INVERCARGILL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 13, 29 March 1900, Page 6

INVERCARGILL.

A MESSAGE TO THE QUEEN.

A MEEiixu of Irish reside ta of Invercargill was held in Hanan's Hall on Tuesday evening of last week for tbe putpuse uf taking Bteps to send a cablj menage to the Quetn, tnanking her for her appreciation of the valour of the Iriah sokiers in South AJiica, am for her proposed visit to Ireland.

The Very Rev. Dean Burke, who was voted to the chair, expressed his extreme satisfaction (saya the Daily News) in being asked to preside at this meeting of Irishmen of all classes, called to express, in common, their appreciation of the action of the aged venerable Ruler of the Empire, in recognising, in ways so marked, > the bravery of her Irish troops and of her intention, in her Blßt year, to brave the rough Irish Sea in order to convey, in person, her feelings, as the great mother of all her people, to the relatives of the fallen. Remembering the part Irish soldiers had taken in those great martial achievements which had contributed to the extent and grandeur of the British Empire, knowing too that, at the present time, Ireland contributed cix per thousand of her inhabitants to the lighting army, whilst Euglund contributed five and Scotland four per thousand, Irishmen anticipated that their fellow countrymen would take a heavy part in the present campaign, and would show those instincts of courage, the acuteness of brain and muscle which marked them at Talavera and Badajog, at Lucknow and Cawnpore, at Alma and Sebastopol. But as the cablegrams arrived telling of their heroic feats at Dundee, Glencoe, Elandslaafrte, Pieter's Hill, Spion Kop and along the Tugela River, every Irishman raised his head and felt that he had suddenly grown much taller. At the battle of the Tugela, the Irish troops constituted only 20 per cent, of the British forces engaged, but they constituted 70 per cent, of the total number killed. ' Boys let us make a name for ourselves ; fix bayonets and die like men,' were their exclamations of mutual encouragement, as they rushed toward those lines of deadly fire. The course of the River Tugela will evermore be associated with the gallant dash and the fierce onsets of Her Majesty's Iriah troops. When the news of the first real success of the war came to hand— the relief of Kimberley— and it was announced that the deed was associated with the names of Lord Roberts of Waterford. French of Ro^common, and Kelly-Kenny of Clare then Irishmen in office, and shop, and drain, drew themselves up again to their full stature, elated, overflowing with national pride. But when the Queen cabled that message to the Irish troopß on the battlefield, and added her resolve to visit their relatives and country— when the grand old Sovereign led the peoples of England and Scotland in that magnificent outburst of large-minded sentiment displayed throughout Great Britain last week— then every Irishman worthy of the name, unable to check his feelings any longer, said, ' What can Ido to reciprocate all this goodwill — I must do something.' Hence that meeting— a meeting which would crowd the Theatre had notice been given a few days instead of a few hours beforehand.

Dr. Young proposed, ' That it is fitting and desirable to take steps to recognise her Majesty's appreciation of her Irish troops and of her intention to viMt Ireland.' He said that the compliment paid by her M.ijes.y was unprecedented in its character. He did not know ot any o'licr wcnon of h<-r subjects who had ever received such marked recognition at any Lime m history, and it had come. Pb ihfy were cir'aiu ii i ad, spontaneously. This was a compliment to the ai'im.m H-ildiets and Irish people especially. The officers and uppor chi-t-ts hud (ompliments enough, the former by promotions to the highest positions in the army. This was especially n compliment to the rank ;md file

Rev. Brother Duncan, in seconding the motion, which was unanimously agreed to referred to t! c influence her Majesty's visit to Ireland would have on Imperial politics and the peace of Europe, indicating as it did the unity of the nation in the struggle for justice and progress lie referred to the gallant deeds of the Irish HoMiers. and s.ud from far enough back the Irish had supplied much of the niu'u'e and more of the brain of the ever-conquering British Army.

Among the other speaker* was Mr. Gilfedder, M.H.R., who said that in America and in thene colonies Irishmen had played an irnportlant part in the sphere of p> 1 tioal «jw well as industrial life. Irishmen had contributed in no small degree to build up that nation to which they were all so proud to belong- Not only ii^ the war that was being waged in South Africa, but in military strife for centuries Irishmen had foug'it side by side with the gallant soldiers from England, Scotland and Wales to uphold the dignity and supremacy of the British Empire. This was the first occasion upon which the services rendered by the valiant sons of Erin on the battlefield had be n recognised and appreciated by their sovereign. The present war would result in r.-au«in« the dreams of those statesmen who had for years advociteu one <n üm noblest of ideals— lmperial Federation. The bonds of unity were now being drawn tighter together, and Imperial federation iliac would conduce to the mutual advantage of the colonies, and tie Motherland would become an accomplished fact. The visit of Her Majesty to Ireland, and her recognition of the valour and the services of the Irish soldiers would be brimful of the bent remits.

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