THE PRESENT CONDITION OF IRELAND.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VIII, Issue 1231, 27 January 1881, Page 2

THE PRESENT CONDITION OF IRELAND.

[By special Cablegram to the Wellington Post.

The statement of Baron Dowse, on opening the Connaught assizes at Galway, showed that in four months 698 indictable offences have been reported in Connauyht, for these only 39 persons have been rendered amenable. Five hundred and seventy persons, against whom offences have been committed, had, through terror or desire to shield the offenders, refused to give evidence for the prosecution, or assist the police. Lesser offences have also been numerous. In Mayo, 888 lesser, and 236 indictable offences were reported. Baron Dowse said if this state of affairs were allowed to continue the consequences would be immediate danger to Ireland, and ultimate disgrace to the Empire. Ev«n the reports by the police do not include all the outrages committed, and threatening letters received. Judge Fitzgerald has received a letter, threatening him that he would be shot in open Court. The New York World's London correspondent telegraphs an account of a painful scene between the Queen and Mr. Gladstone in reference to the Irish question. He says the Queen urged the Premier to resort to force in order to crush the agitation, and the Liberals, who circulate the story, ascribe the Queen's interference to the influence of Lord Beacomfield, who recently visited Windsor.

A 1 special telegram to the New York Herald, from Dublin, says:—" Our Castlebar correspondent telegraphs that great excitement prevails in the place owing to the visit last night of a party, with blackened faces, to the houses of several herdsmen, whom they compelled to go down on their knees and swear they would leave their employers. Shots were fired, and the occupants of the houses were greatly terrified. " Another message to the same paper, dated 17th December, sayH : — " About 1000 persons assembled in Kilmore, (bounty Mayo, and rebuilt the house from which a woman named M'Nicholas had been evicted. They then reinstated Mrs M'Nicholas, and left her three months' provisions.

The New York World's London Special says : — At Portadown a body of Orangeman attacked a Land League meeting, but beyond wrecking the platform and scattering Leaguers, did no harm. The Orangemen are preparing to meet and resist the League in another direction. The Grand Master, the Earl of Enniskillen, has, in accordance with a set plan, appointed a vigilance committee to protect property-rights in Ireland.