FOUNTAIN ORATOR.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 August 1925, Page 1

FOUNTAIN ORATOR.

M'NEDIN, Aug. 21. Stephen Bnreham, ii young man. who appeared a( tlio Police Court litis morning charged with having behaved in :i disorderly manner m Princes »St. on ,\iigi:st 10th. la-l, ;ij>p:irt-iu!y had peculiar notions almut how the American sailors should lie weleoined to our city. Ah.nit 10 ]>.m. on the day of the arrival of the Meet here, Borcdiam mounted the steps of the fountain, and front Unit venerable edifice discoursed to all UKSt'iidd.-ige of between 100 and oliO people on the rather vexed theme o! “Who Won the War?’’ The accused was evidently tertain that the visitors had no claim for the honour, as he ,stat<Ml so in rather uncomplimentary terms that “these Yanks. Chinese, .fails and Niggers” had not a hand in routing the enemy. These facts were revealed hy SuhInspector O'lJalloran when the accused was charged this morning. He added that Boreham when approached hy the police and asked to move on. stated that he was only breaking a by-law, and added that lie was being egged mi by his mates. “He might have caused a serious riot.” said the Sub-Inspector, “and he had to be escorted away from the fountain.” The. accused had had some drink and was in a f|iiarrelsome mood. The accused said that he had knocked off work in order to sec the fleet, and had had a few drinks with the sailors. “We began talking about the next war." he said, “and being politicians wo decided to fight it out.” We considered that the whole white race would he against the Chinese. The police told me to collie down out of it. hut 1 refused because I was only breaking u bye-law anyhow, and I don'i think a by-law much to break.” The Magistrate said that ihe accused might have precipitated a riot by his utterances, but he would take into consideration that fact that his subselimit conduct had boon satisfactory. The accused was fined 20s and costs.