The Waipukurau Press. Tuesday, April 17, 1906. PROSPECTING IN THE UREWERA COUNTRY.

Waipukurau Press, Volume I, 17 April 1906, Page 2

The Waipukurau Press. Tuesday, April 17, 1906. PROSPECTING IN THE UREWERA COUNTRY.

—o — From time to time during the past twenty years reports have been current of the existence of gold-bear-ing quartz in the rugged Urewera country, whose forest-clad ranges stretch towards Cape Runaway and the East Cape. But little or nothing of a definite character has been ascertained regarding the authenticity of these rumours, owing to the persistent objection of the natives to allowing prospectors to explore the country. The whole of the land is in possession of Maori owners, who have hitherto maintained an attitude of aloofness and refused to permit it to come under the prying eyes of Europeans. Lately, however, they have shown a disposition to abandon their old policy of isolation, and to open their doors to the pakeha. As a result of an official visit to the Urewera chiefs made by the Hon. J. Carroll, Minister for Native Affairs, arrangements have been made whereby under certain conditions prospectors will be allowed to penetrate into the Urewera country, and subject it to thorough exainina-

lion for traces of gold-bearing reefs. The importance of this new departure is very great. From what is already known there is every reason to believe that gold exists in large quantities in the Urewera country. Should this prove to be the ease an enormous stimulus will be given to the gold mining industry.