STRIKE AT WESTPORT. RETURN OF AUCKLAND WORKMEN.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 357, 6 April 1889, Page 5

STRIKE AT WESTPORT. RETURN OF AUCKLAND WORKMEN.

WESTroRT, April 2. The position of matters in connection with the Cape Fouhvind labour dispute is that the contractors have received a check, teui porarily perhaps, in the Union having persuaded the last batch of men to leave the place, their passages and expenses being paid by the Union. A crowded public meeting, to arrange the business of sending the men away, was held at nine o'clock this morning. Messrs Wilkie Brothers, who came down the footpath, accompanied by I Constable Watt, were surrounded by a hooting assemblage. David Wilkie made some remarks as to the cowardice of the crowd tackling one man, and compliments were levelled at him. A. Wilkie proceeded to argue with some of the men, and although there was a lot of excited talk no breach of the peace was committed. Twenty-five of the men who arrived yesterday took their departure for Wellington by the Charles Edwards ut noon to-day. The embarkation was witnessed by a large number of people, who evinced the keenest interest in rhe proceedings. The Unionists were active in seeing that the men were placed comfortably aboard the boat. One of the men addressed the crowd from the bridge, and declared that if the whole of the working men of New Zealand were as true to themselves as chose of Westport appeaied to be, their condition would not be what it is to-day. Chaffing and fun vrere the order of the day, and a stranger might have mistaken the occasion for a holiday excursion. As the bout got undenvoigh, rousing cheers were given for the Union, for Westport. and the Auckland men, and groans for " blacklegs. ' The other of the late ai rivals will leave to-monow. Nothing is stirring at Cape Fouhvind to-day, everything being as quiet as possible. The Ngakawau branch of the Union has struck a levy of 2s 6d per week in aid of the Cape Foulwind lock-out.