A COMMOTION.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume XXIV, Issue 2145, 21 April 1897, Page 2

A COMMOTION.

On »«ndey night all seemed orderly enough, but it appears an altercation toek place in Lavaud street between two w*il known residents and th« police, resalting in the former being ran in. The word was passed round, causing intense exfitomont j and the two magistrates resident in the neighbourhood (Messrs McGregor and Weetenra ) were at once sent for. Tb<? police opposed bail being granted to the co-termed offender?, Messrs Auguete and Jule Lelievre, the latter ef whom had been accused of drunkenness, and the former of ebetrnciing the. police.".'; a. large crowd assembled, and feeling ran very high, so high that when stones were thrown on the roof of the station the magistrates came out, and Mr McGregor made an address to thoso assembled, warning them of the results of resistance to constituted authority. The crowd were most orderly, and withdrew from the immediate vicinity of the station ; bat some men brought a big blue gam log and dropped it opposite th« gates. The magiftratee accepted bail for the appearance of the aocnsed, &nd they Were released, aad so trouble wae arerted, cheers being given for the gentlemen who had got the men oat of the lockup, and groans for the po'ice. The situation was exceedingly strained tor a time, and the cool firmness of Messrs McGregor and W estenra is worthy of special commendation. Yesterday the accused were brought before the Court, and Mr Potts, who appeared for them, applied for a remand in order to procure witnesses. A charge w»s also laid against Constable Alexander Scully for aeetmlting one of the accused. The Bench, in granting the application for a remand, pointed out the dire consequences of resisting the police and assembling for unlawful purposes, and read several elausea of the Criminal Uode Act bearing on the question. The case was then adjourned for eight days, it being understood that it will ultimately be heard before the Stipendiary Magistrate.