IN FORBIDDEN COUNTRY.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 594, 14 April 1891, Page 3

IN FORBIDDEN COUNTRY.

THE GISBORNE PROSPECTORS. WARNING COUNSEL FROM NATIVE MINISTER. In the course of an interview a representative of the Standard had with the HonMr Cadman, Native Minister, on Saturday, the latter inquired as to the accuracy or otherwise of a telegram which had appeared in the Auckland papers concerning a Gisborne prospecting party that was said to have gone into theUrewera country. Of course the only reply that could be given was to affirm that there was truth in the messages. Mr Cadman then expressed regret at this want of consideration on the p%rt of the Europeans. He said that from every point of view it was a most foolish thing. At the present time, he said, the natives were showing a very friendly disposition, and he bad hopes that the Urewera country would within a reasonable time be available for settlement. They at present objected to prospectors, mainly from the fear that intoxicating drinks would be introduced into the country. Te Kooti had made it plain that it was he who was responsible for the present attitude of the natives in declining to allow the country to be thrown open to settlers, but a most favorable disposition was now shown, and things bore a very hopeful aspect. It was therefore the more annoying that a few individuals should act with a thoughtlessness that might destroy the good feeling which now existed, and throw back for years the work already done. The prospectors could not place themselves in any better position by treppa8 E ing on the land now, but they might be the means of inflicting a hardship on hundreds of others besides themselves. The Government hoped to be able to get the whole country opened up, and then proi-p ctors would be placed on an equal foo ing; if there were any men who k-ngw places where gold existed they would of course have a great advantage over those whtj had then to choose where to begin prospecting. The land was now the property of the natives, and if they h-id word of gold actually being found, even if they admitted to ih» i country, they wuuid be likely to make tbe most advantageous terms tb»-y could for themselves. ju«t as any European would do. Then all prospectors would bo saddled with prohibitive- ra’es that might have been avoided if care had previous y been exercised. So that for their owu s.ken, as much us for anyone else, pro-pectors or others ought not lightly to ri»k straining the relations which now existed, and which we«e more hopeful than had ever before existed. He hoped therefore that this counsel would be heeded ; otherwise strong measures would have to be

adopted, for in the iuterests of the people such intrusion could not on any account be to’erated by the Government. Our representative said he would make known the strong views tbe Native Minister held on the subject, and Mr Cadman expressed a hope that that would be suffidieiit, and that the good sense of those concerned would prevent anything further being done that might in any way hamper the Government in dealing with a matter that required to be conducted with much caie.