THE HUNTLY MINERS.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14841, 5 December 1913, Page 8

THE HUNTLY MINERS.

DECLINE TO RETURN TO WORK. VARIOUS LNCIDENTS. (•TECXAI, TO "THE rEESS.") AUCKLAND, December 4. Several days ago the directors of the Taupiri Company posted a notice at the mines at Huntly intimating that tho men would this (Thursday) morning have a final opportunity of returning to work. When tho whistles blow today only those who had been working since tho striko commenced —seven weeks ago—put in an appearance. At an early hour the streets were lined with pickets, and there must have been 200 men posted at various points about the township. Two of the men who have regularly attended work were escorted to the mine gates by a fairly largo crowd, but nothing was said, and there was nothing in tho nature of a hostile demonstration. At 8 o'clock a large crowd coilocted in the street outside Ralph's Mine, and when it was found that no fresh men had started work a cheer went up. A train load of ''specials," homeward bound from Auckland to the Waikato, went through this morning. A fair crowd waited for them on the platform, but there was absolutely no demonstration. The "specials" went on their way homewards cheering without - word having been said by tho strikers. There was a largoly-attendcd meeting of the men on striko last night. It is understood that the proceed;__s were of a somewhat lively nature. An information has, it is understood, been laid by the Strike Committee against S. Deson against whom the informants prefer a charge of threatening to shoot- ono Henry Buchanan. It will be remembered that Dexon played a prominent part- in the formation of tho new union, and is one of the few men who refused to join the present strike. He has received attention from pickets several times, and it is understood that it was on ono of these occasions that a threat was made' Tho township remains quiet.