A SCENE IN STREETS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3161, 13 August 1917, Page 6

A SCENE IN STREETS

CIVILIANS V. POLICE

A TWO-HOURS' STRUGGLE

One of the biggest disturbances ever witnessed in the City streets took place on Saturday night. According to ~ tho statement of tlie police the licensee of the Imperial Hotel, in Cuba Street, ejected from the premises a fireman who was under the influence of liquor. The man persisted in returning, and the police were sent for. They arrived on the scene towards 10 p.m., and proceeded to arrest the unruly one. Another fireman is said to have interfered, and when the polico attempted to take him also members of the crowd which had by this time congregated temporarily freed both men by force. Then the trouble began in earnest. As each new meddler obstructed the police the hands of the latter quickly became full. The crowd swelled and became more hostile; frrsh constables entered into the conflict, and soon Sergeant Cruickshanks, who was in charge, had with him the night duty section of tho Mount Cook police, most of the Taranaki Street force, a mounted constable, and a number of plainclothes men, making a total of from 15 to 20. One of the persons arrested was taken into a lolly shop on the corner of Marion and Vivian Streets, and the crowd broke tho window of tho placf. In the streot, in another portion of the melee, somebody hurled two beer bottles, ono of whicli struck Constable Quinn on the back: Tho struggle raged first in Cuba Street, then in Ingestre and Vivian Streets, and even in Tory Street. The police consider that finally about two thousand people must have assembl rd. The trouble was not really over till about 11.45, so that the constables had a very exciting two hours. Among those assaulted was Constable Cox. who was severely kicked, though not seriously injured. About seven persons spent the night in the cells as a result of the occurrence, and in the Magistrate's Court, no doubt, moro will be heard of their doings.