SYDNEY SENSATIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 28 March 1929, Page 6

SYDNEY SENSATIONS

A RIG EIRE

TIMBER. AVORKERS PROCESSION

Australian Press Assn.—United Service

(Received this day at S' a.in.) SYD'XFY. March 28

There were lively scenes in. the city to-night, duo to a large lire in the Chinese quarter, Campbell Street, in the vicinity of two theatres, and a procession of timber workers, two thousand strong. There was a heavy traffic congestion. Carnival visitors were thick in the streets and witnessed si gifts unforgettable. The lire started in the top floor of Helmore Chambers of six stories and spread to the lower Hours which were practically gutted or ruined by water. Explosive materials caused loud detonations and illuminated tin 1 sky. .Motor accessories were on the. lower Hours, tjum robe manufacturers and Nicholson printers on the top floors. The damage is in the neighbourhood of forty thousand sterling.

The timber workers procession passed through the city while the spectacular lire was at its height the men singing:—“AVe will hang old Ludkin oil a sour apple• tree,” and carrying hauliers inscribed—‘‘Heads boss wins, tail workers lose.”

The police were in great numbers everywhere. Patrol vans were waiting at all corners. The procession turned into Hyde Park where a fire was lighted with bundles of papers, amid cheers, making a brief bonfire, which the police trampled out, hut it is uncertain yet whether they were ballot papers. Fiery speeches were delivered by dock Garden and the men’s leaders but there was no disorder. Twentyfive thousand were present.

RIOTOUS SCENES. SYDNEY. March 28

Riotous scenes followed the timber workers parade. A large numiber of strikers were involved in a clash with the police in George Street. Many were injured with police batons and several arrests made. A iiiglitwatclmian at a suburban timber yard was brutally assaulted. The police state that the ballot papers wore actually burned before the procession began the parade, outside the Trades Hall.