A DISRACEFUL AFFAIR.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1056, 22 January 1884, Page 2

A DISRACEFUL AFFAIR.

To the Editor,

Sir, —1 shall bo glad if you would publish in yOur impartial and widely circulated paper the following most disgraceful affair which occurred here on Saturday night last on the public road in front of the Tinwald Hotel. ' It was such a scene that it is almost impossible to describe, and unless witnessed could not be credited. Just imagine some eight or ten drunken men with coats and hats off all in a confused mass fighting, kicking, and littering friend and foe indiscriminately ! And to make matters worse, four females, evidently wives or friends of those engaged in this disgraceful affair, vainly endeavoring to part these men who were worse than savages in their drunken state ! It is a Wonder that some of these unfortunate men were not killed or severely injured. Is not an affair like this Mr Editor, a crying shame to a civilized community,, and ought it not to be put a stop to ? The law does not allow publicans to serve drunken men with drink, but it must have been done during the two hours these people were in Tinwald. Why should this particular hotel, I should like to know, be under no police aurveilance whatever! Is it because affairs of this kind are hashed up ? Ashburton boasts of a sergeant and four or five constables, yet it is a rare thing to see one of them over here. I trust some more abler pen than mine among the large number of spectators of this disgraceful affair will take the matter up.— Yours, etc., Spectator. Tinwald, January 21, 1884.