this reputation was one of the reasons the ponsonby police barracks were built on ponsonby road near the intersection with karangahape and newton roads. this was the second most important police facility in auckland and was positioned there to enable a mass of police to be on hand to quell anything in freemans bay or newton gully. virtually across the road from the police barracks was the star hotel (corner of karangahape and newton roads) this was a centre of union activity and probable sedition. michael joseph savage gave some of his early speeches at the star hotel.