POLITICAL DEMONSTRATION

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 11, 17 September 1874, Page 3

POLITICAL DEMONSTRATION

That portion of the Press which has espoused Mr Vogel's cause in the matter of Provincial Abolition manifest a very nervous anxiety to induce their readers to believe that the policy they advocate will be hacked up by the. voice of the various constituencies throughout the Colony. As time is allowed for reflection, however, it is not at all unlikely the voice of the people will be the other way. As an example of the feeling in certain quarters we give from the Auckland 'Evening Star' the ' following abridged account of the burning of effigies in that city :— -

On Saturday night the streets of Auckland were enlivened by one, of those popular demonstrations which not unusually mark strong political indignation. At the close of the public meeting on Thursday evening it became known that it was intended to burn in effigy the Premier of New Zealand and several of the supporters of his resoku tions, for aggrandising the South Island by the subjection and spoliation of the North, Those members who from their connection with Auckland were re-, garded as having betrayed the cause were especially obnoxious, and expecta-? tion was on the tip-toe' for the anticipated event, Shortly before nine o'clock, the crowds began to move towards Upper Queen- street, and soon j that portion of the thoroughfare was choke full and impassable, with an amused and excited crowd. Presently torches were seen gleaming, and an express van appeared bearing figures that to the people for a time seemed real. The horse wa? draped in black, and on him was seated an e&gy 0 f Mr Yogel, bearing a remarkable resemblance to that statesman. Mr Yogel was bareheaded, his hair characteristically parted in the centre and shining with tar. In the front on the waggon stood a tall figure, a fair representation of Mr Reader Wood, and by his side a figure bearing not a bad resemblance to Mr William Buekland. In the rear stqod two other figures, one representing in face and figure Mr Creighton, and by his side a somewhat gaunt figure with the -right hand holding an eye-glass to. his eye, in the left a pail. This figure bore the name of Mr Luckie. The figures were all life-size, and being properly clothed, and, . excepting the leading figure, having hats somewhat battered on their heads, presented the most grotesque appearance. The excitement and amusement of the people was of the. most uproarious description. The crowd must have numbered five or six thousand. The pose of Mr Yogel would make Solomon laugh, The Premier's left hand was fastened to the reins, and he had some loose attachment to the tail-board of the vehicle, so that his motions were free and unimpeded. He swayed forward on the horse's neck, then swung up majestically, while his) right arm from some peculiarity at the elbow-joint, swung out from time to time at right angles, as if he was addressing the crowd. The motion of the horse's head on the reins made him appear as if he was driving like fury, and with the oratorical demonstrations of the right arm the effect was indescribably amusing. Mr Reader Wood stood up majestically, the motion of the vehicle making him nod his head at the people as if in disapprobation. Mr Budcland looked stern and fierce. Mr Creighton. appeared to hang his head, and keep his hat down over his eyes. 4 On passing the ' Cross'- office the crowds groaned vigorously for Mr YogeL Over the newly macadamised portions of the street the shaking of the vehicle gave extraordinary animation to the figures, and Mr Yogel seemed frantic in his efforts at keeping his steed to the work. By the time the. procession had reached the Barrack square proximity to the Premier had led the Grbwd to undue familarity with Mr Vogel,,and several had been lighting matches and poking Jhem against his clothing. At length these amateur attempts disturbed the order of the programme, for the; fire reaching the. combustibles ,in his iv? wards the Premier was in a blaze. With difficulty they severed- the couplings, and the blazing minister was flung to ihe ground on bis back. The procession

proceeded, leaving Mr Yogel to his fate.. Mr Luckie still; looking back through his,, eye-glass, "as if in regret that in death they should thus be divided;. Oh .Mr Yogel touching earth he was rushed on by the crowd, who struggled round his blazing form. At length one caught him by the' arms, and another bythe hind leg, and like a rocket or. a shooting' 'star, . the Prime Minister was seen soaring heavenward, coming down qu the sward with a thundering' thud; Mr Yogel burned well, and long" after all his followers had been consumed ; a crowd stood around bjs remains., the fumes whereof they persistently affirmed were distinctly sulphurous. After unshipping the Premier the procession had proceeded, but ife was soon apparent that the impatience of the crowd, manifested by sticks and other missiles projected at j the heads of the figures, would not en- ! able the conductors to ■ carry out the original plan. ' The gallows, with ropes and hooks, were among the furnishings of the funeral car, but lambent flames running up the coats presently showed that the amateurs were again at work, and that the legislators must be taken to earth, or the destruction of the equipage would he the result Already the form of Mr Wood was wreathed in flames, and efforts were made to detach him from the fixings. At length he was seen shooting skyward, the drip- j ping tar making it unpleasant to his bearers. Mr Bucklaud was brought to earth wrapped in fire. He burned with extraordinary, rapidity, so that nobody durst go near him. Mr Creighton, after being battered a bit, was left to burn out in a corner. Mr Luckie kept his eye-glass up to the last, and even \yhen his head was knocked off by a backhander from some enthusiastic .admirer of a free press, the right hand. bore aloft the eye-glass opposite to where the eye ough t ■to be. Mr Luckie burn ed slowly and died hard. The last dying speech of each,. as well as the gallows and ropes were in readiness, but owing to the earnestness of the amateur assistants the after part was curtailed. At length, after three ringing cheers for Mr O'ftorke, and three for the ' Evening Star,' the crowds dispersed.