AN UNPOPULAR SPEAKER.

Evening Star, Issue 10430, 27 September 1897, Page 2

AN UNPOPULAR SPEAKER.

THE RIOT ACT READ.

CHRISTCHURCH, September 27. Last evening between 6,000 and 7,000 people congregated in Lichfield street, in the neighborhood of the Oddfellows’ Hall, where Mr Worthington was lecturing. Inspector Broham with a force of forty police waa_ present. Mr Worthington at the conclusion of hia lecture got into a cab when a rush was made for it by the crowd, and groaning and hooting were indulged in. Amid a scene of great excitement tho mob forced the police back till the crowd got within a few yards of the cab, while the dense crowd in the street blocked all possible chance of the cab making headway. Tfio yelling and groaning continued, and there appeared to be a strong probability that the police would be overpowered by the excited mob and the cab overturned and the occupants seriously injured. A consultation then took place between the magistrates, after which Mr Beetham, S.M., mounted the box of the \ chicle, from which elevation he proceeded to road the Riot Act. There was some hooting while the proclamation was being read. Mr-Beetham then gave instructions to the police to disperse the crowd, and'the people, giving' Way before the advancing mounted troopers, moved on to the footpaths, leaving the street perfectly clear as far as the intersection of High , and Manchester streets, where the traffic was again blocked. Eventually the.cab turned round, and with two constables on the box drove to Mr Worthington’s house in Colombo street. Here a large crowd assembled, but no demonstration' took place,, and the police remained-Jn -the vicinity till the crowd dispersed. _ Great praise is due to the police, who exercised the greatest forbearance and coolness, throughout.- Three arrests were made. .

,Tho three young men who were charged with hootipg and groaning in connection with the disturbance in Lichfield street last night were brought before the Police Court this morning. After hearing the evidence, the Bench said they thought that the action tanen by. the public in advertising the meetings only aggravated matters. They did think, with the inspector of police, that the affair waS;of the importance which the presence of all the police force in the city and suburbs seemed to show. One of the accused,was fined 6s; the others were discharged. ._ ' : ' :