GREYMOUTH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVI, Issue 21, 14 September 1888, Page 25

GREYMOUTH.

(From our own Correspondent.) LAST week we experienced the stormiest weather of the present winter, which was accompanied by a copious supply of rain and occasional heavy peals of thunder. The roughness of the sea on the bar blocked all shipping for three dayp, which considerably reduced the quantity of coal exported during the week. The stormy weather must have extended right along the coast, as many steamers were detained by stress of weather in their course downwards, several having to take refuge in Westport, including the Brunner and Oreti, which arrived off this bar. but had to put back to that port. On the 27th the blockade was raised, tbe bar being comparatively smooth, when there were five arrivals and three departures, although a few more steamers which were bound here loaded at Westrort. The coal export this week should exceed the amount of coal shipped any previous week from Greymouth, as it is expected that before the end of the week the Pukaki, which, on her first trip here took 1500 tons, the largest cargo of coal that crossed the Grey bar, will arrive from Melbourne, as also the Ohau from Auckland and the Taupo from Wellington. Altogether there seems a probability that the coal trade will considerably expand here very soon, but it is feared that if the Union Companjr attempt to supply any of the Australian ports with coal during the strike a colliers' strike will also take place in New Zealand. The stnk9 of the Newcastle miners bids fair to cause serious injuries to tbe shipping and manufacturing industries of the Australian colonies not to mention the poss bility of a coal famine in those places 6hould the stnke extend over a period of three or more months. These periodical strikes are often the means of upsetting trade generally, and inflict many hardships on people who have no interest in the dispute between the employees and ibeir employers, and, should they continu; for a lengthened period would be the means of crippling the manufactures and the commerce of the colonies affected. It would have been better if Trade Unions and employers cf labour were compelled by an Act

of Parliament to refer their disputes to an impartial Board appointed by Government to settle those disputes. New Zealand will not bo much affected by this strike, as its own mines can supply far more than its requirements, but it is almost certain that coal will considerably advance in price daring the continutuse of the strke in Newcastle ; in fact it may be seen from Press telegrams tfyat the price of coal has already increased in Aucklaud, Wellington, and other places, and even here, where the coal is, as it were, at the door, and croppiug up on the surface in tbe immediate neighbourhood, the local vendors have notified consumers that in future they will have to pay 22s 6d instead of 20s per ton for their coal. If they stick to these pnoes I should not wonder to see opposition in the market very soon, as it would not take a great outlay of capital to supply Greymouth from Coal Creek and other placesv The Union Steam Ship Company intend to be masters of the situation a? far as the shipping aad coal-mines of this port are concerned. They have bought Mr. Joseph Eilgaur's Tyneslde mine, and the Tyneside Company's steamer, s. c. Oreti, which only made a few trips to this port since he- purchase by the latter company. They | will have to buy up the Midland Railway when fiaished, and all the i coal scams which maybe opened duriag its construction, so, as to monopolise the trade both by land and sea. Mr. Gordon McPherson. M\ A., delivered a lecture on Some Rule here on the 21st alt. It certainly is an agreeable variety to us to bear a eon of " Caledonia, 'stern and wild/ descanting upon the history of Ireland, her ancient glory, her sanctity and learning, her apostolicity in spreading the Christian religion' over the sister isles, and many European countries :' the prowess 6f her sons, andtbrf air chastity of her daughters, apj}.^rc)n%hteites government and wist laws, when many of the great nations 6L the presehTday were sunk in semi-barbarism. Thanka'tafch^gr^at strides now made towards enlightening England and Scotland on Irish subjects by that now famous galaxy of orators and statesman — the Home Rule party in tbe House of Commons— we have gained eloquent tongues and sympathetic hearts in those countries, who do us ample justice, and champion the cause of our down-trodden and ill-governed country. The fact that Mr. McPherson, as stated by himself, was born a Tory of the Tories, and has been won over to the Irish cause, gives his championship of that cause an additional zest in the eyes of Irishmen. His lecture, or properly speaking, learned disquisition on the history, sufferings, and aspirations of Ireland, was well worthy of a better house than greeted him in Greymouth, but lecturers seldom take here, and in this instance, they (those who remained away) did not think it fair to make this an exception to the general rule. The lecturer, in his opening remarks, graphically detailed the reasons which led him to study and espouse the Irish cause. The first cause which set bis mind thinking, was through observing the life of the peasants of the Hebredean Isles, which he painted vividly and faith* fully. The condition of those northern Gaels induced him to turn his attention to tbe Isle of the West, which was then occupying so much public attention. The picture he drew of tbe Hebredean Isles he found faithfnlly realised in many parts of Ireland The next step was to study her history, aud unravel the causes which led to so much misery and unbappiness in that country, and thus he succeeded in being thoroughly convinced of the justice and right of Ireland's demand for self-government. Tbe lecturer gave, as it were, an epitome of Irish history, briefly summarising the landing of St. Patrick, who introduced Christianity into Ireland, the rapid spread of religion, learning and civilisation, the division of the country into four kingdoms, governed by as many kings, and all paying allegiance t3 an Ard Righ or High King. He referred to the zeal of her missionaries who like Sfc. Columbkille converted the Picts and Soots, and of those who again christianised Britain after most of the converts of Bt. Augustine had relapsed into their original idolatry. He referred to her seats of learning, where students from all European countries were taught free of charge, and her wise laws which formed the basis of the British constitution. He described the reasons which led to the English landing in Ireland in the reign of Henry 11., and gave a succinct account of the surreptitious means which they employed in gaining a foothold in that country. He passe lin rapid review the reigns of successive monarchs, from Henry 11. to Henry VIII., and the Protestant Reformation, and warmly praised the Irish people's love of their religion, to which they adhered through both slaughter and persecution. The lecturer dealt strongly with the persecution of the Catholics down to the period of Catholic emancipation, and bestowed unstinted praise on the great tribune, Daniel O'Connell. He next reviewed the work of the Young Ireland party and wound up an exhaustive lecture with a glowing account of the present Irish party, and especially their able leader, Charles Stewart Parnell. To that great and liberal statesman, W. E. Gladstone, he also bestowed a due meed of praise.— The Times forgerie9 he misbelieved aud utterly condemned. At tha close of the lecture Mr. M'Pherson received a vote of thanks amidst much applause. The de3ecration of a bailiffs grave at Woodford, and which was cabled out here as the disinterment and mutilation of the corpse of a boycotted man in Wexford cemetery, appears to have been a sensational report supplied by a correspondent to the Dublin Mail, and to which there was not a particle of foundation. The Mail acknowledged the error, and apologised for the publication of this false rumour. I referred to the cablegram at tbe time in one of my lottersas altogether beyond the r.iQge of belief, and expressed my sincere conviction that if sucu a crime had bejn committed it would not be the work of the National Liagaers. Is it not strange that the Australian Press are satisfied to be gulled by the cible agents into paying for bogus stories and slanderous lies to be retailed to their readers ? And, stranger still, the cable agents will not forward a contradiction if the slander should concern Icelaid or the Irish. We have to wait for the mail to know either the truth or falsehood of most of the cablegrams concerning Irish affairs. Irish subscribers to the Australasian daily Press ought to insist on knowing the reasjn such a state of thir>gj are allowed. Once again the leaders of the Irish party are face to face with what may be termed a vile and heinous conspiracy bstween ths Tory

KLd^hem « ft h ? ,t n ' **? Time$ ' t0 rob them of their character, and by F H SiSb Si ■ the Sf i(ne of murder - rhe aocioQ taken total l2i«^^ ag .t m r the **"*" reßal(3d ' M * a " «pected, ia a tStoK. tl^ notorious, calumniator of Ireland, and the Srl?3l U ttT l ?." blßit th6ir Caße t0 a London jury tadS* TnnnnJ?f? n f tbe ddClB1 °n of a tribunal who were appointed ne wi^Lend thl la ?•?? Wlßhe8 ' Mr « Parnell '» declaration that MoShiSSiilSLi u Shl » ng in debceot his character oaght to Kdlnr tJ at H0I Sr e and abroad t0 "PP^ abundant fund. tuS iL mini T er the WOr^ d Bhould d °' wonld beto supply him with the means to overcome his opponents JoLtSwrnT 7 -^ th ° Ught Evidently there is woulc. Sot ThTnk nf a C / Dnectl u OQ with contract, or the contractors faw «tS.thi? aßkmg the amount of £944 for the 3 - ORfJf tk necessary in connection with a building contract «xtf»« h^'ohir contractor 8 intend to make a good thing out of the Smfwhi w P g W J Bnder other termß to * «^eral important SSed °'fleesf lees . to compute the exir« to wr,i ehc h they are really « . ri^M, c l\l ?! dO6B DOt exißL The committee thought tuey Kf ,h- im 8 ♦ ally WUh tbem offerin & considerably less than th« *ihftr^n c ' a '"cd. but this the contractors refused, and hence S"i ' ¥nleßß tbe co »^ctors g,t 75 par cent, of the amount iim wi £ 7 a ? u° bear all "Pen^s which now amount to over Mr P«f^ tv, Pa y v* 8 a FF r * ctical ex^rt and a lawyer engaged, and othr. '. ar chitect, Mr. Courtney, clerk of works, and never.! ?£? T hn? ,? "I 10 attead *'Ce. It is hard to say wha wilt lose Sot Tig t oug t0 tedCtl boLh pardeß a lea Boa which th °y ma y