DISGRACEFUL OUTRAGE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume I, Issue 40, 27 December 1879, Page 4

DISGRACEFUL OUTRAGE.

(From last night’s Globe.)

One of the most disgraceful outrages that has ev«r taken place in Canterbury occurred this morning shortly after 9.30, in Manchester street. The Protestant Alliance Friendly Society was matching in procession down Manchester street eh route for Prebbleton, where they intended to hold a picnic, when they were savagely and brutally assaulted by a number of men, who sallied forth from Barrett’s Borough Hotel, and commenced striking indiscriminately with S- bunfbgi' of pick staves. Some of the assailants came from the right-of-way close to the hotel, others dropped from the windows, and indeed the whole affair seemed to be a preconcerted movement. The people in the procession, quite unprepared for such a savam* and by u till onslaught, broke and scattered in every direction, the assailants using their weapons right and left, and, tearing a banner from the beaters, bore it to the back of the hotel. A number of men were more or less wounded about the head, and four very seriously, viz. : Joseph Harden, severe scalp wound; Alexander Huston, contused wound on eay and f#peJ Archibald Armstrong, severe scalp wound and compound fracture of the »rm > Black, three severs puts on head; Thomas Anderson, severe scalp wounds. The four first were removed to the Hospital ; Black, after having his wounds dressed, was removed to his home, whore he was attended by his own medical adviser. Mr. Anderson, who is very severely wounded, was also taken to his own home, where he now lies,

The police have taken from the premises of the Borough Hotel a large number of pick handles, which are in use on the tramway works. It is understood that, in view of future repetitions of the fracas of this morning, the Governor has been telegraphed to to exercise his right to close the house, at least for the pre sent. The police, under Mr. Superirtendent Broham, were early on the spot, though reduced in numbers, owing to the bulk of the force having been telegraphed for to Timaru, in view of probable disturbances there, which has since turned out to be a correct anticipation. Those who had been severely-hurt were removed to the Hospital, where, under the charge of Mr. Pridgeon, they are progressing favorably. The greatest excitement prevails in the city, and the street opposite the Borough Hotel is crowded with people. The police up to 2p m. had made four arrests of persons alleged to have been implicated in the outrage, but it is expected that before night a number more will be made. The citizenfeeling insecure with only so small a body of police in Christchurch, were mooting during the day the advisableness of the Mayor swearing in a number of special constables, so that the public peace might be preserved. His Worship has, we believe, expressed himself as willing to at once call on the citizens to aid him and the police authorities in the preservation of law and order. That such a disgraceful and cowardly outrage should ever be perpetrated on an inoffensive body of citizens certainly shows the necessity for the peaceably disposed citizens to band themselves together and stamp out such a state of things as occurred this morning. His Worship the Mayor, in view of a probable affray this evening, called a meeting of the principal citizens at 3 p.m. at the City Chambers, when about 200 were sworn in as special constables.