SHEARERS' DISPUTE

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2928, 21 April 1891, Page 2

SHEARERS' DISPUTE

A REIGN OF TERROR. THE RIOT ACT READ. ATTEMPT TO BURN THE COURTHOUSE. (BY ELKCTKIU TELEOHAI'It.- COPYKIOIIT. ) BmsiiANE, April is. Tin; shearers have established a reign of terror in the Barcaldine district. The unionists are firing woolsbeds, waggons, huts, and grass, and capturing free shearers in all directions. Tbe people are maddened, and threaten to take the law in their own hands. A delegate from the Labour Federation visits the Argentine Republic to report on the advisnbleness of sending unionists there to form a settlement. The pastorulists are subscribing to the movement. April lit. Insurance companies, in the faeo of recent events, are refusing to accept risks on pastoral properties in Queensland, and are also considering the advisableness of refunding tho premiums paid for insuring these properties, and declaring the policies off. A band of unionists rushed the Coreana station, and induced a number of free labouiers to leave. Matters became so serious that the Riot Act was read and the military charged the mob with fixed bayonets. .Several arrests were reade. "BiusiiANK, April 20. A determine 1 attempt was made to burn down the Court-house at Cleremont. A portion of the. verandah was saturated with kerosene, and then set fire to. An alarm was raised, and tho names extinguished. It is believed the object the perpetrators of the j outrage had in view was to destroy I tho depositions taken in the recent conspiracy and riot cases. Six men charged with rioting at Coreana were sentenced to three months each. Several others have been arrested on charges of intimidation. The shearers in Barcaldino held a meeting on Saturday, when they pledged themselves to obey their leader's orders.