POLICE V. BLUEJACKETS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 3440, 23 May 1898, Page 2

POLICE V. BLUEJACKETS.

DISGRACEFUL STREET FIGHT. A serions aff'ay took place in Willis street at about 10 to last night between ft party of bluejackets from, the warships in port and the police. It appears that two or three seamen belonging to HMS. Tanraugi were behaving in a disorderly manner. Constable McLeod remonstrate! with them, but to no purpose, and then tried to eff ct an arrest. Wen tVie seamen set upon bim. They are alleged to have kicked and otherwise eerion-ly injured the constable. A telephone message soon brought assist-a-ice fr«m the i»>lioa station, and more .•.i* ior* Lurui g up vwno t-» k tneir m.-asmvt side), tbe melee became general. Several of the police were injured and two Seamen arrested— one for obstruction and the o*her for assault The rest of the party of bluejackets managed to mike their escape, aud, hurrying down to the landing stage, were soon pulling away to their ship. The telephone was again brought into use, the police having to obtain the Harbourmaster’s (Captain Johnson s) permission to use the pilot boat. This was obtained, and sergeant O'Donovan, Acting-Detectives Broberg and Nixon and Constable Williams proceeded to the Tauranga to make further arrests, the last-mentioned officer, who was engaged in the row, being certain that he could identity some of the law-breakers, as they were covered with mud and were much cut and bruised by the stand-up they had recently been concerned in. Constable MoL?od, who was injured rather seriously, was conveyed to the Lmyira Hotel, where he was attended to.

The originators of this disgraceful set-to were under the influence of acirtk iu a more or less degree. .• No further arrhsta have been effected.