MOUNT BENGER.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2554, 25 April 1871, Page 2

MOUNT BENGER.

(From our own Correspondent.) I regret to say that death has been busy in our midst. The scarlet fever has again broken out and added another victim to the list of those who have perished on account of ihe gross neglect of quarantine precautions. I hope the blame will be sheeted home to the right person, for' morally he is as guilty of murder as ever was the greatest criminal who dies oh the scaffold. The young man whose untimely death 1 have to record bad during a few months residence made himself generally beloved and esteemed. Three deaths from scarlet fever have now occurred in this district —two children and one adult. The other two deaths were awfully sudden. In the case of Mr Shepherd, government teacher at the Teviot, it probably resulted from heart disease. He entered the Dumbarton Rock Hotel, complained of sickness and asked for a glass of wine. In a moment he dropped down an I life was extinct before any assistance could be procured. The other death was that of a man who has been ailing for some time, but whose end was not expected so soon. In both the last cases inquests were held with what result I have not learned. The residents of Moa Flat have started a co-operative coal mining company by which means they will get their winter fuel at cost price. The movement is worthy of imitation in other places. Mount Benger has put on its winter coat, and I hear the fall of snow has been heavy in the direction of the Old Man.

I see the surveyors are at work on the Moa Flat Block. I wonder when the Government will learn that leasing auriferous laud for mining purposes pays them better than encouraging the increase of chronically insolvent cockatoos.

THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE AND THE NEW DIAMOND FIELDS. ! In' a letter from Cape Town, date Jan. 4, wo read “ The life and bustle which the new staple-diamonds has given to the South African colonics is progressing. Wants are already beginning to be anticipated, winch may be met. The distance from the diamond fields to Cape Town has been done by the Inland Transport Company in six days and a-half. Discovery goes on as actively as ever, but, for obvious reasons, few will report their. finds. Men are becoming more and more reticent about their luck.”

Ihe A'. P. Herald says :—“Yesterday we had the pleasure of seeing at the office of Messrs. A. Moseuthal and Co. one thousand and one diamonds, valued at L 16,000. As box after box was opened, displaying literally heaps of diamonds of beautiful form and remarkable brilliancy, one could not but realise that the discovery of diamonds in South A frica was a wonderful fact. Among the I t was a monster diamond of SO carats, of an amber tint, but unfortunately imperfect in its formation. There was another large diamond of upwards of 50 carats weight, of good color, but of irregular shape. Some of the smaller gems —from 5 to 15 carats weight—were most beautiful stones, bright and clear, and regular in their form—altogether a sight worth seeing. These diamonds will probably be shipped by the next mail steamer.” A correspondent, writing from the diamond-fields, says : ‘ A curious instance of manners and customs on the fields occurred the other day, which may, perhaps, interest your readers. ' Almost immediately after the bursting of the storm on Monday, I observed a crowd gathering around one of the back houses, and what at first sounded like cries for help were heard. Thinking some one had been hurt, I proceeded thither, ahd found that it was a black man being flogg'd by a policeman. Some people said lie was being lynched ; but no, it was the strong am of inexorable Justice. During the morning the man had been condemned in court to receive twenty-five lashes, for theft. I believe, which senteuce the sudden and heavy weather had prevented from being carried out; but immediately on a lull, poor blackie was seised, tied up to a waggon-wheel, and got his twenty-five, amid the approving gestures of the crowd, while the rain was still failing sullenly. The impression it gave me was a too great eagerness to punish, just as if the thief had been bound and held fast by a couple of men all the time the storm raged, who at the earliest possible moment had ruffied out and pegged away at him for fear he might by some chance escape his probably just punishment altogether. Man’s justice looked very petty amid the wreck and presence of such tremendous weather, ” There is good news from the Tatin goldfields.