ATTACK ON THE “NEW ZEALANDER” OFFICE BY SAILORS.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume III, Issue 180, 24 June 1864, Page 3

ATTACK ON THE “NEW ZEALANDER” OFFICE BY SAILORS.

Between 10 and 11 o’clock on Mon day forenoon a disturbance took place at the office of the New Zealander , in Shortland Crescent, which might have resulted less harmlessly than it did. About the hour named, a number of men belonging* to the Eslc man-of-man, assembled at the New Zealander office, and made inquiry for the editor, or other responsible party connected with that journal. As we are informed, neither the editor nor proprietor were at that time at the office. There was a good deal of confusion, but the object the men had in view in thus assembling appeared to be that they might obtain a retractation of a statement made in the New Zealander of Saturday last, the 4th inst. We now proceed to state what took place. The number of men assembled outside was about fifty, but there were many who had forced their way into the inside of the publishing office of the paper. While some were inquiring for the person responsible for the statement, others had 'taken out one of the windows of the premises, with the view of fastening a rope to pull the building down, and it is a noticeable feature in the proceedings that, at this point, a voice called out in the crowd, “Wo have the authority of our officers for what wo are doing.” The window having been removed, a rope was actually poked through it—for the seamen had a rope with them—and preparations were made for a haul. At this moment, Mr. George Graham, justice of the peace, was passing, and seeing what was going on begged of the men to desist. Mr. Graham was here asked—“ Was he the editor?” and he was assured that if he, was they would “ chuck him into the mud.” Mr. Graham pleaded innocence ; but fearing that something serious might happen, he at once communicated with the Commodore, Sir William Wiseman, Bart., and, through the Hon. Thomas Russell, with his Excellency the Governor. Mr. Graham also warned those of the police force who were at hand of what was going on. All this time the confusion continued, but nothing more serious was done than one of the men in the crowd rushing in and tearing up one of the papers of Saturday last. A gentleman connected with the New Zealander now gave a promise that an extraordinary should be issued before 12 o’clock containing a retractation of the statement, and the mob were in some measure pacified, and rapidly began to disperse. Meanwhile the police had been mustered in force, and were near at hand, but it was deemed more advisable that they should not appear, and they were not called to the scene of disturbance. The whole did not last over half an hour, and at 12 o’clock there was no appearance whatever to indicate any disturbance. It was commonly alleged in thejeity, yesterday, that the officers had authorised the men to go on shore and seek what redress’thoy could get; but without committing any violence. We understand that the following extract from an article published in the New Zealander on the Ist inst., and republished in that journal of Saturday last, is the ground of complaint by the men of the JEsTc. After giving a biographical notice of the late Captain Hamilton (of the Es7c), the writer of the article says ;—“lt is much feared that this brave officer was cruelly deserted by his men, who were seized with a panic and'fled back to’our position, after being gallantlyled as the forlorn hope to the attack. It is true it was a critical moment, but if the men had displayed half thejeourage and daring of their officer, a very different result would have to be chronicled respecting this unfortunate encounter.” The reply made by the New Zealander yesterday was the following, as published in an extra about noon : New Zealander Office, Monday morning, June 3. — C A Visit to Te Papa Cemetery.’—With reference to an article from ‘ our own correspondent,’ headed as above, which appeared in Zealander of Saturday last, we are requested by seamen of H.M. s.s. Es7c to publish the following statement, made by them at our office this morning : —‘ The, attacking party fell in, Colonel Hamilton, and the officers in the charge of the battery. After the attacking party went up to the pa the men were wavering in the centre of the pa. Some time afterwards Captain Hamilton walked up, and had no sooner done so than ho fell. Four of his men dragged him down off the parapet into the pits, thinking that the pa would be their own. They tried to lift him, but he was too heavy, and in the rush they were dragged away from him, and only his cap and pistol brought out. The panic was not caused by the Naval Brigade. By a mistake of the 68th rushing in on the opposite side of the pah, a panic arose amongst those in possession of the pah. The retire was sounded the officer exclaiming, ‘ Good God! they are com’ ing in thousands.’ This was the cause of the panic. John P., Beckett, Quartermaster.” We would simply add that the occurrence at the New Zealander office is much to bo regretted, and that it should not be tolerated on any account. — Southern Cross, Juno 1.