RIOT AT AUCKLAND.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 221, 29 December 1910, Page 5

RIOT AT AUCKLAND.

RACE MEETING BROKEN UP. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, December 27. Perhaps the most disgraceful occurrence which lias ever taken place on a New Zealand racecourse mamed the opening of the Auckland Trotting Club's summer meeting at Alexandra i'arfc: this afternoon. As a result of the trouble only three out of eight races on the programme were run. The first two races were got off well up to time, and the starters for the. Pony Cup—an event for gallopers—ranged up at the barrier within'a few minutes of the time advertised on the card. It was soon evident that the starter (Mr. C. O'Connor, who "also officiates for the Auckland Racing Club and several other.important bodies), was going"to.have some trouble, as several horses proved rather restive. Prophesied was especially troublesome, his rider (Julian) Beexning to have no control over him. Time after time Mr. O'Connor climbed on to his stand, but always he had to come down again to the course to quieten the horses. Every now and again one of the starters would break, away, one of them, Kuratu, passing the stand six times. At 2.45 —three-quar-ters of an hour after the advertised time of starting—the crowd raised the cry or '•They're off!" and the ponies pounded® past the stand. That was the mofnent that the real trouble started. Julian pulled Propheened before his mount had gone 20 yards, and Gray immediately lay back on Red Lupin. Most of the ponies, however, kept gQing, but two more stopped, while several others hesitated long enough to be quite out of it/ Two of those which remained in the race were Peggy Pryde and Blue Vale, and they fought out a great finish, Peggy Pryde winning by inches. The mob then invaded the track in front of the stewards' stand, and began to shout "No race! Run it again!" A white flag was hoisted calling the stewards together, and was instantly followed by a red flag, notifying that a protest had been entered—a signal which was heralded by much cheering. The mob was now highly excited, and a serious light took place between a Maori and a pakeha. The police, of whom only about a dozen were on the scene, forced a way into the crowd, and both contestants were bodily removed amidst the jeers of the multitude. Then there was a dreary wait, broken only by the occasional cheering and hooting and the music of the Garrison Band, which plodded away cheerfully despite the uproar. PANDEMONIUM. At last a blue flag appeared, signifying "Protest dismissed," and at once pandemonium was loose. The police were powerless, and the mob rushed the stewards' >stand and all kinds of orators made their appearance to harangue the crowd. One of those who attempted to restore order was Mr. A. E. Glover, M.P., for Auckland Central, but either the disappointed punters did not hear what he said or they did not care, for his eloquence made no difference. Several people, more 'full of good cheer i than of good sense, mounted the rostrum, but to no effect. One of them thought he could do some thing by way of a recitation. "I am the only man with hands to hold the rushing Rio Grande. I have dreamed a dream, and ne'er shall ride again—" ■ He is still dreaming as far as the crowd is concerned. Then several amateur stewards and others found the unfortunate starter somewhere and rushed him to the stand, where he had to make a speech. Mr. O'Connor's appearance was the signal for a tremendous uproar, but; after much hand-waving and shouting, he was at last able to make himself heard. He said: "That race was fairly started to the Very best ofmy ability." ( Loud groans and cat- : calls, and voices: "Give the man fair play.") "If, after I started the race, the crowd called out, 'Stop! No race!' it was not my fault at all." Mr. o'Con~> nor attempted to say more, ( but not an-; other word could be heard. MR. LAWRY. M.P., lIOWEED DOWN. The next sp'eaker was ifr! F. Lawry, M.P. for Parnell. Rarely has a politician's speech been more rudely received, which says a good deal. He said: "II you realise that Mr. O'Connor has been a starter for all the important clubs oi the Dominion, you can't condemn him for one mistakes. I would point out to you that even the .greatest general is worsted " (Tremendous' uproar and ironical laughter.) '' "The greatest general, I say "

A voice: "Talk about the pony race." "I should like to point that out that the greatest general can make mistakes. (Cheers). I have represented this district in Parliament for many years, and The rest of Mr. Lawry's remarks were inaudible to everyone but himself, the crowd lustily singing "Rule, Britannia!. Britons Never Shall Be Slaves," and, shouting themselves hoarse. Sub-Inspec-tor Henry and more policemen now arrived on the scene, but they could do nothing. A red-haired individual put several motions to the: crowd expressing i an utter want of confidence in 1 starter, the stewards, and several other people, all of which were carried to his i complete satisfaction. Then numerous, members of the mob adjourned to-the, bar, only to find that it had been closed-, by Sergeant Dale, who mounted guard over it with several constables. The time continued to slip by without any other development, the crowd amusing itself meanwhile by pelting the stewards' stand wth turf until 5.30 p.m. By this time the totalisator had paid out on the declared winners of the disputed race, and had booked many bets on the; Trotting Club's Cup, for which the horses had taken the course. There was no hope, however, of getting a clear track, and so a notice was hoisted: "Races postponed until two p.m. to-morrow; all bets on the Cup stand." Having prevented a continuation ol tlie day's racing, the crowd sullenly dispersed, every man asking his neighbor "What is the club going to do to-mor-row without a totalisator permit?" As Hamlet once was made to say on a famous occasion, "There's the rub." OPINION OP THE POLICE.

"It was a regrettable affair," remarked a police official to a reporter to-night, and he went on to say that, until yesterday, the crowds in the city had been particularly orderly, but this incident would leave a stain on that reputation. He stated that the sixteen policemen present were quite sufficient to cope with any emergency which might occur, but the riot was a totally unexpected and extraordinary occurrence. "Matters looked ugly at the outset of the trouble," remarked the officer, "but presently extra police arrived, and thirty constables were then distributed amongst the crowd, and the disturbance was checked. - '

Arrangements have been made for procuring an extension of the permit, and the races will be continued to-morrow.