THE REASON OF THE RAIDS ON THE DEER.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1750, 26 January 1888, Page 3

THE REASON OF THE RAIDS ON THE DEER.

(By J. 8 Stuart Gieunie, MA) Of the 406,000 cores of the island of Le.Wls, of whtoh the widow of the late Sir Janet's Matbe' 01 is the sole proprietor 350,000 sores are regularly let for shooting, and of those some 200,000 acres are stricly preserved. Toe forests cf Aline and Park, the scene of the late raid* on the deer, comprise 105,000 aores, and were created by very extrusive olearaooes of the peopla from the parish of TJig and of Lochs, Owing to this the people of Loobs have for many years past had their hearts set on the restoration of Park and Aline for holdings for the hundreds of families who were rendered landless by the clearances are always on the verge of destitu ion, and are now m a state of semi starvation through the fail ore of the fishing this year. When, however, a few years ago, the lease of the tenant of Park fell m, Lady Matheicn daolined even to reply to a petition numerously signed tendering for holdings on a portion of the grazings To counteract tbe discontent thus oaased, end the preaching of the leaders of the Land League, who have been earnestly recalling to the people their Immemorial rights, and denouncing the letting of their formerly-posnefised grazlogs to sporting tenants, LstlyMatheson and Mrs Branker, the wife of tho leaif • of Aline Forest, hive been engaged for the.pssLtwo years m forming branohes of tbe Primrose League. And against Mrs Brankar'e Primrose League proselytlsm the L\nd Leaguers appear to be more particularly incensed, as it is remembered that her father, Mf Soott, who want to Harris as a shepherd and roso to the past of factor, carried out tbe most exteneivd evloions that took place m tbe la'ands. Feeling has thus during the past few months b«>en running very high between Lady Matheson's Primrose League and the Crofters' Land League. But it was the trial and conviction of two landless cottars for killing a deer, and who pleaded starvation as thtl; exemo, that caused the immediate cr'nis,

At a meeting held tba vrqek before last, presided over by tha echoolosastsr of Balallan, m the parish of Lochs, the spokesman of the cottars declared that he and his class were face to face with starvation, while ail through the island the beat pasture land was devoted to game and deer ; and he moved that theit representative, Dr Maodonald, M.P., be petitioned to bring In a bill to abolish all those forest b aod game preserves opable of being used f :>r the benefit of the people. An animated discussion ensued, m the oonrae of which it was pointed oat that, with a Tory Government In power and a majority of landlordaand sportsmen among M.P.'s, it was no use looking to the Rouse of Oommoijs for relief, Ths question then arose as to how many families might live comfortably iv th.c fotceta of Park and Aline. An aged crofter (Rory I Mhor) declared that there was Bmple room for 800 families. • 'Let us appoint a deputation to view the territory," suggested one speaker. " Let nn all go ! " shouted another. "And if vro go," said a third * let ue not come back without some venison for out trouble." hear," thundered a broad-chested naval reserve man. " Tbe deer have too long eaten our grass and cur corn, and row let us eat them." A resolution to have a deer hunt was carried by acclimation, and commanders were appointed to lead into antlon a contingent froc each The crofters and cottars, having now so far accomplished their purpose, have retorned to their h< mes But the example cet by the Lochs men is almost sore to be contagions ; and Mr Winan's 400 rquare miles of depopulated forest and other liss extensive deer domains, are not likely to escape similar raids. Thore Is ♦ very indication that, throughout the Highlands and Islands, a resolute attempt will bo made j this winter to assert the people's right to occupy for productive purposes the millions of acres under deer and game Aod it ia to be noted that tbe great meprity of the men of Lewiu particularly havo served* m tho Militia and Naval Reserve. F ncr men there era not m the United Kingdom than these Mestnen, of mixed Oe'tio and None descent. When ■holr blood is up they will not be easily quelled. And they have In their powef very practloal means of resenting injmtioe on tbe part of the Government, m declining to be enrolled ff r the navy or recruited for the array. la the moan* time, they are acted on by ths two most powerful Inoantives to lawless conduot — destitution and a bnrnlng cense of Injustice, arislDg from the faot that their destitution is chiefly caused by robbrry of the lands on which their fathers lived, and ov*r which the f.»d deer now roam.

Mr Donald Macrae, schoolmaster, Ba.l--aUa», by Sfcornoway, hi^s bided a rery pathetic appeal for contribution m moil, other food, and money, to relieve the cerrlble destitution whioh he finds around htm ; and it la to be hoped thai to this ippeal there will be a hearty response. — "Pall Melt Gbz He."