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Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2114, 13 October 1875, Page 2

It does not appear to be at all improbable that before long-a new country will be opened to the enterprise of the gold miner. : As notified in Monday's issue of the Star the Tauranga Chiefs of the Ngaiteranga tribe have unanimously agreed to open their land to prospectors, and have communicated with the Provincial Gorermiient in order to hare their

wishes carried out. We believe it was during the campaign of 1866-67 that the presence of gold in the Tauranga district was demonstrated, and if our memory serves ua we believe that some members of the Eiropean forces then operating, against the Natives, under Colonels Haul* tain and Harington, were the discoverers, the exact locality being a place called JEiiimai. Since peace was firmly established in the Taurauga district several attempts have been made .to overcome the prejudices of the JN ativesso far an to allow prospectors to revisit the locality, but without any success. Now that the difficulty has been overcome we trust that the questionb'f golcf or no gold will be solved." ■ There is good reason to believe that there is gold, and that in paying quantities, but the- opportunities of testing the ground have been so small that it is still a matter of doubt. Now that the Natives have withdrawn their opposition there should not exist any obstacle in the way of proving the value cf the reported find. Another discovery is reported at Mercury Bay. This too is no new idea, for years ago it was said that gold had. been found. In both these districts the probabilities are strongly in favor of gold existing, and when once a start has been mado we have no doubt that enterprising diggers will be found prepared to try their luck on the new ground, which in both directions may be merely [ an extension of the auriferous belt already being worked on this peninsula. We sincerely hope the results in both places may prove to be as good as the-prospects were encouraging in- the case of the Xaimai.