MURDEROUS ASSAULT UPON HOLIDAY-MAKERS.

4 This morning a brutal and cowardly interruption of tho " peaco and goodwill" which specially belong to this season of tho year occurred. Tho members of the Orange Society had assemblod at their hall with the intention of sponding tho holiday at Prebbleton. In accordance with tho usual practice followed by Societies, they formed in procession, and marched through tho streets with their banners flying and a band playing. To tho number of over a hundred thoy had proceeded from Gloucester strcot as far as the junction of Manchester and High strcots, in as orderly a manner as could bo desired, to tho time of an orderly march tune. For some time previous to tho arrival of tho procession at tho point in their route just mentioned, a number of men were to bo seen on the footpath in front of Barrett's Hotol, apparently lounging about without any doGnito purpose. .As soon as the band proceding the Orango procoasioh had passed these mon, howevor, it becamo abundantly evident that their loitering \\m by no means purposeless ; for, as if directed by a preconcorted signal, they simultaneously rushed upon tho passing holiday-makers, at the same time flourishing in tho, air heavy pick-handles, with which 'thoy began a most atrocious , and murderous attack upon their defenceless and unpropared victims. Of course tho unfortunate Orangomen wore completely at their ineroy— if this vjjprd can be used in connection w.ith such mieguidod, and; unreasoning men — and in a .moment blood was flowing from many wounds. Tho accounts'givon of tho assault by those who witnesspd 4t r all agree as to ils brutal nature, and great was the indignation excited by it. This is no place to expatiate .upon the amount of blame to bo attached to individuals or parties, all that can bo done hero is to ro ; count tho results so far as at present known. Four men were taken to' the Hospital. Of theßO, one, a middle-agcu man, whoso Dame we could not ascertain, but who had been seriously cut about tho head, did not remain at tho Hospital,, preferring to bo treated by his own medical man 5 another named Archy Armstrong rocoived a comDOund comminuted fracture of tho ulna and the humerus, aleo a sovcro scalp wound; a third, named Robert Houdcn, received a severe scalp wound w - divided an artery, tho wound being a clean cut an inch or an inch and a half long ; and a fourth nurnod Alexander Huaton must havo received a frightful blow , upon tho temporal bone, for bis ear was dreadfully smashed, and his check greatly swollen. Dr Prins was soon in attendance upon the patients and expressed an opinion in favour of tho ultimate rocovery of I all, should no unfavourable symptoms appear. Fears wore at first entertained that Armstrong's limb would have to bo amputated, and concussion of the brain is to bo feared in tho caso of Huston. Besides tho wounded men who were taken to the Hospital, two were taken to Dr. Prinß, one to Dr. Doyle, ono to Dr. Ned«ill, and several to Mr Biggs'a shop (lato Ellisdon's, in High (street). Immediately upon the police re&siyivg information of tho affair, In-

epector Broham, with the " sick-leave " men, hastened to the spot, the number of men at his disposal having been seriously diminished by the necessity of drafting 20 constables under Inspector Hickson away to Timaru, from which place a telegram had been received at three o'clock in the morning anticipating a disturbance of a similar character. These men wero despatched by Bpecial train at 6 o'clock. This appears ts have been known to some of the attacking party, as a voice had been heard to call out, " No bobbies in town." On Mr Broham's arrival he called upon the crowd to disperse, and finding his appeal ineffectual he sent for the Rev Father Ginaty, who promptly arrived upon the scene of the disturbance, and induced some to go away with him towards the Catholic Church. Up to this time only one man has been arrested. His name is Michae M'Avey. 'lhe officers of tho Society resolved at once to return to tho Orange Hall, and again to march through the city.