A MOST DISGRACEFUL SCENE THE ACTION OF A DUNEDIN MOB.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4795, 12 September 1883, Page 3

A MOST DISGRACEFUL SCENE THE ACTION OF A DUNEDIN MOB.

[SPKOIAI TO THH " STAB."] DUNBDIN, Sbpt. 12. A most disorderly scene ocourred at the railway Btation last evening on the arrival of Major Barker, chief offioer of the Salvation Army in Australia. There waa an immenao crowd of people, and great preparations had been made for the arrival of the Major. The army mustered in full foroe, and their brass band, with lighted torches, led the way from the railway station through the crush. -The Major having taken his seat in the '* war-ohariot," a four-wheeled trap, one of the captains rose to give out a hymn ; but at that moment a rotten egg was thrown at 'him with weU-direoted aim. The tinging was completely drowned by the clamour of the multitude, and the procession went anything but triumphantly along Cumberland street and rousd Moray Place to the Temperance HaU, followed by a large and noisy crowd who impeded considerably the progress of both band and the " chariot." The members of the band did all thoy could to strike up a few tunes, but it took them aU their time, to look after themselves, their torches, and their instruments ; and when they did suooeed in playing a bar or two, the little no : se they made was completely drowned by the hooting of the orowd. A large crowd had collected round the entrance of the hall, and completely blooked up the street. For fully half-an-hour Inspeotor Weldon and a strong body of polioe made ineffectual, attempts to disparae the orowd ; tho people swayed backwards and forwards, and a number of women and ohildren received very rough handling. Three or four women fainted, and had almost to be dragged through the orowd to a place of safety, where some of the female soldiers were. One young girl was particularly noticeable, as after the orowd had thinned somewhat, she limped painfully to the rear out of all danger. Several members of the band wore mobbed, and they had an unpleasant time of it. Ihe big drum was in imminent danger, but a thoughtful offioer passed it over the heads of the crowd to a qui«t corner, and the instruments and torches wero carried off in different directions. Shortly after 8 o'olook the polioe managed to make a clearance in front of the Hall, and after this . the crowd gradually dispersed.