Police and seamen in serious affray

with the pleasure of enjoying a real sunny summer.

Christchurch: A serious affray between the police and members of the crews of overseas vessels took place at Lyttelton last evening. Constables Baynes and Hislop arrested a seamen off the Maimoa (which arrived direct from New York on Saturday) for using obscene language. The man resisted and his mates closed around and obstructed the police. A crowd collected, consisting largely of seamen and firemen, and the constables were mobbed and very roughly handled. But not only did they succeed in sticking to their man, but they made another arrest. At the height of the disturbance, when the two constables were about exhausted, police reinforcements arrived and as the mob still maintained its attack, a constable slipped across to the police station and returned with a supply of batons. Thus armed, the police forced their way to the station, beating off several ugly rushes by the free use of their staves. At the station the door was rushed, and another arrest was made. Stones were thrown, and so alarming was the attitude of the crowd that a threat to read the Riot Act was made. This apparently had due effect, for the crowd broke up and gradually dispersed. The sequel to the disturbance at Lyttelton took place in the Magistrate’s Court when five firemen from the steamer Maimoa were charged before Mr S.E. McCarthy, SM, with serious offences arising therefrom.