THE CAPE DIAMOND FIELDS.

Evening Star, Issue 3836, 10 June 1875, Page 3

THE CAPE DIAMOND FIELDS.

The Natal papers to hand, via Melbourne, prove the existence on the diamond fields of a state of affairs similiar to the Eureka Stockade, at Ballarat, but, as we are only in possession of two papers, of the 30th and 31st March respectively, we are unable to ascertain precisely the causes of the ill-feeling which exists. The miners have formed themaeVes into a camp, and have established a semi - military force of infantry and cavalry. The organs at the seat of Government and the diamond fields give respectively the Government and the diggers’ views of the dispute. The Cape Town News’ of March 30 tells us :

The news, both private and public, received from the diamond fields is alarming. One correspondent writes to us that upwards of 200 men are armed and are drilling, and have already committed overt acts of treason. Arms are being bought in every direction. “I saw,” says one informant, “ twenty-five rifles sold at one store yesterday. They are to have a grand parade on Sun .lay, when they propose to do acts which meen virtually taking over the government themselves.” The papers to hand speak of troops of cavalry, infantry, and re serve, and there is every appearance of a formidable organisation, which will probably not be dispersed without a revolution or a riot. Clearly matters cannot g> on as they are. No settlement appears possible. The Government are still said to be carping at the price for which the proprietors are willing to sell the farm, and the diggers are said to be themselves m treaty for its purchase, and if they get to stand in the proprietors’ shoes they may turn out the Government and be a law unto themselves. _ The force available for defence is said to consist of ten policemen, and most of them no great shakes. The fields themselves are not worth fighting for, but the principle of loyalty and order is.

The Lieutenant-Governor of the district having issued a proclamation accusing certain evil-disposed persons of endeavoring to excite disaffection, “ Tbe Diggers’ Association of the Combined Camps,” as represented by Henry Tucker, its chairman, and Wm. Ling* its treasurer, issued a counter-procla-matwn, which asserts that LieutenantGovernor Southey’s proclamation is “ a false and scandalous charge against the loyalty and affection of her Majesty’s subjects ” by the Government of the Province, whose acts have brought the British flag into contempt, dishonored the “ Crown and dignity” of the Sovereign, and trampled upon the rights and freedom of loyal subjects. Then follows a notification—made “by virtue of our %alty and affection to onr Most Gracious Majesty, whom God preserve that it is the intention of the Association to “induce all her Majesty’s subjects tq meet together for mutual assistance and support for the beforementioned purposes ; ignoring and disavowing. as wo hereby do, all treasonable intent to her Majesty ; and further we pledge ourselves to adopt all measures for the security of life and property (which through the feebleness and incapacity of the local Government have been jeopardised) of all her Majesty’s subjects in this Province.” The 1 Diamond Field,’ the diggers’ organ, tells us that

Government has succeeded in producinga State trial, in reducing the police below the minimum of efficiency, and in dragging before a court—at _a monstrous expense, and to the great scandal of the public—two most respectable men on a trumped-up charge of. niggerslaying, Tqe first and most important matter occumng during the week was the .frightful display of ruffianism made by the mining surveyor and certain armed mounted mon, who invaded the house places of diggers, flourished their revolvers they dared not use, .aiud succeeded m frightening some hundreds of poor natives from their work. Met and rep ulsed at tucker s, they fell on the working place of % digger named South, and actually, In his absence, seized and imprisoned some of his servants. On appearing at court, however, Mr Magnanimous Ward withdrew his chai ge of ‘not being duly registered” against the na .tives, and attempted to have South forced int. j the dock. Mr D’Arcy very properly refuai *d to permit this high-handed proceeding, and ordered the regular method of procedure by summons to be adopted. ISTo, 2 was the now famous case of Begina v. Gunn and Fiko. It was not alone that popular opinion was wit hj the prisoners; it was this jury, 1 spectators all combined to believe them the victims of. malicious perjury. His lordship spoke in the highest terms of Captain Gunn’s courage and conduct. The jury acquitted both, exonerated them from even the .most remote particle of blame, and the only person w court who did seem aggrieved was the

Attorney-General, who made a most furious and malign speech, impeaching the truth of the jury, and full of unnecessary talk about “ equality of races.” The effect of South’s case has, up to the present, been to increase the military spirit now being evoked in the camp, and to produce more volunteers for the Association. Cavalry were paraded in the streets after a drill at the cricketground. They form a fine-looking body of about a squadron strong. What greater proof that the Association does not consist of rapscallions can be given than this ? They require defence, and forth springs—as if from the ground —a squadron of cavalry whose horses, rifles (Martini-Henry), saddles, revolvers, and equipments may be rated at LIOO per man. The troop were addressed by the late M.P. for Oradock, Mr Henry Tucker, captain of the Reserve. The infantry companies are, we are informed, not yet fully armed ; consequently only about onethird of the men enrolled appeared on the parades on Thursday evening. There were about forty men paraded in the rifles, and a similar number in the German Company. These proceedings will prove to the Colonial public how strangely tyrannical the Government has been to force a number of hardworking men under arms lor self-defence in a territory of but three years’ occupation.