Mining Troubles in West Australia.

Manawatu Herald, 23 November 1899, Page 2

Mining Troubles in West Australia.

At Kalgoorlie on Tuesday another serious disturbance has arisen out of the friction between the alluvial diggers and leaseholders of this goldfield.

In spite of the warning of the authorities, the alluvial workers persisted in removing wash-dirt from the surface cf some of the leases.

A strong body of police was therefore sent to the scene of their operations, and arrested fifteen of their number.

A crowd of sympathisers with the alluvial miners followed the party to the police station and made a demonstration hostile to the authorities.

Stones were thrown, and the constables had to turn out with rifles and fixed bayonets and keep the crowd at bay.

There was excitement at Kalgoorlie at the removal of the 16 alluvial diggers arrested to Freemantle, where a specially arranged Police Court wa c neld. It then transpired that the men had been sent away unknown to their counsel.

Father "O'Gorman, who had been acting as intermediary on behalf of the diggers, protested in the name of British justice against the way the men were being dealt with.

The Magistrate, however, cut him short by referring him to the proper authorities.

A bodyguard of 500 men now accompany Malachi Dyer, the diggers' leader, fearing that the police may try to arrest him.