THE IRISH FAMINE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXII, Issue 15557, 6 March 1911, Page 9

THE IRISH FAMINE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,--Having some recollection of the Irish famine about the year 18)7, permit me to express a few thoughts in connection with the subject. In doing so I am reminded of the truth of the words of the poet:

I know there arc no error* On this great eternal plan; But nil things work together For the final good of man.

Previous to the blight a large number of the population of Ireland depended principally on the potato crop. About the year 1317, in July, when the tubers were nearly full-grown, a mist came over the country, which *<rtially blackened the stalks, and the potatoes soon followed suit, with about throecjuarters of the crops destroyed. Tho blight was different from tho blight wo see in this contry. The potatoes were black and as hard as stones. The famine that followed was not so severe in my native county, that is, Wexford, as in other parts, tor 1 never heard of a single death from starvation, but farmers bad great difficulty in keeping their holds clear from people in search of food. Public works were started in the shape of good modern roads and embankments, which wore a great improvement on tho ancient hilly roads, and out of this terrible evil eventually good came. The population of the country at this time was eight or nine millions, and emigration to America started. .1 have known instance in which a single girl got off to America and soon sent assistance to tier parents and the other members of tho family to follow, and eventually tho whole family, aged and young, went to the land of tho West. Tho people left in shoals, and brought the population to lens than half. Anyone who was an eye-witness to the agony of the parting of families and friends in those days must come to the conclusion that nothing but sheer poverty would have given emigration tho impetus it got. And surely there are net many Irishmen throughout the world hut would bless the clay they left tho Old Land, notwithstanding the love they entertain for the Emerald Isle.—-I am, etc., W. FITZHENRY.

TO THE EDIT OH. Sir. I regret Mr Hughes writes so warmly in his letter published to-day. i intended my letter to produce light, rather than heat. It would obviously be unreasonable to expect the relief works during the famine o! 1847 in Ireland to have been well managed by tho English Government, when so much distress existed during the Crimean war of 1854, which good management, might have prevented. .Mr Hughes's remark that •’iho English Government did not undertake to Iced tho whole people., but helped, to kill them, 1 ' might bo applied to tho English,

Scotch and Irish soldiers in the Crimea. Guo good result of the fnmino was thoroughly to awaken Englishmen to their duty towards Ireland. Since then pursestrings have, been oven too readily untied at the call of Irish (listless. “The illustrious Archbishop M’Halo” was evidently* an Irishman, and I should not think it wise to take him too literally. Some years ago I had to be contented with little else than a potato and bean diet, and from this experience 1 agree with the Duke of Richmond that those who could live on potatoes would be provided for on a diet of “ grass and mangel-wurzel. ' I am. etc., 1). DoB. HOVELL. March' 3, 1911.