Sydney Eccentric Occupies Police Station

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 412, 21 July 1928, Page 10

Sydney Eccentric Occupies Police Station

Meat he ring ham Ejected MOVE BY POLICEMEN Mr. Harry Meatheringham is no longer in possession of the old village police station at Manly, which he recently occupied in a sensational manner a few days ago. He was forcibly ejected by the police recently. Mr. Meatheringham created a similar sensation in Sydney a year nr so ago by forcing his way into the State Parliament in order to occupy a seat he claimed there. The “Sunday News” told its readers how Meatheringham had defied the thunder of the official gods, and, in spite of all opposition, had taken possession of Manly’s old police station, on the ground that there was no title to the land upon which a portion of it stood. For one blissful week, the man, who had jumped the big claim, was an autocrat. He said: “This shall be done, and it was done.” He was Manly’s greatest land-grabber. It is said that many offered to buy out his “good will” in the place. Meatheringham talked in thousands. Then the dawn of another morn peeped over the horizon, and with it came the undoing of a “great idea.” At 2 p.m. the law struck. The door was opened carefully, and M ear'll eri ugh am peeped out to see a P.D. car drawn up outside. It contained Inspector Lillie, Plainclothes Constables Fleming and Wylie, and Driver Job. Somewhere in the offing were Police-women Mitchell and Cuneen. Meatheringham asked what was the reason of the visit. Constables Fleming and Wylie pushed the door open and entered, followed by the inspector. With his well-known courtesy, Inspector Lillie told Meatheringham that he was required to vacate the premises immediately. Meatheringham defied them to remove him. Then Wylie exercised a little gentle pressure, and the tenant was in the street. Outside, he became more resentful. "You are not in Russia,” he shouted. But it was all of n*> avail. Ho was out. and that was the end of it. Inspector Lillie considerately allowed him to re-enter the building to supervise the removal of his furniture. This having been done, Meatheringliam thanked Inspector Lillie for the kindly and considerate manner in which he carried out his duty. The man with the big idea and his belongings faded from the landscape,

and no one knows which is the next place he will select for a home. A week previously he had taken possession of the derelict police station amid the plaudits of an amused crowd. Recently he went out, practically unnoticed.