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New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 709, 29 January 1853, Page 3

Auckland Gold Field,—Wo had an opportunity of seeing last night a number, of specimens of gold and auriferous quartz, which Mr. Hansard hud just received from diggers at the Waiau, and which in richness and general attractiveness of a p pea ran co may compete with any that have hitherto been brought from Coromandel. The several lots weigh altogether about 17 or i 8 oz.. and contain some very beautiful pieces. The realization of the promise of the Gold Field however, to any considerable extent, may be retarded or hastened by the .Regulations under which prospectors and diggers arc placed. We haye already ex-r pliciily declared our conviction that it would be most desirable to relax flic existing plan as respects License foes, so as to encourage a greater number of workers to engage in the development of the resources of the auriferous district. Whatever may be the details of any new arrangement, v»e think its principle should be to permit Search for the Gold without charge, or at least at a very low charge; and then, when the gold is actually found in such quantities as to make its pursuit profitable, by all means let a Fee be imposed here as in Other countries. Such being our vievy, we

have learned with pleasure that iho Gold Reward Committee at a meeling“‘this week resolved to make an application to the Lieutenant-Governor on the subject, and that their Deputation, on waiting on his Excellency, learned that their wishes had been so far anticipated as that the question of modifying the present Regulations, so as to facilitate a fuller explovutioji of the Field, was already engaging the attention of the Executive. We trust therefore we may soon be in i\ position to announce, what is now so very generally desired, at least a temporary modification of Regulations., avowedly Provisional , which were issued at the fust, when v ffAtU tht? reports of diggers themselves, t\ more immediately and generally remunerative return was calculated tipo.n than has been realized hitherto,