PROHIBITING THE KILDARE DEMONSTRATION.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VII, Issue 411, 25 February 1881, Page 16

PROHIBITING THE KILDARE DEMONSTRATION.

The Irish Times reporter writes from Kildare on Monday night, December 27 : A torchlight procession was announced to take place here to* ' night, to be followed by a demonstration on a large scale, on the w part of the Land Leaguers of Kildare and the surrounding districts, and in consequence from an early hour in the afternoon the town was crowded by farmers and others interested in the proceedings. As soon as darkness set in, an universal illumination of the town of Kildare occurred, the -windows in every house being ablaze with lighted candles. Shortly before the hour determined on for starting the procession, the people became aware that the authorities meant to forbid it, and a deputation, of whom Mr. Lalor, M.P. for Queen's County, was one, waited on Colonel Forbes, R.M., for the purpose of ascertaining the intention of the authorities with respect to the procession. They were told by that gentleman that, from information they had received, they were determined to prohibit it, but the Colonel ac'ded that his instructions did not go the length of forbidding the meeting, which might be held. Some cavalry and infantry were brought over , from the Curragh to the town of Kildare, and the usual police force of the place was strongly reinforced from outlying districts, but neither during the evening nor night were their services brought into requisition. They patrolled the streets and hung about the skirts of the meeting while the speakers addressed the people, but did not interfere with the proceedings in any way. About seven o'clock at night, and under a drizzling, misty rain, the meeting was held in the market square, the necessary light being supplied by torches. Speeches were delivered by Mr. Lalor, M.P., Mr. Boyton, and others, and resolutions passed endorsing and affirming the principles of the Land League. The people cheerfully underwent the discomforts attendant on a thorough wetting, and throughout the whole proceedings of the evening and night their conduct was of the most orderly kind. The Monasterevan fife and drum band and another from Newbridge marched into the town, accompanied by a great concourse of country people, and enlivened the proceedings, both before and at the conclusion of the meeting, by playing a number of national airs. During the progress of the meeting a copy of the Icinster lease was burned, it being recommended that the ashes should be presented to the Leinster family. At the conclusion of the proceedings the crowd, quietly dispersed, cheering lustily for Mr. Parnell and the Land League.