DISTRAINING FOR HARBOR RATES AT NEW PLYMOUTH

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1742, 17 January 1888, Page 3

DISTRAINING FOR HARBOR RATES AT NEW PLYMOUTH

A VEBY HARD OABB.

The Waitara correspondent of an Auckland paper writiog on the 30th of laat month says ; — " Some exoltement was caused m Waitara to-day m coDaequenoe of the New Plymouth Harbor Board' having distrained upon Mr Thomae Bayly for valae of rent due. which on principle that gentleman had refused to pay. By 11 o'clock about 150 of the nettlers had assembled at the residence, and fthortly after the bailiff (Sargeaut Day) commenced the sale. The whole of the household furniture was sold, the prioes obtained being ridiculously low, A valuable piano, Mrs Bayly's gold watch and chain, some valuable silver cupa won at sports by Mr Bayly's sons, aod even the very dinner that was being cooked- for the family was disposed of to the highest bidder, It being then on the fire m pots that ware sold " with contents " Floor, bacon, butter; etc., all went ; Indeed, after the s%le many wondered where Mr Bayly and his family would find their meals for that day at least. This sale, 1 , farcy, had something of the " Irish evic- | tion" element m it. There is no doubt, I before long, many of the settlers finding themselves enable to pay the iniquitous rate, will be similarly dealt with." In the oourse of an Indignant speeob, m protest against the whole proceedings, at the conclusion of the sale Mr B <yly said that his goods had been sacrificed to meet what he regarded as an unjust claim, a piano which c -st £55 only two years ago, realising 5s ; two silver cups, won by his sons, In Auckland and Sydney respectively, realising also the handsome sum of ss, his wife's gold watoh and chain, which cost £30 6s and and all his furniture and | effects, which had cost him upwards of | £600, realising the magnificent amount of £75. He had always protest d against the New Plymouth Harbor Works which he described as a great failure ani added "This time I have given no trouble, but If this sort of thing continues, and I can find men like-minded with myself, we shall m the future go to the utmost extremity and defend onr property with our lives." Mr Biyly was repeatedly oheered during his address, everyone present sympathising with him on the indignities and loss be had been subjected to.