The Orange and the Green.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 229, 20 June 1872, Page 9

The Orange and the Green.

A TWELFTH OF JULY SKETCH.

Dark and disagreeable adventures sometimes best bring out bright and pleasing traits, as was the case on the 12th of July, 183—. Notwithstanding a proclamation under Royal authority, along with the earnest advice of their Grand-masterandother high authorities, the Orangemen could not be persuaded that it was illegal or wrong to have their party procession with music, flags, and arms. In a particular district it was so managed that the magistrates were led to believe that an Orange demonstration would be made a certain place, and that an intended counter demon j strationatthe same place would certainly : lead to a serious collision, unless a strong forces were there to keep the peace. The magistrates therefore congregated where the danger was expected, and the principal part of the police, as well as a company of infantry, were brought there too. The dangerous illness of one of my family kept me at home. On the 12th of July, at daybreak, a policeman from the neighbouring small town came to me with the information that the Orangemen were assembling in force there instead of at B — , where it had been expected they would meet; and that they expressed their determination to have their procession with emblems, flags, music, and arms, in defiance of the Royal pi'oclamation. I was quickly on my horse, and- at the town, about two miles off, I found it as the policeman had reported. I had visited the masters of the Orange lodges a few days before, and laid before them two letters which I had received from their" ' Grand-master, and the Grand-master for Ireland, desiring them to be obedient to the proclamation, and they had promised to follow this advice ; but, except one lodge, they seemed tojglory in having deceived the magistrates, and knowing that I had very little force at hand, they thought themselves sure of being able to have their own way. I sent more than one messenger to B — to let the magistrates know the truth, but they were waylaid and turned back. However, bysendiug to a neighbouring village and requiring the attendance of a party of revenue police — partly mounted — which were stationed there, and adding them to the few police of the place, we made a tolerable show of strength. And the people, though acting now wrong, and under bad advisers, are thereabouts a very orderly, peaceable folk, and not at all used to j deeds of violence, so that I felt con- 1 tident, with the disciplined few I had to depend on, I could keep them from their intention without, resorting to violence, and made my dispositions accordingly, assuring the Orangemen that the first appearance of even a few forming a procession should be the signal to the police to arrest them every one. None of them chose to be the first taken, and so all remained quiet till about nine o'clock. At this time an express came into the town, where I remained on my horse with one mounted man at ray back, to say the opposite party were assembling to the sound of horns about a mile and a half from the town. Leaving the town in charge of a clever sergeant, I galloped alone to the place, and saw a considerable assemblage on a hill side, and small parties from all 'sides advancing to join them, while signals by blowing horns were heard among the hills. On returning to the town and telling what was going on, and appealing to the Orangemen to leave me at liberty to go and disperse this gathering, they replied that they knew that it was arranged, and only waited for the police to leave the town to disperse them, in order to hoist their flags and have their procession. .But they were disappointed when they were told that the police were brought, in the first instance, to prevent the Orangemen from breaking the law and the peace, and that this was to be their first, even if their only duty. On going a second time to the other assembly, f found them now drawn up in ranks, and coming near enough I could count about three hundred with fire-arms, and several hundred with such weapons as they could extemporise with poles and scythes and such like. Seeing but one chance to prevent a collision, I rode nearer ; the road was lined with old men and women, chiefly on their knees crying and praying. Near the place where the men were drawn up was a hedge with a gap built up with loose stones. An old man knelt beside it, and as my horse leaped the low wall, he cried out : " God Almighty bless your soul, for it's all that'll be of you in about three minutes." However, knowing the character of the people, I was of a different opinion, and felt confident, although it was certain they were led by strangers. On coming close to them a man with a double-barrelled gun stepped out, and pointing it at me, asked who I was, and what I wanted ; but he got his answer from an unexpected quarter, being seized by one of his own men and brought to the ground, while a voice accompanied the act, " Don't you touch that man." Another stranger then came forward — a tall, red-headed, good-looking fellow — also armed with a double-barrelled gun. He did not point it at me, nor did he speak uncivilly, but said if I had anything to* say, 1 was to say it to him. Without directly replying, I took him by surprise, and quickly read the Riot Act. And, then addressing the crowd, I

said, " Neighbours, after what I have said,* any of you caught assembled together will be put in prison and severely punished. You know me, and that I should be sorry for that ; so take j advice from one you know, rather than from strangers. Go home as quickly as you can, and if you do so at once I will not have you pursued or punished." Some cried out, " Tes, yes, we will go home !" j The stranger leaders ran among them ; but the evident feeling was to go home, and their efforts were in vain. j One man shouted, " A cheer for Mr. Hamilton," which was responded to, and the field was mine. j I only added, " Neighbours, I have j trusted myself unagped among your pikes and guifi^ bscause I know you. I now trust you to do as an old friend counsels you : do not delay, bat go home at once." I left them dispersing. It was now advancing in the afternoon. As I rode towards the town I met a score of men running towards ! me, and when they came near I recognised the members of the Orange lodge who had kept away according to their promise. Their leader cried out, " Here we are, sir, every man of us. God be praised you're safe." " Why," said I, " what is this ? I thought I could depend upon you when all else failed." .- " And so you might ; ant we here to rescue you if you were still in the hands of a thousand murdering rebels. We came the moment we got your message that you were in danger and wanted us, and we will do your bidding if it is to fight the whole lot of them." They had be6n deceived by a false message, as if from me, and showed themselves as brave and true in responding to it as they liad been in refusing to join their brethren in breaking the law and their promise. Their blood was up, and it was not the easiest task that day to send them home quietly. On arriving in the town I found that at length the magistrates who had gone to B had heard how matters stood, and had arrived with a strong force of police and soldiers on cars. We went out in force to the place where the gathering had been, and saw the people going off in groups to the different parts of the country. Returning to town there was a meeting of magistrates. I was now quite exhausted, having been on horseback from 4 a. m. till 7 p. m., in double anxiety for my sick at home and my neighbours' dangers. A thundershower at six had also wetted me to the skin. I found my doings were not considered good. I ought to have made no terms, given no promise to those people. Between bodily weariness and wet, mental cvuxiety and vexation, I sunk into a kind of stupor, and felt as if my very life was going, when a cry in the street aroused me. "The rebels have reassembled at M " (about three miles off), "and set the houses on fire." "There," cried some one who had found fault with my day's work, " there, you see the sort of fellows that have been trusted." I rushed into the inn yard ; there were several mounted police there. My horse was tired as my self, and had not the excitement which now gave me life. A policeman's horse served me," and, with six or eight at my heels, I galloped to M ,but came back at a more moderate pace, having found all quiet and at rest there. It was only a trick of some of those whose plans for the day I had marred. This ride, perhaps , saved my life by the stirring-up it fgave my which seemed to have begun to stagnate after the over -anxiety and excessive exertions of the day. When I returned to the town I found that my redhaired acquaintance of the barrelled-double-gun, relying on my word corneintotheplacetoseesomefriends;had he had been recognised by some of the police, who told the magistrates that he was one of the leaders of that party, and he was brought before them. He pleaded my assurance of safety, which the others were not very willing to admit as a safeguard. I declared that it would be most unfair to take him while the armed leaders of the other party were left at large, who had set me at defiance, and persisted in breaking the law till a force came that could prevent them. However, it was said that he had probably come as a spy, and had his men outside the town to act when unsuspected ; so I assented to his being kept in custody till morning, while the police should make strict search to discover if any of his people were in the neighbourhood. None were found. Nevertheless, when I came into town next mornina: I found his committal made out, and heavy bail required to prevent his imprisonment. I immediately put in the required bail, and sent him off, I admit, with small expectation of seeiig that red Head again. The police who had been in the town . were interrogated by the authorities as to what they had seen, and the result was that a dozen of the Orangemen were bound over to appear- at the next assizes, to answer for their breach of the law. At the assizes those out on bail were called, and when the red-headed fel»

low's name was called J[ saw many an eye turned towards me, expressive of expectation that I should have to pay my forfeit. But no ; a loud voice replied, " Here !" And thrusting aside the crowd, the red head showed itself ; while looking up at me, he cried out - " Here I am, your honour ; lam not going* to act the blackguard when you acted the gentleman to me, I'll see your bail safe." So into the dock went my green man and the dozen Orangemen.

They were all found guilty. It was my opinion, as well as that of the rest of the magistrates, that the Orangemen had really not thought the law so decidedly against them, and that, when they were aware of the fact, they would show themselves obedient to the law. So I was deputed to represent our view to the judge, and to suggest a nominal punishment and a solemn warning from the judge. He quite agreed with us ; and, in an excellent address, made the prisoners to know their fault, and then fined them a shilling, and discharged them.,

They bowed, and thanked the judge and the magistrates.

Eed-head then added, wittily enough, aloud, " Well ! it's a fine thing to be in good company for once in a body's life !" — John Hamilton of St. Ernan's in " Macmillau's Magazine."