THE WAIHI STRIKE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 170, 5 December 1912, Page 5

THE WAIHI STRIKE.

INQUEST ON EVANS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Waihi, Wednesday. At the adjourned inquest on Evans the evidence of Constable Wade, who was shot by Evans, was taken at the hospital. He said that upon hearing revolver shots he entered the hall anil Evans fired as soon as lie saw him, but missed. He chased him to the back and Evans fired again, when about five yards away. He closed and struck him on the side of the head, for fear he might fire again. He did not see the crowd ill-treat deceased. Witness received a bullet in the stomach. Further evidence in connection with the enquiry into the death of Evans was taken this afternoon. Barfoot. who is out on bail, charged with using firearms and Waddle, one of the occupants of the hall when the shooting first occurred, were examined. The former declined to answer a number -of questions on the ground that he might incriminate himself in the pending proceedings. The further hearing was adjourned.

THE MINERS' HALL. Waihi, Last Night. This morning the day shift on coming off work held an impromptu mass meeting. Mr. Rudd, president of the new Union, addressed the men. He explained that within an hour or two the trustees of the old Union were serving him with a notice requesting that the keys of the hall he handed over not later than Saturday next. The building had been broken into, and when he went to the hall and asked for an explanation he was told that the door was open and that they had walked in. Prior to that he never had seen that the ,hall was locked, so he concluded that the hall had been broken into. The striker had that day put new locks and bars on all the doors. Referring to the resolution of the Federationists that none of their members should join the Arbitration Union, the speaker said that it was tantamount to the strike, as far as Waihi was concerned, being still on. ,Ho\vevcr. they had had the assurance of the Waihi Company that only members of an Arbitration Union would get employment in the mine, and in face of that the Federationists would not find Waihi an attractive place to remain in. The strike would die, he thought, a natural death.