HASTINGS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 4, 24 January 1907, Page 14

HASTINGS.

The Princess Theatre, Hastings, (says the Napier "Daily Telegraph,' of January 16), was crowded to the doors, and beyond, last " evening bra the occasion of the address of Mr. Devlin, M.P. The Mayor "(Mr. T. J: Thompson) presided, and there were also on the platform Messrs. A. Dillon, M.H.R. T A. L. D. Fraser, M.H.R., D. O'Reilly, G. P. Donnelly, D. Scannell, C. Hughes, G. Ellis, S. McGreevy (Waipawa)-, T. Butler (Waipawa), the Very Rev. Dean Smyth, and Mr. J. D. Donovan (hon. secretary reception committee).

Mr. A. Dillon, MJEI.R., moved the following resolution :-— ' That this meeting, in - extending a -hearty welcome to Mr. Devlin, as representative of the National party now so ably advocating the cause of Home Rule for Ireland, wishes to give expression to its sympathy with the movement, and to promise all the amoral' and material support .in its power until that country shall have received from the hands of the British Parliament the right to govern her own'inter-

nal ' affairs a measure which, whilst largely benefiting Ireland, would result in making her sons already loyal sidil mdre loyal, and would loster and cement more nrmly the bonds of unity and fellowship so necessary, lor the well-being and consolidation of the Empire. 1

In his introductory remarks Mr. Devlin, who was received with enthusiastic applause, said he thought the meeting he was about to address was unique in one remarkable circumstance, in other centres the audiences he had addressed waited to hear -him state his case for Home Rule before carrying a zesolution in its favor* and in this they recognised, a principle, inasmuch as the self-government which had done "so much for New Zealand could be applied with equal benefit to another constituted part of the Empire.

At the conclusion of Mr. Devlin's address, on the motion of Mr. -_&,.- L. D. Fraser, seconded, by Dean •Smyth, a vote of thanks to the lecturer was- carried with acclamation, and a vote -of thaivks-to the, chairman proposed. by Mr." Devlin, concluded the proceedings. " ' ' .