Extraordinary Lawlessness

Feilding Star, Volume VIII, Issue 27, 14 August 1886, Page 3

Extraordinary Lawlessness

Melbourne, August 3. News received from the Northern territory states that a reign of lawlessness exists at McArthur. The White population numbers about 150, and there is a considerable population scattered over the surroundiugstations. Drunkenness and rowdyism are rampant. There is a perfect epidemic oi lawlessness and crime. The outrages which have been perpetrated beggared description. All the Queensland outlaws.flock therH, and horse stealing, forgery . and crimes of violence are common, and debts are repudiated T&e. place is daily growing worse. Drunken men are organising with rifles and revolvers. A perfect reign of terror exists and respectable people submit, being in fear of their lives. : A gang" of rowdies stuck up two stores. A. tone of them, Cameron's, the proprietor resisted with firearms, and the rowdies' withdraw, after firing their rifles into the store. The respectable residents are talking of establishing lynch law. It is impossible to held a public meeting on the subject, as the roughs and blackguards form a majority, and overrule the rest. Mr Gorman, part owner and manager of Calvert's Downs Station, has arrived at Palmerston, seeking police assistance. He says that one notorious scoundrel is butchering his cattle, and supplying the public with them. He dare not leave his station to go to the store for the police, as he would probably find every horse stolen. Besides his cattle on the run stolen, some of his horses hare already been taken. He has no control over his own men, owing to the number of grog shanties.