EXTRAORDINARY PROCEEDINGS. CAUTION TO TRAVELLERS.

New Zealander, Volume XVIII, Issue 1721, 6 September 1862, Page 5

EXTRAORDINARY PROCEEDINGS. CAUTION TO TRAVELLERS.

To the Editor of the Nuw-Zkalanokk. Alllow me, sir, through your columns, to warn all travellers towards I'ukekohc and Tuakuu rom the Great South road against venturing along the Tuakuu road after sundown as some person or persons, either for a “ lark ” or through sheer malice, have cut an immense ditch at one end of the bridge over the Tuamuta creek. The road here runs through the property of Messrs. Brown and Campbell; and, wo feel positive, they will be indignant when they learn of such an atrocity having been committed, to the danger of the lives both of Europeans and Maoris, who tire in the habit of frequenting this road. Whoever the individual may be who has committed such an extraordinary act, should ho not bo hold up to the execration and contempt of the public? Is it not not the duty of the Government to oiler it reward for his apprehension? If such things are allowed to ho doue in New Zealand with impunity the sooner people ate out of thy country the better. Yours truly, l\ Ivoyrir w JJumanjtt*

To the Editor of the New-Zealander. Sir,—rl think it my duty to call attention to a great evil at present existing at Kapunga. It is a notorious i fact that natives have now great facilities for buying I strong drinks, and are often seen staggering about i with bottles of a very suspicious character. Tliev now, somehow or other, manage, both men and women", to get drunk pretty often, to the disgust and annoyance of Pita and Makoare, who expressly stipulated with the Government that no public houses should be allowed on native lands. There is, I believe, no licensed house on native laud, still they can procure intoxicating drink to any extent they wish. Cannot some of the gentry who supply them have an official hint not to sell to the Maoris? It might save a great I deal of trouble; and, so far as Europeans are concerned, they might still sell without a license all nice and com- ' fortable. 1 know a very strong feeling on the subject exists in the minds of some of the Maori chiefs; and one of them said only a day or two ago in reference to it, "if the Queen will not protect us in our rights now we are good men, we must turn bad men, i.e., King's men." There are no more loyal natives in the island than these, and I should be very much grieved to see them spoilt. I only wish our respected Land Commissioner could have seen the sight on the flat yesterday and to-day. On both these days, near to the Police Court, natives, both men and women, have been beastly drunk, not only to the annoyance and regret of some of the pakehas, but at great risk of collision with Europeans'. It' such things arc allowed to go on disturbances with the natives are sure to result; in fact already, in one or two instances, active collision has, with difficulty, been prevented. Surely the police ( ought to be instructed to look into it. We are, as a body of diggers, very quiet and orderly,—perhaps a little l/ounceable in looking after our rights or what wo regard as such, and give little trouble to our excellent armed police, so that if instructed to do so, they might prevent a deal of mischief. Where the facts fully known by you you would sec that I have made a very mild statement of what may become a serious matter.

I enclose my address; and you may make any use you may see well of this letter by inserting in your paper as a whole or in part, or by calling, in your own shape, attention to the evil referred to. I am. dear sir, yours, Digger. Coromandel diggings, August 31, ISG2.