An elevated view of Post Office Square as mounted Special Constables (many of which were volunteer farmers from the Wairarapa and Horowhenua Districts) head towards Queen's Wharf. They had arrived in Wellington following a maritime strike that at this stage had been going on for several weeks; ships in the harbour had been waiting to dock and transfer goods and were unable to do so without the wharf being staffed. 

The Special Constables supported non-union workers and assisted Police in dispersing crowds and securing the waterfront. Many then volunteered to work the docks as 'free labourers', taking over the striker's jobs in order to protect the shipping trade.