supervision of Government, even if they
should not be willing to sell any of the land.
You should point out, that in the event of
prospecting been really successful, and a large
number of persons being consequently attracted
to the district, it would be indispensable that
police and other regulations should be esta-
blished for the maintenance of order, and for
the prevention of any collision between the
races : that their own interests would there-
fore be best served by agreeing on their part
to any measures which should be found ne-
cessary for these objects being taken by the
Government ; and that as a considerable
expense might ultimately be found necessary,
some source of revenue must accrue out of
which the same could be defrayed.

The Natives are probably aware that a
fixed duty of 2s. 6d. per oz. is levied on the
export of gold. The application of that revenue
is limited by law, and it is not possible there-
fore to make any appropriation of it towards
such an arrangement as is contemplated with
the Natives. But it appears to the Govern-
ment that, for the present at least, an equit-
able basis for that arrangement would be, that
the Natives should receive out of other funds,
for the permission of prospecting, a sum
which should bear a proportion to the total
amount of gold revenue collected in the
district during a given period. You are
authorised therefore to treat with them either
on that basis, or (if you find that impracti-
cable) then on the basis of a fixed annual
payment, or as a last resource, of a sum for
the present year so as to allow exploration to
proceed without further delay.

You will take the earliest opportunity of
communicating to the Government the pro-
gress of your negotiation ; and I need not
assure you that they rely on your ability and
zeal to assist the Province of Auckland in
this most desirable measure for the develope-
ment of its resources.

The Government desires that you should
take the opportunity, during your stay
at Coromandel, of reporting specially upon
the negotiations for the purchase of land
now pending under the management of Mr.
Preece ; specifying the blocks which are
likely to be acquired, if any, and the com-
parative amounts of payment and acreage ;
also stating the apparent effect which those
negotiations have upon the Natives, and
accompanying your own opinion with a
careful review of the facts on which it is
based.

When it is known whether your first steps
at Coromandel open the way to a satisfactory
arrangement, more detailed instructions will
be forwarded for your guidance.

I have, &c.,

WILLIAM FOX,

In the absence of Mr. Mantell.
The Chief Land Purchase Commissioner.

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 301

Waiheke,
November 7th, 1861.

SIR,—

I herewith enclose the translation of an
Agreement entered into with the Natives of
Coromandel Harbour for the exploration of
their lands lying between the Waiau river
and Cape Colville, including the East and
West sides of that Peninsula.

The Natives, at a Meeting held with them
on the 2nd instant, assured me that every
facility would be afforded to parties searching
for gold within their territories, if only, in
the first instance, they gave notice to the
Native proprietors of their intention to do so.
They considered the discovery of gold as
calculated to be beneficial not only to Euro-
peans but to themselves also, as affording
them a readier market for their produce, en-
hancing the value of their property, and
yielding them an immediate revenue, should
gold be found in any considerable quantity.
They are prepared to abide by the Agree-
ment of 1852, for the working of the Gold
Fields; or, if necessary, to enter into a fresh
Agreement for an equitable proportion of the
yield of gold, or some equivalent in money
upon a scale to be fixed hereafter between
themselves and the Government.

Gold has not yet been found in sufficient
quantities to admit of any prospective ar-
rangement regarding it, beyond that of ob-
taining the sanction of the Native proprietors
to explore their country.

Prospecting parties should be prohibited
from extending their operations south of the
Waiau Creek, or Castle Rock, until arrange-
ments are made with the several claimants
for that purpose.

A tract of country near Koputauaki
has been reserved, in compliance with
the wish of the deceased Chief Paora Te
Putu, to the effect that this land should be
worked by Natives. Some of this Chief's im-
mediate relatives have, however, waived their
previous objections in favour of parties wish-
ing to prospect on their lands.

I have not been able to see some of the
claimants residing on the East side of the
Cape; but I am satified that they are not
likely to offer any decided opposition to the
search for gold, as most of them are un-
der the influence of the well-known Chief
Puhata, who has been a firm and consistent
friend of the Europeans since their first set-
tlement in this part of the country. The
names of these claimants are, Maka te Rahui,
Paengahuka, Riria, Harata Tikaokao ; and
Parakaia Puhata, who accompanied me, in-
forms me that he will communicate with the
above Natives to obtain their sanction to ex-
tend the search over their lands.

I sent up the Thames for Te Hira Kake,
one of the Ngatitamatera Chiefs, who repre-
sents Paora Te Putu. He attended the
meeting at Waiau, and expressed himself
favorable to the arrangements entered into
with the other Chiefs. He himself did not