The Newcastle Emeute.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7399, 15 September 1902, Page 2

The Newcastle Emeute.

Partial Confirmation of the

Original Story.

A Masterton trooper, who has -just returned from South Africa, informs tho Masterton Daily Times that there is a considerable amount of truth in the report that a free fight took place at Newcastle between the Colonials and " the Tommies". For some time a bad feelinE had existed between the Colonials and tho Kegulars owing to thfi officiousness of tho latter whilst doing police duty at the termination of tho ■ war. The fracas practically started with the "Tommies'" interference in trying to prevent some men of tho Ninth New Zealand Contingent—already in receipt of their discharge—from entering the hotels at Newcastle for the British " Tommy " on police duty has power to Btop an undischarged soldior trom going into an hotel and can, if needs be, arrest him for disobeying orders in doing bo. After the passage-at-arms between the Ninth men and the " Tommies " in this particular, feeling ran high, and one daj aa a member of tho Tenth New Zealand Contingent was walking the streets of Durban with his tunic opsn, a ■' Tommy" on police duty roughly ordored him to button it up. The New Zoalandor resented the insolent manner in which he was addressed, and politely told the " Tommy " to mind hia own business, wboreat the latter, in his great indignation, struck the Colonial over the head with a suck. A fight ensued, and a number of the Munster Fusi iers went to the aid of the " Tommy," while the Ten|h boys and some Australians took the sido of the New Zealander. Then tho fight began in earnest. This was about half-past two in the afternoon. Several Colonials woro "run-in" and this brought tnoro Australians to,*he relief of tho New inlanders, whilst a general melee ensued, Colonial:"officers taking part in the nffair as well, bo bitter was tho ieelipg aroused. It was not till Dight, when tho armed picket wag brought out that the fighting was stopped altogether. One enterprising photographer at Newcastle tools, aoine anap^botß of the fight, and .in one, a WBlfcknown Masterton. troopefeis gsen holding an officer's coat, while the lafftir is ia^he.'hiok of the fray. Our informant sajs ho doos not. know whether liiymen were Id led, but two Fusiliers ..were taken to tho hospital ia a very prs« oari.us condition. The light was the common talk of tha towa, and oui- ta.formant says he does not know- tow'4^ cams to be huahed up.