THE LAST SCENE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXXIII, Issue 275, 6 December 1899, Page 3

THE LAST SCENE.

WAYLAYING A TAMMANY OPPONENT. HOOTING, FOLLOWING, & FLOUfrBAGGING. HUESTHOUSEITKS TO THE EESCUE. A DEMONSTRATION IN THE STKEET. CHEEES DKOWN THE GBOANS. AN OVATION TO THE EDITOK. ESCOETING~HIM HOME. •• GOOD-NIGHT AND UOOD LUCK TO-MOBEOW." The final scene of last night's proceedings was that as soon as the Editor of this emerged from the Theatre be was followed by a mob cf hooting men sad boys. They tied aa he turned occasionally to see them run, but closed up as soon as he resumed his cool slow way along Waimea Street into Bridge Street, «ear the "Mail" Office. Flour was thrown in considerable quantities, but no election eggs. The demonstration was extremely hostile, and though the editor was not touched his son was knocked down, as described, and struck two blows, one behind the head, apparently with a atone. Aa already stated, a rush was immediately made to the rescue of the young fellow, and among those who gave friendly aid ■were two young men who are supporters of Mr Graham. • » » Tho flour-bagging, and hooting, and groaning continued till several of Mr Harsthouse'e young supporters (including a lusty lad with a fine fog-horn of a voice, intended by nature to cheer at elections oe the right side) pushed through the crowd and formed themselves into a bodyguard. Up went the crowd of two or three hundred along Bridge Street, past the centre of the town and the Queen's Gardens into Tasman Street towards Hardy Street, cheering for Hurathouse and the Editor, intermingled with groans for the latter, and cheers for Graham. The police, which had done excellent service during the evening in maintaining order with marked impartiality, also formed part cf the escort, and by the time the etlitor's own gate was reached the Grahamites had thinned off into a minority and the Hursthouseites cheered lustily for their cause, for their Candidate, for their Paper, and for its Editor. •. • * That half-hour was worth the living The spontaneous cheers of those fine young lads who wore champions of f air play, and who knew that this journal was battling for and being persecuted for the Bight, were more precious than a king's ransom ! And the bitterness of Seddon-ite-Tamniany abuse was swept away, as beggar's lialm is cleansed from a stream when the fresh conies ! * • * At his door, bidding his escort goodnight, tho Editor thanked them for their kind hearty support, and fcr their tribute to honesty of purpose. He said the battle of to-day was not against Graham, but against Seddonisin — against ' political corruption — against tyranny veiled under a pretence uf constitutionalism nnd aham Liberalism— against political favouritism in tho public service which was a wrong to the rising generation— and against the insidious attempt to rob as of our birthright of political freedom. " Good Night and Good Luck to the Good Cause tomorrow," and more cheers, intermingled with a few feeble grains ended a memorable scene. . Yet again did the Hursthouse boys cheer, and onco again when some members of the Opposition Committee, headed by Mr Cock, came to make final arrange ments for the battle to-day j and the lads left, laughing, hoping that he who had been christened " Doctor" last night by the virulent tongue of the Seddonian henchman -of the theatrical display woujd bu one of the " Undertakers" to-day.