THE RIOTS IN LAUNCESTON, TASMANIA.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 333, 25 February 1874, Page 3

THE RIOTS IN LAUNCESTON, TASMANIA.

Somewhat serious rioting has occurred in Launceston arising out of resistance to the payment of a railway rate. We " North Otago Times " hav6 files of the " Hobartown Mercury" to the 7th inst., per favor of Captain Rapp, of the barque Pet, and from the Launceston telegrams of that journal we extract the following particulars : — On Thursday, February sth, it seems a quantity of goods seized for the rate were submitted for sale at. auction but there were no bids. The crowd of persons assembled numbering about 500, were harangued by a Mr. Button, who read a protest against the sale. Afterwards the crowd dispersed quietly having given three cheers for the Queen. Next day rioting broke out, and according to the " Mercury's " correspondent the town was " disgraced by open and gross violence," the streets being " given up to the excesses of

a lawless and cowardly mob. The appearance of a policeman was the signal for violent hooting. An attempt was made to overawe the force, which for a time ,was successful. The small handful of police was overawed. They rallied, however, and did their best to preserve order. Mr. Coulter, while in the discharge of his duties as Superintendent was seriously injured. The fencing round Mr. Adye Douglas' house was torn down, and the rails thrown through his windows. The windows of Messrs. Douglas and Collins were broken in. The Court House Hotel, occupied by Mr. Thrower, who had paid his rate, was attacked and the windows smashed, and property inside damaged The windows of the residence of Mr. Boothman, the collector, were destroyed. The effigies of well-known public men were carried ' about the town, and afterwards "burned, except that of Mr. Chapman, which would not burn. A coffin, believed to be that which did service at the sale of Griffin's horse, was also brought into requisition, and paraded the streets with threatening language towards 'several gentlemen. It was when taking possession of the coffin that the police were most roughly handled, and Mr. Coulter injured: For a time the town was in a thorough state of disorder, and the rioting continued till a late hour at night. Next day the Mayor applied to the Inspector of Police for protection, and instructions were given by the Government to the territorial police to jender assistance. The Corporotion laborers were sworn in as special constables, but the members of the Fire Brigade refused to do so. On the 6th the rioting continued, the mob being larger and more violent than on the previous night. A telegram at 8 p.m. says : — Tne local correspondent of " The Mercury " was mobbed and attacked. He was with difficulty rescued. A complete reign of terror prevails. Freedom of opinion or action is a crime, and the mob seem determined to put it ' down, and to injure all who do not go the full length" of Theodore Bartley and his associates.

A message at 10 a m., on the 7th, adds : — The crowd remained at the Telegraph Ofllce | for about half-an-honr after the " Mercury's " I correspondent got away. They then went to the Commissariat, or volunteer buildings, and pulled down part of the fence, scattering about some hundred battens, and breaking some of the windows. The assistant master gunner remained during the night in charge of the armoury and gun room, and this morning put men to work to have the fence repaireJ. The rioting was confined to the rabble and larrikin classes, scarcely any ratepayers taking part. The crowd seem to have great faith in effigies. They carried on last night. In the course of the evening the windows of Sutton, pastry cook, -JBoothman, collector of rates, and Douglas and Collins were riddled. Three largo squares in the Post Office windows were smashed. At a later hour'the windows in the Shakespeare Hotel were broken in, completing the damage done. Though there could have been no difficulty in identifriagjtlie l«»a«r»aua apprelaomiiug some of them, there was no attempt made to make an arrest. Much surprise has been expressed at this in non-excited circles, especially as the Mayor and authorities had, during yesterday, been speaking confidently of the energy and firmness that would be displayed should there be any attempt at a repetition of Thursday night's rioting. Arrangements are being made to strengthen the territorial police, and concentrate a considerable body of reliable men in Launceston, for the protection of the public property there, and though not interfering with the functions of the local police, will be at the service of the Mayor, should he find it necessary to apply for their co-operation. There has been considerable speculation as to whether the authorities will have the courage to enforce the law against the fire brigade, each man of which, refusing to be sworn in as a special constable, has incurred a heavy penalty. Much indignation is felt at the inflammatory conduct" of the " Examiner," which would evidently be pleased at a continuation of our present dangerous and disgraceful condition. It flatters the rowdy classes and courts a questionable popularity as the mouthpiece of opposition as to the enforcing of the law. In this morning's issue, the " Examiner " treats the disgraceful conduct of the mob very lightly, and affects to be very indignant at the police being sent from Hobart ToAvn. It recommends the municipality to resent the indignity, and says they shall not tolerate interlopers from the South, sent to intimidate the residents of Launceston and Western Railway Districts, forgetting that the only intimidation towhich they have been subjected has been that exercised by inflammatory speakers at meetings, and writers in the press. Mob violence has only been exercised against those who have obeyed the law, or were suspected of an intention of obeying it. Notwithstanding this, the payment of the rate is being made quietly. Even at Deloraine and Westbury the collector has had fair success.