YESTERDAY'S RIOTING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3654, 27 December 1879, Page 3

YESTERDAY'S RIOTING.

At the Police Court this morning tho four men who wore arrested yesterday on the charges of riotoxis conduct and assaults on men who were taking part in a procession, were brought before a full Bench of Magistrates. As the members of the police force had been on duty for about 21 hours, Superintendent Broham applied for a remand until Monday, when he purposed to go into all the cases. The application was granted. One of the prisoners applied for bail, which was absolutely refused. The Court waa densely crowded, and outsido thero wa3 an immense gathering, in consequenco of which the men under arrest were brought separately from the dep6t, under a strong escort. The various persons who were charged with throwing stones at Barrett's hotel la3t night were each fined 60s, but in no case was an order made ■ for payment of any proportion of damage, es it could not be proved that any particular missile had caused a breakage of glass. When the remanded men were taken back to the Dep6t they were surrounded by constable?, and the entiro crowd followed a3 far as the gates. Perfect order waa, however, maintained. At noon the special constables paraded in the barrack yard. They wero addressed by his Worship tho Mayor, who, in his official capacity, thanked them for tho loyalty they had displayed, and for the good service they bad rendered on the previous evening. As it was possible that their services might again be required he did not at present purpose to dismiss them. In consequence of representations and appeals which had been made to him by leading residents iv Christchurch and Sydenham ho had that morning conferred with the Chairman of tho Licensing Commissioners as to tho desirability of closing Barrett's Hotel for a time. The -Commissioners had concurred in the expression of opinion, and an order had now been sent down for tho hotel to be closed until .after the new year. The announcement was received with cheers. Superintendent Broham also complimented tho special constables upon tho effective service they had rendered at a time when the police force had been unavoidably weakened. He then informed the men that they would be required to parade at seven thia evening in case their services might again be required. The three injured men in tho Hospital passed an excellent night, und were jjrogreeaing favourably to-day.