DISGRACEFUL OUTRAGES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 300, 31 December 1879, Page 6

DISGRACEFUL OUTRAGES.

UNPROVOKED ATTACK ON A PBOCESSION.

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One of the moat disgraceful outrages that has ever taken place in Canterbury occurred yesterday, shortly after 930 a.m., in Manchester-street. The Protestant Alliance Friendly Society was marching in procession down Man-chester-street en route for Prebbleton, where they intended to hold a picnic, when they were savagely and brutally assaulted by a number of men who rallied forth from Barrett's Borough Hotel and commenced striking indiscriminately with a number of pick staves. Some of the assailants came from the right of way close to the hotel, others dropped from the windows, and indeed the whole affair seemed to be a preooncertel movement. The people in the procession, quite unprepared for such a savage and brutal onslaught, broke and scattered in every direction, the assailants using their weapons right and left, and, tearing a banner from the bearers, bore it to the back of the hotel. A number of men were more or lees wounded about the head, an J four very seriously, viz:— Robert Houden, severe scalp wound, Alexander Huston, contused wound on the ear and face ; Archibald Armstrong, severe Bcalp wound and compound fracture of the arm; Black three severe cuts on the head; Thomas Anderson severe soalp wounds. The four first were removed to the Hospital; Black, after having his wounds dressed was removed to his home, where he was attended by bis own medical adviser. Mr Anderson, who is very severely wounded, was also taken to his own house, where he now lies.

BIOT AT TIMARU.

The Timaru correspondent of the Pr«ss telegraped on Friday last : — " A moßt aerioue riot took place in Timara to-day between Catholics and Orangemen. The occasion was that of a Friendly Societies' procession, in which tha Orangeman were to take part. Had anyone yesterday ventured to hint that such an exhibition of party religious feeling would occur in Timaru, be would have been looked upon as little better than a maniac, for hitherto all sections of the community have lived in perfect unison. Yesterday evening it came to the ears of the police that a fitroog body of Catholics from all parts of the district intended mustering in Timara this morning to prevent the Orangemen joining in the procession in their regalis. Reinforcements of constables from Cbrietchurch and elsewhere' were at once telegraphed for and by ten o'clock this moroiog folly thirty police under Inspectors Hickaon and Pender were in readiness at the Depot, together with a strong force of special constables. As the different morning trains arrived, large numbers of Catholics rushed to the starting point of the procession (the Foresters' H«U) and by 1030 between 400 and 500 of them had collected. No soon r did the procession begin to form than the mob began to hoot and shout defiance at the Orangemen. Inspector Pender at first expostulated with them, and a deal of loud and angry argument was ÜBed, the spokesman of the mob contending that the display of Orange colors was a premeditated insult, and would not be tolerated. Mr Beetham, R.M. who was present, finding that violence was threatened, read the Riot Act, bat it had no effect. Inspector Pender informed the Orangemen that they bad a perfect right to proceed in the procession, bat advised them to dispense with colors They refused to do this, and soon after the procession started. The wearers of tbe orange colors had no sooner formed into rank at (he rear of the Foresters, thao with loud yells the mob rushed past tbe police and intercepted them, and, overwhelmed by the superior numbers aad vociferous roars of their assailants, the Orangemen fell back towards the Foresters' Hall. Some of the Orange officers drew their swords, but at tbe desire of the police immediately shetthed them again. Tbe Orangemen took refuge in the bel), while tbe crowd without besieged tbe doors howling and yelling. <Oae of tbe processioniats came to the door and waved bis yellow scarf deiiintiy. This was the signal for re-

newed yelling. The police formed a circle, in the centre of which Inspector Pender on horseback, and Mr Beetham on foot, formed conspicuous objects. Eventually matters quieted down, and the police followed by a howling mob, returned to the depot. The mob, to the number of some 400, then formed four deep, and marched from the Courthouse through the main streets to the sports grounds, yelling and groaning at all whom they met. In the meanwhile all the publio'honses had been olosad, and no liquor was obtainable. Had it not been for this precaution blood would have been shed, as many of the rioters were armed with revolvers, and declared their intention of shooting the first man who showed the Orange colors. Fully half of the rioters belonged to Waimate and other country towns, to which they returned by (be mid-day trains. The holiday was completely spoiled, and the town all day was in a perfect state of siege, angry knots of people being collected everywhere. The townspeople are thoroughly exasperated at the whole affair, and intend taking stringment measures to prevent the reourrenco of such disgraceful seen a. Toe Orangemen and the disturbers of the peace are now mustering their respective forces. The volunteers are on duty in full number, and twenty additional coostables are hourly expected f-om Dunedin. The Waimate contingent of rioters say they will return to-morrow in greater strength* A meeting of magistrates wag held (bit afternoon to consider the serious state of affairs, and will reassemble tomorrow.