Corroboree

To the Editors of the South Australian Register.
I am, Gentlemen,
Yours, &c.
A TOWNSMAN.
GENTLEMEN —Not long ago, I saw in the
Gazette a notice to the effect that the police and
park-keepers were to consider it their duty to
prevent as far as possible the natives from cutting
wood on that portion of the park lands lying be-
tween North and South Adelaide.
After this notice, I was rather surprised the
other morning to see a whole body of natives
hewing and cutting away at the fine trees nearly
opposite Government House; and not only this,
but one fine tree was set on fire and continued
burning during the whole day and succeeding
night.
Now, it is to me, and must be I think to every
citizen of Adelaide, a matter of regret to see the
only part of the park lands on which the trees
have been preserved, and the only part which can
now be converted into a pleasure ground, thus
left for the natives to do as they please with.
In a year or two, when our minicipal autho-
rities shall have been fairly established, and our
colonists have a little more leisure for recreation,
this might be converted into a pleasure ground
with very little trouble or expense, but if the
natives are allowed to cut down or deface the
finest trees, fifty years will not repair the damage.
Besides, I cannot for my own part see what right
the natives have to the park lands any more than
the settlers. If the natives are to have the use of
public property, they may as well claim the use
of private. Not that I wish to see them driven
off the park lands; but the Protector tells us how
well they are advancing towards civilization, and
that they have built houses for themselves,—why
then do they not reside in them, and have wood
supplied to them for fires, which would be a very
trifling expence? I think they would be much
more comfortable in their houses, and it would
be a better proof of their improvement than all the
statements the Protector can make.
Again, where is the use of appropriating land
for them in country districts, if they are to be
allowed to loiter about our park lands doing
nothing but mischief?
I trust the attention of His Excellency the
Governor will be directed to this subject, and I
am certain he would apply a remedy without
delay.
[The above letter refers to a subject we have
often had it in contemplation to bring under
public notice. It is impossible for our readers
who do not reside in North Adelaide to form
any idea not only of the wholesale destruction
of the finest trees of the park which the natives
are committing with absolute impunity, but of
the nuisance of their beastly corrobories, the
noise of which is so frequently carried far into
the night. Surely it were desirable for the
Protector to take some order on these points.
Could they not, at least, be persuaded to cele-
brate their discordant orgies at some greater
distance from town ?—EDITORS.]