HOKITIKA.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 820, 11 April 1868, Page 3

HOKITIKA.

Hero everything is now quiet. Special con" stables and tho volunteers are on duty night and day, but no further disturbances have' taken place. It appears that on Thursday last tho inhabitants ' of Addisons Flat, arranged a demonstration in in support of loyalty. A procession was formed ' numbering over 700 persons. What followed is ' thus detailed at length :—: — Whilst the Police Court was sitting at Addison'a Flat on Friday morning, a man named Mason arrived from Westport with a severe wound on his ' head, bringing the intelligence that the processiouists in the loyal demonstration on Thursday, who were returning home to the Flat were asaulted about tho middlo of it by a mob of Irish ' Feniaus who with stones and other projectiles in- . dieted severe wounds on several of the party. The women who were at its head were dragged from their horses, and a scene of great confusion' and excitoment ensued.' . The loyalists taking ' refuge in flight, with unmistakeable signs on their clothes and persons of the danger they had fortunately escaped, the report first received wo aro however happy to state, was oxaggerated, and we have great pleasure in reporting that no person was either dangerously wounded or killed ; the attack was evidently premeditated, as tho processionists were allowed to get well into the town before/ the onslaught was mado and no provocation, as - far as wo can hear was given. As far as we are able to learn, no firearms were used, but the Irish • faction were armed with stones, staves, and '• picks. After Mr.'Kynnersley's arrival, with the Inspector aud the. Sergeant of Police, tho crowd — composed, we are told, exclusively of Irishmen — crowded round the Commissioner, who mounted on Daly's shoulders, and made them a Speech, telling them that he was determined to preserve order at any cost, and advised them to disperse quickly to their homes. Tbe Inspector (Mr. Franklin) then made a speeoh, both himsolf and Mr. Kynnersley being listened to attentively, but the crowd were very excited, and were all armed with stones and staves. After some timo had elapsed, the feeling got abroad that the volunteers were going to march to Addison's, with a view of quelling the disturbance, and the feeling was pretty general that the men would rather like a fight than otherwise. There was a good many Fenian heads, however,/' who all this timo endeavoured to preserve tho peace, and, by the latest despatch received, there was every probability of this aim being effectual. During all this being carried on at Addison's, the usually quiet town of Westporb was the scene of the greatest excitement, and tho advent of any passenger with news from Addison's was eagerly looked for. In a short time, so general was tho desire felt of joining any movement for punishing the mob at Addison's, that over 250 people wero sworn in by Dr. Giles, as special constables. Tho volunteers were mustered at the sound of the bugle, ana about 120 fell in. In the afternoon, on the arrival of the first despatch, from Mr. Kynnersley, informing them that the town was quiet, and at present tho volunteers were 'not wanted. No further disturbance of any more serious nature was anticipated to take place last night. The orowd broke the horse's bridle of the first messenger, and pelted him with stones in the/Commissioner, but ho was allowed to go ou his Errand. Watch and ward was being kept at the ground, and no friendly saxon's face was seen in the whole town. Mr. Pitt took tho volunteers round the (own at night, singing as they marched. During tho day nearly tho whole of tho battered men came to town, having been compelled to retreat.