THE AUCKLAND GOLD FIELD.

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 693, 4 December 1852, Page 2

THE AUCKLAND GOLD FIELD.

Anxious as we have been from the commencement to excite no delusive expectations and to make no exaggerated statements respecting the gold discovery, the nature of the information which from time to time has reached us has left us no alternative but to chronicle the facts, — merely suggesting the inferences which, without any suggestion on our part, must have occurred to The mind of every thoughtful reader. It is certain that these facts and inferences have indicated the existence of a valuable gold field in the Coromandel District, and thai, with very few exceptions, each successho report has given progressive strength to that conclusion. In on instance has this been more marked than in the intelligence which has come lo hand since our last. We believe there has been no regularly official despatch recehed by the Government from the Gold Commissioner, Mr. Heaphy ; but particulars have been communicated to us which bear an impress of authenticity warranting us in laying them unhesitatingly before our readers. The "dry diggings," we are informed arc turning out most prosperously. A prospecting party which had started off towards the base of Castle Hill had found a pile of quartz rock, — or, as they called it, "a quarry of quartz." On digging at the side they found specks of gold about an inch under the surface ; at a depth of two to four feet, grains appeared ; and finally, at the depth of seven feet they obtained nuggets in such quantity as to excite, (we scarcely venture lo say lo justify), an anticipation thai, if the ground ibe judiciously and steadily worked, each digger might realize five or six ounces per diem. An intelligent correspondent on the ground has communicated the fact that he had himself seen some beautiful nuggets as large as walnuts procured at Matuawai, and all parties joined in the cry that the diggers there were doing well. At Kapanga some were earning about M. per dicrn. We hear there hns been successful exploring also on the fern flats at the foot of the Ranges. No small sensation was produced in Auckland on Monday by the arrival of two diggers from Coromandel, who not merely gave the most favourable oral reports of the prospects there, but brought with them the more satisfactory evidence of some ounces of sand and grave! richly impregnated with gold, and interspersed with beautiful little nuggets. It was brought lo Dr. Lee, at whose house a considerable number of our fellow-towns-men had an opportunity of examining for themselves this undoubted product of the " Auckland Gold Field." We hear that Mr. W. S. Grahame has purchased 5/. worth of it lo be transmitted as a specimen to Sydney by the Raven. Having thus far fulfilled our duty as recorders of such facts as have been brought under our notice, we, leave them to speak for themselves, and wait the arrival of the further accounts which may be daily or hourly looked for. Amongst the questions which have engaged conversational discussion in connexion with the official steps taken relative to our gold discovery, one of some interest has reference to the part which the elected members of the Provincial Council may be regarded as having borne in the deliberations and, decisions. How far those gentlemen have appeared in the meetings with the Executive in their represenkdwe character; in what fcgvw the published arrangements may be traced lo them collectively or individually ; and why— if they have exercised an influence derived from their being political representatives of the people— the people have not been permitted means of knowing what has been said and done in their name and on their behalf, arc inquiries which have been, and still are, frequently asked and variously commented upon. In its most obvious features, Ihe matter seems simple and intelligible enough. The responsibility of acting under the novel circumstances which the last few weeks have developed, necessarily rested upon the Executive Government of the Province. Whether the Provincial Council would have any right of interference, and, if so, lo what extent, is a point to which it would be bootless to argue just now, when that Council is neither silling nor even summoned to meet; nay, when the Imperial enactment of a now Constitution for the Colony renders it very doubtful whether (as at present elected) it will ever be called together at aU. As a mailer of course, the official documents issued on the subject have appeared as emanating from the Lieutenant-Governor. But His Excellency — actuated undoubtedly by that desire as far as possible lo carry public opinion with him which has mainly tended lo render his administration so popular — has from lime to time requested the attendance of such of the elected members of Council as reside in the town and neighbourhood, at conferences, in which he has not only communicalcd the information reported to the Government respecting the Gold Field, but also staled the plans in contemplation for its management, inviting any suggestions which those gentlemen could offer for their improvement. Thus far, we say, the case is plain, and His Excellency's course has been conciliating and praiseworthy. . But ihe question still arises,— Jf Ihe elected members of Council ake part in these deliberations as such,— not merely as persons of intelligence and influ-

tencc in the district, (in wliirli ease, wo presume, ihe invitations would nol I»c absolutely limited to lliem), hut as the represculalivcs of the consliliiciH'ies — then, should ndl their constituents be informed of, and have llic opportunity, if they think fit, of expressing their judgment on, the \iews put forward by those -who are thus assumed to speak their sentiments? We think (hey should,— at least so far as the object might be secured by the admission of the rcprcsentathes of the Press, who, in their own department, and in a a cry clear and important sense, are the representali\es of the Public. We dojiol mrtm that liberty should be gi\cn to publish to the world every particular which the Government might, to a certain extent confidentially, communicate to the meeting: there may be temporary restrictions, in the propriety of which all reasonable men would agree. Nor do we mean that the newspapers should contain anything like a complete or verbatim report of proceedings which probably must partake largely of a conversational character. But we do mean that, if the elected members offer opinions on important public questions in their representative capacity, those opinions should be known to the electors whom they represent. This we conceive to be of the very genius and essence of representative institutions as they arc understood in free countries. We should expect that such a degree of publicity would be gratifying to the members themselves. We presume they can have no wish to conceal their views and recommendations from their constituents ; and they would thus be shielded from exposure to the misconstructions of the imperfectly informed, or possibly the misrepresentations of personal or political opponents. Ilisevi'entlhateveryfchingherehingesupon the question, whether or not they attend as representatives of the people. If they do not, the matter is at an end ; we should for oursclvessbrink from the impertinence ofanimadverling upon the acceptance by them, or any other number of private gentlemen, ofan invitation to converse with the liicut.-Governor on gold or any other subject that His Excellency may think fit to bring before them. Only in that case, their acquiescence in what is done, cannot fairly be adduced at any future time as proof that the people ga\ e their assent to it ; for the constituencies may disclaim all concurrence in resolutions which were considered and adopted in meetings from which not only the public but the press was excluded. This is the dilemma, a consideration of which induces us to conclude that it would have been belter had the degree of publicity which we have described been sanctioned from the commencement. We need scarcely add that by these remarks wo intend no imputation on the existing arrangements, of which -viewed as "Provisional" and open to such improvements as further information may suggest— we have already expressed no niggardly approbation.