THE DISTRESSED LANDLORDS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XII, Issue 12, 11 July 1884, Page 3

THE DISTRESSED LANDLORDS.

"Wk (Nation, May 24) abridge as follows from the Freeman of Saturday last the report of the meeting of Irish landlords held on the previous day in the Pillar Room of the Botundo :—: — Yesterday the " meeting of landowners, mortgagees, and encumbrancers " took place in the Pillar Room of the Rotundo. When the proceedings commenced the room was about half full, a large proportion of those occupying the side seats being ladies. A conspicuous feature in the arrangements of the room was a notice very prominently posted on the' walls and pillars as follows :—: — " Notice. "The expenses of this meeting are about £50 (fifty pounds), Ladies and gentlemen are requested to pnt a half-a-crown in the tin box at the door, " J. M'Calmont, Hon Sec." Several gentlemen considered that this was a joke, but when they inquired they were informed that it was quite serious. The chair was taken by Colonel King-Harman. The Marquis of Waterford proposed : — " That the existing deadlock in the land market and the distress and embarrassment which it occasions calls for the prompt and earnest attention of the Government." Mr. James Spaight, of Limerick, seconded the resolution, which was supported by Mr. Burton Persse (Galway), and Mr. Dickenson (Newry), and adopted. Mr. R. J. Mahony moved :— " That it is desirable that steps should be taken to convey to the minds of her Majesty's Government the real state of the case with regard to the position of owners and encumbrancers of estates in Ireland, particularly those in the market, which, judging from the recent debate in the House of Lords on Lord Castletown's motion, appears to be inadequately understood by them." Mr. R. Staples seconded the resolution, which was supported by Colonel Folliott, and adopted. Mr. James Wilson moved that the following be requested to form a deputation to wait on the Government on this question at the earliest convenient date :— " Lord Castletown, Marquis of Waterford, the Earl of Granard, John Mulholland, M.P. ; James Wilson, the Earl of Dunravea. Colonel King-Harman, M.P. ; Lord George Hamilton, M.P. ; W. Bentham, secretary to the Standard Insurance Company, Dublin ; Lord Crichton, M.P. ; R. J. Mahony, Right Hon. Edward Gibson, M.P.; The O'Conor Don, Sir Rowland Blennerhasset, M.P. ; A. M. Kavanagh, Henry Bellingham, M.P, ; Right Hon. Henry Braen, R. U. Penrose Fitzgerald, Lord Lifford, with permission to add to their numbers." Mr. Comyn seconded the resolution, which was unanimously carried. Lord De Freyne was then called to the chair, and on the motion of the Earl of Kingston, seconded by Major Barton, a vote of thanks was passed to Colonel .King-Harman. The proceedings then terminated. At the conclusion of the proceedings, and when the landlords and ladies were dispersing, it was observed that comparatively few people put any half-crowns into the "tin box," To counteract this seeming forgetfulness two gentlemen were quickly deputed to stand at the doors with tin plates, upon which had been placed what one gentleman described in a whisper as "decoy half-crowns." These plates were thrust before each person as he or she left, and it may be worth mentioning that a very great number of people as they passed out appeared so struck by the beautiful decorations of the ceiling overhead as not to take the highest notice of the patient plate-bearers, although the latter manfully and musically jingled the few stray coins they had already been provided with.