OTAGO

PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT

GAZETTE.

PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY.

All Public Notifications which appear in this Gazette, with any Official Signature thereto annexed are to be considered as Official Communications made to those Persons to whom they may relate, and are to be obeyed accordingly.

JOHN L. C. RICHARDSON, Superintendent.

Vol. IV.] WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1862. [No. 162.]

New Zealand, Province of Otago,
4th February, 1862.

Sir,

By virtue of the powers entrusted to us, under a warrant from His Excellency Governor Gore Brown, as declared in the annexed Copy of the Otago Provincial Government Gazette, we hereby appoint Matthew Holmes, Esquire, the bearer of this document, to represent us at the Exhibition in question, and give him full power and authority to carry into effect, the purposes for which we were appointed by all lawful ways and means.

We have the honor to be,

Sir,
Your most obedient and humble servants,

THOS. BURNS, D.D., Chairman.
CHARLES H. KETTLE,
J. RICHARDSON, Superintendent. (Commissioners.
dent of the Province of Otago.)
F. R. SANDFORD, Esq.,
Secretary to Her Majesty’s Commissioners,
for the International Exhibition of
1862, 454, West Strand, London.

30th September, 1861.

GOLD FIELDS.

MEMORANDUM.

In proceeding to undertake the Gold-fields, the Superintendent wishes the Provincial Secretary to avoid pledging the Government to any particular line of action, as no decision will be arrived at until after his report shall have been received and considered. With this view the Superintendent suggests that it would be expedient, as far as possible, to confine his interviews to the Officer of the Gold-fields residing on the ground, or, at least, to avoid any public reception on the part of the miners.

1. The chief point to which attention should be directed is the ascertaining in what manner the Gold-fields can be most profitably developed, and with this view, it would be well to ascertain what are the existing obstacles, and the best means of removing them. This consideration will embrace, among other points, the extent of claim to be allowed under various kinds of workings, the turnings of streams, &c.

2. With a view also to the comfort of the miners, it will be necessary to examine the coal deposits as to what extent of ground might be profitably granted to a company (reserving the gold), and under what conditions.

3. How the necessities of the sick could be best provided for, bearing in mind that Government aid is only supplementary; and what provision could be made for the dead by setting aside cemeteries in certain central spots.

4. It will be also expedient to ascertain in what spots, central in their position, one or more townships with suburban acre sections might be profitably laid off, to be leased for three to seven years, bearing in mind that the Government has no power of sale.

5. Subservient to these considerations, but necessarily accompanying them, is the question how we may manage to offer sufficient inducements to the fine body of men who have come to our shores to settle permanently among us. You will have to bear in mind that townships will be immediately laid off at the mouth of the Tuapeka and Waitahuna, and portions of the Hundreds in those neighbourhoods, as surveyed, thrown into the market; but I cannot conceal from myself the fact that the competitive character of the sale of new lands offers but few facilities to the newcomers. A remedy must be sought, otherwise all our efforts will be in vain. It is, therefore, highly expedient that you should remember that the Government desire to see the wastes peopled by a thriving population, the surest element of strength and prosperity.

J. RICHARDSON,
Superintendent.

MEMORANDUM:
By the Provincial Secretary to his Honor the Superintendent, on the subject of the Regulations of the Gold Fields, drawn up in accordance with his instructions.

ALTERATION IN REGULATIONS.

The alterations proposed in an Appendix to this Memorandum are fully approved by the Commissioners of the Tuapeka and Waitahuna Gold Fields, as well as by every working miner with whom I conversed on the subject. I may mention that several men of intelligence, energy, and capital who were contemplating leaving the Province, told me they would stay for a week or two to see whether the re-