THE CAPE COLONY DIAMOND FIELDS.

Southland Times, Issue 1571, 30 April 1872, Page 3

THE CAPE COLONY DIAMOND FIELDS.

« Items of news from Cape papers have come to hand via Mauritius, by the barque Elizabeth, just arrived from Port Louis. In addition to the diamonds there was abo gold being found in the Transvaal, and the rush of people to the diamond fields was largely on the increase. The Volksradd of the Transvaal Republic had repudiated a decision of the President Pretorius, with regard to the regulations for the diamond fields, and he had resigned. The people at the diggings were somewhat difficult to keep in check, and were manifesting a disposition to take the law into their own hands. Lynch law was beginning to crop up, and it was given out that any canteen-keeper found buying diamonds from a native would have his establishment burned down. A canteen-keeper was discovered offending in this respect, and a meeting was called at which 7000 diggers 'assembled, and, after a discussion in front of his tent, it was decided to take all his diamonds, burn the tent, and give him 12 hours' grnce to leave the camp. On remonstrating with the diggers, he was graciously informed that he would be lynched if he did not skedaddle. For tbe diamond which he purchased from the natives, he gave I3s 6d and a glass of grog, and its value was -620. The property destroyed by the burning of the tent was said to be of. -€2OOO value. The diggers after this seem to have instituted quite a raid against the canteens, many of which are general stores as well as grog shops, and five or six more shared a similar fate to the first one. Severe Sabbatarianism had also apparently set in, the diggers having made up their minds and expressed their intention of burning down every publichouse that opened on Sunday. Disturbances had taken place owing to the natives getting drunk, and the diggers had intimated that they would not wait for the Government to set things right, but would adopt measures of their own. They also had given out that any nigger trying to sell a diamond would be lynched. The latest news states that an additional force of frontier police had been ordered to the diamond fields.— Melbourne Argus.