A WARM RECEPTION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1047, 13 September 1883, Page 4

A WARM RECEPTION.

A large - Crowd assembled in the vicinity of the Dunedin railway station last evening, says yesterday’s Otago Daily limes , to witness the arrival of Major Barker, the chief officer of the Salvation Army in Australia, who comes on a visit of inspection to this colony. The Major arrived by the express from Invercargill, and with some difficulty was escorted through the crowd to the “war-chariot”—an ordinary four-wheeled trap—which was in waiting to convey him to the barracks, the crowd meanwhile indulging in hooting and all sorts of 1 discordant noises. Great prepara-! tions had been made for the arrival of 'the Major. The Army mustered in full force, and their brass band, with lighted torches, led the way from the railway station through the crush. The Major having taken his seat in the “ chariot,” one of the captains rose to give out a hymn, ; but. at that moment a rotten egg w&s ’thrown at him with welldirected aim. Probably he stopped Singing, bnt if he did not, his voice: waS completely drowned by the clamor ■ pf. the multitude, and the procession proceeded in anything but triumphant Style. along Cumberland street and found Moray Place to the Temperance Hall, followed by a large and noisy ■ crowd, who impeded considerably the progress of both the band and the “ chariot.”. The members of the former did all they knew to strike up a few tunes, but it took them all their time to look after themselves, their torches, and their instruments, and when they did suCeed itt playing together a bar or two, ; the , little noise they made was Completely drowned by the hooting of ttie crowd. For some time disorder reigned supreme, and it seemed as if the neighborhood had been converted intOift. pandemonium. On arrival at the" barraCks matters became, if anything, even worse. A large crowd had collected round the entrance of the hall .and completely blocked up the street. For fully half an hour Inspector Weldon-and a strong body of police made ineffectual attempts to disperse the crowd. The people swayed backwards and forwards, and a number of women and children received some very rough handling. Three or four women fainted, and had almost to be dragged through the crowd to a place of safety; while some of the female soldiers were more or less maimed. One young -‘girl was particularly noticeable, as, after the crowd had thinned Somewhat, she limped faithfully to the rear out. of all danger. Meanwhile several members of the band were mobbed, and they had an unpleasant time of it. The big drum was in imminent danger, but a thoughtful officer passed it over the heads of the crowd to a quiet corner, and the instruments and torches were carried off in different directions. Shortly after 8 o’clock the police.managed to make a clearance in front of the hall, and after this the row was practically over. Altogether the proceedings were of a roost disgraceful character, and it is to be hoped another such’disturbance will not be occasioned for some time.