Mr. Lachlan MacDonald, proprietor of Skeabost and Bernisdale. Skye — and brother-in-law of Mrs. MacDonald of Dunach — was on Friday, 30th alt, presented with an address by the crofters on his estate in recognition of his generosity in cancelling the arrears due, and in allowing the tenants to fix a fair rent for their crofts. The tenants met in the old schoolhouse, Bernisdale — Rev. Joseph Lamont, F.C. minister, presiding.

Addresses were delivered by several of the crofters suitable to the occasion. The two oldest crofters on the estate gave a history of the estate during their recollection, contrasting the present node of life with what it was in their younger days, but more especially contrasting the treatment of the tenants by the landlord in those days with the present, and in every instance the present showed more favorable. Other speakers gave an account of the negotiations between Mr. MacDonald and themselves at the time he so generously cancelled the arrears, and asked them to value their own holdings. In some instances, where he considered they had valued their lands too high themselves, he reduced them still further. In the course of the proceedings it was mentioned that on its being represented to the proprietor some time ago that the land attached to the Free Church manse was too limited in extent, he at once agreed to give an extended holding for the minister's use. and further, that in Mr. Lamont's (the minister) absence from the country when the other crofts were valued, Mr. M'Donald wished it to be valued along with the other crofts, the minister getting the benefit of the reduction as well as the crofters.

Messrs. Myles MacInnes and J. G. Mackay. Portree who were present. were asked to address the meeting.

Mr. MacInnes said that coming from the neighbouring township to the farm of Mr. MacDonald of Ord, Skeabost’s father, and knowing the history of his family, he did not expect anything else from Skeabost but a kindly interest in his people. We had many Martyrs in tbe cause of Land Reform, but Mr. MacDonald was the latest; he was being martyrised by his brother landlords for what he bad done, but it was better for them to go and do likewise.

Mr. J. G. Mackay said, that what Mr. MacDonald had done gave them an example of the treatment of their dependents by the old Highland Chiefs in the days when they took a fatherly interest in their people, and occupied the true position of Chief, in being the fathers and councillors of their people before they got their heads fall of Saxon ideas, and their veins full of Saxon blood, Mr. MacDonald was a true chief, a native Skyeman, having their own feelings and aspirations, and therefore not a mere landlord — a mere grabber of rent - but one who sympathised with his people, and took comfort and pleasure in their comfort. He had celebrated the true Jubilee with the proper spirit, and if that good lady in whose honour the Jubilee was celebrated had acted in the same spirit, the wave of democracy would have stood still for a period. He believed that the days of landlordism were numbered, but the action of Mr. Macdonald had lengthened them, for there was at least one good man found in Sodom. He was very much pleased that they had showed their appreciation of Mr. MacDonald s kindness; and Mrs. MacPhereon, who originated the address and carried it out so successfully, deserved great credit for it. (Cheers).

Mr. Norman MacLeod, teacher, referred to the interest Mr. and Mrs. MacDonald took in education in the district. They regularly visited the public school, and encouraged the children by giving prizes.

At the close, a young lad got up and said he wished to mention that his father, who was in destitute circumstances, had recently applied to the Parochial Board for relief. He was offered the poorhouse, and upon Mr. MacDonald hearing of this, he offered to support him during the remainder of his life.

The people afterwards formed a procession, headed by a piper, and marched to Skeabost House.

The Rev. Mr. Lamont, in addressing Mr. MacDonald, said that was an interesting occasion to the Skeabost tenants. Since he had begun to think of the public questions he always held that a proprietor should feel towards his tenants as a parent towards his children, which feeling indicated the meaning of the word “clan," whether he (the landlord) purchases the estate or inherited it by the law of entail. The tenants were not on an estate by mere accident, but by a divine, well-ordered arrangement. Continuing, he said — You, sir. have taken the opportunity of showing your loyalty to our beloved Sovereign in a far more honourable and satisfactory way than should you have sent direct to Windsor the most costly jubilee gift. While your kindness has struck a sympathetic chord in the hearts of every right-thinking mind, it will not be effaced from the memory of your grateful tenants in this generation. A future generation will recall and bless the memory of the good nobleman. This day they have given expression of their feelings in the only way in which they could possibly do so. I believe they will thankfully and regularly give expression to the same feelings by annually meeting their just obligations. They have to-day referred to the past history of this estate by way of contrast to your kindness since you came into possession. They have requested me as their pastor to read the following address. The address was then read by Mr. Lamont which was as follows: —

To Lachlan MacDonald, Esq. of Skeabost and Bernisdale.- Sir,— We the subscribers, for ourselves and as representing the whole of the tenants and residents on your estate of Skeabost and others, beg most respectfully to tender you our heartfelt thanks for your exceeding kindness and generosity towards us by remitting in this year of Her Majesty's Jubilee, all the arrears of rents due by us to you in respect to our holdings under you, and giving our lands at our own valuation. We also desire to be allowed to express to you our sincere appreciation of and gratitude for your other many acts of kindness towards us at a time when so much misery and destitution exist in our midst and in the island, in consequence of the depression of trade and agriculture, conjointly with want of employment. We trust that the harmonious and happy relations presently existing between you and us may always continue, and that you may be long spared to have control over us as our much-respected landlord.- We remain year respectful and grateful servants, Joseph Lamont Chairman. The address was also signed by all the crofters on the estate. The address, which was beautifully framed, was handed to Mr. MacDonald by Mrs. MacPherson, the Skye poetess.

Mr. MacDonald, in reply, said he was exceedingly obliged to his tenants for presenting him with such an address. What he had done was not from any feeling of vanity or from the love of popularity. There was scarcely anything he hated more than catering for popularity. He was particularly glad on their own account that the address was presented to him. It would be an answer to the enemies and to some friends of the crofters who represented them as ungrateful creatures. The following day, when the estate accounts would be closed, these accounts would show an unprecedented state of matters on that estate, and he believed on every estate in Skye as not a single crofter would appear in arrears. That would be the best justification of what he had done. Mr. Lamont, he said, complimented him on allowing the people to fix their own rents. He would like it to go forth that the honor of the transaction rebounded to the praise of his crofters as much as to himself. They had shown their honesty in the matter, and that no more than their forefathers were they actuated by the love of gold. Their forefathers refused a large sum rather than betray their Prince, and they had acted nobly and honestly in the way in which they valued their crofts. When he asked them to fix their own rents he told them it was perfectly immaterial to him whether they value! them at a 6d or £1 per acre, and they showed their honesty in the value they put upon their lands, which was not lower than the average rents fixed by the Crofters Commission. If all the crofts in Skye were valued at the same rate it would be found that the rents were no higher than in olden times, taking into account the 30 per cent. redaction that had recently been granted on big farms. In conclusion, Mr. MacDonald said that the address would remain in Skeabost House as a memento of the good feeling that existed between himself and his tenantry.

Refreshments were served to the people, and the proceedings were brought to a close by the Skye poetess singing a Gaelic song composed by her for the occasion.