Nothing eventuating, the Council fixed August 9 on which to do the re-metalling and begin the erection of the gate, Coolies were ordered to be readiness at an early hour top pare the road, digging up and re-prior "to the actual reling, and quantities of crushed stone and other surfacing materials were on hand at the zero hour, 1.30 p.m. They were rushed up in trucks and arrived at the exact While the coolies worked during the morning in preparation, the Red Maria stood by, but at a later hour it was withdrawn from the immediate vicinity and was placed out of sight. Word was received, however, that the Chinese were proceeding en masse to the scene of operations, and Capt. Martin ordered the red van to position in Boundary Lane. During the morning, no attempt was made to stop the workers.
The Chinese approached after the lunch hour, wearing their steel waistcoats, and appearing very military in appearance. The Reserve) Unit as well were in readiness, but neither party made a move.
The Chinese workmen were seized with a panic on the appearance of the military, and retreated frat tically, throwing down their tools fas they ran. Tt will be recalled that only three days ago, Chinese police appeared on Hungjao Road and arrested a P.W.D. foreman while he superintended "work on the Municipal Road there. " Other instances of a similar nature have happened to Chinese employees of the Council, and it would appear' that these deemed prudence Better than valour.
When they noticed the catm demean our of their superiors, they their fright, ing up their tools returned to work, continuing the re-metalling under the supervision of both armed forees, the steam roller in the van.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.