OFFICIAL STATEMENT.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1897, 4 November 1913, Page 8

OFFICIAL STATEMENT.

BY POLICE COMMISSIONER. SHOTS PROM THE CROWD. FIRED FROM THE FOOTPATH. The Commissioner of J'olico (Mr, J. Cullen) was in the Buckle Street camp when the disturbances occurred lastevening, and made a statement on the subject from first-hand observation to a reporter who interviewed him later in the evening. Tho trouble began, Mr. Cullen stated, at about 7.15 p.m. At that hour tho ordinary guard was stationed at the Taranaki intersection of Buclde Street and outside the guard somo hundreds of persons had gathered in a crowd stretching across tho street. A good deal of abusive language was used by members of the crowd, and it was deemed advisable to clear tho street. A small detachment of regular police ivfts entrusted with this duty, and they had not been long at 'work beforo stones thrown by individuals in the crowd came living amongst the offic.ars and others who were gathered in Buckle Street. Olio man was struck on tho knee and an- j other somewhere elso. Mr. Cullen went on to istatij that a huso was slaved upon the crowd, and as this did not suffice to disperse them a number of mounted men'were sent. out. They were ordered not to use either batons or revolvers, but to disperse the crowd by forcing their horses through its ranks. Before this was done, Mr. Cullen stated, the discharge of stones and other missiles had become a fusillade. Iron bolts wore included amongst .the missiles. Ono bolt whizzed by Colonel Knox's head as he was standing beside the Commissioner of Police, Revolvsr Shots Commenco.. Some revolvers were fired by members of tho crowd, Mr. Cullen went on to remark, before the mounted police went out to disperse them. The shots came from under tho verandahs, at either side of Taranaki Street. It was impossible to distinguish tho men who fired from under tho shelter, but tho Hashes could be seen and; the reports heard. Several men informed Mr. Cullen that they heard bullets whizz by. There was absolutely no firing, the .Commissioner stated emphatically, by tho police or spccial constables. Before the mounted men went out ho instructed them personally not to strike either with their fists or batons,!but to use their horses in- clearing. tho street. This, he added, was done. Naturally, during the firing, the men moved tlieir liorses briskly, but they made no attempt to return the fire.

Clear Streot Necessary—And Why. The whole affair lasted .for ten or fifteen minutes. At the end of that time tlio street proper was clear. The footpaths wero still occupied, but no attempt was made to.clear tliera. Tho object of tlm crowd in gathering before tho camp, Mr. Culleu stated, was to use abusive language to its occupants. This has been made a prar.tico of by an undesirable element of the population over sinco the camp opened. On one occasion a few days ago the presence of a dense group, enabled someone ill it to rip up tho tire of a motor-car (used by the police) with a knife. It is consiftered absolutely necessary to keep tho street adjacent to tho camp clear, and it is intended to do so. V Nine Shots Flrocl from Under the Verandahs. As to the number of shotß fired, Mr. Cullen stated that ho himself saw four fired; Quo man fired two shots. At least nine other, shots wore counted, awl all came from under tlio verandahs in Taranaki street. Sergeant-Major Thomson was struck by a stone early in the melee, and is now suffering from a slight concussion of the brain..

• An Ugly Missile! As showing the vigour with which the assailants of the police conducted their fusillade, Sir. Cullen mentioned that a holt five inches long aivd about an inch thick crashed into the front of a motorcar standing forty yards up Bucklo Street, from Taranaki Street. Other missiles smashed the headlights of tiro car. . Public Should Note. Commissioner Cullen's final observation was that tho public must understand that the street before the police camp would have to be kept cleat-.