IRISH LAND TROUBLES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2064, 16 December 1907, Page 2

IRISH LAND TROUBLES.

SERIOUS CATTLE-DRIVING. United Press Association —Cop/right LONDON, Dec. 14. Sixteen persons were bound over at Ballinasloo to keep tlie peace for cat-tle-driving. . Four farms at Tulsk, loubaro, and Sliockstown were cleared of cattle, despite the efforts of tlie police. A “WHITE BOY” IMPRISONED. (Received Dec. 15, 4.34 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 14. Thomas Smyth was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment at Wicklow assizes on a charge of “whiteboyisni.” He delivered a letter which threatened a woman’ life unless she surrendered two farms she recently purchased. Seeing the woman was not afraid ho fired two shots over her head. STATEMENT BY MR. BIRRELL. GOVERNMENT NOT INACTIVE. LEGISLATION PROMISED. (Received Dee. 15, 4.34 p.m.) LONDON, Dee. 14. Mr. Birreli!, replying to a landlords’ deputation at Dublin, declared that cattle-driving was illegal and indefensible from every standpoint. He denied that the Government had stood by with folded arms and had taken no active stops to suppress it. Of 225 persons bound over none had offended again. The graziers had failed to assist the nolice. The agitation was not to be allowed to affect the price of land. Legislation might soon be forthcoming to break up tlie Roscommon and Galway grass lands, and so increase the number of those on tlie soil. The Government bad refrained from enforcing the Crimes Act for reasons which he was quito prepared to state at the proper place and time.