Native Disturbance.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2921, 26 June 1878, Page 2

Native Disturbance.

Plucky Conduct of the Police.

A native disturbance occurred at Shortland late last night, which, but for the promptitude of the police, might have terminated seriously. Constables Baldwin ard Haslett were on, duty, in Grey street at a few minutes before 12 o'clock, there being a large number of natives, many the worse of liquor, about the towny at the same time. Constable Haslett; at the request of Mr Endres, proprietor of the Shortland Hotel, was clearing the bar; and Constable Baldwin at tbe same time arrested a native (whose name is not known), he beiDg very drunk and utterly incapable of taking ere of himself. The prisoner snuggled violently and the constable blew his whistle for assistance. With this several other natives who had just come out of the hotel, rushed to the assistance of the prisoner and succeeded in kL -eking the constable down, and then commenced kicking him. brutally about the body.. Constable Haslett was by this time on the spot,, and found several natives on top of Baldwin. After some difficulty Haslett managed to extricate Baldwin, and seeing that the crowd of natives—which now, numbered between 59 and 109—were determined to carry off the prisoner, they blew their whistles, and Sergeant Murphy (gaoler at the Shortland lock-up) and Constable Day were speedily on the scene. The natives, who were urged on by a man named Hunia, vigorously struck at the police, who used their batons freely, but during the struggle the natives succeeded in snatching the prisoner from his captors. Baldwin, however, nailed the ringleader Hunia, end arrested him, while the other constables kept off the natives. Hunia loudly called for the Ngatihaua, Waikato natives, and, amidst the demoniac yelling of the natives, by sheer force the constables got their prisoner orer to the door of the lock-up. Mr SubInspector Bullen hearing the disturbance arrived at this point, and with his assistance the would-be rescuers were' beaten, back, and the prisoner safely lodged in one of the cells. Baldwin was severely injured about the ribs during the row, and the other constables d;d not escape unhurt. The police, and especially Constable Baldwin, deserve great credit for their conduct, and it is not often that two men have the hardihood to make an arrest surrounded by two or three score of yelling savageo. No other arrests were made, and the night having been so dark it is feared that the police will be unable to bring the rest to justice. Hunia was brought up at the B.M. Court this morning and remanded. ;