EARLY CLOSING DEMONSTRATION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3571, 26 July 1890, Page 2

EARLY CLOSING DEMONSTRATION.

Lively Prooeeilngs, . Serenading Elaoos of Business..

Burning an Efligy.

The refusal of certain business people of Masterton .to close their establishments at six o'clock, the hour stipulated by the Early Closing Association, culminated last evening in a demonstration of a most enthusiastic and exciting diameter, Shortly after seven o'clock Pearson's Brass Band ascended the balcony of Messrs' Townsend and Con per, which was the immediate signal for the gathering of a crowd. In front of the building was suspended an effigy', to which was attached a very significant " bell." On the ringing of this bell the band struck up a lively air, and in a few moments Queen Street was thronged with people. • • '■'

A procession of youths, beariug placards on which wore inscribed largs mottoes, and attired in the most ludicrous of costumes, headed by members of tho Early Closing Association, paraded up and down Queen Street, halting in front of the shops of those who had not closed at six, and creating the most hideous of noises.

Wong You, the Mongolian dealer, was one of the subjects'of attack. When the serenading party paid their first visit, poor old "Wong" was completely bewildered, and not knowing what harm might befall him, immediately, closed the ■doors and extinguished his lights. The crowd, which had gathered.in the main street, by this time was immense, and it was momentarily expeoted that some serious disorder would ensue. The police, however, were present in full force, and prevented the occurrence of anything like a disturbance. •The whole attention of the serenades was now devoted to the establishment otMr William Bell. A huge crowd of youths, composed principally of members of tho Early Closing. Association and their eattelites, congregated in front of the shop and kept up a continual groan, any customers who might onter being execrated by tho mob. Mr Bell apparently looked npon the whole proceedings as a joke, and blandly smiled at the cheap adver-, tisement he was receiving. Punctually at nine o'clock, his'usual hour, he put up his shutters, and stood at the door in company with his better half, assuming the dignity of one who had scored an absolute victory. At the request of tho crowd, which was in a fearful- state of excitement, ! and sang in a body, " We'll hang old Bell. on a sour apple tree," the band played "The Dead March in Saul," "Hurrah for England,' and other appropriate airs. The crowd then formed into procession, and beariug high the much-abused effigy, marchod to an adjoining field, and having given a final salute to Mr Robert Wyeth, hurned ,! his majesty," together with the "bell,' 1 amongst enthusiasism. Tbe mob soon afterwards dispersed and at ten o'clock the streets were almost oleared,