The Gold Country.

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 536, 4 June 1851, Page 4

The Gold Country.

To the Editors of the Sydnty Morning Herald. GenTlfmen,— -The existence of a gold conntry can no longer l»e treated as a geological question. The fac s which have heen submitted to the public to-day, prove th.it the Government should not disregard the bc-aun" of the discovery on ttie \ üblic safety. There is teason to fear thaf a childish estmite of may draw many from profitable punuitf, to follow what to them may prove a shadow. Gold may be bought too dearly. It may cost the individual his health mid hie, and the public long years of difficulty avid commercial derangement. The Government, however, have, pe>haps, nothing to do with the question in its nvrely commercial form ; still the Governnoent is bound to Inke precautions which may preveat social disorganization ami dime,— just as it is bound to enforce a quarantine. Ie is stated, that already armed parties, in gieat numbers, aie on the gold ground; and within six days sail of themscatteied over the colonies, there are more than 50,000 persons who have been transported for various crimes, and a ?ery Lrge number of them within a few hours' distance. Should the reports of gold prove true, the excitement, speculation, and license, will attract thousands of the very worst characters. This no one can doub*, and the consequences to the security of life and properly, without any needless exaggeration, are sufficiently obvious and appal* It appears to me that the Government should immediately adopt measures of a precautionary kind. The precious metals are the property of the Crown, but it would be absurd to pievait a search for them. The Crown's right m them, however, may be the ptotection of the public, if it is exorcised wi'.h discretion. In order to draw out some expression of opinion on the subject, I beg to offer the following suggestions, which, at leust, may lead to some practical measures to avert ihe oils which it is impossible not to foresee :—: — First: The GoTernment should call the Legislative Council together, and propote an Act to give the necessary powers, which Act should expire .it the «Une of the first sessions of the neW Council, so as to give the people an opportunity of pronouncing an opinion upon the subject. Second : The Government should have the power to proclaim any district visited by the miners, as being under the opperation of the Act. Third : All persons coming into that district should be compelled to register their names, within one (ortiiighi, with their last residence ; stating whether they are married, and the number and residence of their families, in order that tome secunty m»y be taken against desertions, which there is much reason to dread. Provision should be made for , enforcing the claims of such deserted families. Fourth : The Government should issue licenses to responsible persons in the proclaimed gold districts, in the iame way that publicans' licenses are issued ; and these partit« should be permitted to issue sub-licenses to the mineri, upon which, in addition to the license fee, a charge should be imposed the amount to be determined monthly, according to the expeuse of an ample police for the district, so that every miner might be interested in its peace and good order. Fifth : Some restrictions will be necessary in the wandering of miner» from on« district to another, which should be made to be attended with some little trouble and expense. The object of the Government ought not, in the present instance, to be that of revenue ; but to obtain some control over a population which will very soon become unmanageable. The only form in which tins can be done, is by giving parties onthes>pot an interest in [the isitrictious imposed for the common good. And I would add, that, for a time at least, the Government ought to be invested with summary powers to regulate the districts : and when crimes a.c committed, punish the guilty without muou delay. In a few weeks every measure may be unavailing. I ato. }oura trul), Viatou. Sydney, May 15ib.