UNREST.

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1166, 10 April 1874, Page 4

UNREST.

[WESTPOBT EVENING STAB.] The spirit of uuresfc still prevails among the mining population. Conflicting and unreliable reports from the Palmer only arouse a greater inclination in the minds of many to be off and away, and although private letters and press reports agree as to the scarcity of provisions on the new goldfields, and the dangers of the long and weary way, such reports have no deterrent effect on experienced miners, or tend to lessen faith in the auriferous wealth of the far off Northern Territory. Reminisences of high prices and long continuing hardships in the early days of the ]New Zealand goldfield, are revived as arguments to silence those who counsel caution, and the uncontrollable desire to be off and see for themselves impels many, who can by any possible means get away from the Coast, to make their speedy exit Many justify their determination by the excuse that it is a hard matter to live free from poverty, and that the opening up of new ground is a work of time and patience, and the profitable results never sufficiently well assured. They profess to be dissatisfied with New Zealand and hope to again realise the prosperous times tbey once knew in Australia, and will not admit that by any fault or improvidence of their own they have lost the chance of placing themselves above want. At such a time the settled portion of the community can but wait in grim patience the issue of events. Prepared if necessary as a last alternative to gird up their loins and follow after the truant miners, or wait patiently until a turn of affairs bring the truants back agaiu. To argue with or try to convince the miner suffering under the unrest of " rush "on the brain is useless. To quote a goldfields poet,

•' Unbounded prospects in his bosom roll, And future thousands lift his rising soul, In blissful dreams ho digs the golden mine. And raptured seo3 the new-found nugget shine." In such a case words of warning, words of counsel, or advice are but as chaff blown before the wind.