PAIINELL DEFENCE FUND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8398, 23 January 1889, Page 2

PAIINELL DEFENCE FUND.

The adjourned meeting in connection with the raising of funds for the Parnell Defence Fund was held in the Christian Brothers' Schoolroom, Rattray street, last evening. There was a moderately good attendance, among those present being Dr de Zouche, Fathers Lynch,' Donnelly (Oamaru), Vereker, Sheehan (Blacks)', and Hunt (Arrow), Messrs Gay, Lee Smith,' Bracken, Liston, Carroll, Dunne, Conuor, Perriu, M'Allister, Barningham, Hayes, D. W. Woods, J. Burgess, P. O'Brieu, J. Murray, Smith, Moloney, and Callau. Mr Oai.t.an was voted to the chair. He read several letters of apology from people who regretted their inability to attend the meeting, but enclosed cheques for sums of one guinea each. He went on to state that it would not be necessary for him to say much about the object of the meetiug as they were all very well aware of it. They had in the past shown their sympathy with the object Mr Paruell and his colleagues were struggling for—viz, to give Ireland the same measure of local self-government as we in the colonies enjoyed. If any attempt was made to

deprive New Zealand of the form of goverumeuo which she now enjoyed every man, woman, and child, he was confident, would rise up in arms and resist the attempt—(applause)—and it was simply that which Mr Parucll and his colleagues were struggling for. The movement in favour of Parnell had now made such progress that The Times newspaper, which was the bitterest and most persistent enemy Ireland had ever had,

was becoming alarmed. Seeing the movemeut was likely to result in success it had got enraged, and in its rage it had become desperate. The Times appeared to be calculating upon the weaker side going to the wall for want of funds, but the contributions to the Parnell fund were now very great, and he was sure New Zealand would not be behind hand. He suggested the formation of a committee with the view of convassing the city for subscriptions, and he mentioned that £40 had already been subscribed, Mr James Caldwell having given the magnificent subscription of £20—(applause)—while the bishop had initiated the movement by contributing £5. He believed that in a few months they would have succeeded in raising between £300 and £400. Before sitting down he mentioned that he had just been handed a cheque for £2 2s from Dr de Zouche.—(Applause.) Mr Carroll had also

givou £2 2s Mr Carroll said ho thought thp. plan sketched out by the chsiirinau was a good one. The Irish people, he was confident, were not asking for anything more than they were entitled to under the circumstances. Dr de Zouchb, in asking to be excused for departing earl}, mentioned that Dr. Maunsell regretted exceedingly being unable to attend that eveniug. Although The Times had anted with the most uialiguaut intentions, yet the Irish people should bo obliged to them, for they had enabled them to bring their case bsfore the whole world. Mr Lee Smith expressed regret that the meeting had not been convened iv one of the city halls, for then there would have been a much larger attendance. He had for a long time had the greatest sympathy with the Home Rule side, and he would continue to work in the interests of the cause. It was, he said, quite a mistake to think that The Times was fighting Parncll—it was the Conservatives and the Unionists combined who were doing it, and the prosecution was nothing more than an uuholy alliance on their part to destroy the first great national effort which had been made, |as far as he could read history, to redeem Ireland and to restore her to the position which she formerly occupied.— (Applause.) He characterised the proceedings which had taken place iv the House of Commons —the burking of discussion and the oppression of representatives of the Irish people—as a monstrous way of administering the law, and he referred in strong terms to the cumulative sentences that had been passed on political prisoners and the recent proclamation of the county of Louth under the Crimes Act for the purpose of securing Mr Dillon's prosecution. It was only a class alliance that enabled this unparalleled oppression to be carried out, and the time would shortly come when the English people would awaken to the iniquity of the system and recognise the right of the Irish people to have the same privileges that the colonies enjoyed. As Mr Callan had said, we in the colonies', if we had a vestige of the spirit our ancestors, would not put up with such treatment for a single day or an hour.—(Applause.) This should not, he held, be a Catholic or a sectarian movement in any shape or form. They should appeal to every class in this city to give them support, in their efforts to see that Mr Parnell and his friends got the same means of defence as the aristocracy had given to The Times. The chart of Irish nationality was dotted and spotted with bars and barriers, the result of blind prejudice, ignorant selfish jealousy, and criminal weakness on|the part of English Governments for generations past; and vow that, for the first time, a real and well directed effort for a happier future was beiug made, it behoved us, who possessed the freedom withheld from these people, to lend them a hand to resist what, iv his opinion, was the most cruel persecution of modern times. —(Applause.) The Chairman referred to Mr Darling's oifer to deliver a lecture in aid of the cause, which he thought should be accepted, .but left with the comnsittee to arrange for, after they had first exhausted the pockets of sympathisers as far as they could by collecting. Mr E. T. O'Connell did not altogether sympathise with Mr Darling's proposal. The object of the meeting was to express practical sympathy with Mr Parnell, and Mr Darling iv his letter said he purposed to discuss the Home Rule question totally apart from that of the guilt or innocence of Mr Parnell. This grated upon the speaker's feelings us he considered Mr Parnell was a thoroughly honest, patriotic gentleman, and could never be guilty of the crimes of which he and his colleagues were charged. He (Mr O'Connell) advocated the holding of a public meeting on the subject. Mr Perrin thought Mr Darling's remark was intended as no slur on Mr Parnell. He simply stated that the cause was not one dependent upon the character of any man, but an eternal 1 cause. Nothing would surprise the speaker more than to find Mr Parneil guilty of anything that had been laid to his charge, but even if he were the cause would be in the same position. Seeing that the Irish delegates, Sir Thomas Esmond and Mr Desey, were on their way to Australia, and that Mr Dillon was about leaving, he thought they should not anticipate their probable visit to New Zealand by holding any public meeting in the meantime. Mr Lee Smith asked whether it was known that Mr Dillon was coming. The Chairman said he did not know at present, but as soon as any of these gentlemen arrived in the colonies every encouragement would be given them to visit New Zealand. Mr J. Carroll then moved—" That the city and suburbs be divided into sections and collectors appointed to each." This was seconded by Mr M'Allister, and carried unanimously. On the motion of Mr Liston, seconded by Mr Carroll, it was resolved—" That subscription lists be issued to collectors in all the towns of Otago and Southland." The following committee were then appointed on the motion of Mr Carroll to take whatever steps might be deemed necessary to forward the movement: —Messrs J. B. Callan, J. T. Perrin, J. Carroll, J. Listou, F. Meenan, J. J. (Jonnor, J. P. Hayes, A. Lee Smith, T. Bracken, and J. P. Armstrong. It was resolved that Mr Darling be thauked for his offer, and that it bo left to the committee to take any action they thought best iv the matter. The Chairman, who was appointed treasurer, stated that up to the present the subscriptions paid and promised amounted to £74 4s 6d, and he had no doubt within a few months that they would have collected £300.—(Applause.) The meeting closed with three cheers for Mr Gladstone, proposed by Mr Lee Smith.