SATURDAY NIGHT IN WAIHI.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1020, 7 November 1912, Page 4

SATURDAY NIGHT IN WAIHI.

A remarkable scene occurred in Main Street, Waihi, ou Saturday night, as the outcome of a big rally by the unemployed and their women folk. At an early hour of the evening evil-smelling eggs were projected indiscriminately among the crowd in different streets, and the appearance of a contractor, who had resumed work that day was the signal for a rally. A mob of women rushed towards him, howling and burling all kinds of epithets. Pandemonium ensued. The contractor was followed by the crowd, but soou the police took a hand and barred the progress of the mob. Then a mounted constable swept up the street scattering the crowd : and left. On reaching the corner, the chief point of interest, the constable rode ou to the pavement right into the thickest of the howling and excited mob. The constable swept up the street, scattering the crowd in all directions. Many rushed through and over the timber yard fence, amongst them, it is stated, being Semple, who is said to have leaped the fence. The scene opposite the Miners’ Hall as the mounted constable approached almost beggared description. Women fought their way into the narrow entrance of the hall, many of the women being thrust aside by men in their eagerness to get inside. The constable then repeated his performance on the other side of the street, and within ten minutes of his first appearance the mob was completely dispersed and quiet restored. Strangely enough no one was injured.