CITY UNDER HEAVY GUARD.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1912, 21 November 1913, Page 8

CITY UNDER HEAVY GUARD.

IN CASE OF TUMULT. ALL MOUNTED MEN PAKARE. FOOT SOCIALS CALLED. ~ WATCH MAINTAINED ALL DAY. \estertlay vvas- a day .of considerable expectation, although it was not marked by an outstanding, incident, so far as tlio conduct of the strikers in the ■ streets was coacsradd. This was probably due .to the precautions taken by the police. During the morning, there was a very persistent rumour at the waterfront that- the strikers intended to make some sort of demonstration in the afternoon. As a. meeting of members of the striking unions, with their wives, had been announced for 2.30 p.m., at;the Vivian Street Skating llink,. the general opinion was that the demonstration would iakfi the form of a ' procession through, the eity and 'along the waterfront. There were, however, many who were incited to think that something more unpleasant mi£ht occur, , ' Impressive Parade. In any ease, the authorities decided to take no ris-ks. Shortly after 1 p.m., practically the whole of the mounted special police . were moved down'from the jViotint Cook Barracks into the city. Throughout tbo mornmg a strong patrol had been stationed in the Square, and no one was allowed ■to loiter. JE'vtn persons not interested in the strike, who paused to scan tbo notice-boards ojiisido $hoUnion offices in Queen's Chambers, wore politely but , firmly told that they miist keep iixoyiiig, There were .very few strikers to be seen in the street' at- any one time, although a fairnumber passed in and out of'the 'offices during, tlio morning. It is at this period of the day that meat tickets are distributed to those strikers'in need of them. 1 , . ' When tho special men were canc'fiiitrated in the.; city in the early afternoon, a stroiig detachment was stationed in the Square, and the Post Office was almost completely surrounded. A strong, guard was set at" the-entrance to . tho Taranski Street. Wharf,/ tfhore the Dorset ..was putting the final touches on her 'cargo work. This wharf is the first ' point 011 the waterfront,, which is . reached bv anyone c 2 n ?n ng dmvn from Vi «an Street by way of. iaranaki Sweet, .'which Wthe shortest route. All tlie streets leading to tie. wharves had their _ quota of mounted .men, the squads being so disposed that they (jould be concentrated at any point .111 a very short space of time. Tlie various streets lying between Vivian Street and tho waterfront. and between Vivian Street and'tlho. Jlomit Goolc Barracks, were alsowatched, two Or three vigilant sentinels - being placed -at- every corner. In general, the organisation was very

complete. ' ' Enter the Foot Specials. Whilst the mounted men were bcin» moved into their .positions ■an Urgent messago was sent, fo-tin'city Special foot police to parade immediately At the Government Buildings., Matty' of . tliis nien to whom the, stunmons was , sent liad spent the whole of the previous night on the .wharves, l but tjic order was willingly obeyed, and.several. 3iHii.dj.otl men were soon ready for action. Detachments were fold o.ff to protect the various' public birilding?.;.' but the- majQfity of - the foot spccials''wefo marched <>n to tlio wharves, where they remained throughout the afternoon. Commissioner Cullen, Superintendent . Ellison, Inspector .Hendrey, aiid 'Sub-Inspector SiieeJian ivijro all .at iho cliiei point of' vantage—the Square—wi.ile ttmiers of the mounted force clattered '..aljout tlie .streets, carrying orders. ' The Daily Strike Meeting.

Whether : or •ftot-tli,e .B.ttikers had intended any move/none was aadb. : A ■crowd waited outside the Skating Rink throughout _ tlie afternoon, in anticipation of seeing developments, but they were disappointed.. A .;!turs't of cheering shortly before 5 p.m. aimouuccd rliat tile meeting was ovcrj and t'lie striker? pour-, . cd out into the.'street. .They did not wait outside, but quickly dispersed, awl moved off in threes and fours in. thedirection of Cuba Street*—away front the. streots in which the special nuit -were : stationed. In about half an hour the locality wore an ordinary ©very-day .appearance. • During the afternoon about 300 strikers had been in attendance at the cricket match, Watersiders 'v. Drivers, at the Basin Reserve. : ' .' ~" A tour round the streets showed .that the guardians of law aiid order .were ' still standing' watchfully at their pests, ! and, at the Taranaki Street Wharf, an extra largo force Was in position: Those, not actually'ion guard took their horses; , into the Corporation yaid, and indulged in jumping exercises—singly, in pairs,, and in sections. , An onlooker could not but admire the quality -of the mounts and the superb horsemanship of' tile men. "AM Quiet." At 5 p.m. the word went rmrnd. "All quiet," and "the special men were moved off to their quartets. The mounted men did not proceed to Mount Cook in oito body, but split uj) into detachments, each of which took a different routeLargo. crowds watched tiro passing of the men, but there ,\vns no disturbance. As usual, tho country foot, specials, who accompanied the detachments which went via Taraiia:ki-Street ant! Tory Street respectively, marched :up the pavements, on each side of the horsemen. The last men entered the ■ barracks about 6 p.m., having, met With no molestation. It was a very quiet ending to a day of anticipation.