EVICTIONS ON LORD LANS DOWNE'S ESTATE.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 125, 28 May 1887, Page 6

EVICTIONS ON LORD LANS DOWNE'S ESTATE.

Extraordinary Seoae.

Further details as to the evictions on Lord Lansdowne's Queen's County property show that during the earlier part of one Tuesday morning small bodies of police were to bo. seen converging on the village of Luggacurren, and by eleven o'clock a force of about 100 men was drawn up in front of the schoolmaster's house, which lias been converted into a temporary barracks. Captain Slack, divisional magistrate, was chief in command, with Major Lynch, R.N., County Inspector Black, and District Inspectors Warburton, ,'Lyde, and Aldworfch. A proclamation, signed " Redvers Buller," had been posted up in the neighbourhood two days ago, warning all persons that by assembling to obstruct the sheriff in the discharge of his duty they would be taking part in an illegal and criminal assembly. At 11.30 a start was made. A body ot police led tho way, then came a party ot about twenty emergency men carrying axes, crowbars, scaling-ladders, corrugated zmc for protecting attacking parties, and every imaginable implement necessary forcarryuig out the evictions. Another body of police brought up the rear, and as tho procession started, the crowd, which had been gradually growing and now numbered some hundreds, set up a prolonged howl. It soon became evident that the house o. Mr Kilbride, one of the largest tenants in the neighbourhood, who had been looked upon as the leader of tho rest in tin; Plan ot Campaign, was to bo the first object ot attack. He has two holdings both under lease, making together 7('S 'statute acres, rent L 760, valuation Ll'24, and he was offered a reduction of 20 per cent. Ihe byroad leading up to his house being obstructed by trees which had been felled across it, tho attacking party made their way across the fields," some delay being caused by crossing a brook. Tho officers in command insisted on the crowd being kept well away from the police, and Father Maker, tho curate' of Luggacurren, was using his influence to keep the people back. As the party advanced they were greeted with defiant cheers from a.number of men occupying the plateau on which the house stands, cheers which were taken up by the crowd in the rear. The house, which is a large building of two stories, containing several excellent rooms, having been reached, the ground around it was cleared by the-police, and tho sheriff knocked at the door. There was no reply, and the crowbar man proceeded to break down the door and effect an entry, which was clone in.tvvo or three minutes, and a brother and sister of the tenant's, who had been standing in one of the lower rooms, walked quietly out. Tlio emergency men proceeded to bring out the furniture, and While the work was going on, Mr W. O'Brien appeared upon the scene, and was greeted with loud cheers by the people. Some conversation ensued between him and Captain Slack, and, with reference to the proclamation which had been issued, Mr O'Brien proclaimed the right of the people-to be present, not for the purpose of obstructing the sheriff, but as spectators, and he said he would guarantee that there should be no violation of the law on the part of the people if they were not provoked ; but they could not give up the right of public meeting and free speech. Meantime the work of removing the furniture continued, and aftor some time it was discovered that ono of the upper rooms was closed and occupied by a number of men. The bar was speedily hacked down, but behind it were several iron gates Chained together and supported on the inside by solid beams of wood and a cart deprived of its wheels, forming a powerful barricade. After some ineffectual attempts to break it down, one of the scaling ladders -was put up to the roof and an entry was effected through tho slates. Mr Kilbride and three companions wero discovered composedly smoking their pipes. Tho timbers formino- the barricade were then thrown out of the window, the crowd setting up a howl as each one fell to tho ground, and, finally, Mr Kilbride walked out of the house, when he was greeted. with loud cheers and many congratulations on the stand he had made. A party of constables was left in charge of the house, and at halfpast one the procession of police and emergency men was re-formed, the latter being received with loud yells by the. people. While the operations had been going on another large force of police, numbering fully 100, had arrived, and were standing on the road a little below the house, bub their presence was practically unnecessary, the crowd showing no disposition to interfere.

.-More than an hour was then occupied in clearing away the trees that lay across the by road leading from Mr Kilbride's house to the main road. Four successive trees ■were tackled by the emergency men, amid howls from the people, varied by a number of witticisms at the expense of the "crowbar brigade." Finally tho road was cleared, and the evicting party marched back to Luggacurren, apparently satisfied with their' day's work. The object of clearing away the trees was not quite evident, seeing that they might easily have been avoided.

A meeting was then held and addressed by Mr William O'Brien and several others, lay and clerical, all of whom encouraged the people to hold out in their struggle, promising them support in their day of trial and a final-victory as their certain reward. The evictions were resumed on Wednesday." About nine families, labourers and sub-tenants of Kilbride, the tenant evicbed on th<_ previous day, were pub out. A strong police force protected the emergency men. Trees were felled to cause obstruction, and the furze on the mountain side set on fire. No special case of hardship is reported.