MORE DISORDER IN WELLINGTON

Press, Issue 14828, 20 November 1913, Page 8

MORE DISORDER IN WELLINGTON

ANOTHER MELEE IN POST

OFFICE SQUARE.

TROOPER'S LEG BROKEN

HOTELS CLOSED FOR THE DAY

(SPECIAL TO "the press.")

WELLINGTON, November 19

For the past fortnight, ever since -ne Featherston street riot, there has been no serious disorder in connexion with the strike. There was a change, however, this forenoon, when a large gathering of strikers.and others numbering two or three thousand, assembled in tho Post Office square.

There was an atmosphere of uneasi- j ness which indicated that trouble might be expected at any moment, and it was not long before the crisis was reached. A marked degree of restlessness became noticeable, and some of the menstandinir outside the headquarters of the Strike Committee commenced to "boohoo" the squad of twelve mounted "specials" who had been told off to preserve order. Thexlamour increased and the crowd clearly showed-that it .was in an ugly temper. The result was that it was decided to clear the square, and at a half-trot the "specials," with raised batons, charged across the square towards the Post Office and the Pier Hotel. The mob stampeded to either side, displaying a keen antipathy to coming into contact with the horses. At the Pier Hotel a strong phalanx of men swarmed over tho footpath and the roadway, and here it was that a melee ensued. HORSEMAN THROWN. As the crowd surged in upon the horsemen, two or three of them camo into contact with batons wielded by the "specials." One of them snatched the squad leader's baton trom his hand and darted through tho crowd towards the Post Offico in an eirort to escape. Manoeuvring with the horses in the denso crowd was exceedingly difficult, and just then tho horse of one of the mounted "specials," named Bai, of Pahiatua, slipped on the pavement, throwing its rider and falling on him. Bai received a broken leg, and was unable to rise. While ho was on tho ground some of the bystanders are alleged to have kicked him. He was hurriedly carried away from the scene to one of the sheds, where first-aid was rendered, the injured man being removed later in an ambulance to the hospital.

Meanwhile the disorder continued in the square, the vicinity of tho Pier Hotel being the storm centre. A "special" set off after the man who had snatched the squad leader's baton, and just as he got up to him raised his own baton. A police constable was also hot on the track of the culprit,, and arrived at the same time as the "special."* The latter did not use his baton, as tha regular officer arrested tho man, who was taken to the police station. Gradually the crowd fell back and

dispersed in different directions. A detachment of reinforcements, about thirty strong, had arrived at a gallop along Waterloo Quay, and assisted in tho task of making a clearance. The crowd was kept moving for half an hour by the mounted men, who continually patrolled the Square and the neighbouring thoroughfares. In half an hour tho Square had been cleared, and only a few stragglers wero left. None of the men who were hit by the batons was injured to any extent. The arrested man was found to be in possession of a baton of his own, weighted with lead.

The Post Office square was the scene of another arrest at midday. While a dozen mounted men were doing patrol duty and keeping the strikers back on the footpath, one rash individual standing in front of Queen's Chambers, called out to them the now familar epithet,

"You dirty b scabs." At once there was a flutter of excitement, and a mounted man swung his horse on to tho pavement. Tho offender dashed into the doorway of the Watersidors' offico, but the "special" seized him by the back of the neck and prevented him from making his escape. The man was arrested by a foot constablo and escorted to the Police Station.

There was also a slight commotion outside tho Police Court about ten o'clock. Many strikers and others desired to obtain admission to the Court on the occasion of the second appearance of the arrested striko leaders. This being refused, a demonstration was made, but it was quickly suppressed. CLOSING OF THE HOTELS. In view of tho signs of disquiet in tho city, an order was issued this morning for tho closing of all hotels from II a.m. until 10 p.m. to-day. At tho same timo 6teps were taken to suspend the charters of clubs so far as tho sale of liquor is concerned for a similar tjme. The order for the closing of tho hotels was signed by the Mayor and the Town Clerk, as J.P.'s. 'in all the hotels the order was obeyed with promptitude, and without any demonstration. Tho licensees in most ca.vs accepted the order without complai.it;.

The hotels will also be closed to-mor-row. The Mayor said to-night that ho could not say how long tho lioteic would bo closed, as tho question would bo determined from day to day according to circamstancos.