THE IRISH WAR AGAINST RENT.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2244, 25 November 1886, Page 3

THE IRISH WAR AGAINST RENT.

A correspondent sends to The Times an account of an eviction in Weatmeath, which shows in a notable way the attitude of tenants under the teaching of the National league. The story is told in the words of the Right Rev. Dr. Nulty, Roman Bishop of Meath, taken from his address to the people of Mullingar in the cathedral last month. Some 30 years ago Mr Hevey bequeathed a largo sum of money to build and endow a college for the free education of the children of Mullingar. Until the year 1880 every tiling went on prosperously. The principal tenant on the estate belougmg to the college is Mr Hugh Duignan. The following extracts are from the Bishop's address : — " They (the people of Mullingar) were all awaie that in 1880 the tiustees of the He\ey charity felt compelled to take action against Mr H. Duignan. For many years before Mr Duignan was a most respectable man and n most satisfactory and punctual tenant. He never omitted paying his rents until he got involved in pernicious habits. (The Land League was founded in 1870.) Vio\n that day forward he ceased to bo what he had been, and consequently in ISSO lie owed the chaiity £800. The trustees felt they had no alternative but to evict him, and they did proceed, and carried out the eviction. Then he promised solemnly that if that debt was remitttd never again during his life would the trustees have any reason to complain of him." The Bishop and one other trustee voted against reinstating Mr Duignan, but the other three voted for it. " Hardly a year elap.sed, when Mr Duignan lapsed into his former habits— non-payment of rent, 110 (Mr Duignan) was told if ho thought the rent unreasonable he might go into th<> courts, and if he was not bati&fted to go into the courts, let him appoint one arbitrator and the trustees would appoint another to decide whether he was paying too much ; m fact, he would do nothing at all." The tiustees then had the farm valued by two "intelligent, upright, and disinterested gentlemen. ' They valued the faim as woith 2s an Jiero more than Mr Duignan was charged. Mr Duignau was then asked by the tru&teet. what he proposed to do. His answer, which they took down m writing, was thus— "To blot out the sum then due by him (and that was £923 up to May l^t last), to reduce the rent of the land to half what he was paying for it. and then he would pay a half-year's rent on the reduced scale in Autrnst, and another half-year's rent the following April." (Counting the £800 arrears in 18S0, Mr Dui.?nan's arrears are at present £1,725). The trustees could not accept Mr Duignan's proposal. But they said "They would be satisfied if he sold his goodwill in the land, for which, as they were informed by credible and intelligent judge, he would get £1,500 or £1,600, or perhaps £1,700, and all the trustees required in return was that lie would pay back one-third of the sum he owed, which would be a little more than £300, and thus they were remitting to him over £1,400 at the expense of the poor of Mullingar. He (Mr Duignan) scornfully repudiated the.se terms. Mr Duignan dared them to put him out. Ji.it Ijc has been put out notwithstanding, and (says the Bishop) it is my Kirn conviction he never will be restored." The trustees have now to manage the farm during the six months allowed an evicted tenant to redeem.