A MYSTERY EXPLAINED.

Kumara Times, Issue 434, 15 February 1878, Page 2

A MYSTERY EXPLAINED.

Our morning contemporaries have for the last day or two bepn'publishing mysterious telegramsjo tlie effect that Mr D. Atkinson, Mr .aijcl Mr Somebody-else disavowed any connection with the'NevvPlymoiith. outrage on Sir George Grey, the of 'one of them being honest‘enough to

t append “the footnote "“What in the ’world doestbis message mean f These 'telegrams, in the absence of any clue as to what the “ outrage ” was, we carefully deposited in the waste-paper basket ; and are now able to publish the full, true, and particular account from the special reporter of the Lyttelton Times:— New Plymouth, February 9. The Ministerial party arrived by the Hinemoa at eight o’clock. A large triumphal arch spanned Brougham street at the intersection of Devon ; street, ornamented with evergreens, -draped with flags of all nations, and with streamers stretching across, bearing the inscription, “Welcome Sir ‘George Grey.” This arch was tbe •scene of an exciting incident last night, when Major Atkinson’s brother, Decimus Atkinson, and his relatives, -and the two Hnrsthouses, led a party to cut it down at midnight. Hints had been given to the Police that a strong mountain hreeze would blow during the night and the Imperial arch would fall •down. Constables Roche find Ryan were on the look out. About midnight ■a party sallied out, including the abovenamed persons, also M‘ Donogh, an accountant in the Bank, two business people named Humphries, Williamson, a chemist, and others, and attacked the ■arch. Richmond Hursthouse, the member of Parliament for Motueka, Nelson, bad mounted by a ladder, and was : astride of tbe arch fastening a rope for the purpose of hauling it down, when ■Sergeant Ruffin appeared on the scene, and ordered him to come down imme--diately. Hursthouse replied that he was a member of Parliament, and warned the sergeant not to interfere with him. Duffin told him he ought to be ashamed of himself in such a position, and that he did not care whether be was a member of Parlimenb or not, he must come down. Jn the meantime others, including Mr Wilson, Hnrstbouse, the Engineer of the local railway, •and in receipt of a salary offivehundreda from the public fufads, were engaged demolishing the base of the arch, •assaulting the police with branches, &c. At length Sergeant Duffin seized the ladder, and was pulling it down, when the, honourable member for Motueka •descended from his perch, and the ■others were overcome by the police and •driven from the arch. The following is the police report of the transaction. I have been permitted to copy it from the Police report hook Wilful attempt to damage triumphal arch erected ■for reception of Sir George Grey and the Hon Mr Sheehan. At aboiit 11.45 p.m on February 7, 1878, some 20 men attempted to pull and cut down the triumphal arch erected for the reception of the Premier, Sir George Grey, and the Hon Mr Sheehan. Constables Roche and Ryan, through great exertions, frustrated these men’s efforts in so doing. Sergeant Duffin arrived, ;a &d with tbe assistance of the constables quieted the disturbance {and dispersed the mob.. The names of the principals in the affair are as follows William Humphries, William King, Edward Humphries, George Newman, Wilson Hursthouse, James R. Williamson, Richmond Hursthouse, William Ross, Decimus Atkinson, Robert M‘Gonaghe, Joshua Hoskin, Lewis M‘Donogh.” It is not yet known whether the Police will take any further steps. One of the police was knocked down and dragged with a rope by Humphries. When being taken “to the lock-up all the arrested parties were allowed off on condition that they would turn up at eight o’clock in the morning, but none of them have fsince shown out of the house, Major Atkinson himself being also apparently -in biding, as he has not shown up to•day. Everywhere the strongest indignation is felt-araong the people at the “conduct of -Major Atkinson’s connections, -and attheir-cowardice in at- 1 the arch at midnight wbefl •afraid to touch it daring'daylight.