FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE

166

GW ZEALAND.

Despatches from Governor Sir George Grey.

No. 1.   No. 1.

COPY of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir GEORGE GREY to the Right Hon.
'Sir JOHN S. PAKINGTON Bart.

(No. 136.1)

of Gold , 23d

1852.

Nugent, 23d . 1852.

Government House, Wellington,
November 9, 1852.

(Received March 8, 1853.)

I HAVE the honour to inform you that I yesterday received from Lieut.-Governor Wynyard the enclosed Despatch, dated the 25th of October, reporting that gold had been discovered near Coromandel Harbour, about fifty miles from Auckland. The enclosures to the Lieut.-Governor's Despatch are so voluminous that there is not time to have them all copied by this opportunity, but the two most important ones are enclosed for your information.

2. From these it will be found that there can be no doubt that gold has been discovered in the locality alluded to, although yet in such small quantities that it appears very uncertain whether or not it will be profitable to work it. I am also informed from good authority that gold in minute quantities has been found in quartz from the neighbourhood of Queen Charlotte's Sound in the Middle Island.

3. It appears from the character of the Maories to be tolerably certain that if they once see the method in which gold diggings are worked and the character of the rocks which it is found associated with, they will then themselves soon examine considerable districts of country, and that therefore if gold exists in abundance in any part of these islands it will shortly be found. In this respect the recent discoveries near Coromandel Harbour will prove important, although that locality should even not prove to be a very productive gold field, which point, however, will be fully ascertained in a few weeks.

4. The Lieut.-Governor has taken every necessary precaution upon this occasion, and I see no reason to doubt that the tranquillity and peace of these islands (even if gold is discovered in abundance) will remain undisturbed, whilst such an event would give an extraordinary impetus to their prosperity, and produce most important advantages both for Great Britain and New Zealand.

I have, &c.

The Right Hon. Sir J. S. Pakington, Bart.   (Signed)   G. GREY.

&c.   &c.   &c.

L. 1. in No.1.

Enclosure 1 in No. 1.

Auckland, October 25, 1852.

IT having been officially represented to me, on the 18th instant, by a deputation from the " Gold Reward Committee," that it was believed gold had actually been discovered in the neighbourhood of Coromandel, a harbour in the Frith of the Thames, some fifty miles from Auckland in an easterly direction, I lost no time in sending to the spot the native secretary, armed with a communication direct from me to the native owner or chief of the soil, as in the event of the discovery leading' to an available field, I instantly saw it is with the natives of the province (60,000 in number) the greatest prudence and circumspection will be required. As regards the white population (12,000 by last census), my course, I conceive, as Lieutenant-Governor, is simple enough ; but with the natives it will be necessary to make them thoroughly .understand my proceedings, and convince them I have, on the part of the Government, their interests, their rights, and their welfare at heart in all I may arrange.

Having taken this preliminary step, I assembled my Executive Council, and on laying before them the information I had received, in a minute dated the 19th, the accompanying resolution was recorded, forming a valuable guide for maturing my plans against the time arrived for carrying them into operation.

On the 22d further information reached me from Coromandel of continued success in the experimental digging, and on the 23d I received a report, marked E, from Major Nugent, with an enclosure, by which it will be perceived that the news I had previously obtained was in every respect borne out, and that the Chief Pauro and his people were much pleased on being made acquainted with my views, and at hearing from Government,