A STREET DISTURBANCE AT AUCKLAND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 13946, 1 January 1906, Page 5

A STREET DISTURBANCE AT AUCKLAND.

[Per Press Association - .] AUCKLAND; December 31. A rather serious riot took place iiV Queen Street on Saturday nightj resulting in the arrest of six young man, the various charges being wilful damage to property, assaulting the police and inciting to assault. The trouble arose concerning payment for a meal at the Zealandia Dining-rooms. A young man on coming out was asked to pay, but said ho had paid down below. The, waiter denied this, whereupon he was struck in the face. Ho struck back, and soon a crowd assembled outside, and the windows of the dining-rooms wore smashed with stones. By this time an excited crowd of about 2000. ■ persons had assembled, but the actual rowdyism was confined to a number of young fellows between about eighteen and twepty-five years of age. 'The police did good work in quelling the disturbance by getting in among this crowd, and none of the police were injured, but a bottle thrown from the _ crowd cracked one of the fine shop windows of Smith and Caughoy, i drapers. A crowd followed the constables up to the station, and again commenced throwing stones, one window being broken, but- the police wore equal to the occasion. Water hose had previously been got ready, and was suddenly turned upon the excited throng. The cold water worked wonders. It injured no one. hut it was none the less effectual in dispersing the riotous assembly, and gradually the city quietened down without any further being done. Apart from this dietur-\ banco Saturday night passed off quite \ peaceably, notwithstanding the great ’ crowd which 'had gathered in the city.