THE CROFEERS AND THE DEER PARKS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2423, 21 January 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE CROFEERS AND THE DEER PARKS.

Wholesale Slaughter of Deer.

As our readers are aware the fact of so large an area of laml being occupied as deer parks, rankles in the minds of the ■icotish crofters, and the following particulars of tin method in which they forcibly show their resentment at such a state of affairs will l>e interesting :—

A Stornoway correspondent states that about two thousand landless cottagers marched at daybreak recently, headed by pipers, from the various crofterships of Lochas parish. Island of Lewis, for Park and Aline Deer Forests. Numbers of them were armed with rifles and tents. Stores and other baggage were taken with their.. The Highlanders intended to pitcli their camp on the mountains for several weeks with the object of exterminating the ileor. They allege that three-fourths of of the parish is waited under deer, while 0000 crofters are starving, portions of land now under deer having been formerly cultivated by the crofters. Another telegram from Bilallan states that the men, having mustered at SeaforJi head, on the Park shooting ground, proceeded to beat the western portion of the forest, driving and killing the deer. The men camped on Tuesday night on the south west side of the forrest. Their otjeot is declared to be the decimation of the Park shootings, as they expert to secure holdings on the ground should the shootings become valueless. Several of the men declare that necessity actuated them, as they have little or no food. A guide was furnished the press representatives by Mr Mackay, teacher of lialallan, who expressed the belief that the men would welcome all publicity. A Stornoway correspondent states that the crofters of the Lochs, Island of Lewis, who were engaged in a raid on the deer forrests, encamped on Tuesday night among the mountains of Park Forrest. At midnight a bountiful supper of venison was served, after which one of the crofters prayed aloud for all who were engaged in this "holy crusade." At daybreak on Wednesday, detachments of the crofters proceeded over the moors, _ and throughout the day there was brick firing in all directions. The slaughter of deer is said to have been terrible, the animals being hemmed in on all sides. Numerous parties of cottars and landless Highlanders joined the expedition on Wednesday from all parts of the pariah of Lochs. Sherill" Fraser and other officials left Stornoway ou Wednesday for the scune of action, and great excitement prevails throughout Lewis.