THE KYNNERSLET ENQUIRY

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 310, 29 July 1868, Page 2

THE KYNNERSLET ENQUIRY

The Commissioners C. C. Bowen and J. ~W\ Hamilton Esqs. sat again at the Court House yesterday. They opened proceedings about 10 a. m. aud did not rise till 6 p.m. with the exception of one short adjournment of a quarter of an hour. As our readers may easily suppose it is utterly impossible for our space to afford room for a full report, and we therefore abridge it so as to give a mere outline of what was done. We are encouraged in this course through the fact that though the public w-ere perfectly well aware that the enquiry was an open one, not more than twenty persons were present at any one time. Mr Hamilton call on Mr Tyler to state the results of his communication with the other members of the committee.

Mr Tyler, at some length explained that he had seen both those immediately concerned at the meeting and others in business, and the unanimous opinion was that it was, on a variety of grounds, most undesirable that the enquiry should proceed. He further stated that Mr Reid, the custodian of the memorial, was satisfied to give it up to him and the Commission might rest assured it would not be forwarded. Mr Kynnersley s'ul jected Mr Tyler to a tolerably severe cross-examination in reference to his connection with the memorial, in the course of which Mr Tyler withdrew one expression in his address at the meeting which he apologised for. Mr Munro was called and concurred in Mr Tyler's views, thatit was betternot to pursue the enquiry. The Commissioners and Mr Kynnersley retired, and on the return of the former, they said they had come to the conclusion that it was their duty, under the circumstances to go on with the enquirv. Messrs Tyler aud Munro were then examined at considerable length, or rather, were permitted to make state- i ments of facts without comment, but their evidence added nothing to what the public here are already familiar with. ! T. W. Melville was called and pro- J

ved that lie was violently assaulted, and that the grave of his child, then buried only two days, was trodden down and defaced by the men who attended the proeessiononSt. Patrick's day.

Edward Duffy was examined in reference to his connection with the Celtic Committee of Addison's Flat. He admitted that such a committee existed, that he was a member and acting secretary of it when Mr Timothy Gallagher, the real secretary, and now lately elected member of the House of Representatives, was occupied in business. The meetings of the Committee were generally held in Gallagher's house. He was present when a resolution was carried by the Committee to the effect, that if the Hokitika authorities removed the Celtic cross erected to the memory of the Manchester Fenians, they, the Committee, acting on behalf of the Celtic race on Addison's Plat would accept it as a gauntlet of defiance &c, &c. He, at the request of the Committee had handed this resolution in to Mr Reid of the Evening Star for publication as an advertisement. He further intimated tli at if the authorities had removed the cross,, he believed a large number of the Addison's Flat men would have proceeded to Hokitika to reinstate it, but as some Scotchmen chopped it up, there were no means of compelling them to do so. The meeting was held at Mr Gallagher's and Mr Gallagher, the actual secretary, was cognizant that the resolution in question was entered on the minutes as being carried unanimously. In reply to Mr Kynnersley the witness said if Mr Gallagher had said that its publication was not authorised, he had stated what was not true. He had never spoken privately to Mr Kynnersley in his life, and no arrangement of any kind for him, witness, to give himself up had ever been made. He had been sentenced to 21 days imprisonment for assault at the time of the disturbance.

The witness gave a great deal more evidence as to seeing a female riding at the head of the procession, as to the feeling in reference to Orangeism, &c, &c. rje also stated that when he committed the assault for which he was punished, he thought the processionists were singing " Ireland is conquered for ever" but he could not swear to the exact words. lie further added that at the time of the riot the English national Red, White, and Blue colors would have been as obnoxious to them as Orange colors, after the speeches made on the Alfred demonstration day in Westport. Dr Giles was called, and characterised the speeches of Messrs Tyler and Munro as very Imprudent, inexpedient, and unwise, on the celebration day. The speech of Mr Munro, he thought, specially injudicious. He detailed the steps the Magistracy here had taken at the time, and paid high compliment to the special constables and the Caledonian men for the ready manner in which they had come forward, and the orderly manner in which they had behaved when called on. It was stated that evidence had been offered to the' police at the time, and they had refused to accept it. This however, was not proved, and the Commission adjourned as above.