THE CHINESE INVASION AT COOKTOWN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4172, 2 July 1875, Page 3

THE CHINESE INVASION AT COOKTOWN.

The correspondent of the Sydney Morning Herald writes, on April 25, as follows, concerning the influx of Chinese into Cooktown : — The last few weeks in, Cooktown have Leen pregnant with events. The most important of any incident in the history of this port—-the arrival of the Chinese immigrants direct from' China in swarms—stands out prominently as the chief item of interest, and the possible cause of much future good or evil to the colony. This immigration lias many special features which distinguish it from any previous Mongolian rush in colonial history., Cooktown is situated so near the great ports that empty out their surplus coolies into neighbonring countries, the facilities for reaching the, goldfield are so unusual, the expense is so comporatively slight, that, apart from other considerations, it is small wonder that John Chinaman is hurrying here, with his stick and baskets filled with pots and paus, as fast as he can. The whole secret of the matter is that certain Chinese merchants in -Hong Kong and Canton have excited the" cupidity of their countrymen by the most extravagant accounts of the [riches of the Palmer. Placards announcing the astounding fact that gold paved the highways of Cooktown — that men picked up nuggets of fabulous size at the diggings as easily as a schoolboy picks up shells on the beach—were paraded in the streets ; a fever seized on the swarming population who daily tread each other down for a bare subsistence in these great Eastern ports ; the required excitement was obtained, and then step in the Chinese merchants—charterers of steamers to the El Dorado, and shippers of producesufficieut to feed all they could induce to emigrate.' The arrival of' the mail steamer Singapore, with 470 passengers, followed the same evening by the Adria, with about GOO more, was our .first intimation of the new and certainly unexpected rush to our port. Since then we have had 1200 in the steamers Nanioa and Egeria, and the Somerset brings tidings that we may very soon expect three steamships, crowded with passengers, that were laid on for Cooktown prior to the departure of the mail from Hong Kong. At the present time there cannot be far short of 5000 Chinese on the goldfield ; and so far as it is possible to judge of events future by events past, the number will shortly be double that figure. As to the feeling here with regard, to the Chinese, it is, with the exception of a few interested parties, decidedly hostile to their admission. Meetings were held to discuss the question, and pass resolutions adverse to > the , action of the Government in permitting such an influx. A deal of " bill'talk" was 'indulged in, and. under all the deprecatory motions to the head of the Cabinet in Brisbane on the question, there was an ugly undercurrent of threat. Possible collisions were spoken of, imbroglios hinted at, and one outspoken individual openly expressed his opinion that,; if Government would not prevent their presumed enemies lauding here, " the diggers who had protected themselves from the blacks could do so from the ' Chinkfes,' and that the Government, when too late, might discover that more than the men of Lambing- Flat could" do a roll up when their interests were touched." Meetings were since held at Brisbane, and at the Palmer the popular ferment is very great. And yet all this outcry is raised idly and to no purpose. That the Chinaman will get gold and make a living where a white man —even if he were a Scotchman—would starve is an acknowledged fact. Apart from this, I maintain that the Palmer is peculiarly fitted for a Chinese goldfield. The climate and the hardships of the living are much less deterrent to the Chinaman than the European digger. He is in his own zone—under the same climatic provisions that he was born to. To hint the heat that thins the blood, and fevers tliii brain, and unstrings the nerve of the inhabitants of a^colder climate, '-w but an 'accustomed and genial warmth. He is not choked by the dust —has he had not learned to endure it in the stifling streets of Canton? The burning sun docs not dry his skin, and parch his throat, and sap his strength;, but invigorates his tropic nature, and enables liim to toil on, either carrying stores on his back to an extent that would kill a white man, or delving" and cradling from morning till night. The white man thinks less than sdwt. a day a sheer loss of time. John thinks it a fortune, and is content to work hard and patiently for much less. See the incoming Palmer men. How the flesh has left their bones, how gaunt and haggard, yellow-eyed and aged, they are—with all the spring and elasticity of their constitutions gone with the fresh red and white of their national complexion. They have got gold, may be —ay ! and what is far more important, they have drunk deep of the Palmer pestilence, and carry with them the seeds that will ripen into disease; they have lived tea years in one. This is no overdrawn picture—the last few months have been pregnant with disease and death. The disastrous rush to the Normanby and Laura opened up a fresh fever-stricken field, and scores have

only been purchasers of death when- they bought their stores for the " New Rush." Tfttf country upon the heads of the rivers has'provecl peculiarly unhealthy, and the number of sick ■and dying who have nought relief "in our hospital is exceptionally large. The Chinaman, however, seems to lice]) hia health well where we dwilidle and die; and I see no reason to doubt that he will eventually occupy by far the greater, portion of the extensive fields of thu Palmer.

WIKNJSKS -AND OWNERS.