Irish Disturbances In N.Z. 100 Years Ago

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31984, 10 May 1969, Page 5

Irish Disturbances In N.Z. 100 Years Ago

(Specially written for "The Press" by

J.H. JOHNSON)

New Zealanders are, generally speaking, a law abiding people. Disturbances of the peace are rare and the few riots that have occurred stand out prominently in our history.

Very little blood has been shed and few lives lost, but popular fancy has often embroidered these incidents to such a degree that they have been referred to as “battles.” One such incident is the “Battle of Addisons Flat” just over 100 years ago: and it recalls that in the past, Irish troubles often had repercussions far beyond their shores.

The Irish miners on the West Coast goldfields, and Addisons Flat was a predominantly Irish community, had imported the radical attitudes of both sides of the Irish Sea. The Fenian Riots 'of 1868, which originated in no local political grievance, were the most striking illustration of this.

In the early months of the rush to Addisons Flat bitter feeUng arose between the Orange and the Green, which grew from a trivial incident to a grand affray described by a local historian as a second Battle of the Boyne. This partisan historian described the ferocity of the “Battle” and the magnitude of the Fenian victory: and concluded with the remarkable statement "Addisons from the start to the present day bore the good name of having peaceful citizens.” Pulled Off Horses The affair began innocently enough when two Irish girls wearing Orange colours, Bella Newton and Mary McMorton, attempted to ride through a group of Fenian revellers and were promptly pulled off their horses, (though both girls subsequently wrote to the “West Coast Times” to declare that they had not been molested but merely assisted to dismount). Other miners had been to Westport to celebrate the escape of the Duke of Edinburgh (Prince Alfred) from an assassin’s bullet in Sydney and on their return were greeted: by a hail of stones from the assembled Fenians. Fighting between the rival groups continued throughout

the night and into the next! day, when the side regrouped for what promised to be a more serious engagement. Irishmen from the surrounding goldfields mustered in force at Addisons, while in nearby Westport, the loyalists vainly urged the authorities to allow them to march against the “enemy.” Trouble was averted by the arrival of the local warden, A. S. Kynnersley, whose moderating influence soon restored order.

Kynnersley, in his report, stated: “All the wounds received did not require lOin of sticking plaster, and all the property destroyed would be well paid by a £lO note.” Another said: “There was probably less blood spilt in the ‘battle’ than there-was in the subsequent marathon football match, which was played all day on a stretch of beach between a major part of the residents of Addisons Flat and Charleston.” Hokitika Riot So much for the extravagant claims of the partisan historian of a great victory. The contemporary riot at Hokitika, which was less complicated by the Irishisms of its chroniclers, had far graver repercussions.

On November 23, 1867, three Fenians bad been hanged in Manchester for the murder of a policeman. When news of the hanging reached New Zealand, demonstrations took place and the .anti-Irish sentiment was fanned by the reports of the attempted assassination of the Duke of Edinburgh. The Fenian protest took the form of a mock funeral procession to the Hokitika cemetery, and the attempt to erect a Celtic Cross in iionour of the “Manchester Martyrs.” It was lead by the Waimea priest, Father W. J. Larkin, believed to be a brother of Michael Larkin, one of the three men hanged in Manchester.” Meetings of the “loyalists” were held to coun-j ter the Irish threat and when; both sides began to carry! arms and to organise violence | Hokitika seemed to have become the scene of civil war.: Special constables were sworn! in and armed, and conflict appeared imminent as recruits streamed in from the outlying goldfields. At this stage the Fenian leaders were arrested by Inspector Broham. and they with Father Larkin and the] editor of the “New Zealand Celt” were placed on trial!

ifor seditious libel and inciting a riot. After this action, the rank and file dispersed, but hostility between the factions continued to smoulder. The “New Zealand Celt" was the oddest of Hokitika's newspapers. It was founded in November, 1867, with the apparent intention of righting Ireland’s troubles from Hokitika. Whatever its object, moderation was not one of its virtues. All those arrested were found guilty and sentenced to prison terms or fines. Second Incident The second major incident occurred eleven years later, this time in Timaru. Again the traditional hostility, between the Irish religious factions caused the Timaru Orange Riots of 1879. The local Orange Lodge had announced its intention of joining a procession of friendly societies on Boxing Day. The landlord of the Hibernian Hotel arranged for the South Canterbury Catholics to come to Timaru that day to oppose the march. Police reinforcements were brought in from Christchurch but were unable to prevent the Orangemen from being besieged in the Foresters’ Hall. A magistrate read the Riot Act, but the crowd did not disperse until after the Orangemen had taken off their regalia and had renounced their intention of marching through the town.

While this riot was taking place in Timaru, with most of the Christchurch police in attendance, an Orange procession was attacked in Christchurch outside the Borough Hotel and several Orangemen were badly injured. For the next few days feeling was very tense in both towns. Police had to protect the Borough Hotel which angry crowds threatened to wreck, while tn Timaru strong police and military reinforcements were brought in to guard the town. Fortunately there were jno further serious incidents. ! Bound Over ■ Early in 1880, 14 of those ’involved in the Christchurch j assaults were sent to prison. The Timaru rioters were more fortunate, thanks to a vigorous defence by Robert Stout (later Sir Robert—one time Premier and Chief Justice of New Zealand). They wete bound over to keep the peace. The only fine meted out was to the landlord of the Hibernian Hotel who was fined £lOO.