THE OPPOSITION OUT OF SESSION.

Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 188, 15 February 1878, Page 3

THE OPPOSITION OUT OF SESSION.

The following report. of the exploits of the "Opposition" and their friends nn the occasion of the visit of the -Premier and party to Taranaki on Friday last is by the Daily Times correspondent: — A ; large tiumphal arch spanned Brougham street and the intersection of Devon street, New Plymouth, formed of evergreens and draped with flags and streamers stretching across, bearing the inscription " Welcome, Sir George Gray." • This arch was the scene of an exciting incident last night, when Major Atkinson's brother, Decimus Atkinson, and his relatives, the two Hursthouses, led a party to cut it down at midnight. Hints were given to the police that a strong mountain breeze would blow during the night and imperil the arch, and Constables Roche and Ryan, were on the look out. At about midnight a party sallied out, including M'Donough, an accountant in a bank, and two business people Earned Humphries and Williamson, a chemist, and others,and attacked the arch. Richmond Hursthouse member of Parliament for Motueka, Nelson, had mounted by a ladder and was astride of the arch, fastening a rope for the purpose of hauling it down, -when Sergeant Duffin appeared on the scene and ordered him to come down. Hursthouse replied, that he was a member of Parliament, and warned the Sergeant not to interefere with him. Duffin told him he should be ashamed of himself in 'such a position, and he did not care whether or, not; he, must come down. Meantime others, including Mr- Wilson , Hursthouse, engineer of the local railway, and in receipt of a' salary of LSOO a yeai* • from 1 the public ; funds, were engaged in- demolishing the base ofthe arch,-; and, j assaulting the police with jbranches,. ;&c , At length the sergeant, seizing .the ladder, was pulling it down,.' when- the' hon. member for Motueka descended from his perch, and the others overcome by the police, were -driven*. from the The following is the police- report of ; the which I have' been" permitted to copy from the police report book ::— r" Wilful attempt to daniage triumphal .arch, erected for rec'eptibh'bf Sir George Grey and Hon.- Mr Sheehaa. At -about ■ll : ;4q-.p.m.j£-pn the 7th.- February, some . twenty men attempted to pull and cut , down the triumphal arch erected for the ' reception ';' of ' the' PreMie'iy Sir George Grey,' and -'"the -Hon. Mr Sheeh'aW Gon--'stables'Rdche.and Ryan through- great -■exertions jf^rustrated*>;these roenV 7; effort;?.. ;.m sovdom afriyed','. lancLwij^ •qu'ei&d'.t^^ (dispersed i i thßimob;. Tha na^i-w^^pslicipials.

in the affair are as follows: William Humphries, Edward Humphries, Wilson Hursthouse, Richmond Hursthouse, Josiah Hoskin,.Lewis M'Donougb, William King, Decimns Atkinson, George Newman, James Williamson, William Ross, and Robert M'Dou'ough." ltis not yet known whether the police will, take any further steps. One of the police was knocked down and dragged with a rope by Humphries, when being*takp.n to the lock-up. The strongest indignation is felt among the people at the conduct of Atkinson's connections and their cowardice in attacking the arch at midnight, when afraid to do as much in daylight. .