A SYDNEY SATURNALIA

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2084, 9 January 1908, Page 2

A SYDNEY SATURNALIA

NEAV YEAR “FESTIVITIES.” AIOB RULE IN THE STREETS. (Special to Times.) WELLINGTON, January 8. Passengers who arrived by -the Marama to-day and who were in Sydney during the recent holidays paint rather a sad picture of the conduct of tiie people in that city at holiday time. Air. T. Dwan says that larrikanisrn was rampant. He adds that a new instrument of horror, 'known as the detonating stick, was carried by every hoodlum in the place and these were struck on the footpath behind unsuspecting. people. A noise resembling the simultaiieuos discharge of a dozen guns was produced and many citizens were put in a state of nervous prostration. The sale of the sticks has now been prohibited and the use of them lias been made nn offence against the by-laws. .Regarding the doings on New Year’s Eve the “Sydney Alorning Herald” says:—The opinion was forcibly expressed that the police authorities will be compelled in the interests of public safety and public mcrditv to make stringent provisions in order to prevent a recurrence of such ;cenes. It is difficult to realise that n a lug city like Sydney, brilliantly illuminated by electricity and patrolled by police, it is possible for respectable women to be indecently assaulted on every hand by large bod--es of young well-dressed men who on 364 days of the year are regarded is eminently respectable. The conduct of a large proportion of the orowds is without parallel in the history of the Commonwealth. Indeed, it has probably never been approached on a si mi liar occasion in any civilised country in the world. A wave ot lunacy appeared to pass over the crowd, and thousands of young men, and men of middle age too, were guilty of gross impropriety. No woman was safe from their clutches and unattended females were openly assaulted in view of thousands of people. Occasionally a culprit was levelled to the ground by a blow from an indignant spectator, but those on mischief bent, so greatly outnumbered the self-controlled citizens that interference even to project a female was regarded as a dangerous proceeding. It is not- contended for one moment that the assaults were attended with serious consequences, but they were humiliating in the greatest, degree. Perhaps the most outrageous of all the acts were committed in Martin place and along the promenade of the General Post Office. The thoroughfare towards 11 o’clock at night was so densely packed that movement was difficult, and a ruffianIy mob, composed to all appearances of the sons of reputable and prosperous citizens took complete possession. Among the lower type in AVoolloomooloo blue metal was resorted to as a means of overcoming the police, while in one instance an unpopular constable was hustled into a bonfire which he had declared must be extinguished. It was everywhere evident that the police were completely overpowered and were absolutely unable to prevent the molestation of females. For a couple of hours the crowd rati not. Ihe larrikins of AVooloomooloo were evidently not content with one night’s festivities to usher out the old year and to welcome the new, for they continued causing annoyance ami trouble on Thursday night' The police of the AYoolloomooloo stat-ion had more work to do than they could manage and Sub-Inspector Sphuce, who has charge of the district, was forced to call for reinforcements. About the wharves the larrikins were most noticeable. Several! bonfires were lit and when the police attempted to extinguish them they were stoned by a mob numbering close upon 1000. About 9 o’clock one particularly big bonfire was started and it, was found necessary to call out the fire brigade. One of the police officers when spoken to said that wln’lo the “pushes” were allowed to light fires it would bo impossible to preserve order, as the fires formed centres around which the crowds congregated.”