Irish News.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVI, Issue 48, 22 March 1889, Page 9

Irish News.

Antrim. — At a meeting of the Route Tenants' Defence Association, held in the Town Hal), Ballymoney, to consider the recent order of the Land Commissioners with regard to judicial rents, William Stewart presided. The following resolutions were proposed by John Mcllderry, J.P., seconded by John Brown, and passed :— That whereas an Act of Parliament was passed in 1887 providing for the equitable alterations of judicial i eats fixed prior to 1886, owing to the unprecedented fall in agricultural price* which had occurred, this association expressed its gratification for what seemed to be just and beneficial legislation, believing that under consistent administration it would tend toward the well-being and peace of Ireland ; that whereas the table of average reductions for 1887 was generally unequal to the fall in prices and other unfavourable circumstances, and m this district the averages were ascertained by strict and careful investigation to be particularly inconsistent with agricultural experiences, strong dissatisfaction prevailed on account of what was regarded as mal- administration ; and that whereas the table for 1888 increases thejudical rents in many unions throughout Ireland, we hereby indignantly protest against this schedule because the agricultural interest was being destroyed by the exaction of impossible rents, and the equitable clauses of the Act of 1887 were intended to arrest a crisis which threatened ruin and turmoil to the country. Armagh. — On December 26 Lurgan was visited by the " Primrose " Orange Band of Clanrole, Portadown, and a Nationalist band, which came from the district of Moyntaghe. The " Primrose " band put up in a public house in Market street, and while they were there the Nationalist band, with a crowd following, marched through Church place en route to Edward street. The cheering of the crowd followtng the Nationalist band had the effect of bringing a few of the Orange bandsmen out on the street. Aa they appeared in sight they were received with booing and jeering from the Nationalists, and one of the Orange bandsmen got into a conflict with a member of the opposite party. Head-Constable Green and Constables Kelly, Turner, Geddis and others quickly appeared on the scene and induced the " Primrose " bandsmen to return to their room and at the same time forced the Nationalists down towards Edward street. For some time afterwards the district was in a very excited state. Car low.— The regular monthly meeting of Bathvilly National League was he'd in Bathvilly, December 23. Rev. John Phelan, President, occupied the cnair. Members of committee present : M. Nolan, Edward Kelly, William Bolger, Michael Byrne, Philipstown ; Michael Lawler, M. P. Maher. A circular from the Secretary of the Borris branch, having reference to rack-renters and exterminators following the hunt, was submitted to the meeting for consideration. The members present, after a long and practical discussion, were of opinion that in order to secure concerted action in determining the course to be adopted it would be advisable to hold a County conv?ntion to elicit a unanimous expression of opinion on the subject. Clare.— H.G.Studdert, Kilrusb, agent of the Vaadeleur estate, has issued a circular to the tenants to settle. Though negotiations for a settlement have gone far towards ending the land-war, yet the dispute between Captain Vandeleur and nis West Clare tenants remains in the same condition as it was before the evictions commenced. The tenants recently held a meeting and decided to pay a year's rent, less 32j per cent, oo condition that all former arrears be wiped out and the evicted tenants restored, The agent received this proposal and forwarded same to Captain Yandeleurfor his acceptance, and general hopes were entertained that an amicable settlement would be arrived at and further evictions averted. It i 8 reported that a letter has been received from Captain Vandeleur, refuging to concede these terms. There are rumours current of fresh troubles. Cork.— One hundred and twenty priests of the Cloyne diocese have signed a protest against the unjust imprisonment of Rev. M. B. Kennedy, of Meehn. They maintain that the National League is a legal and constitutional orgaaisation, and that Father Kennedy's "crime" is purely political. Miss Catherine Orowley, sister of Peter O'Neill Crowley, who was shot in Kilclooney Wood during the Fenian rising in March, 1867, was interred in Ballymacoda churchyard. The deceased Ldy was 73 years of age, and was remarkable in the district for her piety and charity. In accordance with her expressed wishes the funeral was private, and a demonstration, which the people of the district had intended to hold, was abandoned. The recent heavy rainfall has swelled the River Lee and streams in the neighbourhood of the city to an almost unprecedented extent, wh ; le Blackpool district became submerged, the water in some places rising to the height of four feet, with the result that the poor people suffered considerable loss, many of their effects being swept away before they had time to remove them to a place of safety. The western road was also Hooded to a considerable extent, and the Cork and Macroom Railway had to suspend traffic. A public subscription has been opened for the sufferers in Blackpool. Derry. — Mr. Young, Dungiven, agent for the Skinners' Company, attended at the Skinners' office in Draperstowu a few days ago to receive the rents and arrears now due by the tenants on the BallinaBcreen portion of the estate. There were not many of the tenants to be seen about the office duiing the day, but this was accounted for by the fact that large numbers of these tenants had been processed for from two to three and a- half years' rent in October last, and had then settled. Those who paid three half-years' rent then were not charged the costs, but those wh:> only paid one year's rent had to pay the coats. Tenants paying rent tor 1887 were allowed the reduction on the halfyear's rent dating from May. There has been no further progress made with respect to the sale of the estate in this division since February last, so that theie is a large number of the tenants who have not signed, and the sale is therefore incomplete! The tenants who

signed were processed for the amount of interest which they would be liable to pay as installments to the Land Commission. The agreements signed by the tenants in this case appear to leave no room for litigation, as they set forth merely that the Company sell to the tenants their holdings at 24 per cent, less than their judicial rents, but do not expressly mention any fixel time when the liability of the tenants to pay rent shall cease. The tenants paid the interest, getting the receipt in the usual way, and were told by the agent that they would probably have another yeir to pay. Several of those who signed have not paid their arrears yet. Donegal. — The long-expected evictions on the Olphert estate, near Falcarragh, were commenced on January 2, and were attended with a series of exciting scenes. The house of |Patrick O'Donnell, a blacksmith, was strongly barricaded. At their first attack the bailiffs weie repulsed. The police then attempted to capture the fort. Sergeant McComb was disabled by being wounded with a pitchfork and struck on the head with a stone. Even the English soldiers who were present cheered every repulse of the land brigands. In the end the soldiew were ordered to fire on the defenders of the house, when Father Stephens advised them to surrender. This advice they adopted, and ten men were arrested. The defenders were cheered by a large crowd. Father McFadden was present and joined in the cheering. Several other evictions were carried out and ghastly scenes enacted. Down* — The schedule of judicial rents, as published in the National journals, has caused the greatest consternation in South Down at tbe increase in the rents in the Kilkeel Union. The farmers are despondent, and declare they are utterly unable to pay the demand arising under the new scale. A meeting was held in Rostrevor, at which resolutions were passed condemning the action of Commissioners Wrench and Litton, and protesting against the Government giving countenance to a scheme which must disturb the entire country. Copies of the resolutions have been wired to Mr. Sexton at the House of Commons. Dublin.— Chief-Secretary Balfour, when driving to St. Patrick's Cathedral on Christmas Day, met with an accident that might have proved serious. Near Redmond's Hall his carriage came in contact with that of Mr. Ellis, of George's street, and the former was co much injured that Mr. Balfour bad to get out and walk the remainder of the distance. Fermanagh.— An address to the Orangemen of Ireland ' which has been issued by the Grand Orange Lodge and signed by the Earl of Erne, states that a patriotic Government and a resolute and fearless Chief-Secretary for Ireland have made life bearable in places where evil persons had tortured and murdered husbands and fathers because of their resistance to a hellish combination which wrote its decrees in blood. The address recognises the efforts of the Government to maintain the legislative Union, and rejoices that t has been sustained by the almost unanimous voice of the Protestants of Ireland. Kerry.— An influential meeting of the Knockanore League was held on December 23, under the presidency of Mr. T. O'Sullivan. The following resolution was adopted : — That we congratulate Father Casey of Abbeyfeale on the signal victory he has achieved over landlordism in compelling Martin Flynn, a notorious land-grabber, to restore the farm from which he had evicted the Scully orphans. There waa a cattle market held at Killarney on December 22, and the supply of cattle was comparatively small and consequently prices were good. The thin supply is attributed to the adoption of the Plan of Oampaigaon the Kenmare estate, the farmers having already disposed of their cattle. Within the past few days several tenants on tne estate have been served with writs, so that between the proceedings at the coming Quarter Sessions and those in the Superior Courts a great many farmers will be qualified for eviction very soon. Kildare. — The Nationalists of this County held a monster meeting at Monasterevan recently, when the chairman, Father Hughes, said on the rent question :— We may ask, How are the present rents paid by the people? Last spring this question was asked by a Land Commissioner of a young man giving evidence about a rack-rent. " How did you pay that rent 1 ' asked the Commissioner. ■' By the starvation of my family," was the simple answer. " I believe you," cried the man in a tone that showed how he felt the tenible meaning of the farmer's words:. Yep, my friends, your rents are paid in many cases by adopting the plan of starvation. Well, I think it full time that there was some other plan for paying rent. How often lam maddened by the sight of the poor children in rags, unable to attend school or church because the rack-rent swallows up the earnings of the year. The people are showing wonderful patience, but I want to warn the landlords that there is a limit to* their power of enduring suffering and hunger ; and I say if more consideration is not shown for the miserable plight in wh'ch the people are, a fierce storm of resistance will sweep over the country, and if the landlords find themselves hopelessly ruined they will have only themselves to thank. There are far worse landlords than Lord Drogheda, but I never heard of more cruel persecution than what was perpetrated last summer on some of his unfortunate tenantry. Numbers of them were brought to the law courts and decreud for rent at a time when he might as well have demanded from them the elixir of life. It is well known that he hated the people. At all events, he heaped the law costs on as if in spite, and you will be sorry to hear that these costs were paid by the poor serfs along with the rent in November. If they had the spirit of a mouse they would not pay them. Meet sucti tyranny as that by supporting the organization which has done so much tor you in the past, and will do so much more for you in the future. Only by thus acting you shall enable cur trusted leaders to dictate their terms of peace, which are that the Irish people shall live in their own laud the rulers of their own destiny. l,imerlck.— The Quilty family who grabbed a small farm near Caatleconnell, have given up the holding in question. It was

injreference to their action that a demonstration was lately held at Castleconnel), and that arising out of speeches then made prosecutions are pending against Meesrs. Finucanc and Sheeny, Famellite llembers. Tipperary. — Christmas Day was celebrated at Thurles with its usual religious solemnity. Archbishop Oroka celebrated eight o'clock Macs, and at 12 o'clock there was a Solemn High Mass, Father Crowe being celebrant. Immediately after Mass Pontifical Benediction was given by the Archbishop. Amongst the congregation present was Wm, O Brien M.P., who is vißiting his Grace. As soon as the religions ceremonies were over the major portion of the congregation walked to the front of the Archbishop's hous?, where j they cheered for Wm. O'Brien and his Grace. The Holy Family Band, too, put in an appearance and plajed an excellent programme. Hia Grace and Wm. O'Brien and several pries 1 s stood on the terrace walk in front of the palace daring tho musical recital. The [Archbishop thanked, on behalf of himßelf and Mr. O'Brien, the performers and the people, who then withdrew. In the woikhuuse the inmates were provided by the Guardians with an excellent dinner. Father John Kyan added to their comfort with a pipe and a piece of the weed. He also supplied the juvenile inmates wiih confectionery, etc. Frederick Burke, Chairman Board of Guardians, superintended the dinner arrangements, and afterwards both himself and Father Ryan, who are violinists of no small repute, played several selections on the violin for the inmates. A Nationalist meeting was held at the League rooms, Banana, December 24, for the purpose of considering the recent action of the Chief Land Commissioners in adjusting their new scale of rent charges. John Cullinan, addressing the meeting, said that it was outrageous to find increases of rent put upon paltry abatements after years of terrible depression such as have been goae through, simply because a sudden and transient increase in some instances in the price of cattle has taken place in the latter end of the present year, which increase wa§ due to a scarcity if cattle, as well at) to other merely temporary causes. The following resolution was then passed: — That we enter our solemn protest against the vaiiations of judicial rents now announced, which we feel bound to stigmatise as a Londonderry-Bal-fourian job devised to suit Tory tactics, and in face of which the slightest ehred of confidence in the land courts must become iv reality a thing of the past. We further proclaim it to be our firm conviction that the tenant-farmers of Ireland should mark, their condemnation of Buch gross injustice by refusing to any longer recognise the land couitd, relying instead on their organiaation, which alone can save themselves and their families from ruin. 11 Tyrone.— Borne of the land-robbers in this County are becoming emboldened by the laxity of organisation among the tenants. Notices have been posted on the Town Hall in Draperstown, informing the Drapers' teuants that Mr. Glover will attend at Draperstown in a short time[for the settlement of the ejectment decrees sta r ding against the tenants in the Division of Diaperstown,and that proceedings will be commenced against those tenants who fail to have their ejectments settled. The notices further state that all tenants who will fail to have paid the rent of 1888, will be processed for the approaching Quarter Sessions. Some of the tenants have a 1 ready offered to pay the rent of 1888, but the rent of those tenants against whom there are other civil bill decrees still remaining unsettled, would not be accepted without their paying the amount of the decrees and the ejectments, together with all costs. A number of the tenants on this estate who were allowed an extension of time for payment of their arrearß, have already failed to pay their installments as ordered by the Connty Court Judge, and these flre now threatened with eviction. RoSCOtntnon. — There was a general meeting of the Castlerea " suppressed " branch cf the League on December 25. E. J. McDermott was moved to the chair. P. (Jonroy prtpoied. and T Egan seconded the following resolution, which was carried : — That we pledge ourselves to carry on the work of this branch of the League notwithstanding the prosecutions pending agaiaat some of our most respected members and despite the efforts of the brutal Tory Qovc rnment, through its police, to suppress it. James J. O'Kelly, M.P., having completed his term "f two months' imprisonment under the Coercion Act, was releas^d from Sligo Gaol on December 23. Tbe honourable gentleman immediately proceeded by train to Boyle, where he was met by a large number of his constituents, who received him wartnly. Subsequently ho wa« presented with an address and a purse ot sovereigns as a testimony of the high admiration in which he 19 held and of the gratitude wnicti the people of Roscommon feel to b 3 due to him for the sufferings he has endured. Mr, O'Kelly, in reply, staled that he was nothing tho worse for his imprisonment and was as determine I as ever to stand by the people whenever they required his services. He afterwards proceeded by toe mail train to Dublin. "W^aterford. — Trere was a gcneial meeting of the Thomas fc'exlon branch of the League, Waterford, December 23. The ch.iir was taken by William Hurley. The following resolution, proposed by Thomas Carey and seconded by Morgan Dunn, was cft~iied by acclamation :— That we protest in the s'rongest manner against the tyrannical and despotic action of our Tory rulers in proclaiming the prcc°Bßion on the anniversary of the Manchester Martyrs in the city of Waterford. "Wexford. — The monthly meeting of Kyle branch was held on December 23, D^nis Kennedy in tho chair. Others present : — James Fitzpatnck, Denis E°;ao, Richard Moloney, Patrick Fehan, Timothy Phelan, William DreDnan, William Mahev, William Scully, John Kelly, Thomas Breen, Michael Ahem. The following resolution was unanimously adopted :— That we call on Sir Charles Coote's agent to give the reduction voluntarily guren us last year, namely, 20 per cent., ai we believe any less will be inadpquite to aoeet the deficiencies in farm produce thia year.