THE LAND QUESTION IN SKYE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume X, Issue 510, 19 January 1883, Page 5

THE LAND QUESTION IN SKYE.

The following in reference to the land dispute in Skye appeared in the daily papers of Monday, Nov 20 :— The land agitation in Skye is assuming a serious aspect. The difficulties of the authorities in maintaining order is increasing, and all attempts to put the law in force have failed. At the Braes, the the scene of the troubles seme months ago, matters are more aggravated than ever. The tenants are defiant, and in view of the threats that have been used the authorities find it impossible with safety to serve the writs upon them. The long delay in this service, which is a practical victory to the crofters, made them more defiant, and now that they have the sympathy of the Glendale crofters and others in the district their determination to resist by force the officers of the law is strengthened. The Invernesshire authorities, upon whom devolves the task of maintaining order and serving the writs upon the recalcitrant tenants, are at their wits end. They applied to the Government to Bend troops from Fort George to awe the inhabitants of Skye, but this was refused, and now they have issued circulars to the authorities in the various Scotch counties and burghs asking for assistance. This, too, in many of the cases where replies have been received, is refused. Edingurgh gave an emphatic refusal to-day, and Aberdeen has followed the same course. What' may now be done it is difficult to say. Meantime the crofters of the Braes are ' keeping vigilant watch and are prepared to repel the sheriff's officers by force, if any attempt is made to serve writs upon them. Their power has been increased by the arrival of the men from the fishing which just closed. It is feared that there will be riots and bloodshed before the law can be enforced. At Glendale the situation, though' less alarming, is strained, and the action of the crofters in beating off the shepherds employed to take charge of the disputed grazing ground has intensified the feeling of the population. It has been decided in the event of the agent for the landlord making his appear* ance, that the tenants should meet in a body and turn him oft the ground. Placards to this effect have been posted. The matter is under the consideration of the Crown authorities.