Riot at Timaru—The Proceedings pre-arranged.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3435, 27 December 1879, Page 3

Riot at Timaru—The Proceedings pre-arranged.

TiMAßtf, Last night. Some days ago it was arranged that the Orangemen should take part in the friendly societies' united fete to-day, and join in the procession. This coming to the ear of the Catholics, word was sent to them to all parts of the district to collect. The police got information, and anticipating a riot, reinforcements were telegraphed for, and arrived from Christchurch by special train this morning at 10 o'clock; 30 police and some 50 special constables were gathered. To-day, about 10.30 a.m. a procession, including Orangemen (numbering about 40), started from the Foregtors' Hall, and Catholics to the number of 400 or 500 collected from all parts of the district, and at once charged the Orangemen, and drove them into the Foresters' Hall, yelling, hooting, and brandishing weapons. T&9 Riot Act Head,

Mr Beetham, E.M., then read the Eiot Act. Another 20 constables were expected to arrive every moment by special train from Oamaru to reinforce the force already here. Volunteers on duty did not know what tho result of the riot would be, a£ nearly half tbe population in the district are Irish, about one-third of whom are Orangemen. After the riot this morning the Catholics formed four deep, of which number theie were three or four hundred, and marched through the town yelling and hooting at all whom they met. At first the townspeople were taken by surprise, but as the day wore on their excitement overcame them, and they are now thoroughly exasperated, and are organising to put a stop at once and for all to such proceedings. Many of the Catholics were armed with revolvers, and but for a small number of Orangemen and the presence of Mr Beetham and the police, blood would have been freely shed.