The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 1875.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1936, 18 March 1875, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 1875.

The army of "special reporters," "own correspondents "and senders of pigeongrams appear to have kept at a safe distance from the prospectors' claim on Saturday last, when the parties to whom j the reserve had been granted went to take possession and man the ground, in pursuance of the Warden's decree. As a consequence but a very imperfect account of the proceedings appeared, as it would seem from reports subsequently furnished that a disgraceful exhibition of rowdyism took place—that the men whom Warden Fraser had but a short time before complimented on their orderly character were either perpetrator* or passive spectators of a species of ruffianism which ought not to be allowed to go unpunished. A correspondent of the Daily Southern Cross, writing to that journal, gives the following account of the fracas: —

" No doubt you heard of the row at the prospectors' reserve; but as there were no reporters present (at least I could not see one of them) you will scarcely get a very full account of the affray. I should judge that there would be 500 to 600 men present, and yet all the noise, was made by probably twenty persons belong-

ing to a party known amongst the miners as the "Jambs." .All the others stood quietly looking on, and taking no part in, the lively proceedings. When Thorpe! told them that he would get a crowd of Maoris and drive them clean off the spur, he was jostled and then knocked down. The rowdies then began to swing their picks about, and in language more expressive than polite, to declare they would break the skulls of tho prospectors. I saw one man with a pair of scissors, which he exhibited in a very prominent manner, working them with his thumb and finger, in true barber style, but whether he proposed to crop the prospectors or- to slit-; their ears I cannot say. Another man, E think it was Denny Hogan, a well-known: character here, came forward with a rope,but did not make any use of it. The prospectors showed fight, and some of their mates who went to the rescue were rather roughly handled. A big boulder on the hill, some distance above the claim; was rolled down by the roughs, and , Thorpe narrowly escaped being crushed by it. Of course, no work could be done in the face of such, obstructions, ar.d it was not only unfair [but unmanly and cowardly in the extreme to prevent the, prospectors from going to work to sho^ the reef which we are all waiting to see.";

We can readily believe that the rowdy element was in a minority, but it seems incredible that the remainder of, the diggers—men who are generally anxious to see every one getting fair play—should stand quietly by and see others assaulted without interfering. It would also be interesting to know where the, constabu? lary were at the time, and why a few; arests were not made of the ringleaders by way of example. If this had been lone rowdyism would have been put down at once, and the men who are dis| posed to work would have been allowed to proceed in peace and quietness. As ifc is, the immunity which, the turbulent ones have enjoyed will probably encourage them to proceed to greater lengths. No doubt the instigators of the row would like to have had the active support of the whole crowd of miners present; as then they could have carried out their vinilic-: tiveriess without much chance of being punished. On a new rush there.are always to be found men who are dissatisfied with everything and everybody. ; They se;ze upon the slightest pretext for a row —very often upon no pretext at all, as in this case, we believe; The prospectors who have been awarded the reserve are, by all accounts* men who are perfectly satisfied with the "fhow" they have in their claim, and confident of getting something better. They have not done anything to induce a rush, and therefore cannot be charged with the disappointment which has been experienced by many on the field; and it is too bad that they should be molested in the prosecution of their work by a number of men who think to intimidate others who may be more fortunate than themselves, but less ready to appeal to brute force in defence of their rights; The miners generally, we are convinced* will not belie the character given them by Warden Fraser, but as one black sheep Is said to taint a flock,, so may a few of the " lambs" by their illegal proceedings give to the new field a bad name that will deter many from having anything to do with Ohinemuri if it is once admitted that the law is unable to reach a small ring who would set the law at (|efiance and exercise a species of terrorism over law-abiding people. We could have hoped that the above account is exaggerated, but that it agrees too nearly with what we have learned from other sources to admit of doubt. It is not only the injury done to individuals that is to be feared. Bad blood is engendered by these displays of ruffianism, which is liable to be stirred up on the slightest pretext, with results much more deplorable than those which have transpired. Under excitement hard words may be followed by blows without much harm being done or intended; but to brandish picks in a threatening manner; to talk of splitting skulls; to exhibit scissors with significant gestures as to tjie use to which they; would be appliedsuch demonstrations as these savor more of lawlessness than good order; while the act of rolling down a big boulder with the i intention of crushing the ''prospectors was simply diabolical, the perpetrators of which ought to be put out of doing any harm for a lengthened period. ,'