BOYCOTTING IN NEW ZEALAND.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1175, 5 September 1884, Page 3

BOYCOTTING IN NEW ZEALAND.

Some time ago Mr George M'Kao, a settler of Mangawhare, Auckland, complained of a species of prosecution and spoliation to which he was subjected, and by which he lost several valuable animals through malicious mutilation, and that he was continually missing articles from his farm in a mysterious manner. His fencas were also frequently broken down so that the cattle of neighbours grazingon the road got into his fields and injured his crons. Finding that no redress followed his complaints to the local Road Board and the police, Mr M'Kae hit upon a nlan of employing a man to act as private detective on the fa-m. this person kept vigilant watch, and has been successful in obtaining such information as will it is hoped, secure immunity from lawless acts and all annoyance in future. On a recent Thursday a small farmer in the district was seen in the act of taking the rails from M‘Kae’3 fence : and there was also a strong suspicion that he had abstracted a numof eggs from a nest which were m'sa ing, but, being marked with a date, could be easily identified. Information was conveyed to Sergeant Green at Onehunga, who with Constable Haslett, at once set out to search the suspected party, William Atkinson by name. He was known to be a powerful rud desperate fellow, hence the need for all the police obtainable, who were also reinforced by M ‘Kao. These precautions proved not in vain, Atkinson’s house was searched the result being the discovery of stolen fence rails,, marked eggs, and also various sarpenters tools missed from the farm. ■ On the Sergeant proposing to take

hi m in charge, Atkinson declined to go, refused to put on his coat, and., made desperate resistance to being hand ended. Ultimately he was ovei*pow ered, and the “darbies” clapped on his wrists, but not before he had serious y kicked the constable. His legs were then tied, and M'Kae having provided a dray, t' e vio eit prisoner uttering wild threats of vengeance, was conveyed to the Onehunga lock-up. There his violence continued, and he had to be manacled to a ring' bolt in the floor to keep him comparatively quiet. On Saturday the prisoner was brought up at the Onehnuga Police Court, before Dr Scott and Mr T. Ball, J.P.s., when the larcenies being clearly proved, he was sentenced to four months imprisonment, and for assault ing the police he gob two months’ additional, making six months’ in all. The “private detective” has succeeded in obtaining other information which may lead to several other parties in the district being charged with offences against M‘Kae.