MELEE ON THE WHARF

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 852, 25 June 1910, Page 4

MELEE ON THE WHARF

AN arrest: Just before the steamer Moana left for Sydney last evening, a serious fracas occurred at the foot of the gangway steps between some of the sailors belonging to the vessel and a party of shoremen. A stout, well-built man, as ho approached the gangway, with tho apparent intention ol boarding tho steamer, behaved in a riotous manner, flourishing; a bottle, which afterwards was splintered in tho disturbance. Constable Fleming, wh<S was on duty at the whafl, spoke to the man, who, it is alleged, turned round and abnsod the constable in violent language. The policeman then proceeded to arrest him, but the task was not an easy one. ' The man was of great physical strength, and he violently resisted the efforts of the constablo tc pla':c handcuffs on his wrists. A seo> tion of tho crowd on the wharf, seeing the constable's difficulty, went to hi?, assistance. This move on the paxfc of the supporters 'of law and order was .met with»a counter demonstration by some seamen from the Moana, who rushed to the assistance of the man whowas being arrested. Matters were looking rather serious, when some of the ship's officers came down and ordered the seamen on board. Hie constable then took his man to the police station, and he will be charged this morning with drunkenness, disorderly conduct, and resisting the police.