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Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 4078, 9 August 1883, Page 2

It is a hopeful eign to find It stated that tho Phoenix Park informers, now in Aua» tralia, were despatched tbither without tho connivance or knowledge of the British Government. This shows that the Home authorities are disposed to cousult the feelings and wishes of colonists in regard to the subject, and are anxious to smooth away the unpleasantnesscaasedby thediscoveryof the informers on board the Pathan, Bat it is hardij creditable that there is auy foundati ju for the statement sought to be advanced, that the informers were tent to Australia through a subterfuge on the part of the local authorities in Dublin; the facts supplying a strong presumption that tha British Government weie fully awai c of the intended deportation and dtstinadou of the witnesses, whom they had. promised to protect from the consequences of their giving evidence. Which. ever way the truth lies, wo have now an admission ihat a wrong step was tuken, and that the Home Government are anxious lo retrace it. Pursuant to orders, the informers are detained on board H.M.S. Nelson, now at Sydney, and oaro will be taken that they are not landed in any of tho Australasian colunies. The informers, though prolesstdly detained for their own protection, are victuallj undur arrest, and while this has only been attained by a slight straining of tho law, who shall say .that it is not justifiable, for the sake of Uw and order, and for the vindication of the light of these colonies to bo protected from the importation of an aggravated form of the Iribh question within their peaceful boundaries ?