MR. DONOVAN IN DUNEDIN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 3, 17 January 1907, Page 12

MR. DONOVAN IN DUNEDIN.

The members of the i1.A.0.8. Society, the Ladies' Clubland the Catholic Men's Club in connection, with . the Cathedral parish took the" opportunity on'Thurs'day evening of Mr. Donovan's brief visit to'- Duned-in on his way" from Lawrence, where he- spokeofirWednesday evening, to * Canterbury, to entertain the Irish - envoy at a conversazione, in St. Joseph's Hall. Mi r . " J. B. Callan presided, and there were also present his Lordship Bishop^- Verdon7~ Very Rev. „ Dean Regnault-^ (Waimate), Rev. Father O'Donnell (Queenstown), Rev. Father Coffey, Adm., Rev. Fathers (Jleary, O'Reilly, and Corcoran. There was a -.very large attendance. The hall, especially—the stage, ' waff very tastefully decorated for the occasion^the motto, '• Uead Mile.Failte,' occupying a^ prominent place." After a "short but excellent ' programme of vocal , music '.the chairman formally welcomed Mr. Donovan to *• Dunedin. He expressed his pleasure at- seemg -such a large "assemblage to give a hearty welcome to - Mr. , Donovan, and said it was a,, good thing to see young ..men like 'Mr. Deylin and Mr. -Donovan, advocating t^e"' cause of Ireland/ in these new lands. They had been very successful in ■Australia," and he felttheywould.be equally as successful here. (Applause.) "Mr. Donovan, " who on rising was received with hearty applause, said that he and .his' collieaigue had " been touring the Australasian States for the past eleven months, and" had been well received everywhere; not only by their own kith and kin, ~ but by Australians of all creeds and classes. They had not only realised a sum of £20,(300 for the Home Rule cause, but they- had . attracted -to that cause all who. were fair-minded in' the ( Commonwealth. The „ speaker then contrasted the warmth of their reception with ■ " the hostility that was often shown to' Messrs. John and William Redmond, when they" were here 23 years - ago.. A' great change on the question of. -Home Rule had cbme~~ over -the bulk of* the- people, And the present delegates had dissipated niany of the illusions which had existed regarding certain* questions. In con- ' elusion he Isaid to the people of New- Zealand : always be proud of your grand country, with its free . institutions, and jealously guard them. If the people of'Mreland had the same privileges there would-be no need of sending out a delegation here. _ ..The ~T people of Ireland are' agitating for the very liberties which the New Zealanders enjoy, and which he trusted they . would guard well.. (Applause.) At the conclusion of the proceedings, on the, .motion of- Mr. Donovan a vote of thanks- was passedwith acclamation to T Mr. Callan for presiding, and to 'his Lordship the Bishop for' his presence that' evening. His Lordship said he was always pleased to do anything, that was in his power to assist the Irish cause. (Applause.). . ■ > - During the evening songs were contributed by Mrs. ;Power, Miss N. Hall, Rev. Father O'Reilly, -and Messrs.- fifties, Carolin, a!nd MoGr'ath. The .accompaniments were " played by Miss S. Hall* and Miss McTigue. . .; Light refreshments were dispensed by the members •of the ' Ladies' _ Club, under the- direction of Miss Staimton-, to whom, later on, Rev. Father Coffey returned thanks on behalf of those- present.