NOW A QUIET AFFAIR

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12856, 8 October 1912, Page 5

NOW A QUIET AFFAIR

LATEST NEWS FROM THE " FRONT." (Per Press Association.) WAIHI, Oct. 7. Non-workers and women in different parts of Waihi were early astir long before the hour for starting at the mines. Knots of pteople assembled in places where they expected to see the workers, women with perambulators being also in evidence, arriving with others from the outskirts of the town. Groups gathered in the street opposite the Central Hotel, in the vicinity of the railway station, at points along the line of route.

AVomen turned up in greater numbers, the chief points of attraction being thi foot of the company's No. 2 shaft and the mine road leading up from Sedc'cn Street, and the company's xail.vay crossing opposite No. 5 shaft. The vicinity of these places was occupied by a - large crowd, its numbers being nuch greater than on Saturday, and as has been the case latterly, women wore in the majority, and took a much more active part in the demonstration than the men.

As soon as vehicles containing workers hove in. sight, the women sprang into activity. A chorus .of "boohooing" emanated from them as the vehicles passed. Mixed expressions of feeling were manifested by different factions as the' company's brake with 30 odd workers crossed the street. A number of well-known loyalists cheered heartily.

The whistle at the Grand Junction ■mine sounded this morning, for the first time since the commencement of the strike. Several men responded to the call. They are to be engaged at the power house.

Workers at Waikino are having an <?asy time with the pickets. They are m a vast majority, and frequent billiard rooms and other places of report wffhout 1«» or hindrance. When, pickets eivt-er tho billiard room and se© any workers there, they retire, and l:*e is becoming, so monotonous in the busy town that they are anxious to get out of it.

Twenty-four informations have been laid against persons in connection with the recent demonstrations. A man named Meagher was arrested this morning on a charge of using obscene language. . Following the official statement supplied to-day by the union, an additional number of men who resumed work to-day is thirteen, .qf whom six are actual underground workers, making at total number of miners who have started since Wednesday, seven. The other four men, have had underground experience, but are prevented from working below for health reasons. Seveil members of the union have started, of whom at least two are unfinanciaJ. The additional number have been drafted in from Waikino, but there are no accessions to the actual strength. Mine officials declare themselves as satisfied. .