FAREWELL ADDRESS TO MR. J. D. CONNOLLY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9157, 25 March 1893, Page 6

FAREWELL ADDRESS TO MR. J. D. CONNOLLY.

PRESENTATION FROM IRISH RESIDENTS. At St. James' Hall, Wellington-street, yesterday evening a farewell address was pre- ! sented by tho Irish people of Auckland to I Mr. J. D. Connolly, who has resigned the position of Cousul for the United States, and who leaves for San Francisco to-day. There was a large attendance Mr. J. A. Tole presided, and among those present on the platform were Sir Maurice O'Rorke, Monuignor McDonald, Messrs. T. Thompson, M.H.R., J. M. Shera, M.H.R., W. J. Speight, M. Sheahan, and others. Prior to the commencement of the proceedings the address was inspected by the audience, and was pronounced to be a beautiful specimen of art. The address, designed by Mr. Palmer, is bound with green morocco leather stamped with gold, and the front and back are two magnificent samples of inlaid work in woods, by Mr. Seuffert. On the front of the cover is an inlaid foil containing the words, " Presented to J. D. Connolly from Auckland Irishmen. March 1803." On the back of the cover the American flag was inlaid. In tho address four handsome photographs are also bound—one of the Art Gallery, one of the Victoria Arcade, one of Tawhiao, and one of a Maori runanga house. In addition to tho address a card table, a speoimen of Mr. Seuffert's inlaid woodwork, was presented to Mis. Connolly by the Irishwomen of Auckland Mr. Tout, opening the proceedings, said that as soon a* it was known that their most worthy friend was about to leave them, the impulses of the Irish hearts were at once excited, and it was accordingly resolved to mako a suitable recognition to Mr. Connolly. Without praising themselves too much, he might say that the address was one of the most beautiful samples of wood inlaying and illuminating that had ever left their city. The task he had to perforin was in one respect a most agreeable one, and in another a sad one, because whilst manifesting their hearty appreciation of Mr, Connolly's publio aud private character, they were called upon to say farewell rind that farewell was in the nature of a " Kathleen Mavourneen" farewell—it might be for 1 years, and it might be for ever, Mr. Connolly had been presented with a farewell address by the citizens of Auckland, but they, as Irish men and Irish women, wished to thank him for the fearless support he had always given their country when called upon. Mr. Connolly was the representative of a land that had been the home of freedom, liberty, and prosperity, and a land from which they at all times had received deep sympathy and a most generous support. (Applause.) He presented the address on behalf of the Irish people who wished to express their sense of deep regret that Mr. Connolly was leaving them. Although Mr. Connolly was bound to make friends whereever he went he would find none more faithful than the Irish men and women of Auckland. (Loud and prolonged cheering). Mr. W.J. Speight then read the address, which was as follows : — To John D. Connolly Esq; Consul at Auckland, New Zealand, for the United States of America. Dear SirOn behalf of tho members of the Irish race resident in Auckland, we desire to address you on this the occas on of your leaving our city. During the years you have spent among us in tho discharge of your duties ai representing the Great lttpublic, you have by your capacity, and gentlemanly deportment won the highest opinions from our citizens generally. This they have already publicly testified to you. Bat it is because of your attitude as an Irishman towards the Id h of New Zealand, and the help you have on all occasions afforded us in the furtherance of the Irish cause, more particularly in relation to Colonial efforts put forth to assist our countrymen in the old land, ■■>•'. Ageing for rights of self-government, that we i"'i2v:j> illy desire to express onr appreciation. Some ii'i.-hm;,.!, occupying your official position, might have made its representative character a reason for hesitating before associating themselves with the national work their fellow-countrymen in Auckland are engaged in. But, in your mind, patriotism banished meaner incentives, and expediency never found a placs in y ur thoughts, with an Independent spirit, marked consistency, and most distinguished ability, you have served tho Irish cause in Auckland. In Ireland's name, and from our hearts, we thank you. Should we not have the felicity to welcome you back to our colony, we trust the great country which you serve with such fidelity, and which is famed for the recognition of zeal and capacity exhibited by her servants, will, by promoting you to a wider sphere of useful >•«-« t an our city >Surds, give to you an opportunity of still furth' distinguishing yourself by th 'exercise of that ; knowledge, ability, and large sympathy which has '< characterised your public and private life in New Zealand. May God speed and prosper you. Signed on behalf of the Irish residents. Mr. Speight safd that the Irish ladies of Auckland desired to present Mr. Connolly's wile with the table. Mr. Connolly, who was received with enthusiastic cheering, said that he wished to thank them for their kindness from the depth of his heart. Mrs. Connolly would appreciate the table, although, perhaps, she would not have an opportunity of expressing her thanks, and he* had to thank them on her behalf. In what little efforts he had made in furthering the cause of Ireland in New Zealand, he had only spoken his feelings, and done that which his conscience dictated on all occasions, and he was entitled to no special gratitude on that account. However, he would deserve the condemnation of every Irishman if he failed to do a service to that country whenever he could. Let them hope that the night of misery of Ireland would soon pass away, and that morning and dawn should break over that unhappy land. He hoped that the Irish would soon be free, happy, and prosperous in their own country w'iditf the Government of their own people ; and until the realisation of their hopes, contentment would never rest upon their banner. Comment upon the present condition of that land was scarcely necessary, and surel;;' a system of Government productive of such disastrous results to so many millions of the human race could scarcely be persevered in any longer with any degree of consistency. He knew that there were thousands of men conscientiously opposed to the freedom of Ireland because they supposed it enjoyed all the advantages of the sister countries. Mr. Connolly then proceeded to speak of the poverty he had witnessed in parts of Ireland, and of the oppression of a landless peasantry. He had heard it stated that an Irishman had no governing \ ability, but he would like them to look around : and seethe success achieved by the Irish in America and the colonies, where they were free. Ireland presented the spectacle of a nation of men being systematically exterminated by starvation, coercion, and exile ; the proud .spirit of the Irish was being broken by the clanking chain of coercion enforced by Christian England. Mr. Connolly then went on to speak of the wrongs his country had suffered at the hands of " cruel Cromwell," and the " traitor Castlereogh " The standing disgrace of this age was the barbarous and inhuman persecution of the Jews in Russia. These people were maltreated because they i were poor and downtrodden. They had his ; sympathy so long as they were forbidden the privileges that men were intended to have upon this earth. The granting of Home Rule to Ireland would be the chalice of her salvation, that arrival of peace and freedom for which the hearts of her countrymen in exile yearned. (Loud cheers.) Sir Maurice O'Rorke said that no words would express the feelings of regret he felt at the departure of Mr. Connolly, who was i the representative of that great Republic, ; which had ever been an asylum to the disi inherited of the earth.

J Mr Connolly said that before the meet- ! ing closed they had to tender a vote of thanks j to their worthy chairman, Mr. Tole, whom he had always found a faithful friend and assistant in the cause they had at heart. The vote of thanks was seconded by the , Hon. W. Jennings, and carried by acclamai tion. . ' Three cheers were given for Mr. Connolly. During the evening the following musical items were given, Miss McChesney playing the accompaniments with great taste: — Overture (national' airs), piano; song, " Acushla Machrec," Miss C. Lorrigan; song, "Oh Steer My Bark," Miss J. Donovan; song, "The Harp That Once," Miss Hargreftv.is ; so sg, " Eily Mavourneen," from Sir Julius Benedict's opera, "The Lily of Killarney," Mr. Tapper; "God Save tho Queen." j INTERVIEW WITH CONSUL CONNOLLY. Every commercial man in Auckland, and a very large circle of business and private friends will deeply regret the severance of the tie between them and Mr. J. D. Connolly, who for the last four years has been United States Consul in the chief port in New Zealand. Mr. Connolly is leaving the colony for j the benefit of his health ; in one senne all are sorry he is going, teeing there is a great probability he will not come back. Yet the I sorrow is overshadowed by the pleasant i thought that his leaving Auckland will mean ' recognition of the valuable services he has rendered his country, and the prospect of advancement in the important walk of life he has chosen. Mr. Connolly first came to Auckland four years ago, to take up his first Consular appointment; he had previously held many public posts, but none of so much importance as that which he now holds. Born in Ireland, he was taken by his parents very early to America where lie was earlv inured to hard work. In fact in every sense of the word he was a hard-working man; endowed

with plenty of perseverance and energy, however, he worked away, gradually rising' to his present high position. It must bo gratifying to him as it is to his friends to know that ho has reason to anticipate further promotion knowing@that during his sojourn in Auckland not the least important of Mr. Connolly's duties lias be>m to forward to the United States Government, Consular reports of the state commercially of New Zealaud. A Herald representative saw him yesterday and asked him to sum up his experience. Mr. Connolly kindly and readily complied. • _ " Since I have been here," said he. lam pleased to note that trade with America has increased. I believe it will increase Still more when the duties on wool are removed. " Will your Government remove them? " I am not sure the Government will for the present remove them entirely, but they will be reduced so as to be scarcely any burden. So there is every reason to think that the trade between the colonies and the United States will grow. There is a kindly feeling among the people of America towards the colonies, and a tendency to encourage trade in every way." _ The subject of Hawaii naturally found its way into the conversation, and our representative asked Mr. Connolly his views upon annexation. , "I am quite certain," said he, "that the universal sentiment of the people of the United States is to annex Hawaii if necessary, but they would much prefer to allow Hawaii to govern herself. There is a disposition not to allow any other nation to interfere. America desires that Hawaii should govern herself in her own way, and that no outs should domineer over her.'' " With regard to other islands of th« Pacific ; would that be the policy in relation to these ?" .. " That is the general policy. Of course it is a well-known fact that America has no ambition to acquire extraneous territory, because we have as much as we require. Still, we have interests in the Pacific Islands, and we must look after our own interests.'' Mr. Connolly then went on to express his sincere gratitude to the people of Auckland for the kindness they had shown him. He had, he said, never spent four pleasanter years than lie had in New Zealand, and he would always cherish the memory of the kindly manner in wlu'c't he had been received. Everything he had anticipated in coining had been more than realised.

Yesterday Mr. Connolly received the follows g telegram from Wellington, signed by the officers of the Grand Lodge of the American Order of Oddfellows, now assembled in that city:-" Grand Lodge executive 1.0.0. F. fraternally wish you Godspeed on your homeward journey. Regret necessity for your departure from our shores/' Mr. Connolly was entortaiued at a smoke concert at the Auckland Club last night.