MORE LIVELY SCENES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 31 October 1913, Page 5

MORE LIVELY SCENES.

SPECIAL CONSTABLES PURSUED TAKE REFUGE IN A SHOP. SUPPOSED REPORT OF REVOLYER. THE MOB CHARGED. TWO PERSONS INJURED. WELLINGTON, Last ,Night. A lively scene occurred on Lambton Quay at five o'cl6ck this evening. A large number of special constables had been sworn in at tlie Town Hall, and these departed in small groups in different directions. Some who were coming through Willis Street and Lambton Quay excited the attention of the pickets, who passed the word quickly to the crowd in Post Office Square. 1 Immediately there was a rush, and the crowd streamed through Grey Street, past the Times Office, and at Whitcombe and Tombs' verandah the of specials was held up. The street was crowded with two or three thousand people, and under Whitoo-r»bs and Tombs' verandah the fuss was fearful. The special constables fdund retreat in Whitcombe and Tombs' shop, but not before one had his head pushed through the glazed door. A squad of police came along, and presently some mounted constables, and gradually the excitement died down.

During the disturbance there was an explosion, apparently from a firecracker, although reports were current that a revolver had been used, and that the bullet had broken on# of Whitcombe and Tombs' large shop windows. This supposition, however, was an erroneous one } as the window was broken by a stone. The crowd threatened to invade Whitcombe and Tombs' # premises in search of the special police. Three constables and some shop assistants kept the crowd at bay with revolver^. A little later a more serious affair occurred on Jervois Quay, where a< number of mounted men rode along the waterfront, and on approaching the Queon's Wharf entrance the crowd stoned the constables and threw 1 some detonators about. After going a little past the Queen's Wharf gates, which were quickly closed, the police turned their horses and swept back at a smart canter on to the crowd, which was now largely composed of the general public. Two mei wore injured, one being knocked down by a horse, and one, it is alleged, batoned. lb is reported that the Drivers' Union has decided not to handle any goods worked W "scab" labourers.