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STHE N.Z. DREADNOUGHT.
BISHOPS HOWLED DOWX.
ENDS IX RIOT AND CHAOS.
WELLINGTON, Thursday.
A disgraceful scene took place in
connection with a meeting called b,v
(lie Navy Lcngue, at Cbristoliurcli, to
discuss tlie uiotiou Approving of tlie
offer of a Dreadnought to tlie Admiralty
About 41)00 people attended, and as
soon as Bishop Julius and Bishop
Grime appeared on tlie platform tbey a
were greeted with Irrelevant pleasantries.
.
a
n
The chairman vainly endeavored to
pain a hearing above the shouts raised
l>? a score of hoodlums in the front
scats. The gathering was qulckly
out of hand, and two constables, who
attempted to stay the' lioiBe, were
tossed slx>ut by the crowd like straws.
A TEAM OF FOOTBALLERS
worked a passage In and out of'the
gathering. This caused a paudeinouiuui,
nnd half an hour was wasted
in endeuvorlug tu secure a hearing for
he speakers, hut It was then realised
hat no one had any chance to talk
a
I
f
s
b
t
H
Intelligently to the audience.
At tlii: suggestion of one of the
speakers tlie words "Hands up for the
resolution" were written upon a blackboard
and displayed to the crowd, A
forest ot hands at once flew up
amid cheers nnd yells, and when Mr.
'('. E. Taylot rose in his seat to wove
an amendment he was accorded much
the same reception as .those who had
previously attempted to speak. \
Thereafter the meeting degenerated
Into
A HOWLING HYSTERIA.
The blackboard was filched from the
platform and borne aloft by the supporters
of the motion. This action
was accepted as a challenge by the opponents
and the board swayed hlUicr
and thither and was eventually
brooglit to the ground.
In the mejee that ensued .several free
(Tghts ceoirfred. Then someone held
aloft a Union Jack. This was torn
from him and trampled under foot, but
after violent hostilities, was rescued
and conveyed ro ine platform.
The meeting ended in chaos.
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