THE GRETA DISTURBANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 236, 6 October 1890, Page 3

THE GRETA DISTURBANCE.

ATTACKS ON NON-UNIONISTS.

A message from Newcastle regarding the violent scenes there on Monday 'last Bays: .—At Greta there are several large heaps of Bmall coal which ab the present timo is very valuable. Mr Huntley, a gentleman well known' in the trade, has purchased ib, and a sbarb was to have been made this morning with poa-Uaion labour to place ib

in trucks. In the heaps there are bebween 10,000 and 12,000 tons of small coal, which is discoloured by water, bub beyond bhab is in good condition after some few inches of outside which has been exposed to the weather is removed. The coal is commanding a ready sale at prices ranging from £1 to 25s per bon delivered in Newcastle, and ib will bake 20 men over a week bo fill it into bhe waggons. Mr Huntley, aftor purchasing the coal, waited upon the Defence Committee in Sydney, and informed them that if Union men would do bhe work he would give them any reasonable wages required. The Commibtee, after deliberation, wanted to know if any of the coal would be placed on rion-Union

ships ; and as the owner would not pledge himself thab ib would n«ib, his offer was refused. The miners' executive were informed by bhe Greta men bhab they were ready and willing to do the work ; bub, as no guarantee could be obtained thab the coal would not be placed on board ships carrying non-Union crews, no arrangement was made. The purchaser was then compelled to securenon-Union labour, and aboub 20 mon, accompanied by a posse of police, lefb Newcastle by theNorthernmaillastevening. t'When the non-union men reached Greta a crowd, which had assembled at the station to await tbe arrival of tho train, turned off the gas and surrounded the non-Unionists, hustling them off the station. Having gob them oub ib is stated that bhe newcomers were stoned and scattered all over the place. Three of the non-Unionists were, ab the railway station and refused to leave, stating that thoy would not come to do thab work again. Tho men came back to tho station, some badly knocked about; one poor fellow was covered wibh blood. The mob ran about seeing if they could do any more.

SEVERAL SHOTS WERE FIRED, and sticks and stones were freely used. Two men returned to the station badly knocked about; only 11 of them could bo found when the message left. It has nob been ascerbained if anyone had boen injured by the revolver shots. Several nonUnionists were armed and fired in selfdefence ; tho police did nob fire. When half-way between the station and sheds, as tho non-Unionists were walking bo camp, stones were thrown at them, and ib is said two shots were fired from a pistol, after which the non-unionists ran away in various directions. The police found 11 of them, who were protected at the railway station. Some of them say they will return to Newcastle. Three of those found had been hit with stones, but nob seriously. Inspector Brehnan, on being informed of the above facts, gave insbrucbions to Sub-inspector Duffy and a posse of police to proceed by train about 3.30 this morning for Greta. Latest reports from Greta state that all is quiet bhere to-nighb. Sixteen free labourers who lefb here last nighb returned to Newcasble this evening. Some of them express their intention of leaving again for Greta to-morrow, when the work of filling smali coal will bo commenced.