GUM DIGGERS' BOUNCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 27, 31 January 1880, Page 5

GUM DIGGERS' BOUNCE.

, . [Auckland " Star."] Gam diggers are swarming over the country. They. may. be seen on (he outskirts of forests, on the summit of ifefn ridges, while down the extensive ravines may be seen the diggers' tent, and men probing the earth for its hidden treasures. The swamps, with their inferior gum are also made to yield tribute ; and by this production ot the earth the exhausted exchequer of many a poor family has been replenished. Since last Tuesday one man and his four sons have dug up £28 worth ; but while congratulating fortunate diggers upon their suoceßs, it is with regret we learn that in many'districts a number of lawless men . are 'trespassing ' on; private lands, and jdigging gum in defiance of the, owners. This' is being?, done to such an extent aa to have;<in one instance, led to legal proceedings being instituted. It appears that some sixty men have located somewhere at the head of the Waite- . mata. and when told by setllers they must not dig on their land,' they have threatened to use their gum speara as a "quietus 71 to the settlers' arguments. Ot course this sort of thing will have to be checked. There is abundance of waste land In the Province if gumdigger e, will take the trouble to, afloer- ■ tain' its locality, and there can be no excuse for those who, in defiance of the owners of land, proceed to dig. In another northern district upwards p 6f; £00 men are digging gum on a run ; <

and not content 'with obtaining | the valuable deposit, they also destroy property, and appear to think | that' because they are gum diggers they can' do, as they like, accordingly they set fire to the fern and ti-tree to clear the surface of the country. The damage done by these fires ia incalculable. Our readers will probably recollect the reports which last summer appeared in these oolumns, of fires at Hokiaoga and other great timber districts. These fires (traceable to gum-diggers' operations) raged through the centre of magnificent kauri forests, burning but millions of feet of timber which could never be replaced, inflicting thereby' a most serious loss on the colony. And all this brought about by a few individuals fossicking for a fair out of kauri gum. Some severe punishment 'Wilt hava to follow indiscriminate fireraising in country districts, to prevent 1 the fearful loss which is yearly sustained. As regards the question of trespass in pursuit of gum, that is likely to be settled in a court of law within a very few days. !