Obnoxious Mining Regulations.

Thames Star, Volume XXX, Issue 9026, 25 March 1898, Page 2

Obnoxious Mining Regulations.

Resented btf Miners-

AN IMMENSE GATHERING.

SIR JOHN FORREST MOBBED,

THE RIOT ACT READ.

Press Association—Electric Telegraph—Copyright

Kalgooblie, March 25

The Governor, Sir J. Forrest (the Premier), and the Ministerial Party returned here after opening the railway to Menzies. A deputation waited on the Premier in reference to the alluvial difficulty.

When the Premier's visit was fixed, the miners began to flock in, and when the train arrived with the party, fully 10,000 men with bands and banners, gathered at the railway station. The Governor .went on to Ooolgardie. but Sir J. Forrest went to VVilkins' hotel, where the deputation of diggers hooted him all the way, and then attempted to take possession of the hotel, but the police frustrated them.

An appeal was made to him to repeal the ten feet regulation, and release the men imprisoned at once. After listening patiently, Sir John Forrest said that the men had not i made out a better case than he had originally thought they had, The man imprisoned had defied the law, and must purge their contempt and apologise. The delegates present seconded this suggestion.

iSir John Forrest said the men persisted in stating that they were objecting to law and order. If co they must obey the Court's decrees and he would not be hustled into any action. He must have the law obeyed. Regarding amendments of the law, he said he would consider it in Cabinet and give his answer in a week.

By this time the crowd outside had become turblent. Several of the deputation went out to try and pacify them. One of the Bulong residents said : " Sir John, —Allow me to tell you that your answer is most unsatisfactory. We want your opinion on the ten feet regulation, and also a definite answer as to the appeal for the four men's release."

The Premier got angry and descended, the stairs of the hotel, intending to go to the Boulder to receive a deputation and also visit .the Lake View Consols mine. When he got outside the hotel he was rushed. Thousands pressed on him and he was hit in the face and bruised inside, despite the efforts of the police. At length he managed to reach the railway station, but the diggers held possession of the station, and it was impossible to get the door open. The Premier by this time was much knocked about.

The Warden, seeing that his life was in danger, read the Riot Act, and the mounted troopers rode the crowd down and galloped away for their muskets.

By the time they returned the door of the station had been forced, and the Premier havirg got through, the door was barricaded again. The Premier, having entered the carriage, the train steamed towards the Boulder mine, but hearing that the rails had been torn up the train returned to Kalgoorlie, and from thence to Perth.

Sir John Forrest says he is sorry he came here.

A meeting of ratepayers hss been called to protest against the insult offered to the Premier.

The language used by the rioters was most violent, and it is the most serious mining riot that has occurred since the Eureka stockade.