MORE RIOTING.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1897, 4 November 1913, Page 6

MORE RIOTING.

These was a further outbreak of rioting last evening; this time in the vicinity of the Barracks in Buckle Street-, where the special mounted constables ar© located. The conduct 1 of a section of the mob which daily congregates near the Barracks has for days past been of a most offensive character. A certain class of women have made themselves especially prominent in hurling insults at the mounted special constables, taunting and deriding them, and many of the men in the crowd have seconded their efforts with more violent measures in the way of stone-throwing. The special constables, who have responded to the call of the authorities for the protection of the community against mob rule 'and the holdingnip of the trade of the port, have been treated by this comparatively small section oi the' public with the most bitter hostility, apparently with the idea of intimidating them. Last evening the mob was more noisy, and aggressive than usual and the Commissioner of Police warned them to disperse under threat of being hosed. It was quite time that some active step was taken for the, Per-manent-Artillerymen, who are act-j ing as a guard oyer Government property in the locality, and who prevent the passage of the public up Buckle Street, had been suffering seriously at the hands of the crowd. One member, of that force was subsequently removed to the- Hospital suffering from a serious injury to > the head inflicted apparently by a sharp piece of road metal. The threat to use the hose not having the desired effect, the hose was turned on. It was only a temporary check on ,the mob, however, for it returned with a fusillade of stones, doing ' considerable damage to property as well as inflicting injury on' the mounted men and others. It is also stated that revolver shota were fired from the crowd. Matters were looking very serious when a small body of the special constables which had gone on guard in place of the Artillerymen charged the mob which quickly scattered over fences, into gardens, and anywhore it could get to be out of ; the way of the horses, <6nly to collect, again and recommence attacking* the constables and damaging property. The mounted men again charged and again dispersed the crowd, to see it once more drift together and resume its aggressiveness. From what we can gather it would seem that the- mounted specials showed great forbearance; possibly owing to the fact that there were women and children amongst the crowd, and as a result the rough element escaped a. good deal of the punishment they richly deserved. It is known that two apart from the Artilleryman, were injured, one a youth of nineteen, and the other a boy of nine, both of whom are stated to have • received bullet wounds, from revolvers fired in the crowd, though not of a serious nature. Those of the public who will persist in hanging about' the outskirts, of these riotous crowds should. . accept this further warning of what may happen to them. The time has now arrived when the authorities must face the question of suppressing the disorders which are qf daily occurrence in a more drastic fashion. If is quite intolerable that the men who are endeavouring to uphold the law should be forcod to submit quietly for hours at a time to insults and abuse, frequently accompanied by stone-throwing, and their persecutors escape punishment. Last evening only a small portion of the mounted men was called on to disperse the lawless crowd which was damaging property and threatening life and limb, and so far as we know no arrests were made. Had si larger fores been Galled out many

arrests might have been made and a wholesome lesson taught the rioters. On the next occasion of such a disturbance the Riot Act should be read.