THE FRACAS IN SHORTLAND STREET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 177, 7 June 1864, Page 3

THE FRACAS IN SHORTLAND STREET.

\ hstkhdav morning, between !• and 10 o'clock, the ineii-id'-wars-inen to the number of 70 or SO, c,-une ashore in their ships' boats, bringing with them a large ship's hawser. They proceeded lo Ihe olliee of the i\V«' '/jcitltun/cr newspaper, expressing their determination to pull down the premises on account, of an article headed " Te Papa Ceniclry," which appeared in the Jtnr 'Aratmutrr of Saturday last, and which rellectcd upon them, stilting that at the ali'air of the <!ate l'a. they cruelly deserted Captain Hamilton, of the ' Ksk,' who was killed. Tliev had already entered the building and had passed the rope in at one of the windows of the upper story, and out at the other, with intention of puiling down the front of the olliee, w hen AI r. cwman passing by, remonstrated with the men, and at the same time sent to the Police Olliee. .Mr. Ccorge Graham immediately left the lb-neb. and proceeding to the spot, some thing likca parley took place between Ihe boatswain and one of the reporters of the paper, w ho was present, the editor and proprietor. .Mr. John Williamson, not. having yet arrived at the olliee. The reporter, we believe, gave a promise that the objectionable article should lie publicly apologised for by 12 o'clock, and that the name of the writer (a correspondent. we believe at Tanranga) should be given up. W"itli this the men went away, iieelaring that unless these terms were kept, they would pull the building down. Towards noon. Air. John AYillianison arrived al the olliee. and made application lo the Commissioner of Police Ibr support, which was, we believe, atlorded. and lie stilted that he would hold himself ill 110 way bound by his employee's 1 romise. The Commodore was communicated with, and sonic otlicers of the nien-of-w,-ir in harbour waited 011 Mr. AYillianisoii, stating we are told, that they could not restrain their men if the apology was not made, [n the course of the day. the following apology was printed and issued by the -\rir '/ntlamtrr, and tlie name of the writer of the objectionable article was, we are (old. though we can scarce believe that the editor of any paper would he guilfy ol such an act, given up. Mr. Williamson slating that the article had been published without himself lirst reading it. St iv 'Ai'ii/'iinler Olliee, .Monday illuming, June 0. " A VISIT TO THE I'AI'A CKMICTItV." With reference to an article from "Our own Correspondent" headed its above which appeared in Ihe .V 1 ir /fiitamlrr of f-'aturilav Inst, we are requested by seamen of 11.M.5.5. 'Ksk,' to publish the following statement, made hy ihem al ourotHee this morning : — " The attacking party fell in, Colonel Hamilton and the otlicers in charge of the battery. Alter the attacking party went up lo the pa the men were wavering ill tiie Centre of the pa. .Some time afterwards Ca]> tain Hamilton walked up, and had no sooner done so than he fell, four of his 111111 dragged him down oil' the parapet into Ihe pits, thinking t lint the pa would be their own. Tliev tried to lift him, hut lie was too heavy, ami in the l-Usli tliev were dragged away from him, and only his cap and pistol brought out. "The panic was not caused by the Naval lirigade. I!v a mistake of ihe C.Slh rushing in on the opposite side ol t lie pa a panic was caused amongst those in possession of the pa. The 'retire' was sounded, Ihe ollicer exclaiming, 'Cood Cod! they are coining in thousands.' This was the cause ol Hie panic." 44 John I'. Beck{;tt. (^uuru-nnastcr." AYe have given the particulars as we have heard them. AYe refrain from comment lor the present until we have heard the full particulars of the case w liich the -Y< ir '/jrahindcr alone is able to