THE RIOT AT LAMBING FLAT.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVI, Issue 1608, 13 August 1861, Page 4

THE RIOT AT LAMBING FLAT.

[From the Sydney Empire, July 3._

The city was thrown into a state of great excitement yesterday, on the publication of our telegrams in reference to the Lambing Flat riot. As it spread from one end of the city to another, the posture of affairs — already sufficiently bad — was very much exaggerated. As might have been expeoted, there was great activity amongst the volunteers, of whom, a contingent of J OO was mentioned as likely to be despatched to Lambing Flat; it turned out, however, that their services were not needed ; instead of men, arms were required, and thirty stand of the volunteers' rifles were 'supplied for the use of a detachment of foot police, ten of whom are now en route for Burrangong,

So fur as we have been able to learn, it appears to be the determination of the. Government to despatch . to Lambing Flat three detachments of military; of this number 40 were sent yesterday, 40 smore, are to be sent to-day, and a similar number will be despatched on. Friday.

Yesterday afternoon the first portion _>f the military detachment above referred to, left the Viotoria Barracks, at half-past three o'clock. It consisted of three offi-

cers—Captaiu Wilkie, one of the Ensigns, aud Dr. Spiers, of the Sikh Cavalry, three sergeants, one drummer, and 36 privates—making in all, 40 men. They ! were escorted to the railway station by their comrades iv arms, headed by the excellent baud of tho regiment. A considerable number of persons — amongst whom were a large sprinkling of females J — followed the troops from the barracks, j aud each street in the Hue of march added hundreds to the living stream, until, on reaching the point of departure, it was augmented to between 2000 and 3000. Somehow or other, although every one desired to witness the spectacle, it was unaccompanied by expressions ofi enthusiasm. The great bulk of the spectators — certainly the more intelligent — expressed regret that the terrible necessity should have arisen for turning British arms against British subjects. The pressure at the railway station to gain a sight of the departiug troops was very great, and rendered necessary all the firmness and courtesy of the officials, assisted by the police, to keep order. When at length, after the usual delays, the military had taken their seats in the special train, and their arms and ammunition had been deposited in the " powder van," a few shrill screams from the whistle, a few faint cheers from a horde of ragged gamins, and the train, with its detachmeut of 40 soldiers and 10 foot police, were soon out of sight. The military displayed an unusual amount of enthusiasm, but the police seemed thoughtful. The former cheered, the latter contented themselves with a few farewell grips of thejiand. It was certainly remarkable that the great bulk of the people were silent. To those accustomed to look upon the faces of the masses of people, the aspect of the concourse assembled at the station yesterday was anomalous ; it seemed as though the mind of eaoh particular individual were balancing certain grave doubts and contingencies, and that no satisfactory solution had been arrived at, At all events, the military and police took their departure — there were some feeble cheers — and the people dispersed to their homes, wondering what would be the result of all this.

Colonel Kempt was on the ground to inspect the departure of the military, who were to be forwarded on from Campbelltown by Messrs. Crane and Roberts's coaches.

The Volunteer Mounted Rifles are to perform patrol duty in the city, during the absence of the mounted police. A meeting of the corps is to be held at Carter's Barracks, this afternoon, at four o'clock, to make the necessary arrangements, ..

We are indebted to the courtesy of Sergeant Brooks, who arrived in Sydney yesterday evening, in charge of the Burraugoug escort, for the following particulars in reference to the riot. He slates that on Sunday night, at about half-past 10 o'olock, about 2000 diggers made their appearance before the camp, and sent some of their number to demand the release of three men, arrested in the early part of the day on a charge of being ringleaders in the recent attack on the Chinese. Sergeant Brooks, who assisted to defend the camp, assem that Captain Zouoh " remonstrated " with the diggers I on the impropriety of their conduct, and that they replied to his remonstrances by firing a volley in the direction of the oamp. The night, however, being very dark, the ground slippery, and the camp situated ou a slope, the volley passed over the heads of the foot police, only one of them being wounded, and that slightly. They immediately returned thefire,.doing considerable execution. Two small divisions of mounted police were drawn up under cover of the trees close by— oue of them under command of Mr. M'Lerie, was ordered to charge, and did accordingly charge, cutting its way through the diggers, it then reformed. " threes-about," aud charged back. The casualty to the division would appear to have been confined to a wound on Sergeant Brennan's wrist ; his horse received four wounds. The diggers reformed aud fired another volley; which was replied to by the foot police. The seoond squadrons of mounted police then oharged through the diggers, formed " threes-about," and cut their way baok again. The diggers then dispersed firing random shots, whioh, from want of precision, took no effect. The whole of the police remained under arms until daylight. The escort left at half-past 7 o'clock on Monday morning. One of the diggers, who appeared to have beeu mortally wounded, was Vying at Dick's publio house ; another had also been mortally wounded, and was lying at another inn. His forefinger was cut off, and he had two desperate sabre cuts on the head. ' .. ; ; Sergeant Brooks thinks, that a great many, of the diggers must have been wounded. 7 , The rioters are in possession; of the court-house and lock-up.