A DISORDERLY CROWD.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 6, 9 January 1899, Page 5

A DISORDERLY CROWD.

DISTURBANCES IN LYTTELTON,

PRISONERS RESCUED.—A COWARD-

LV MOB,

Fights in* Lyttelton on New Year's Day (says the 'Lyttelton Times' of January 3) are of more or less frequent occurrence, but the disturbances that took place yesterdajr!: were of a more serious nature than usual, and the police who were on duty had a very rougli time in tho afternoon. The trouble began comparatively early, when Constables Pratt and Christie, who had arrested one man for creating a disturbance, and another for inciting him to resist, had to take their prisoners to the police station by a circuitous route in order to avoid the crowd, but the rows reached their height between 5 and 6 p.m. Constables Hastie and Flewellen had arrested,one man for fighting and had to hasten back to assist Constable Moore, who. was meeting with very stubborn resistance from a rowdy in London-street. A large crowd had quickly gathered and the constables and their prisoner were rushed from London-street to Norwich Quay and then back into London-street again. Here they were jammed into a doorway, and a little girl was crushed between the prisoner and the. police. She was in danger of being seriously injured,, and in order to prevent an accident the police had to let their man go. „ V,

Meanwhile Constable McDonald had been endeavouring to arrest a burly Maori in Canterbury-street, and Constables Flewellen. Hastie , and Moore went to his assistance. The crowd followed and again sided with the disturber of the peace. The constables were quite powerless against such overwhelming numbers, and in the struggle the Maori made his escape. Another man who had taken an active part in the row was, however, secured, and with this prisoner the policemen were carried into the shop of Mr J. Milnes, bootmaker.. Here they were kept in a state of siege for about a quarter of an hour, pending the arrival of reinforcements. During this time many of those in the crowd, which outnumbered the police by at least 100 to 1, were pleased to make remarks about the 'cowardice' of the police in remaining under cover, while some of the braver spirits on the outskirts of the crowd were throwing stones. One of these struck Constable Flewellen on the head, inflicting a very severe bruise, while in a struggle which took place by the door of the shop, Constable .Moore had his right- arm badly spraiued. Several windows were broken during the stone-throwing. One man made himself particularly noticeable by his frequent appeals to the crowd to rush the shop.

Tn marked contrast to the behaviour of the genera] body of people was the conduct of a fireman belonging to a Union Company's steamer and* one or two Lyttelton residents, who did their best to assist the constables, and did not hesitate to use their fists when^ ever the eroAvd became too pressing. Finally. Constables Pratt, Hayes and Connell arrived on the scene, and the prisoner! was taken to the police, station, a hooting and groaning crowd following. Other arrests were subsequently made, and by seven o'clock the lockup contained twelve prisoners, some of whom will be charg-ed with committin"- breaches of the neace and others with, inciting to resist- and assaulting the police.