...
CO
數
OF Y
Hon. Colonial Secretary.
1st June 1900.
Annexed
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35220
63
REC Real 20 UCT 00
I attach copy of P.S.Langley's
report dated lat. inst., On receipt of telephone message
-
from him that firing was going on, but that he was un-
able then to state the cause, I hired a launch(no police launch being available) and got ready an armed party
; to take with me to Aberdeen, but by the time the launch
,
was ready to start, he was able to tell me the cause of
the trouble, and as everything was then quiet, and no
harm done, I thought it better not to interfere. Later
in the night the firing was renewed, but as it seem
ed unlikely that any injury would be done if they were
left alone, while interference on the part of the police
on
in (especially if - a launch) in their then excited state-
would probably do more harm than good, I thought it best
po take no further steps till morning. No injury was done,
I think P.S.Langley actéd with pluck and judgment. I
i thought it would be hard on the junk people to prosecute
them wholesale for acts which they committed in a genuine
feeling or panic, but I had them warned that they certain -
ly would be punished if they repeated the offence.
On the 3rd. inst., a launch apim
proached Aberdeen and caused a little commotion, and one
junk fired off a cannon. The master was promptly arrest-
ed and the Magistrate fined him $200. This taught them
a lesson I hope as there has been xa no more trouble. I
have delayed reporting for a few days to see how things
9/6/00.
$
would go. Everything is quiet now I am glad to say,
and the
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junks have resumed their ordinary business. The rumour
has also subsided now in the town. I regret to say all attempts to get at the original of the rumour have been
unsuccessful.
(sd) F.J.B.,
Actg.C.S.P.
Oct!