DISTURBANCES AT KAITANGATA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 7726, 22 November 1886, Page 3

DISTURBANCES AT KAITANGATA.

I Threatening disturbances are reported from Kaitangata in connection with the miners' strike. Mr W. I. Watson tho company's manager, visited the township on Thursday last and on emerging from the railway station ho found himself confronted by nearly 200 men and women, and headed by a band which played the " Rogue's March," whilo tho procession escorted him to tho works. They returned bearing an effigy labelled . " Big Liar," and made a further demonstration, re-forming just before the train was to leave for Stirling. With the evident intention of making things pleasant on the journey, a contingent of the processionists and part of the band took tho train, whiloothers ' of the processionists, with the rest of the band, got into buggies and drove on to Stirling. I Not liking the turn that affairs had taken, Mr Watson accepted tho offer of Mr Kingston (of Messrs Larte and Co.) of a seat in his trap as far as Balclutha, and had proceeded as far as tho Swamp road, half way between Kaitangata and Stirling, when they passed two buggies in which were some of the processionists, headed by the president of the Miner's Association on horseback. When it was discovered who was in Mr Kingston's buggy, the others turned their horses' heads in the direction of Stirling, and ;heu ensued, according to Mr Kingston, a chaso that he does not contemplate with pleasurable feelings. He declares that their pursuers kept up an .incessant howling and blowing of trumpets, but having fresher horses ho was enabled to reach the township sufficiently in advance of them to allow Mr Watson to double them. He put up at the Stirling Hotel, whither the others proceeded, ank spent some time unsuccessfully in endeavouring to discover Mr Watson, and finding themselves baffled, exhibited his effigy and indulged in more vigorous hooting. Mr Kingston expresses the opinion that serious bodily injury, if not worse, would have been 'done to Mr Watson if the men had got hold of him. On the following day the miners waited until Mr Shaw had gone out, and then surrounded the house, which contained only his wife and children, and kept up a continuous row with their band until dispersed by the police. Mrs Shaw is Buffering a good deal from the effects of the alarm. Some additional police were very properly despatched to Kaitangata-on Saturday ■ight.