shillings on every License." This is not (as the unpalatable word '' Tax" might at first seem to import) to be levied on the digger in addition to his 50s. Licence Fee, hut is to be deducted from that amount, and paid over (o the natives. Under the hand of "Ecclesiastical Appointment," it is notified that the Bishop of l^cw Zealand has appointed the Rev. Charles John Abraham, B. D., to be Archdeacon of Wailemata, in the Province of New Ulster. The Gazelle concludes with the Return from Mr. Beckham, as general Returning Officer, of the results of the late Municipal Elections, the "■ Nil," " Nil," " Nil," stands in grim array as the return from seven Wards in the Borough, in each of which may be found " patriots" who have at other times shouted themselves hoarse in the cry for the Representative Institutions and local self-Government, which, now that the privilege has been conferred on them, they thus lightly esteem.