OUR IRISH LETTER.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 49, 28 February 1927, Page 12

OUR IRISH LETTER.

ULSTER'S PREMIER TO STAY. CAPTAIN REDMOND'S NEW LEAGUE. LIVELY MEETING IN DUBLIN.; (From Our Own Correspondent.) DUBLIN, January 11. Viscount Craigavon. | The rumour that the Premier of Norj thern Ireland, who has just been ennobled under the title of Viscount Craigavon, is about to retire from the Premiership on attaining to his ambition, is emphatically contradicted. When he returned home from Canada some weeks ago, a similar , rumour—of which the present one is a re-echo—was put into circulation, and rather indignantly denied by him. He said he would stand by the Ulster people I while they stood by him, v hich they are . very likely to do. | The step which Viscount Craigivon lias bson given is rather than usual—the advance to a viscounty, which also included a barony. It is usual to create a baron in the first instance, the' second title and further advance in the peerage coming later. Bomb Explosion in Dublin. While a woman named Clarke was burning some waste papers in the grate of the basement of the Catholic Club, Pearse Street, a big explosion followed, and she was severly wounded in the knee by a splinter of metal. The premises were the scene of a stiff fight between the Black and Tans and the Republicans during the troubles of 1920, and it is supposed that a bomb had fallen into the grate where it had Deen overlooked till it made its presence kuown in such a violent manner. . Redmond Has a Rough-house. When Captain Redmond, the leader of the new National : League, which seeks to weld North and South, and unite Irishmen of all creeds and classes, attempted to form a branch in Bendigo Hall, Dublin, on Sunday night, he came in for a very lively reception. When he rose to address the meeting he was met with cries of "Up, China," "Up, Russia," and "Up, the Republic." He was taunted with having fought for England, to which lie spiritedly replied that he had fought for principle along with 300,000 other Irishmen, and on being stigmatised as a "twister," lie replied that he never professed to be a Republican, and then went to Buckingham Palace jii knee breeches. One lot sang the "Red Flag," another yelled, the "Boys of Wexford"—which is a Redmondite ditty—and the Republicans, not to be outdone, chanted that weird composition known as "A Soldier's Song."

Another section demanded the removal of the Irish flag from the platform, shouting to Captain Redmond that 'lie had no right to display. Ireland's flag when he fought for England, and "It should be the Union Jack," one-man bellowed. "Ye fought for b England," roared another. ."Well," retorted the gallant Captain, "I fought for something. What did you do." •

The reporters' table was taken possession of by a frenzied orator .who "held the flure" till he was thrown on it, about a dozen others, including two women, speaking at' the same time in' different parts of the hall.

One man, possessed of a voice which beat the others hollow, shouted that he belonged to the "Hungry Army." He had not fought for any country, because in Ireland there was room only for two classes—"The robbers, and the robbed." Another patriot demanded of Captain Redmond why his father (the late Mr. John Redmond) allowed the execution of Tom Clarke, one of the 1916 men. The Captain said his father had saved more men than any-other man in Ireland— "Yes," retorted the patriot, "saved them to be sent out to France and shot."

The "Hungry Army" man appealed for a fair hearing, not because he liked the National League, but because he did not believe in violence, and his appeal was hearkened co for a brief space. Again the meeting surged into disorder, blows were exchanged, and the meeting terminated rather abruptly by the platform party leaving. Some names were given in to form a branch, the pressmen were informed. The Poteen Traffic. "This traflic is responsible for helping to fill asylums, for there is 110 doubt the stuff turned out is as bad as poison," was one of the comments of Mr. Troy, D.J., at Dundrum, in lining John O'Dwyer, farmer's son, Menthulla, Mui • roe Limerick, £100, mitigated to £10, for having a naggui bottle containing a glass and a-half of poteen in his pocket. The defence was that it was a present,, and intended for use for sore feet for cattle. Mr. Troy said people who engaged in poteen traflic robbed the State, which meant people would have to pay heavier taxation. They were also robbing" the publican, who had to pay for his. license! Free State Customs. j An official return has been received:of | the gross receipts of Customs and Excise duties in the Dublin collection in the j years ending December 31, 1925, and j December, 1921 i. The repayments (e.g., j by'way of drawback) are not taken into account. From this return it appears that in 1923 the amount received under the head of customs was £5,574,991, as compared with £5.654,353 in 1920. From excise the amount received in 1923 was £13.3I!0,(!10. and in 1920 the amount was £12,227,113. The totals under these heads I for the two years were £18,941,607 in 1923, and £17.SSl,4lifi in 1920. ' Galway's Ambition.

Galway's ambition is to become a! great trans-Atlantic port—the ambition of over half a century. It is likely to be realised, or at least a big step made in that direction. The North German Lloyd Line is arranging for some of their - ships to make calls at Galwav.i beginning in May next. Galway's port has not seen an Atlantic liner for many a long year, and when one did call, it was to take away the manhood and womanhood of the country. Galwav does not want its port developed by that.traffic... Eighteen months ago, the North- German- Lloyd Line began a regular service 'with Queenstown, bringing the number of trans-Atlantic lines calling there tip to half a dozen. The experimental trips "from Galway will be for some of the east-bound liners to call there, and proceed direct to Continental ports, making ihe| westward-bound voyage calls at Queenstown as heretofore. It is not intended to embark emigrants at Galway, at least for the present.