RIOT AT WANGANUI

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9045, 17 May 1915, Page 5

RIOT AT WANGANUI

ANri-GE-fiMM^fEELIMG SHOPS WRECKED AND LOOTED BY EXCITED CROWD ' THE MAYOR INJURED. DISTURBANCE LASTS FIVE HOURS.

Special to the “Times.” WANGANUI, May 16. la the past Wanganui has been able to pride itself on the absence of larrikinism in the town, but on Saturday ovenne a disturbance took place; which must rank as one of the most, disgraceful of its kind ever witnessed at any place in the Dominion. Ever since the war started there has becnj ft very strong feeling here, as elsewhere throughout the Dominion, that the Government has been altogether too lax in its treatment of Austrians and Germans, and that all male enemy subjects if unnauralised should bo interned, and if naturalised placed under surveillance. The Lusitania outrage following on other fiendish acts by the Germans, has accentuated that feeling, and the climax came on Saturday evening when the shop occupied in the Avenue bv Mr C, Heinold, pork butcher, was completely wrecked by a mob. Mr Heinold, who has been in business here for seme twelve years, is «, naturalised Britisher, a prominent member of the Leidertafel, and a wellconducted. good citizen. It is alleged, however, that ho has been rather in'discreet on occasions in his references to the war, but whether this is true or .not, rumours to that effect have gained currency, and us usual _ in such -oases have lost nothing' in circulation. During the last week it was reported that his shop , was to bo raided and he himself and two Shop hands, both Gormans, received type-written warnings from someone signed “Lusitania.' 1 The two shopmen became scared on Saturday mormig, and gave themselves Up to the police with the request that they should be interned. Mr Heinold Shut up his shop about 5 o'clock and went homo, but this did not deter who were bent on mischief. About 8.30 in the evening came the first signs of trouble, some stones bo- • Sng thrown, smashing one or two of the windows. Other stones were thrown at intervals from. the crowd which was Gradually swelling in size. It was not until after 10 o'clock that matters be-eame-serious, however. , The crowd by Ibis time must have numbered about 1500. The police were present in Jorce, hut were powerless to check the stone-throwing which was indulged in Until every particle of glass was smash--2d to pieces, and even the window nashca had been knocked out. The icane was one which almost beggars description. The crowd made repeated rushes towards the shop, yelling “Lusi- ■ Annin 1” “Down with the Germans! etc., keeping up a fusillade of stones, bombs, and crackers the while. If e .policeman crabbed a stone-thrower the crowd immediately charged the man in blue, and he was compelled to let go his hold, occasionally being toppled ■aver.

■ ,A RAID ON HALLENSTEIN’S., i'ihout 11 o’clock the crowd made a /ush down the Avenue, and when opr posito HaJlenstein’s establishment at ; the corner of Ridgway street and the Avenue, stones were thrown smashing all the valuable plate-glass windows. Rack the mob then went to Hemold s, and; looting of the contents of the shop commenced. Soon the place was cleared of everything, including the scales, the cash register and some poultry which was in the hack yard. During the bombardment the shop windows adjoining suffered considerably. THE MAYOR ASSAULTED.

The Mayor (Mr Mackay) attempted to address the mob from a balcony opposite, but got no further than to say, “Fellow-citizens, I appeal to you In the name of British justice”—when he was counted out and several stones were thrown, also a shower of bombs and crackers. One of the bombs struck Mr Mackav under the eye, inflicting a nastv wound, while one or two of tlio police were bit with stones. It 'was a wild, disorderly mob, and the ilamaET© done must run into hundreds of pounds. ALL THAT WAS LEFT.

Tills morning the only thing which could bo seen in Heinold’s shop was the counter. It was fully 2 o clock before the streets were cleared of the rioters, many of whom went homo laden with hams, saveloys, and other goods. It is said that other demonstrations will be made until such time »s the Government wakes up to a realisation of its responsibility in the matter. .... Many of those who participated in Dbe rioting declare that they were not ■actuated by any feeling against Heineld so much as by resentment at i the snninenees of the Government in allowing enemy subjects so much freedom. They further say that if the Government does not take any action Jn the way of interning enemy subjects "then thov intend to take the law into ithoir own hands. ANOTHER ACCOUNT. Pros.*) Association. WANGANUI, May 16. Riotous scenes wore witnessed in the streets last night, the storm centre being a pork butcher’s shop occupied by a naturalised German named C. Hein old. Early in the evening a crowd gathered outside the premises, which, in consequence of persistent rumours, was closed and tho lights extinguished. By 10 o’clock crowd of several thousands was in the vicinity, and feeling was running high. A series of ugly rushes was overpowered by the police, but the , plate - glass windows wore smashed hv a fusillade of stones. The •Mayor tried to address the crowd, but was howled down. During the riot the plate-glass windows of the Melbourne Company’s drapery premises adjoining wore also smashed. Bv 11 o’clock Hoinokl’s windows in both tho upstairs portion and the shop had been completely wrecked. The culminating scene was witnessed when a territorial in uniform climbed on_to a verandah above the ind hoisttd the Union Jock amid great w jnent, the crowd singing tho National Anthem and patriotic songs. At this stage the unruly element in the crowd commenced to shout, “What about the others?” A wild rush was Started for Hnllenstein Bros., a threestoreyed building at the corner of the •Avenu« and Ridgway street, a block nwav. Here iill tho windows were smashed. During the stone-throwing

the Mavor. who was bleeding from a stone wound in the face, again addressed the cro'.rri, and urged them not to disgrace the town, and to be British. The rioting continued till midnight, vhen the stone-throwing gradually cea-sed. Uno youth was seen to deliberately throw a full-sized brick at Hallenstein’s windows, and all the plate-glass windows in these premises were subsequently smashed. The crowd proceeded along the street to the Bristol Piano Co-, where two windows were broken. At the height of the trouble feeling was intense, and there were threats to wreck the premises of quite a number of shopkeepers. The police handled the situation with tact, but were powerless to prevent damage being done.