Gold in the King Country.

Patea Mail, 26 June 1882, Page 3

Gold in the King Country.

A Wellington telegram says: The Government has received a number of applications from prospectors for protection, should they discover gold in the Tuhua or other parts of the King Country. The applicants wish, on obtaining the sanction of the native owners of the land, also to obtain a promise that the Government will secure them a prospector’s claim, should a goldfield be proclaimed. The Government has replied that at present it cannot see its way to granting such a request. The reasons for . this refusal are numerous—a rush of prospectors over the country at the present time might lead to difficulties with some of the Natives, complicate matters, and thus retard the opening of the country. The Government deem it better to open the country first and let the question of goldfields be settled afterward. This appears to be the proper course. Rewi and the leading chiefs have already frequently expressed their strong disapproval of gold prospectors coming into their country, and have turned back those who have attempted to do so. Rewi recently stated that he had no objection to coalmining on the Mokau, because coal would benefit both, the Maoris and Europeans. As to goldmining, he said he did not wish swarms of Pakehas to rush his land and disturb the soil. « Let the gold,’ ’ he said “ remain in its caverns.” Some years ago a quantity of gold specimens, obtained within what is known as the King Country, were brought to Rewi, but he simply took them and threw them into the river Punui.