§ SIR HENRY SELWIN-IBBETSONasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been called to the disturbances which took place at Wanstead Flats on Saturday last and the destruction of property which then occurred; and whether he proposes to take steps to prevent the recurrence of such riotous proceedings?
MR. BRUCEreplied that no such disturbances as were at first anticipated took place. A meeting was held about half-a-mile from the place where the disturbance was expected, and it was conducted in the most orderly manner, the speakers urging that no act of violence should be committed, and the meeting concurring in that view. The meeting dispersed very quietly, and a large body of police, who had been sent to preserve order, also left. There was, on a different part of the common, a Volunteer review, and a considerable crowd remained watching the operations, and when the Volunteers left the field they were followed by the greater part of the lookers-on. A small body of men remained sitting upon some rails, which had been there for some 12 or 20 years, and which were not at all the subject of the present controversy. By some accident a portion of these rails were broken, and a disorderly mob employed itself in destroying a large part of the remainder. The few police who were on the ground did their best to prevent this, and a force of police had been left on the ground, sufficient to prevent the recurrence of any outrage. But he wished it to be understood that he did not connect the outrage with the proceedings of the meeting, which were perfectly orderly.