THE UNPROVOKED ATTACK UPON A PROCESSION.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1825, 27 December 1879, Page 2

THE UNPROVOKED ATTACK UPON A PROCESSION.

Resuming our narrative of the events in connection with this matter, and taking it up at the point we were forced to leave off yesterday, we find that his Worship the Mayor, in view of a probable affray at night, called a meeting of the principal citizens at 3 p.m., at the City Chambers. The Mayor referred briefly to the occurrences of the day, and asked whether any citizens present were willing to swear that the proceedings were calculated to cause a breach of the peace. This having been done the enlistment was proceeded with, and the names taken by the town clerk as follows:—Messrs W. Wilson, H. E. Alport, O. P. Hulbert, J. Baylee, Gapes, Ayers, Lambert, S. Sinclair, R. O. Bishop, J. G. Hawkes, O. O. Oorfe, McCarthy, H. A. Davis, W. L Edge, Hansmann, Lezard, Sherlock, McCallum, Kiddey, Clements, O. E. Briggs,W. Morton, Hughes, Bose, Graham, H. Marks, Eraser, Hill, GUkes, Millett, Coombes, W. White, Coker, W. H. Porter, J, Fisher, O. H. Toosey, Widdowson, Tillman, Douglas, Pennington, Piermont, Hattersley, Nelson, Liurenson, Sandstein, Noding. The Rev. E. A. Lingard on presenting himself to be sworn said that when the people were in danger of their lives it became the duty of every citizen, whatever might be his profession, to come forward to help to protect them. The Mayor said that the sentiments expressed by Mr Lingard were an honor to him, and he hoped his example would be followed by many others. Subsequently many additional specials were sworn in, making the whole number upwards of 250.

Shortly after 230 p.m. the police, acting under instructions from one of the Licensing Commissioners, closed the Borough Hotel. Mr S. Sinclair, acting on behalf of P. Cunningham and Co., offered the use of their store for a guard-room for the special constables, and the offer was accepted with thanks. The arrival of the train from Prebbleton (the locale of the Protestant picnic) was anxiously looked for, as it was expected that the return of the party would be the signal for a further display of lawlessness. On its way from the station to the Orange Hall the procession increased in numbers, whose expressions of sympathy with the Orangemen were very general and hearty. At the corner of High and Manchester streets two stones were thrown, one of which struck a person on the head, the other broke a window. On reaching the Orange Hall, the crowd was addressed by Mr J. W. Anderson of the Prebbleton Hotel, who in forcible language denounced the morning’s attack as a dastardly action. The crowd then dispersed —most of them to the vicinity of Barrett’s Hotel—where there was a crowd of between three and four thousand persons. The special constables were formed in a circle all round the house, and as the crowd receded, the circle was extended. Some desultory stone '.hrowing ensued, and when an occasional window was broken a tremendous burst of cheering followed. Several arrests were made during the evening. It was reported at a late hour that the men wounded in the morning’s fracas were all doing well. It was not until nearly 4 o’clock this morning that the crowd dispersed from the vicinity of the hotel. This morning a large number of persons visited the hotel to see what wreckage had been made. The damage done to the windows of the hotel has been very great, nearly all the windows are smashed, more especially those in High street, including the large lamps outside. At noon to-day about 130 special constables fell in at the police depot. The men fell in four deep, under command of Inspector Broham, who complimented them upon the manner in which, during the previous day, they had aided the police in the execution of their duty. The Mayor also, as chief magistrate of the city, thanked the special constables for the manner in which they had aided in preserving peace and good order in the city. He would not dismiss them at present, as i; was possible that their services might still bo required, although he wished that no such contingency would arise. The hearty response to his invitation showed that there were in Christchurch plenty of citizens ready to come forward to preserve the peace and good order of the city and vindicate.the majesty of the law if required. His Worship also said that ho had teen waited on by a deputation comprising the Mayor and several of the councillors of Sydenham, as well as several city councillors and citizens, asking him to take measures to have the Borough Hotel closed for the present. He had consult ed with Mr Mellish on the subject, as chairman of the Licensing Bench, who had instructed Mr Commissioner Broham to have the house closed until after New Year’s Day, at least. Mr Commissioner Broham then requested that the special constables would fall-in at the Police Depot at seven o’clock this evening. The parade was then dismissed. It may be noted that the police would feel grateful if any persons who can give information as to the participators in the not of yesterday morning would communicate with them at the depot*