CURIOUS SCENE AT AN IRISH AUGTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6063, 23 April 1881, Page 7

CURIOUS SCENE AT AN IRISH AUGTION.

Recektly one of the most exciting scenes witnessed for many years took place at Dungarvan. An auction of 17 head of cattle, seized at the suit of Count de la Poer, Gurteen, for rent, was announced. The stock belonged to a respectable and "well-to-do farmer named Nugent, who had offered the landlord Griffith s valuation. From an early hour of the morning large numbers of tenant farmers were arriving in town, on horseback and in every conceivable conveyance. The early and mid-day trains also brought large contingents, so that when the auction opened at 12 o'clock there were between 2000 and 3000 respectable tenant farmers assembled. A number of detectives were scattered through the crowd and a strong force of military and police under Messrs H. E. Redmond, R.M., and Oliver Milling, sub-inspector, were drawn up near the Pound. Several Catholic clergymen were also present. When No. 1 cow was put up, the auctioneer announced that the cattle would only be sold at a bid exceeding the reserve price. He put up the first animal at £8. The cow was bought by Nugent's friends at £ S 10s. The next animal was put up at the same price, when the Rev. Mr. Power, Clonea asked to have the name of the bidder announced. The auctioneer replied that there was no bidder. He was acting according to his directions in putting the animal up at that sum. . A Voice—l .will, give you 5d for her. Another Voice—ls Id. A Third Voice—4Jd. Here a bid of £S 5s was made by a representative of the Defence Association. The crowd shouted, "Who bid ?" and the man rushed out of the yard and behind the body of police brandishing a revolver. He did not again return. The crowd began to yell and hiss at the auctioneer. Mr. Hudson, sub-sberi/T, said he should order the arrest of some persons who were obstructing the sale. Mr. Milling, sub-inspector—l have taken their names and will have them summoned. All the cattle were bought by Nugent's friends, which tended in a measure to allay the intense excitement. VYhen the the last two cows were being sold a wag requested the auctioneer to put up the two bailiffs. As the cattle were driven to the railway station, in charge of Nugent's friends, the crowd followed cheering lustily. An information had been sworn early in the day before H. B. Redmond, Esq., R.M., to the effect that a riot would take place if the cattle were purchased by strangers, and that several persons in the assembly were armed. A number of agents of the Defence Association were present armed with revolvers. One arrest was made.