THE WANGAPEKA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 285, 6 December 1869, Page 2

THE WANGAPEKA.

The' news received yesterday by the Government from Wangapeka is most unsatisfactory. There appears to bVa fixed determination- on the part of those at present in possession of the ground not to allow the survey to; be proceeded-, with. They have refused to allow Mr. Broad' to enter upon the ground, and have" stated, that they will, if necessary, use force to prevent possession being taken of the reef. . No_ attempt has yet been made by the Warden to commence" operations, but he intended beginning the survey to-day, and sent to town yesterday for more' constables. Three were at once despatched ; but should the men on the ground still persist in their determination to break the law, of course the small force at Mr. Broad's disposal will be entirely inadequate to cope with the large number, il6, we believe, opposed to them, besides the Government, we understand, are averse to using force so long as it can possibly be avoided, and so ; the survey will not be proceeded with. So the : matter stands at present, the purchasers of the land are unable to get on to their ground, the holders of miners' rights who may be desirous of getting, to work in other parts of the district are without any protection whatever, and are : liable to have their claims jumped without having any legal remedy, as the district has not been proclaimed a goldfield; while those who are in illegal possession of the purchased land are, and will be, quite unable to derive any benefit; from the ground they have seized, as ho one will be foolish enough to invest their money in machinery for the purpose of crushing stone towhich the holders have no legal righ% and with- . out machinery the quartz is of course of no more' value than so many boulder stones. . A more unhappy state of things perhaps never existed, and it will require all the tact, and energy of our Superintendent and his Executive to unravel the complications which, surround this unfortunate business.