Irish News.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVII, Issue 47, 14 March 1890, Page 9

Irish News.

Antrim.— A magnificent steel screw steamer was recently launched from the yard of Workman, Clarke, and Co., Belfast. She was constructed on an order from the City Line, which trades between Liverpool, London, and Calcutta. She was christened the City of Vienna by Miss McCausland. Captain D. McMillan, of the s.s. Antrim, was recently presented with a valuable binocular glass in recognition of his services in saving the crew of a sinking ship. T.ie crew were Germans, and the glass bears an inscription in that language, of which the following is the translation :— We, William, by the grace of God, German Emperor, and Kiog of Prussia, grant the Muster of the British steamer Antrim, Captain McMillan, for services rendered the crew of the disabled German ship Theodor Ruger, this recognition." The Mayor presented the glare, and Captain McMillan suitably returned thanks. A representative and enthusiastic meeting of the inhabitants of Ballymena and surrounding districts was recently held in the Protestant Hall, Ballymena, John K. Curry, solicitor, presiding. The object of the meeting was to discuss the land question. The following resolution, on the motion of Robert Achison, Broughshane, was passed unanimously : — That dual ownership in land is adverse to the best interests of the country ; in the past it has been the cause of outrage, and crime, and disloyalty, and disaffection to the Government ; that the prosperity of the people and the peace of the country necessitates the universal establishment of farming proprietary throughout Ireland, and we call on the Government to pass a compulsory sale Bill on equitable terms, so that the occupier shall be the owner of the land.

Armagh.— A meeting of ratepayers, farmers, and others interested in the Barm drainage question was held recently in the large room oi the Institute at Portad'own. The meeting was convened to express opposition to the proposed Government scheme for the drainage of the Barm, and to express an opinion upon an alternative plan, as set forth in the resolutions, which were, adopted. The gathering wcs representative. A great meeting was held in the Catholic Reading-room in this city for tne purpose of establishing a branch of the Tenants' Defence Leagut in the county. The following members of Parliament were present :— Messrs. Pinker ton, Leamy, M. Kenny, Biggar, Blanc, and Reynolds. Mr. Pinkerton presided. A letter was read from the Most Rev. Dr. Logue, Primate of all Ireland, acknowledging a card of invitation to the convention and a copy of the constitution of the Irish Tenants' Defence Association. He stated that he had carefully read over the articles of the constitution, and could find nothing which appeared to him to him to exceed the bounds of fair and legitimate defence. In the face of a powerful combination of landlords, having wealth, influence, and all the resources of the Executive power thrown into their side of the balance, he believed some such line of defence was necessary, if numbers of tenants were to bj saved from utter ruin.

CarlO"W«— A dog belonging to a farmer named Agar, who resides at Ballymoon, near Bagnalstown, Bhowed symptoms of madness recently, and before being destroyed had bitten on the hand and leg one of Mr. Agar's children. A servant man was also attacked, but escaped being cut. Mr. Crosthwait, the local Guardian, said the people of the locality were very much interested in the case of the child, and were willing to subscribe towards the expense of sending the boy to Paris for treatment by M. Pasteur, but they were anxious to know if the Guardians could contribute towards the expenses out of the rates of the Union. The Guardians have written the Local Government about the matter.

Clare.— Mr. Owen's patriots, the policemen, are carrying things with a high hand in Cartloe and Sixmilebridge. The people cannot proceed about their ordinary avocations without having a brace of '' patriots " in attendance upon them. Father Quinn presided at the recent meeting of Tulla League. Mr. Mclnerney, who was only recently released from Limerick Gaol, where he was confined for s x months, was present. The evictions of Patrick Rogers and Miss Sullivan, of Tulla, were condemded. Arrangements were made for re-organising the brancn. A sum of £70 was subscribed for the Tenants' Defence Fund. Head-Conetable Kennedy, of Kilrush, had a great array of summonses for cruelty to animals in the local court the other day. The police feel for their brother 6wines much, but have no such fine feelings about the pitching out on the roadside of Christians from their old homes at the instance of felonious landlordism. Neither do they fret much about the murders of men who die from the cruel prison treatment of Balfour. What about John Mandeville's and William O'Brien's treatment ? They were treated more like swine than men.

Cork.- Portion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, which was stationed at Fermoy, when leaving there cheered vigorously for Home Rule.

Head-Constable O'Donnell summoned Mr. Hanner, the Secretary of the National League, Mallow, for a breach of the licensing laws. There was no breach actually proved, yet Hanner was fined one pound.

Middleton cattle and horse fair was well supplied with stock of all kinds. Being the Chrißtmas fair, Cork buyera and exporters attended in great numbers. Exceedingly low figures were obtained for pigs ; there was no competition. Waterfoid and Limerick buyers did not attend.

Mr. Shaw Lefevre. accompanied by Cannon Keller and Messrs. Lane and Healy, M.P.'s, recently interviewed the tenants and emergencymen on the Ponsonby estate. The system of police espionage gave him great annoyance and he remonstrated with them several times.

The Mayor of Cork paid Mb usual visit to the people whom Mr. Balfour facetiously considers " criminals." When his Worship arrived Father O'Dwyer was after celebrating Mass, but was prevented through the inclemency of the weather from taking his H a ily exercise. James Maye, Edmund Kent, and Cailaghan McCarthy are out of hospital and back again in their cell 6, a decided imorovem >nt having taken place in their health. John Cahill, B. Crowlev, Jno. Kgan, Daniel Connor, David Kent. Denis Healy, William James O'Brien, Maurice Doyle, Patrick O'Brien, «nd Doherty, and the two mcD, DoDovan and Cahill, who are undergoing four months imprisonment in default of giviDg bail for the " crime " of having blown a horn at Conua, were also seen. The Mayor paid a visit to the female prison and saw two political prisoners there. Mrs. Kiordan. Ballyvourney, and Mrs. Mahoney, Rosscarbery. Both women are bearing their imprisonment bravely and are in excelleut health.

Derry. — Preparations are being made to evict a number of tenants on the Drapers' estate. Accordingly a large quantity of straw has been put into the Town Hall to serve as a resting-place for the police force wbich is to protect the Sheriff and his men. From the preparations being made it is considered that there will be a force of over 100 police in attendance. There is intense excitement in the town and all over the districts concerned.

Donegal* —When the memorial erected to the memory of the late Inspector Martin was about being removed from the yard ioto the church, some people resisted the introduction in a very forcible manner, all because there was a cross upon it. Such blind bigotry was never known.

Dublin. — The usual meeting of the council for the Preservation of the Irish Language was held recently at No. 6, Molesworth street; Count Plunkett in the ctnir. There were also present: Hamilton Bell, Esq., and Messrs. J. Halligan, T. Ward, Dr. Fagan, and R. J. O' Duffy, and J. J. McSweeney, secretary. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. Communications were received from the following: Miss N. Bowman, Newton House, near London ; Rev. Edmund Barry, P.P., Rathcormao. Mr. Duffy gave notice that he would move the election of Count Plunkett to the vice-chair, in room of the late Right Rev. i Dr. Power, of Waterford.

The first meeting of the Irish Industrial League was held at 27 South Frederick street, H. Kioahan in the chair. Rev. Canon Bagot, one of the honorary secretaries, read several letters highly approving of the project. Amongst them was one from the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster, in which his Eminence writes :—": — " The object of the Irish Industrial League is altogether such as I desire to see supported by the strongest names of all political parties. This would exclude even the suspicion of any political bias, and would command the confidence of the people of Ireland. To secure this is the first necessary step." Letters were also read approving of the association from the Mayor of Belfast, Baroness Burdett Coutts, Justin McCarthy, M.P., and Sir Eardly Wilmot. R. Denis, Palace Chambers, Westminster ; Very Rer. Canon Hegarty, Glanmire, Cork ; and Rev. Canon Bagott, Kildare, were appointed honorary secretaries.

Gal"way.— John Burke, near Gort, was recently evicted by Mr. Langan, Hill of Down, Meath.

The Convention of delegates in connection with the National Defence Association recently took place in Gal way. The place of meeting was the Temperance Hall, Lombard street, which was kindly given for lhe meeting by Fattier Dooly, to whom too much praiße cannot be awarded for his zeal in getting up the meeting, and for the admirable manner in which the arringements under his control were carried out. The delegates accompanied the Right Hon. ShawLefevre, M. P., and the other members present from the Railway Hotel to the Temperance Hall. The Members of Parliament were : Right Hon. G. J. Shaw-Lefevre, Mr. A. T. Dickson, Colonel Nolan, Mr. David Sheeny, Mr. P. J. Fol y, Mr. John Piakerton, and Mr. P. J. Power. There was a great attendance of the clergy, and representatives from leagues, banches, and public bodies in the county. Rev. Father Dooley said it gave him sincere pleasure to propose that Mr. T. A. Dickson, M.P., take the chair, and that Rev. Father McCarthy, Mr. Sweeny (Loughrea), and Mr. Lynam be elected secretaries to the meeting. Mr. Shaw-Lefevre, who was at the meeting, spoke and received a most enthusiastic reception.

Kerry. — Patrick Moran and J. Moloney were summoned at Listowel Sessions for being disorderly on November 23. On being investigated the charge was found to exist solely because the men cheered for Allen, Larkin and O'Brien. The policemen around Listowel must have vecy small scope for promotion when they seize upon such an opportunity ttv^frOw off. They being compelled to resort to such for to gain any notice is the best character the people could produce that they are quite an orderly people, and give the police no chance for promotion.

Kildare. — Naas has been proclaimed under the Coercion Act, but the people of Naas are not much aw« d by thi9 fact just now.

Emergencyman Allen, now so well and unfavourably known as the Luggacurran Emergencyman, was again fined £2 10s, for carrying arms without a license. He has been fined several times. Who is paying the fines 1

The Land Commisbionera sat in Naas recently, and instead of reducing rents allowed them to stand as they were. In one case the landlord'? valuer swore the farm was valued for £4 less that what the tenant was paying, yet they did not reduce the rent. This is fixing fair reut with a vengeance,

Kilkenny.— For twenty yeara Father McDonald, Kilkenny, was pastor of the important parish of St. Canice's and during this long term he was ever the good priest and wise counbelor to whom all in time of difficulty nnd trial repaired for B»lac2 and relief. The many beautiful and useful improvements made in the noble pileover which he had chirge attest his love and reverence for sacred thmge and a desire to see and hear God worshipped in a temple richly adorned and befitting, some part at least, His dignity. Father

McDonald held the office of Dean of the Diocese of Oasory. He was born in November 1819, and first studied in a private school in the city of Waterford and finally in Maynooth. His death took place on December 8, at the age of 70 years. The greatest sorrow was visible everywhere in the city when the sad intelligence became known. Business houses were closed and the blinds of private dwellings were down as indications of the general mourning. The funeral was the greatest ever witnessed ; all classes and creeds were represented. A solemn Requiem Mass was celebrated in' St. Canice's.

JUeitrim. — At the recent meeting of this branch the following resolutions were unanimously adopted :— " Resolved — That we sincerely sympathise with our esteemed and revere! P.P., Rev. Thomas Lynch, on the occasion of his illness, and fondly hope he may soon be restored to his pristine health and vigour." " That we fully approve of the resolutions adopted at the County Leitrim Convention and pledge ourselves to do what in us lies to urge the people of this' important parish to work in harmony with the other districts of Ireland in aiding the Tenants' Defence Association."

I*imerick. — Sixmilebridge fair has been re-established, and the firßt fair was held recently. The attendance was large and a good business done all round.

L,OHjjforcl.— The matters is dispute between Robert Tait, manager of the Limerick Army Clothing Factory, and Board of Directors have, through the intervention of William Abraham, M.P., and other gentlemen, been amicably and satisfactorily arranged. The avoidance of legal proceedings and the delay, expense, and manifold inconveniences likely to follow, show that good sense and feeling prevailed on both sides, and that a factory which leaves thousands of pounds annually in Limerick by providing constant employment fo" five hundred or six hundred girls will be continued in full operation.

The convention held in the New Eall, Longford, to establish the Tenants' Defence Association was very representative in character ; delegates from the different branches of the league and public bodies in the country being in attendance. Four M.P.'s attended, T. M. Healy, Dr. Fitzgerald, Denis Kilbride, and James Tuite. The three released Longford " criminals," Messrs. Flood, Wilson and Fenlon, were greeted with hearty cheering by the people. Mr. Healy and his brother M. P.'s made a special call of sympathy on Mrs. J. P. Farrell, whose husband is co manfully bearing his punishment in Sligo Gaol. Mr. Kilbride presided over the meeting, at which the men of Longford threw in their lot with the people of Tipperary to counteract exterminating landlords' tactics.

Monaglian* — Intelligence received from Carrickmacross gives further accounts of the latest development of the boycotting of the railway owing to the action of the stationmaster in taking an "evicted" house. The fair in Carrickmacross was recently held, and not a single head of cattle bought in the fair was sent by train. A long array of carts, extending fully a mile, started in processional order for Dundalk, all laden with pigs bought in the fair, and all the other cattle were walked to that port for shipment. The greatest enthusiasm prevailed among the people, who are now more determined than ever to adhere to their attitude of passive resistance. The arrangements for reaching Dundalk and other towns are complete without railway communication. The town is crowded with police and detectives, who are sypins; after every one. There is no intimidation, except on the part of the police, who seem anxious to bully and coerce and frighten the people into ie3uming business with the line. On a recent occasion 00 carts were engaged to convey the oats bought in the market to Dunda.k. The police went round each and every one of the men in charge and took down their names and addresses with great solemnity. Their right to act in this fashion is naturally questioned, as men ought to be able to earn a day's wages without a policeman covertly threatening ttiem with prosecution. Matters, however, have gone so far that no power that the Government can bring to bear will induce the people to deal with the line until the house is vacated.

RoSCOnimon.-A most enthusiastic open air meeting of the tenants of the townlands of Mullen and Raheela was held at Raheela. About fifty of the tenants were present. The object of the meeting was to defend the reputation of our venerable chairman of the meeting held on the 25th mst. Luke Sharkey was proposed and elected chairman and Michael Toolan was appointed at act as secretary. It was resolved — That we, the tenants of the above townlands, redouble our energy in upholding the resolutions passed at the tenant-farmers' meeting held on the 25th ; that we redouble our determination not to interfere between James Beirne of Mullen and the lacdlcrd as far as the rent question is now concerned, an 1 that we look at the report in the Herald regarding our venerable chairman as a lying, scurrilous, mean, low fabrication in ranking Mr Sharkey as of Star-Chamber fame.

SligO.— A convention to inaugurate the Tenants' Defence Association in the County Sligo, was held in the Assembly Room of the Town Hall. Delegates from the different branches of the National League throughout the County attended, and the local Boards of Guardians were also represented. The Mayor (John Connolly) was present and took part in the proceedings. Messrs. P. J. Power, Edmund Leamy, P. "McDonald, M. McCartan, and D. Sheeby, M.bVs, arrived by the limited mail, and were met at the station by tbe ifimmet and Gaelic bands, and a crowd of people who escorted them to the Town Hall. Admission to the meeting was by ticket, and at the time the speaking commenced a large assemblage thronged the capacious building. On motion of Father R. McLaughlin, seconded by John Connolly, Mayor, P. J. Power took the chair ; ana on the moiion of Father McOauran, Patrick A McHugh and John O'Uowd were appointed secretaries to the meeting. Letters were read fiom Bishop Gillooly, who enclosed a chtque for £10, with his beet wishes for the success of the movement ; ana Bishop Lyster, who enclosed a cheque for £5, and stated that he thoroughly approved of the programme of the association and sympathised with its object.

Tipperary* — Mr. Sbaw-Lefevre recently visited the scene of the great struggle now being waged between Smith-Barry and the men of gallant Tipperary. He was received by Canon Oahill and the leading Nationalists of the town, and was presented with an address of welcome, to which Mr. Lefevre publicly replied. The police were as busy as bees in a sugar barrel.

Tyrone.— A public meeting, convened for the purpose of advocating a compulsory sale of land 8.11, was held recently at Stewartstown. It was one of a series intended to be held throughout the County of Tyrone on the same subject. The meeting, which waß held in the Market House, was convened in the ordinary way, and was well attended by the farmers of the district and the people of the town, all creeds and politics being represented. Resolutions were passed demanding the Government to pass a bill of compulsory Bale of land.

Waterford.— A meeting of the members of the Dungwven Literary Society was held recently, at which the Very Rev. P. Oasey attended, for the purpose of forming classes in connection with the society. Mr. E. Koehan presided. The details of the project were discussed, after which a resolution was proposed establishing a class for the teaching of Irish, and a good many members gave ia their names as pupils. With regard to the other classes it was proposed to wait on the teachers of the locality and ascertain their terms for teaching two nights in the week. The meeting rendered their thanks to the Very Rev. P. C*rey, for attending and taking so great an interest in tbe working of the society. H. G, Fisher, of the Munster Express, has been sentenced to two months' imprisonment for publishing League reports. Four other summonses are still against him. C. Redmond, junr., has been also treated to a further term of two months, making a total of seven months' imprisonment for tbe same offence.