THE SITUATION AT LYTTELTON.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8901, 4 September 1890, Page 3

THE SITUATION AT LYTTELTON.

{Peb United Pbess Association.)

Chbistchubch, September 3.

At dinner hour a man was sent from the Berica to get beer for the non-union labourers, but the pickets followed him to the pablichouses, where beer was refused, and the man returned to the ship without any. As the Wanaka came alongside the wharf today some boys were throwing potatoes at one another, when a potato accidentally fell close to Captain Meades,who thought that it was thrown at him, and shouted out that he would put a bullet into someone. The men became enraged, and it looked as if a serious row were brewing. The matter was, however, explained, and the labour pickets cleared the wharf. To-night as some of the non-union labourers ■were leaving Chri3tchurch station on their way ■to the temperance hotel, where they board, they ■were considerably " barracked " by a crowd of young men, and it is stated that mud and stones <were thrown at them. One window in the hotel and one in the Kaiapoi Woollen Factory close by «were broken, but from the report made by the police, it appears no one was hurt in the crowd, though Mr Stead complained to the resident magistrate that several of the party were struck, Mr Turnbull, manager of the Co-operative Association, also states that the disturbance arose through an insufficient supply of police. The committee of the chamber of commerce jnefc to-day, and decided to convene a meeting of .employers of labour to consider the advißableinesß of establishing an employee' association can Friday next. The Wanaka got away for Wellington at 6.30 P.M. At the meeting of the Lyttelton Harbour Board to-day the following notice of motion was given by Mr C. W. Turner:—" That the Harbour Improvement Committee be requested to report as to the powers of the board in connection with the employment of labour on the ■wharves at Lyttelton; to report to the meeting .of the board which is to be held this day fortmight."