IRELAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6001, 10 February 1881, Page 6

IRELAND.

LORD DUFFERIN'S SCHEME FOR SETTLING THE IRISH TROUBLES. London, January 2. —Lord Dufferin has published a letter in which he strongly condemns "The Three F's" system,—failrents, free sales, and fixity of tenure— pointing out that the sale of tenants' interests has a tendency to saddle the holdings perpetually with double rent, and he says the system, if granted, would only further encourage a new set of agitators to endeavour to dispossess the landlords of the remaining vestiges of their rights. Lord Dufferin favours a system copied from that adopted at the enfranchisement of Russian serfs, namely—the buying up of a large portion of the land in Ireland, and the conversion of rents into land charges, payable to the 1 State. For ' the chronically povertystricken districts of the West, he recommends' "a great system of State aided emi- ; gratioii to Manitoba, and the north-west of ' .Canada, to be woifked with the co-operation of the Dominion Government. He points out that as the Catholic church is supreme ; in these parts/ the clergy of Ireland will not oppose emigration thither as'they do to the United States.: The Times remarks that Lord Duiferm's suggestions, although interesting, do not forecast the Land Bill, as the i Government will not make grants from the exchequer, or pledge the credit of the ■ country.

RIOT—FOUR PERSONS KILLED. ! Dublin, January 5. —Last night some people near Clare Morris dug a ditch across the road to prevent the passage of a process- , server, who, with a police escort, was proceeding to serve a writ of ejectment. The mob threw stones freely. The Riot Act was read, and the police charged on the mob. Four persons are believed to be fatally bayouetted and several injured. ALLEGED FENIAN MOVEMENT. New York, January 6. —A Herald London special gives the conversation recently had with a Fenian Head Centre in Ireland. He states that when the land agitation was inaugurated a determined resistance was made to it by the supporters of the Fenian propaganda ; that the organisation then had 63,000 members paying a small weekly contribution. Scarcely had the Laud League movement commenced when the Fenian agitation, as an organised combination, collapsed, and there was an almost immediate transference of members to the League. The correspondent adds that there were included in the leadership of the land movement men who speedily developed into more thorough - going " Young Irelanders " than ever before lived. The writer then proceeds as follows : " Since tiie extreme party began to have greater weight in the councils, Fenian principles have had fair play. The distribution of arms, which was never entirely suspended, has since been prosecuted with vigour, and the number of Snider rifles now scattered over the country cannot lie well calculated. Any man who puts down £1 in the proper quarter can be provided with a Snider rifle and 100 rounds of ball and cartridge, with a waist belt, shoulder belts, and cartridge pouch, as well as a sword bayonet for the rifle. It is unnecessary to state that the £1 does not cover expenses, but the difference is made good from a fnnd contributed to by sympathisers with the proceedings. One or two persons whose names have been before the public of late, and who are credited with effecting the change in the land agitation in Ireland which it has recently assumed (I mean the change toward the repeal movement), have been particularly active in distributing arms, and the stratagems resorted to for carrying out this purpose are worthy of a better cause. Though matters are taking this turn, the Fenians are not hopeful that the rising can be effectually carried out in Ireland. They acknowledge that a great portion of the people of the country are not disposed to run the risk that will attend arising, anxious as they are to secure a self-govern-meut. Therefore, the leaders of the organisation have long been turning their eyes in aaother direction, and have come to the conclusion that tlio blow must be struck at home and at the English Parliament. Another Clerkenwell outrage they imagine would go a long way to the furtherance of the same rule. They pray that Great Britain may become entangled in some active foreign controversy, for then their opportunity will come. In that emergency they conceive that all that will be needed in order to paralyze the country and the government will be the destruction of a few public edifices, particularly about Dockyard Town. MORE MEMBERS OF THE LAND LEAGUE ARRESTED. London, January 6.—The officers and members of the Land League arrested at Tralee are Harrington, proprietor of the Kerry Sentinel, President of the League; Lyons, Treasurer; O'Rorke, Secretary; Kelly, a draper, and Bassil, proprietor of the Kerry Independent. They are charged, with other evilly-disposed persons, with having oil divers occasions, during the month of December, illegally held court in Tralee and exercised coercive jurisdiction. O'KELLY'S TACTICS AND PARNELL'S THREATS. New.York, January S.—A London despatch says : Yesterday was the first working day of the session, and business was obstructed several hours by James O'Kelly, member for Roscommon, who, it is understood, was, not very long ago, actively engaged in journalism in America. The members were sorely nettled over the tactics he pursued, though no one denied that those tactics were in accordance with the rules. The manifestation through him of the policy of his party was what tried the temper of the House. But what sort of a temper will the House, be in three months hence, if Parnell's latest prediction proves true ? He says coercive measures will be stoutly resisted from the moment of their introduction, and boldly declares that three months shall pass, and a Coercion Bill will then bo as far from becoming a law as it now is. THE LAND LAWS. London, January 15.—The deputation of members of Parliament waited on Gladstone to-day on the Irish land question, and presented a memorial recommending as essential, in order to secure unity and enthusiasm among the Liberals in Parliament and contentment in Ireland, that the Land Bill shall include a comprehensive scheme of peasant proprietary, accompanied by the three "F's also recommending the consideration of the subject of reclamation of waste lands. Gladstone said he was glad to have an opportunity of hearing their views, and hoped the Government would not introduce any Bill which would be ineffectual. Gladstone declared that to give specific form to the I existing evil was the first step in dealing with the land question. Remedial measures must come after. It was explained on the part of the deputation that 56 Liberals shared their views, and many English and Scotch members expressed sympathy therewith. The members of the deputation dwelt on the necessity for the adoption of their programme. They said if such a measure is passed tenants generally would be satisfied and the agitation would subside. They insisted that a general feeling of insecurity prevailed among the tenants under the existing state of tilings, and that a great majoritj' of the landlords would accept their programme. Gladstone replied that the great object of the Government was to promote the welfare of the tenants without inflicting injustice on other sections of the public. , THE POPE AND THE IRISH AGITATORS. We are treated at least once a week (says the Tablet) to a cablegram in the Herald, taken from the London Times, or some other English paper equally friendly to Ireland, expressive of the profound regret the Pope feels at the disturbed state of Ireland, and his displeasure at the agitators who were keeping the country in a state of ferment. Let us just compare these manufactured telegrams, continues the Tablet, with the statement made by Archbishop Croke on his return to his archdiocese. Addressing his people, he said :—" The manner of His Holiness towards us was that of a father and a friend rather than that of the august head of the Church. He understands Ireland, he loves Ireland ; he has read our history, and he has read it with fruit. We may, therefore, rely upon His Holiness at all times as a friend no less than as a father." Such language coming from the patriotic Archbishop of Cashel is certainly to be relied upon more than statements in the London Times and even in Bennett's Herald. THF IRISH TRIAL. Dublin, January 4.—The trial of the traversers was scantily attended to-day. The proceedings principally consisted of cross-examination of two members of the constabulary who had been employed as

Government stenographers on their evidence concerning speeches delivered by Parneli, Dillon, Biggar, Boy toil, and Sexton, recommending refusal of rents, "Boycotting," &c. The cross-examination was very effective, and witnesses admitted that they were unable to make verbatim reports. Dublin, January 14.—At the State trials to-day, McDonough said that he submitted the case with confidence to the jury. The Land Leagne was a perfectly legal organisation, to cause by agitation, certain alterations | in the land laws, with the necessity of which not only Ireland, but all England was ring- j ing. He set before the jury the example of the jury who acquitted the Seven Bishops, and drew a moving pictnre of the evictions which followed the Irish famine. He reasserted the principles of the Land League, which was a legal institution, and but for the support of England, the landlords would be driven into the sea. When McDonough concluded his speech in favour of the traversers, he was loudly cheered. — Samuel Walker followed on the same side with a powerful speech. He quoted the charter of the Land League, and contended that it was legal. The Court then adjourned until Monday. MINOR ITEMS. Dublin, January 16.—The Grand Orange Lodgehas forwarded a memorial to the Queen, praying Her Majesty to take steps to arrest the terrorism caused by the Land League. An order for 1000 revolvers has just been executed in Brmingliam for the Irish Constabulary, and there is a great demand there for revolvers and rifles for other persons ill Ireland. An attempt has been made, it is believed by Fenians, to blow up the armoury of the infantry barracks at Salford, where rifles of volunteers were deposited. A meal store near the armoury was blown to atoms ; no other damage was done. The explosion is believed to have been effected with dynamite, which was smuggled into the barracks by some one having business with the regiment. A woman and a boy are probably fatally injured. Several thousand stand of arms were in the armoury at the time. London, January 3.—lt is stated that 1000 guns were sent to Ireland surreptitiously, from Birmingham, weekly, and that within the last three weeks 5000 Enfield rifles have been sent there from Birmingham workshops. Some soldiers on leave have been ordered to return to Ireland. The feeling among the lower order of people is said to be very strong against the military, even in Dublin. It is a common practice to shoulder a soldier off from the footpath to provoke a quarrel. A correspondent says : — The movement of troops has excited a very uneasy feeling. It is generally believed the Government possesses information warranting apprehension.