CAMBRIDGE "RAGGING."

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 13049, 14 December 1905, Page 6

CAMBRIDGE "RAGGING."

HOUSEHOLDERS ATTACKED AND POLICE ASSAULTED. In spite of drastic measures taken by the University and town authorities, the undergraduates at Cambridge, invigorated by their performance against the New Zealand foot-' bailers, celebrated the King's Birthday with the most riotous " rag " ever known in the history of the town, causing even more damage than on the occasion when Lord Kitchener was honoured by the University in 1898 (savs the Daily Mail, of November 11). Breaking down the Grant hoardings, they carried tlileiix en bloc to Midsummer Common, where a bonfire was soon stairted with, the broken wood. Window frames, garden scats, doors, gates, kennels, cucumber frames, and over 200 yards of wooden paling went to teed the flames. A large mill 'was broken into and fuel stolen, while bridges over marshy fenland in the vicinity were also wrenched up and piled on to the fire.. - Any policeman or proctor who appeared was attacked, and two constables sustained severe scalp wounds. Many lights took place between the undergraduates and householders. One family kept out the marauders with pokers and buckets of waiter for some timfe, but were finally rushed and the garden was stripped. 'Another householder used tar, which proved more effective. Towards eleven o'clock the police were reinforced, and shortly after midnight quiet was restored. At the Police Court proceedings yesterday morning, M. J. Khan, of Clare College, war, fined. 40s for using obscene language, onid £5 for assaulting a constable. " Toe ; magistrates," said the "Mayor, "were determined, to put. a stop to this sort of thing bv every means in their power." C. E. Martin, of Pembroke, was fined 40s for discharging fireworks on Market Hill. The case of assault against A. M. Great bead, of Clare, wok adjourned. Mr. J. R. G. Stroud, a townsman, was charged with assaulting a policeman, and strong evidence was given on both sides. ' The chairman, in fining the prisoner £, remarked that it, was the presence of respectable people that encouraged this sort of thing, and Mr. Stroud might consider himself lucky that the punishment was not more severe. j