LAMBTON QUAY EPISODE.

Taihape Daily Times, 23 July 1919, Page 5

LAMBTON QUAY EPISODE.

—¢ DHORSE-PLAY ENDS IN EXCITING I _ "’_A‘R'RESTS.”"‘ - .- A,

Notwithst._anding a vbo;ister»ous; 11Aom1;r_ erly wind,’ some two’ thousand people assembled in front of the Soldiers’ Club, ‘Lambton 'Quay,. on.» Monday evening;'_ztko listen to an‘ opcn—air> performance by the Wellington Woatcrsiders’ Band,“ which {vas accommodated on the Club balcony. It was originally intended that the Band should -perform in the Post Oflice ‘Square, to enable open-air dancing to be indulged in, but the violence of the wind prompted an alteration of the plan. ‘ Shortly after S”7o’clock the crowd, composed mostly of "youths, filled the quay in front of the Soldiers’ Club, and took exception to the constant passing of tramcars and motor earsfi which had to push their way through the people. :About 8.30 o"cl;0ck an at.~ tempt was made by the crowd to hold up all traffic, and for fully an hour‘ horse—play, though good natured, pro eeedcd 11I1l“.l0I'1‘l1ptCd bytlfe authorities, Two policemen valiantly songlit to persuade the more festive youths from barring the progress ~01"? trams and motor vehicles, but there were many narrow escapes from serious accidents. Frequently the motormen on the trams had to push the pedestrians back with the front. of their cars, while daring youths climbed,«on_ to the rear and pulled the trolley-pole cords, «thus disengaging the trolle‘ys‘from.- the overhead \‘vil'el Some of the conductors held the cords above their heads, and, armed with steel pikes used for shifvting the points, threatened violence against any iuterferers. Despite these pficautions, venturesome yo“li‘t.hs'inanaged to reach the cord, and generally succeeded in disengaging the trvolley from the overhead wire. Two constables were quite powerless to prevent these pranks, which amused the crowd, and as the cars were necessarily moving at :1 snail’s pace, no actual damage resulted. -

' This form of eiltortainmvnt, which ilasted an hour without. any serious at.itempt by «the authorities to prevent it. l 1 eventually came to .--.1. close through the I arrest of one of the crowd. A number !of detectives and constables in plain ielothes had just arrived on the scene, when they immediately made the iarres-t. The accused was quickly hustiled off towards Lanibton Qutay police ‘station by :1 couple of (l('t'oCf-i\'Cs,, who ! were shephei-(led by others, and t'ollow—'ed by a tlireatening crowd. In Waring Street, outside the. police station, there E were a few exciting and show .<cuf’r'les, ‘' Wllich resulted in two more young" men 1 being arrested. A couple of stones were thrown through the glass in the windows of the watehhouse, and HlOll the police threatened the crowd with :1 fire hose. Although the water was not turned on, the mob backed off, and within a quarter of an hour melted away. The first youth arrested will be charged witlrinterfering with :1 H0119."polc, the second will be eliarged with threatening behaviour. and the other with inciting to resist arrest.