SERIOUS MINING RIOT.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9397, 25 March 1898, Page 3

SERIOUS MINING RIOT.

Sir John Forrest Assaulted.

(By Electric Telegraph— Copyright.) (Per United Press Association.) (Received March 25, at 9.45 a.m.) Sydney, March 25. Sir John Forrest, Premier, and a Mm isterial party returned here after opening the railway to Menzies. A deputation waited on the Premier, with reference to tho alluvial mining difficulty. Yfhen the Premier's visit was fixed the miners began to flock in, and when the train arrived with the party fully ten thousand miners with bands and bannerp gathered at the railway station. The Governor went on to Coolgardie, but Sir John Forrest went to Wilkie's hotel, where he received a deputation of diggers who hooted him all the way, and then attempted to take possession of the hotel. The police, however, frustrated this, and an appeal was made to the Premier to repeal the ten feet regulation and release the men imprisoned at once. After listening patiently Sir John Forrest said the men had made out a better case than he originally thought they had. The men imprisoned had defied the law, and must purge their contempt and apologise. Tho delegates present seconded this suggestion. Sir John Forrest said the men persisted in stating that they were obeying law and order. If so, they must obey the Court's decrees, and he would not be bustled into any action. He must have the law obeyed. Regarding amendments of the law, he said he would consider it in Cabinet and give on anawer in a week. By this time the crowd outeide had become turbulent, and several of the deputation went ont to try and pacify them. One of the Bulong residents said — " Sir John, allow me to tell you your answer is most unsatisfactory. We want your opinion on the 10ft regulation, and also a definite answer to our 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, also to visit View Lake and the 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, and it was impossible to get the door open. By this time the Premier was much knocked about. The warden seeing the Premier's life was in danger read the Riot Act, and ' mounted troopers rode the crowd down and galloped away for muskets. By the time they returned the door of the station had been forced and the Premier having got through the door it was barricaded against the mob. ! The Premier having entered a carriage the train steamed towards the Boulder, but hearing that the rails had been torn up the train returned to Kalgoorlie and thence to Perth. Sir John Forrest says hois sorry he came here. A meeting of ratepayers has been called to protest against the insult offered to the Pr9inier. The language used by the rioters was most violent. It is the most serious mining riot since that at the Eureka Stockade at Ballarat.