THE Grey River Argus. TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 1868.

Grey River Argus, Volume V, Issue 354, 21 April 1868, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 1868.

The local Press and a particular section of the Westport community have little to thank themselves for that there has not been a serious disturbance in the Buller district. Ever since the Hokitika businsss has excited the minds of the inhabitants of the West Coast the Westport journals have endeavored Jo keep the agitation alive, and, judging from the tone they are now adopting towards the officer administering the Government, it would seem that they are disappointed that the melo-drama recently displayed at Hokitika has not been repeated at Westport, Mr Kyn nersley, however, has been too shrewd to be led into the commission of acts of indiscretion. He has evidently thought — and we quite agree with the opinion — that there has been a good deal of clap-trap "loyalty" exhibited both at Westpoit and elsewhere, and that it was by far the most loyal course to endeavor to prevent the Queen's peace being outraged and her Majesty's laws brought into contempt. Had the p recessions and demonstrations that have been made been confined to their ostensible purpose — that of an expression of joy at the recovery of Prince Alfred — they would have been quite right and proper, but there is no dis-

guisiug the fact that this object has in some cases been taken advantage of for purely factional ends, and iv this light they were as inimical to the cause of law and order as any processions of an opposite party have been. The affair at Addison's Flat, about which so much '. has been said, and so many versions promulgated, we have no question arose from causes that have created similar disturbances in England itself long before Fenianism existed or vpas thought of. The faction fights of the Qrangemen and Ribbonmen have for many years periodically disturbed the peace of the cities in which there is a large Irish population, and the law has been compelled to step in and prohibit ; either party from indulging their pro- , clivities for public demonstrations. The old mutual antipathies althpu^h without . significance in this colony, have still not ; died out and are easily aroused. We i look upon the Addison's Flat business as just one of the old disturbances— a disturbance which might have been : avoided, but which was to a great ! extent invited. That this was tfye | case may be gathered from the evidence given before the Magistrate at Westport during the hearing of the case against the men Duffy and O'Brien. It was ! proved that the men who left Addison's ! Flat to join the loyal demonstration at Westport were allowed to depart without the least molestation. After in- • dulging in the convivialities* of Westport they ajjpear to have conducted themselvet ' only as men with more liquor in them than brains could have done. First of all they altered one of the banners they had been carrying containing the national emblem of Ireland from its original color to "orange," or, as the artist who performed the operation describes it, "salmon," "which color he says \ be gave it "in order tp receive the other ; colors." Next, we have it upou the statements of two women who were summoned to give evidence for the prosecution, and who had themselves suffered from the violence of the mob, that as the procession returned to Addison's (< they were singing the ' Red, White, and Blue,' " and shouting " Ireland is conquered for ever, three cheers," eke. Be it remembered that this piece of folly was perpetrated in the face of a concourse of some hundreds of impulsive Irishmen — the result was, of course, only just what might have been expected — a row ensued, stones were thrown, and the braggadocios ran away. When the Commissioner arrived on the jn-ound, the excited mob were induced, without much difficulty, to disperse quietly, and no further disturbance has taken place. But, of course, the affair has borne its natural fruits in other respects. It has sown dissension amongst men who were previously living on good terms with each other ; aud it is probably quite true that some of the processionists are afraid to show their faces on the Flat. But is all this anj' reason why people should clamor for troops, aud abuse Mr Kynnersley because he does not think military assistance necessary to uphold the civil power % If, as the local papers affirm, individual rights are being trampled upon at Addison's Flat, why do not the sufferers invoke the aid of the law? We are sure that Mr Kynnersley would be as ready to punish offenders now as he has ever been. Mere sensational statements in a newspaper are not exactly sufficient reason for the authorities departing from the course they think best. We quite agree with Mr Kynnersley — if he really did say so — that a street row has been magnified into a revolution. Luckily for the public peace the Westport authorities have not been led away by the popular voice at a time of popular excitement, as has been the case elsewhere. The "vox populi" may sometimes be the voice of Jove, but it occasionally is more like the braying of asses.