POLITICAL EXCITEMENT IN VICTORIA.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2131, 21 January 1880, Page 3

POLITICAL EXCITEMENT IN VICTORIA.

The following extracts from the tcleofareben t|public meeting in' s Sandhurst are taken from the “Argus;” and- will show the state of political feeling in that; * part of Victoria iwi,th, respect to Mr Berry’s Reform Bill. r ,The meeting was held in the , interest of Mr R. Clark, M .L.A- and there were pVbr 2,000 'jmr'sohs present. Mr Clark who was received with * cheers' and groans, went on to speak on various subjects of interest to himself and his constituents, and while doing:so;he was constantly interrupted, by a number of E arsons who were in the body of the all. , The “ Argus, ” report goes on to say i— / ’ : ; • “ The jostling was here resumed- ! in thebody of the hall, and was cheered byamumher of men from the platform. It,should be here:stated that, ;about, a dozen members of the. Reform League had rushed, seats on,the platform, and took an active part in all the iutci’ r ruptions. The boards Were so crowded that Mr Clark had ’ barely standing room to speak from; The disturbance in the body of the hall-was caused by a number of men who attempted to. eject Mr Angus Mackay, M.L.A., and his son Robert.. Af.ter hustling about for ten minutbs they succeeded in putting Mr Ri Mackay out at the side door, hut,hi, s father, held his. ground. ; The meeting then developed into’ one of the rowdiest scenes ever witnessed in the political history of Sandhurst. The reporters’ table was rushed. One intoxicated individual, in his efforts to secure a position upon it, seized the “ Age ” reporter hv the coat collar and, dragged him from his seat. The other reporters tried to protect him, but bef ore they could interfere, he had received a hack-handed blow cm the right eye.; Immediately afterwards he and the man were hurled down the back stairs, and both sustained a heavj r fall. Twb •Or three 1 free fights were taking place on: the stage at the same time, and three or four other men were pitched down the hack stairs. Heavy blows were dealt by both sides. Quiet having been partially restored, MrR. White a prominent member of the local Reform League, who came forward to move an amendment to a resolution that ;had been proposed was iramcdately hurled from the platform. He ell into the arms of several men but received no injurj r . This incident, however, was a signal for renewed hostilities. Four or five pairs of men at once started to fight each other on the stage, each pair was soon surrounded by sympathisers, and a general melee ensued. The reporters’ table was upset and smashed, and their chairs broken. Men were thrown off the platform in all directions, and several others had rough falls down the back stairs. Eventually Sergeant Webb succeeded in reaching the stage, and by good-humored interference he quelled the riot.”