A GOOD YARN.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2229, 18 July 1891, Page 3

A GOOD YARN.

The Brisbane Courier's "strike correspondent', is responsible for a most sensational story as to a possible development of the late shearer's strike in Queensland. It is to the following effect: — "The people of Queensland may congratulate themselves that the difficulties and disturbances in Western Queensland have so far ended without a shot being fired or a life sacrified, but they do not know how narrow an j escape they have had from what might | have been a most disastrous civil war. The details had all been considered and arranged' not by the ignorant men who are now languishing in gaol, but by much wiser men, of whom the chief plotter is a resident in Brisbane. His plans were at one time written on paper, and possibly j mightjhave been secured; but it is cer- ! tian that since the arrest of the first conspirators atßarcaldine they existed in black and white no longer, It was the rash precipitancy of these bush leaders which brought to confusion the carefully-planned scheme of the arch- conspirator in Brisbane. He had counselled them to wait for twelve months, or at all events until August or September: or to work under protest, if necessary; and hoard up all the money they could earn. There were 8000 of these men who had shown blind obedience to their leaders, and had contribnted thousands of pounds from their earnings to the Unions and by. an extra effort the organisers could have obtained from the combined Unions during a good season £20,000, at the iowest calculation. With this money he proposed to procure extensive supplies of arms and ammunition, all of which could be purchased at different places without exciting suspicion that anything unusal was taking place. Depots of these were to be formed at a centre near the railway line, where the men would all be reqnired to assemble when the signal was given to .strike- Then the movement'was to be rapid and resolute. The horsemen were to travel • rapiply through the stations, calling upon all men employed there to join the .union of the republic. At Barcaldlne 2000 men fully armed would immediately, take possession of the Central Railway and pass an armed force down the line, calling upon all the officials to join them as they proceeded to the coast. In this arrangement it was confidently asserted the railway men would gladly acquiesce, recognising the authority of the revolutionary leaders as a governing body. At the same time they would take possession of the post and telegraph office, and place at the instruments two men who were in the union ranks. The,cash in the banks would be seized, and form the nucleus of the treasury. It was pointed out that in this manner they could carry all before them, as resistance would be useleas. Having taken possession of the railway and the various stations on the line, the main force would proceed by train to Rockhampton, and if required easily, overpower the local military ; but this, it was stated by the gentleman from Brisbane, would be unnecessary, as the Mount Morgan miners and the union men belonging to Rockhampton companies would join the new Republican Government, and thus add their force to that of the bushinen. Rockhampton would be looted of treasure and arms. Having possession of the telegraph offices, the new Government would know what was going on elsewhere, but would impart no information concerning what was happening in Central Queensland, and when they proclaimed the republic in this division of the colony their success would compel the existing Government to make terms or plunge the whole of Australia into civil war. Fortunately, the leaders were erabarassed at the outset by wet weather insufficent funds, and scarcity of the munitions of war, and the promptitude of the Government in occupying the disaffected districts with large bodies of troops completely upset the revolutionary programme."