THE WAIHI STRIKE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 172, 7 December 1912, Page 5

THE WAIHI STRIKE.

THE INQUEST OX EVANS. - By Telegraph—Press Association. Waihi, Last Night. The enquiry in connection with the dea_th of Evans was resumed this morning. Lengthy evidence was given by Kntherine Hislop, a sister of a striker who went to gaol. She said that Evans went out at the back of the. hall first. She followed closely behind Evans, who ran through the fence. She followed ten yards behind. She saw a crowd of workers coming round the side of the Union Hall, and as soon as they saw Evans getting through the fence they pursued him. There were no police with them. She saw Evans fall as though he tripped, and then saw a constable run up to Evans, and while the latter was lying full length on the ground the constable stooped and struck Evans on the back of the car with his baton. Afterwards a worker struck Evans on the head with a baton or stick. Then a number surrounded him and appeared to kick him. She saw no revolvers, but. just before Evans got through the fence' ,<he heard a revolver shot, which she thought came from a worker. Evans was running at the time, and his action did not indicate that he had fired. She had made a statement to a detective within half an hour of the occurrences that morning. She was as clear in her mind now as then that Evans did not shoot Wade.

A statement by Mrs. Cottie, made to Detective Sweeney, was put in as evidence, but cross-examination was deferred until the morning, when Mrs. Cottie would attend in person. Dr. Craig was recalled and subjected to a close and searching cross-examina-tion regarding the nature of Evans' wounds.

ARBITRATION v. FEDERATION.

Waihi, ■ Last Night. Mr. P. Barry, superintendent of the Waihi Company, took the opportunity, prior to the commencement of work, of addressing the men. He commended them for their conduct during a trying period, especially as to their behaviour, and thanked them for having stuck to their work. He assured them that none but Arbitrationists would be employed by the company. He trusted that the conduct of the workers would in future be such that no reflection could be cast upon them. At the conclusion of Mr. Barry's remarks the men applauded and cheered him.

At a mass meeting of Federationists to-day it was decided by an overwhelming majority to give individual Federationists a free hand to join the new union or leave Waihi. A further show of hands indicated that SO per cent, had decided to leave the town. Those who join the new union in order to comply with the company's conditions to get, work are to he given a clearance from the Federation. The question of declaring Waihi "black" was left over for the decision of the Federation executive.

REFUSING A LEVY.

Westport. Friday. The Stockton ooal miners discontinued work yesterday to hold a meeting to consider the question of two members of the union refusing to pay the Waihi levy. The'miners went to work as usual this morning, and the mine is working with a full staff.