SERIOUS RIOT AT COORANBONG. Police Fire on Their Assailants.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 126, 31 October 1885, Page 4

SERIOUS RIOT AT COORANBONG. Police Fire on Their Assailants.

Cooranbong, October 16th. This evening Inspector Thorpe received a telegram from Mr Mackenzie, stating that a riot had occurred, that the police had been mobbed by a gang of navvies at Cooranbong, New South Wales, that several of the men had been shot, and asking for assistance. Inspector Thorpa immediately sent throe mounted police to the ecene of the riot, under Sub-inspector Lynch, that number only being available, as all the rest were scattered through the district. The police had instructions to take with them a surgeon from Wallsend. Later particulars which have been received state that the disturbance took place at Coulter's Hotel, through the police trying to arrest one of the men for drunkenness. His mates then interfered and rescued the prisoner. They tore the uniforms off the police and surrounded them, so that the police were compelled to fire their revolvers in self-defence. Three of the navies were shot, and one of them is seriously wounded. Both constables were severely maltreated. Three prisoners are now in the lockup, but the ringleaders of the riot have escaped to the bush. The affair has created great alarm near Cooranbong. — " Sydney Herald."