THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DALY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, JANUARY 31, 1880.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3464, 31 January 1880, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DALY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, JANUARY 31, 1880.

The acquisition of the freehold of this goldfield has been a subject upon which successive Governments hare been interyiewed and written to upon, but without much of a prospect of the matter being accomplished until Sir Geo. Grey's Government gafe consideration to the subject. The late Mayor, believing that the natives were willing to treat for the sale of certain portions of the field, interviewed Mr Sheehan, the X ative Minister, than whom none knew better the exceptional circumstances of the Thames, and obtained from him definite instructions to the Native Office officials to take advantageof every circumstance in the direction desired. The reasons why the freehold should be secured are so obvious that it is needless to mentioo them, but besides the advantage the local governing bodies would derive in the increase of revenuei the prospect of a reduction in the miners' right fees would not be so remote, and opportunities would be given to working men to take up" and occupy small farms under the Land Acts of the colony. Under the instructions given by Mr Sheehan, some - blocks of lands are almost in the hands of the Crown, and several persons have directed Mr Whi taker's attention to the fact, so that it is probable a notification will be issued by the Government that certain portions can be occupied under the Homestead Act now in force in the provincial district of Auckland.