FREE OF CRIME.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18626, 26 February 1926, Page 7

FREE OF CRIME.

" s__ „ LAW-ABIDING DIGGEKS. A HAPPY COMMUNITY. At the height of the boom Kumara was practically free of crime. At first the only policeman resided at Stafford, and visited the mining settlement daily, but later came constables and a detective. They found little to do, for there was no evil in the hearts of those strapping young colonials, so busy at their quest of winning tho precious metal. Men of forty years and upwards were rare on the fields, aad the others, albeit occasionally indulging perhaps a little too freely in • spirituous liquors, spent their evenings at sing-songs, or staked their gold at poker, lotto, or lu. There was no fighting, everybody was enjoying- himself, and Kumara was the happiest community in New Zealand. For those who indulged not wisely, but a little too well, the police had a large tent pitched over a heavy log. Alongside this they laid a bundle of straw, and the intoxicated digger used this as a bod during the sobering-up process. He was tied to the log, and the police returned in the morning and liberated' him. Similar methods were adopted with noisy and bibulous individuals at the race meetings. The Court sittings were usually occupied with nothing more serious than a few cases of drunkenness, with .. rhnps a case now and then of. sly-grog selling from Dillmanstown, where that industry seemed to flourish. According to reports at the time, "awful perjury" was sworn in these cases. A variation came when Barrett and Magoffin, two brickmakers, ' were charged with the "larceny.of a brace of fowls." They proved an alibi, and the charges were dismissed.

Care-Free Population. No introductions were needed at dances, and no ceremony was stood, on, the style being freo-and-easy, and the only penalty for a dance was to "shout" for your partner. Those were the days when glasses were unknown, whisky and.other spirits were drunk in tin pajinikins, and champagne flowed freely. In tho earliest days of the rush no less than eighty applications were made for hotel licenses, but Warden M. Price resolutely refused to grant any 'Until the hotels were complete. Of Warden Prico it was said that ho indulged in tod much explanation of his judgments and in by-play. _ One authority accused him of "extra-judic-ial buffoonery," and stated that his Courthouse was generally crowded with an audience which showed much appreciation of his witticisms, frequently breaking out in loud cheers, clapping of hands and stamping of feet. Mr Soddon added other complaints to these. One of the Greymouth . newspapers, in picturesque language, records that "that irrepressible bouncer, ■R J. fieddon," had given notice that he would move, at tho next meeting of the'""Westland County Council, "that the conduct of M. Price, Esq., as Magistrate, Warden, Licensing Officer, etc., towards members of the Bar, litigants, and his subordinates is unbearable and tyrannical, also that his refusal to arant rights on the education reserve entails loss of revenue; and that the Minister for Justice be asked to appoint a Commission to enquire into these matters so universally complained of" Tho Warden had good friends, however, and they were vigorous in his defence.

Comradeship of Toil. No one was penniless for long, for if the claim was not panning out too well, loans could be easily negotiated More often than not the request, "Lend us a pound, mate," was met with the enquiry, "Will that be enough?" A rigid code of honour existed among these Nature's gentlemen, and it was seldom that a loan went untepaid. Mass meetings of the miners were held frequently .to deal gnevance* or fancied grievances and matters political, and to resolve was to act. There were no pleasant meetings m hails and rooms, and if it rained, it rained alike on orators and audience. The diggings were indeed no child's play.