THE LATE ELECTION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1682, 8 October 1887, Page 2

THE LATE ELECTION.

TO THE EDITOR. The state of our town on the night of the late election was simply disgraceful. Sc>res of men young and old paraded the ctreetß assaulting and insulting every peaceable cltizsn cbey met. Gangs num boring from ten to twenty hunted through the town m search of anyone, who at any previous time migat have offended them, however unintentionally. The leader of these had a hunter's horn which he used to rally _ s cowardly mates to any particular spot, fcr the purpose of assaulting and insulting men attending to their business. o_e or two men were brutally assaulted, while men who ought to have known better, indulged m throwing rotten eggs and bags of flour. While these things were going on, the police did absolutely nothing to aid m protecting peaceable citizens — they seemed more intent on preserving their nice .uniforms. If these well<paid officers are of no use m , times of emergency ; if they think more of their nice uniforms than of the publio peace, I think we could do very well .without them, m this age of retrenchment. I have been told that the constables had orders from their superiors net to interfere with the cowardly roughi lest their nice uniforms might be fpoilud. If the police bo of no use except to "run m" a hanrlesß oYun&.who dccc not interfere with any body why do not the Ministry sack them 1 If we knew that the police oared more about their nice uniforms than they do about tbe public peace, wo could do as they do m Texas, acd as we Bhall be compelled to do here m future — carry arms for our own protection, and use them when compelled. When some limbs are broken, or Borne lives lost, the police may wake from their sleep. In "the Oourt one man admitted that he had fl ur In his pocket, and had thrown it, while it is well-known that the police know dozens of the rioters, jei thesa things do not shame the police into risking their nice uniforms by hauling them up. In this reßjjßut their conduct Is m contrast with i heir action m connection with drunks. I have been Informed by a trustworthy gentleman that the police followed a quiet and harmless drunk and then ''ran him m," while hundreds of oowardly rioters were -i I 'owed to do just as they pleased. The sounding of the horn they oould hear, aud they oould see the rush of riofcew, as

well as the flur throwers, but no notice whatever has been taken of them to the present moment. We would be much [ better without polloe of this kind— -we could then take steps to protect ourselves. Tbe disgraceful state of the town may be I judged from tbe fact that, m one hotel at least, the balcony was ocoupied by a band of young ruffians who amused themselves by throwing flour at peaceable patera by, and when their shots took effect they screamed with delight. In conclusion I would suggest that our representatives, Me-srs Walker, Buxton, and be requested to bring the conduct of the police under, the notice of the Minister of Justice. No one blames the constables as, according to general belief, thßy were restrained by _uperior orders. — Yours etc., Peace.