CORRESPONDENCE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 56, 23 May 1874, Page 13

CORRESPONDENCE.

IRISH IMMIGRANTS.

Tc the Editor of the New Zealand Tablet. Sib, — In reading the ' Hawke's Bay Herald ' of the 29th of April, I came across an extract from the ' Otago* Gruarciian ' relative to free passages granted by the New Zealand Government to 200 Irish females, of whom half are reported to be from Cork workhouse. Now, sir, I would like to know what the ' Otago Guardian' means by advertising the Circumstances of those young women before leaving their native country, la it not intended by the government that free immigration shall be offered to all persons suitable to the wants and requirements of New Zealand, that are willing to come out to this Colony, and by their industry to better their position ? If this is so, why does the 'Guardian' make the exception ? If it is not— though I believe it is — the old ignorant prejudice and untruthful spirit speaking in the 'Guardian,' that the Irish are an idle, indolent people, unable to govern themselves, and not worthy to be assisted, notwithstanding they are British subjects, bearing and paying their due proportion towards the free immigration to New Zealand. If this is not what the 'Guardian' wishes to impress on the minds of its readers, I cannot conceive what object or reason the editor could have in stigmatizing those 100 females as being idle. Or is it because they have had the misfortune to be b>m m a country of misrule, where by the law they are made beggars — and to beg a crime — the only alternative being the workhouse or prison ? He says there are 200 females on board, but he has given no guide upon their landing how we are to discriminate between them and the national pauper, but the one the officers and army got in '98 on landing m Ireland " Every man you meet is a rebel j" and the ' Guardian ' would have it, every iema.e aboard the ship Asia is an idler. We see coining to our Chores from all parts of Europe, females whose character had been far from good before emigrating, but through the recommendation of a J,P., had their previous character ignored and not a word about them in the public press. All! but they have not that greatest of misfortunes — being Irish. I would recommend the ' Guardian ' to give over barking at the Irish, for it will never be able to bite them, for what they always were, they intend to be — the bravest, most virtuous, and loyal people U'ider the sun. Co. Cock.

The Irish Catholics of Toledo, Ohio, have imported a great block of the Rock of Cashel, to be placed on the top wall of St Patrick's Institute as the pedestal upon which the statue of St. Patrick is to stand. The Most Rev Dr Moriarty, Bishop of Kerry, has become VicePresident of the Irish Association for Closing Public Houses on Sunday. The impressive ceremony of bestowing the white veil on five young ladies took place recently at Laurel Hill Convent, Limerick. The Most Rev J)r Butler, the Lprd Bishop, officiated. The Very Rev A. F. Kelly, S. J., preached an eloquent sermon. H. H. Pope Pius IX is the 257 th Pope. He is in the 28th year of his Pontificate, the 55th of his Priesthood, the 47th of his Episcopate and the 34th of his Cardinalate. The Catholic Church is divided into 565 dioceses, not including 5 apostolic delegations, 109 apostolic Ticariutes, und 28 perfecturos. The total receipts from the Palmer, since its outbreak, Las been 20,000 ounces of gold.