ROWDY NATIVES.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2569, 15 June 1881, Page 2

ROWDY NATIVES.

The Bay of Plenty “ Times” pives the following description of a row which lately took place in Tauranga : —“ The first offender was a Bethlehem native, who went up to the bar of the Commercial, and having called for beer, which was given him in a pewter mug, put down a Is, receiving from the barmaid Gd change, which he put in his pocket. Having drunk the beer, he said he wanted Gd change, and on the barmaid saying she had given it to him, he picked up the mug and threw it at her. Mr O’Shaughnessy, who was in the bar at the time, put the native out of the house, fearing he might do further mischief. In the scuffle that ensued he was assisted by Mr Fraser, but when the three of them readied the door the two Europeans were attacked by about forty natives who threw them over the breakwater into the sea, and there seemed to be trying their to drown them. One native bit Mr Fraser over the head with a bottle, severely cutting his face. Mr O'Shaughnessy also has his face very much lacerated, and it seems probable from the violence used, that had not both men been possessed of considerable strength, they would have a narrow escape for their lives. By this time, a large crowd of natives and Europeans had gathered at the spot, and several of the latter jumped down into the water, and rescued their countrymen. The police came up at the time, and several arrests were made, but even then it was with, some difficulty that the disturbance was stopped, both Europeans and natives having got too excited to desist immediately. One of the natives we understand is in a dangerous state from the injuries sustained in the scrimmage, two of his ribs it is feared being broken.