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New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIV, Issue 43, 18 February 1887, Page 23

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A football tournament was held at Callan on November 28, the matches being between four Tipperary and a like number of Kilkenny teams. About 8,000 persons were present. Fethard beat Callan by one goal to one point. Pilton and Ballvcullen fought very hard for victory and tied, as did Kilkenny and Grangemockler. Kilcash had scored one goal against Killamory when time was called. , King's CotWTY. — Count O' Byrne has given his tenants a reduction in the rents of 4s 6d in the pound, the Count referring the matter to the arbitration of Very Rev. E. O'Leary, P.P.

Limbrick. — Major Plummer met his Barnagarrane tenants at Newcastle West on November 29 with the view of effecting an arrangement. The tenants stood firm in their demand for 20 per cent, which was finally conceded by the landlord. A horse and nine head of cattle were driven to the Fair of New Pallas on November 26 fiom an evicted farm on the property of Mr. Eoche, J.P., at Rochestown. Having been purchased ere it became known that the cattle were boycotted, the buyer, on heariDg this, refused to take the cattle, and a crowd having collected in the meantime, they were driven in all directions about the fair.

Four hundred men assembled at Liskenneat on November 30 and when the County foxhounds arrived offered such a determined opposition that the dogs were drawn off and the hunting party went off in the direction of Adare, where similar opposition is said to have been encountered. The local branch of the National League has declared its determination to prevent hunting unless the landlords stop evictions and reinstate evicted tenants.

On December 1 Francis A. O'Keeffe, solicitor, was unanimously elected Mayor of Limerick for 1887. He pledged himself that should any dignity or so-called dignity be offered him by the Coercion Government he would refuse it with scorn. His announcement was received with applause. John Dillon, M.P., Wm. Abraham. M.P., and James O'Mara were the names selected to be sent to the Castle for City High Sheriff for 1887.

General Buller has ordered the discontinuance of the police protection force at Springfield Castle, the residence of Lord Muskerry. For the past few years four police have been continually quartered at this residence at a cost of £240 per annum. This having come to General Buller's knowledge, he intimated, to Muskerry that if he wished to retain his guard he should pay half the expense. Against this Muskerry indignantly protested, and refused to bear any expense whatsoever, with the result that the guard was withdrawn altogether, to the great jubilation of the people and the corresponding irritation of " his lordship.'"

The tenants on Sir George Croker Barrington's estate at Glenstal, on Colonel White's at Carroward, on Mrs. Carroll's at Kilfinane, and on the O'Grady and Rutagh properties at Herbertstown, have adopted the " Plan of Campaign " and lodged with confidential trustees their rents, minus the reduction they demand. The tenants on the property of Captain William H. Harkness, at Ardagh, having received Irom the agent, George Hewsou, an instruction that they could purchase their lands under Lord Ashbourne's Act at twenty years)' purchase, held a general meeting to c insider the subject. It was unanimously resolved that they would not purchase at the rate mentioned as it was too high, but that they would be willing to buy at s'xteen years' purchase. Having notified their decision to ttie agent, he refused to sell at the rate, and he stated that he would allow no reduction on the rent, as he was nut empowered to do so.

Longford. — The tenants on the estate of Lord Granard held a meeting on November 30 and resolved to ask the landlord for 25 per cent, of a reduction. The tenants on the estate of Captain Douglas having judicial leases held a meeting and asked a redactiou oa the rents due. The tenants' request was bluntly refused, and they left without paying anything.

On November 29 five hundred police, gathered io all the neighbouring counties, arrived at Longfard by train and by car, and caused considerable bustle and excitement in town. The police, who arrived by train from Meath, Westtneath, and Kildare, marched in three squads of 40 each to the military b macks, where they deposited their arms. Fully one hundred cars (private eais being largely in the majority) arrived from all directions soon after, and also drove to the barracks, where the cars were put up and the horses stabled, whilst the police deposited their arms in the magazine, The town is inundated with police, who are quartered in every obtainable lodging-

house, but have to sleep on straw in the riding-bchool of the barracks.

There are six Distiict Inspectors and two Couuty Inspectors in charge of the me.., aud the whole force is to be assisted by two companies of infantry, which aie to march to the paiish of Newtowncashel to evict 10 tenants who have hitherto successfully resisted eviction. The Government have made the most elaborate preparations to overawe the people, and half a dozen cases of ammunition have been despatched in broad daylight to the Gallaghs, as this district is familiarly known, so as to show the people that on this occasion it will be no mere child's piay.

Louth. — On November 25 the oat mill of Arthur Tiernan, Woodmills, near Colton, was destroyed by fire. Over 200 barrels ot »^oats were consumed, among whi h were 50 barrels of boycotted oats. Neither mill nor corn was insured. Lord Rlassareene, of Oriel Temple, Collon, being recently requested by his tenants for a rent reduction, consulted the estate

agent, Alfred H. Wynne, J.P., who advised a concession to the

request of the tenants. Mas->areene refused to act on the advice of Mr. Wynne, whom he relieved of the duties of his position, and

replaced him by Messrs. Dudgeon and Emerson, the notorious Emergency Association lawyeis.

Monaghan. — Ou November 19 a man named Mcc went to the Shirley office at Carrickmacross to pay his rent. He did not think it necessary to take off bis hat on enteiing that sanctum when about to part with his money. The agent, J. T. Gibbings, on entering, discovered at a glance that this " serf " had the hardihood to enter the office to pay his rent without uncovering bis head. He at once cried out. " Take off your hat, air ; remember you are in the rent office." The man refused. This infuriated "his honor," and he at once directed

McConnon, one of the bailiffs in attendance, to force the hat off the man's head. This the bailiff did with a vengeance, for he tore the hat from the man's head and kicked it into tatters out of the office, to the evident satisfaction of " his honor." He was summoned and the case was heard before the Carrickmacross magistrates on November 26. The agent's defence was that the tenant was " impertinent " in keeping his hat on, and that its forcible removal was justifiable. The magistrates held otherwise and fined Bailiff McConnan 2s 6d, and 10s costs.

William M'Kean, agent for Mr. Kirk, attended at Castleblayney on December 2to collect the rents due on the Laragh estate. The tenants attended in a body and demanded a reduction of 25 pc , cent. Mr. M'Kean stated that he had been instructed to offer an abatement of 25 per cent. This the tenants refused to accept, and left without paying.

Tipperary. — Clonmell corporation at their meeting on December 1 unanimously re-elected Alderman Edward Gantwell as Mayor for the ensuing year. In returning thanks Alderman Cantwell said that next year, being her Majesty's jubilee year, it was expected that honours would be offered by the Government to Mayors and Sheriffs, and that if that were so he would refuse any honour at the hands of Lord Salisbury.

A demonstration took place at Tipperary on December 1 on the arrival home from gaol of an evicted tenant named Bridget Kelly, who is after undergoing a month's imprisonment for going back into occupation of evicted lands at Donoghill, near Limerick Junction . A procession of some 50 cars, in which were men, women, and children, headed by a band, started from Donoghill and proceeded to Tipperary. The processionists drove through the streets of the town to the railway station cheering vociferously. Passing the agent's office groans were given. Mrs. Kelly, having arrived on the platform, was cheered lustily.

On November 28 a splendid demonstration was held about a mile below Kilsheelan in a fine field on the evicted farm of James Rockett. A Government shorthand writer attended. The chair was taken by Rev. N. Dunphy, C.C., President of Kinsheelan Branch, who addresied the meeting in an eloquent speech. Oa the motion of Con O'Donnell, P.L.G., seconded by Patrick Quin, the following resolution was carried :—": — " That, convinced as we are that James Kockett, on whose lands this meeting is held, is harshly, not to say cruelly, treated by Mrs. Hayden, his landlady, we register our determination to faithfully stand by him to the last in his hour of need, and by every legitimate means in our power to procure for him that justice which his case demands."

A public demonstration, under the auspices of the local branches of the National League, was held at Drangan on November 21. The spacious hall of the Drangan National League was crowded to its utmost limits, and large numbers were assembled outside who were not able to secure even standing room inside. The patrotic spirit for which this part of Tipperary is justly famous was splendidly exhibited in the enthusiasm and earnestness of the meeting. The 1,650 acres of evicted land lying idle in the two parishes of Drangan and C'loneeu at present are a most eloquent testimony of the energy and determination with wmch the campaign against felonious landlordism is being conducted there, and th: standard raised at Kilburry in the early days of the eventful agitation, has in no degree been lowered. On the walls of the hall were numerous appropriate inscriptions, including the following :—": — " Liberty," " Valour," " Justice," " Fieedom," etc. The patriotic priests of the parish, pastor and curate, were to the front ; and besides Cloneen and Drangan, Killustry, Ballingarry, Killenaule, Mulhnashoae, Fethard, etc., were largely represented. A special feature in the meeting was the presence of C. H. Meagher, Kilburry hut, aud twenty other evicted tenants.

Westmeath. — The Barbavilla prisoners have not been forgotten, and those who believe in their innocence are striving to procure a review of the evidence upon which verdicts of guilty were procured against them. Mr. Tuite, M.P. has forwarded to Lord Londonderry a memorial setting forth circumstances which have come to light Bince the trials, and which, had they been known to the juries, not have failed to secure the acquittal of the prisoners. The case for the Crown rested upon the testimony of two witnesses, who swore that they were present at a meeting where the alleged conspiracy was entered into. Justice Lawson, in his charge to the jury, made the whole case turn upon the holding of this meeting, and the question thus arose whether the two principal witnesses, the McKeons,who swore that it was held, had had an opportunity of consulting and agreeing upon their story. One of the jurors who convicted, a Mr. Bloxham, has since declared in the following words the importance attached to this point :—": — " I have no hesitation in stating that I would have acquitted the prisoners had it been proved on their behalf that the McKeons had an opportunity of communicating with one another while vi the hands of the police."

Another convincing demonstration of the people's resolve to strike against rack-rents was witnessed at Walsbestown on Sunday (says United Ireland of December 4). Lady Nugent's battle with her tenantry made it appropriate that the meeting should be held on her ladyship's property ; so the platform was erected on a field in its ceutie. Large bodies of the tenantry gathered around the structure, and with these were strong supports of the fiieze-coats from all the adjacent country. The town of Mullingar sent an influential representation of Commissioners and leading men, headed by Dr. Kerrigan, chairman of the local body. Four members of the Irish Parliamentary party took part in the day's doings — namely, the Lord Mayor, Mr. T. Harriogton, Mr. Tuite, and Mr. Donal Sullivan. The speech of Mr. Harrington put before the tenantry as plainly as man could put it the reason why the fight should be a united fight. It is a question of the simplest mathematics, if they stand togt-ther, that the landlords must fail, because not only of the costliness of eviction but the time which the process occupies over large estates.