WORDS BY AN EYE-WITNESS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1911, 20 November 1913, Page 8

WORDS BY AN EYE-WITNESS.

1 •!■-., I- SOME IN THE SQUARE. ,ir Yesterday's effort by the mounted: 1 men in the Post Office Square Was \rit- ' nessed by crowds of. people, and one 1 of the by-standers supplies the following a<:e.ount;-™"As I was proceeding along Jcrvpis Quay, towards the Post Office Square I noticed a particularly large crowd on the footpath and.on the road in the vicinity of the Queen's Chambers. In- the midst of the 1 crowd I saw several foot twlicemen,. . whom I presumed.; were ordering the' [ crowd to'move 0.11.' Their efforts, from [ what I could see, appeared to have - very little effect,, far the mob was very ; sullen, and many just granted when-tho \ police made their requests. I walked 1 over towards the entrance of. the ■ Queen's Wharf, as the strikers'.and 'oiit--1 of-works' were growing very ang-ry. 1 Soon a squad of mounted 'specials' oaoie along Jervois Quay, and ordered tho crowd to move on. As they passed tho crowd moved, a'.fay a lifcHcj but / continued to stand about, and loudly [ commented on the action of the police. The-'specials'-went as far as tho Pier , Hotel, when they turned aud cam* I back.again, Keeping close to the footpath. The mob commenced to 'boo-hoo' [' and growl in a manner which indicated I that thoy were thoroughly ready for mischief.. As an, outbreak seemed in.» I oviiablo, I walked over .to the Post J Office.. Just as I reached my new position I turned and heard the crowd shouting and hao-hooiing the 'specials.' [ Tho inevitable then happened. I could' [ seo that someone had interfered' with ] one of the 'specials' (cither'' man 6r horse), and this foolish act started the ' trouble. The crowd • were ordered to move, but they again sullenly refused, ( and then the canie into action. ; Their ,horses Teitred. and' slid along the ...flagstones 011 tho footpath, and tfc> ; (.crowd flew ii» ftil directions.. Suddenly I saw one striker rushing across the ; Squitre with a'mounted 'special'.'after. ! hint. One blow, and he was on tho ground, hu.t he quickly regained his feet and raced s'gjtin. His liberty was hut 1 short, for he was. downed again. • A foot regular who was also chasing him quickly placed the offondev under arrest. ■ Meanwhile the speck] men were q'uickiy dispersing the crowd, ' who were now, fleeing _ from, tho vicinity of the Square/ 1 Following this I saw a 'special's' horse . fall, and* its rider rolled over into the gutter at tho Pier Hotel. The police . picked him Up, and took him on to tho wharf." "In conclusion I will state that in. my opinion the effort by the mfriinted men was fully justified. One only required to see aud-hear what- was. going on to realise that." ■