The Bedyke Evictions. WHAT THE AGENT OF THE O'CAL; LAGHAN ESTATES SAYS.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 213, 30 July 1887, Page 5

The Bedyke Evictions. WHAT THE AGENT OF THE O'CAL; LAGHAN ESTATES SAYS.

The ftgcnt of the O'Callaghan estates, at Bodyke, & b,ich ha-Me been the scene of the late evictions, writes to the " Times, " stating thai almost ./ill the tenants held under leaee^ .at judicial rates, made by Land Courts. Thvy paid rcni legularly until the National League incited them to demand 30 pet' ceot. reduction. Even then many of the tenant* paid their full rents secretly, Amd had their receipts dated back prior fco the League mandate, and some went so far as to implore that ejectments be served on them all, though they had paid their rent. They asked this 'in order to avoid League vengeance. The whole resistance, the agent bays, was due to the action of tenants. In final negotiations nineteen tenants offered to accept the proposal to pay L3lB, in lieu of L 902 due, but Father Hannand denied the oiler, on behalf of the tenants. In conclusion, the agent sayss : "I lutac not the least doubt I could ha\ c effected a peaceful settlement but for the mischievous interfeience of outsiders. ' Seveial of the tenants arrested at Bodyke for resisting the oilicers have been sentenced to prison nb hard labour for teims ranging from ono to three months. After being J sentenced they were taken to Ennis Station under the escort of police. Crowds of sympathising pooplo gathered and cheered them, and became so domons>tmtive that the police were ordered to charge and disperse them. This they did with a will, and plied their batons so vigorously that several of the people were severely injiued.