Mr A. B. Worthington

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXII, Issue 7001, 27 September 1897, Page 3

Mr A. B. Worthington

SOMETHING LIKE A RIOT.

(BY TELEGRAPH.)

CfißisTcncF.cn, September 27. Last evening, between 6000 and 7000 people congregated in Lichfield street in the neighborhood of the 'Jddfcllow3 Hall, where the man WorthiDgton was lecturing. Inspector Broham and a force of 40 police were present. W orthington, at the conclusion of his lecture, got into a cab, when a rush was made fcr it by the crowd, and groaning and hooting were indulged in. Amid a scene of ereat excitement the crowd forced the police back till they got within a few yards of the cab, while the dense crowd in the street blocked all possible chance of the cab making headway. The yel'ing and groaning continued, and it appeared as a strong probability that the police would be overpowered by the excitement, and the cab overturned and the occupants seriously injured. A consultation took place between the magistrates, after which Mr Bsetham. S.M., mounted the box of the vehicle, from which elevation he proceeded to read the Riot Act, some hooting while the proclamation wa3 being read. Mr Beetham then gave instructions to the police to disperse trie crowd, and the people, giving way before the advance of the mounted troopers, moved on to the footpaths, leaving the street perfectly clear as far as the intersection of High and Manchester streets, where traffic again was blocked. Eventually the cab turned round, and with two constables on the box was driven to Washington's house, in Colombo street. Here a large crowd assembled, but there was no demonstration, and the police remained in the vicinity till the crowd dispersed. Great praise is due to the police, who exercised the greatest forbearance and coolness throughout. Three arrests were made. Three young men were charged with hooting and groaning in connection with the disturbance in Lichfield street last night, before the police court this morning. After hearing evidence the bench thought that the action taken by the police in advertising the meetings only aggravated matters. They did not thtnk with the Inspector of Police that the aftair wa3 of the importance which the presence of all the police force in the city and suburbs seemed to show. One man was fined 03 and the others were discharged.