COROMANDEL.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 49, 5 June 1862, Page 2

COROMANDEL.

(From the Bail:/ FouVteni Cray.;;, Ahiy 23.). iiicie is no qtvnmii ol onttal importance to tld- ‘ A’ As or ,T ; t ,1.E0 A y-> • •<•!.. ■ ■ r! : . . ;;; , /, Cr . prise. 1m; ;...\o vaiub ;cnie '■inence ti-at the Penhisula. is rich i.i go! ; tin..nghouf, Liu it is equally ceriani leal time are some districts of greater wealth than others. As it happens, the diggers have access to those districts which are the least inviting, and are shut out from the localities where gold may be easily obtained, ami in large quantities. _ The consequence of this state of matters is that the mining population at the Kapauga go upon the f ibiddeu ground by stealth, and succeed in making enough to induce tnem to remain there under canvass in this inclement vc■ n her. A<»w, we ask, wlmn is tins v.nd,.-iralle state of tilings to cmne io mi end ? Tim question is one of moment, and requires a speedy answer on the pan m the Co, rnmont. It will not be possible, without largely increasing tS;o police force, to prevent the minors going on Paul’s land, if not by day, at least by night; and the result of this practice will be the creation of hostile feelings between the races, which may at any moment lead to acts of violence. For the sake of the Maories, who arc sure to come off worst in the end, we wish a termination put to the tiresome negotiations that have been carried on for mouths

past, regarding the acquisition of Coromandel. And with equal sincerity do we wish it on account of the diggers. They are placed in circumstances of daily temptation. Invited to Coromandel by the Government intimation that it was entirely open for prospecting, they came, and soon discovered a remarkably rich district, but were ordered off it by the natives. The Government backed this order, apparently, for the first time, discovering that a trifling reserve of seventy square miles had been made by the Maories, over which they would not allow the Europeans to prospect! What has been the consequence i The men have pitched their tents near the boundary of Paul's land, and when they cannot go on it to prospect by day they go by night, and manage to pay themselves pretty well. Can any one suppose that this practice will not have a deteriorating influence on these men ? and is it not for their good, as well as for the good of society, that the restriction on prospecting should at once he removed, and that they should be allowed to work in the broad light of day, developing the mineral wealth which would lie buried tor ever if left to the undisturbed possession of the native race.