THE IRISH ENVOYS

New Zealand Tablet, 18 May 1911, Page 906

THE IRISH ENVOYS

MEETINGS IN THE NORTH ISLAND ARRANGEMENTS IN THE PRINCIPAL CENTRES Auckland By telegraph from our own correspondent.) May 15. The meetings of the Irish Envoys in the city and province promises to be most successful. Taumarunui . has asked for a meeting, and June 14 has been suggested. This would make eleven meetings in Auckland. The local committee is most actively at work to promote the success of the meeting in the city. The usual rancorous letters are appearing in the morning paper, no doubt timed to discredit the Envoys’ mission, but all in vain. At a committee meeting to-night, Rev. Father Holbrook carried a proposition to form a ladies’ committee to canvass the women of Auckland, the minimum subscription to be one shilling, as suggested by a lady correspondent some weeks ago in the columns of the Tablet. His Worship the Mayor of Auckland (Mr. C. J. Parr) was waited upon on Wednesday last to request him to preside at the public meeting to be addressed by the Irish Envoys in His Majesty’s Theatre, on Friday, June 2. The deputation comprised the following:Hon. W. Beehan M.L.C., Rev. Father Holbrook, Messrs. J. J. O’Brien’ George Higgins, T. Carty, D. Flynn, P. Gleeson, J. C. Gleeson; H. P. Kavanagh, J. H. Egan, M. Lynch, and M. J. Sheehan. The Hon. Mr. Beehan informed the Mayor that it was the unanimous wish of the committee and of the friends and supporters of Home Rule for Ireland that he should take the chair at the Envoys’ meeting. The Mayor, in reply, said it gave him great pleasure to see so many of his friends and well-wishers in the deputation, and he desired to thank them for their steady support of him. In regard to Home Rule for Ireland, ho regarded it as a question of Imperial importance, and not in the light of party, nor in a parochial spirit. He was also proud to claim to be three parts an Irishman the best part of him was Irish. From his mother he learned in his childhood of the wrongs and sufferings and struggles of Ireland. He could not, therefore, refuse to preside at a meeting to be held to assist Ireland. It gave him great pleasure to accede to the wish of the deputation. Rev. Father Holbrook thanked the Mayor for his kindly speech, and said he always admired the man, particularly in an # exalted position, when he referred with tenderness , to his mother. He hoped the Mayor would long be spared to work for the community for which already he had done so much. Councillor Gleeson has received the following letter from Mr, Joseph Devlin, M.P. for West Belfast: ‘ Messrs.' Hazleton, Donovan, and W. Redmond, jun., are leaving for New Zealand on either March 16 or 17, and Mr. Redmond has asked me to write to you to know whether you 1 would organise forty or fifty meetings for them. I told' him .that I thought you would-be very willing to do so. ; They are going, subsequently, to Australia, but they intend to spend ten weeks in New Zealand: first. I am writing Mr. Martin Kennedy to say that I believe you will co-operate with him, and I hope you will do so. Any chance of your being Home for the opening of the Old House in College Green ?’ The date of the Irish Envoys’ meeting at Pukekohe has been altered from Monday, June 5, to Tuesday, June 6, owing to the inability of the committee to secure the public hall on the former date. Christchurch (From our own correspondent.) The local committee formed in connection with the visit to Christchurch of the Irish Parliamentary Envoys met on last Friday evening in the Catholic Chibrooms, U

place of the previously arranged evening (Wednesday), so as not to clash with the citizen’s Coronation meeting. Mr. H. H. Loughnan presided, and apologies for absence were received: from the Very Rev. Father Price, Adm., Mr. G. Laurenson, M.P., and others. Mr. G. Witty, M.P., and Mr. T. H. Davey. M.P., attended, but owing to other engagements were obliged to leave after stating they were entirely in sympathy with the objects of the committee, and promising to do all in their power to assist. . The secretary (Mr. E. O’Connor) reported in the detail work transacted since the first meeting. On the understanding- that the Envoys could remain in this city over the two days following their public meeting, the H.A.C.B. Society reported that a social gathering would be arranged by that body in the nature of a welcome reception, with the assistance of the general committee. It was subsequently ascertained that the Envoys’ visit would be extended to the requisite time. Mr. E. O’Connor (secretary) has been enabled to arrange the following itinerary of meetings for Canterbury, outside Christchurch —Rangiora, June 16 ; Ashburton, 17; Temnka, 19; Timaru, 20 Albury, 21; Geraldine, 22 or 24; Waim ate, 23. ' The members of the committee resolved to proceed to Lyttelton by tho early train on the 25th to meet the delegates. It was decided to invite a number of prominent citizens to occupy seats on the platform. Geraldine (From our own correspondent.) A well-attended meeting was held at Geraldine on Thursday night for the purpose of arranging a fitting reception to the Home Rule delegates. Mr. F. R. Flatman was voted to the chair. He said that whether a man was a Home Ruler or not he liked to hear both sides of the question, and he was sure the people of Geraldine would like to hear these gentlemen from Ireland. A strong committee, was appointed, with Mr. Flatman chairman, Mr. E. O’Malley deputy-chairman, and Mr. J. Connolly secretary and treasurer. A subscription list was opened in the room and a sura of £55 6s collected. The Aery Rev. Dean Rowers said that not a penny of the money raised would go to the delegates. He mentioned that Mr. Hazleton would probably visit Geraldine about the third week in June. The object of the delegates was to explain the position and to collect fundsto prevent strife, not to make it. Timaru (From our own correspondent.) A meeting of the executive of Hie local committee in connection with the visit of the Irish Envoys was held on Friday evening, Dr. Longlman presiding. It was unanimously decided to add Rev. Father Tubman’s name, to the executive. Correspondence was read from the Christchurch committee stating that a delegate would address a meeting in Timaru on Tuesday, June 20. A large amount of business was done in connection with the arrangements for the reception of the delegate. Collectors reported that the promises of support were very encouraging. Tho treasurer (Mr. D. Mahoney) acknowledges subscriptions amounting to £67 18s 6d to the Home Rule fund. Stratford (From our own correspondent.) Messrs. Redmond and Donovan, the Irish delegates, who visited Stratford last Thursday, 11th inst., were accorded a civic reception, and were afterwards entertained by the Mayor (Mr. J. Masters) at afternoon tea. In the evening they spoke to a crowded audience in the Town Hall. The Mayor, presided, and on the stage were the councillors and many of the leading citizens. The address was on the usual linos as given at other centres, and was attentively listened to and very ranch appreciated. Funds in hand and to be collected will surpass our efforts on the occasion of Air. J. Devlin’s visit, and a congratulatory telegram was received on Saturday from Mr. Martin Kennedy, _ thanking tho chairman (Rev. Father Treacy) and committee for the splendid results. Hokitika . . T, - A (From our own correspondent.') A very enthusiastic meeting was held recently for the purpose of arranging for the visit of the Irish Envoys to this district. A very strong committee was formed, with Mr. C. Ward as chairman, Rev. Father Clancy as treasurer, and Mr. James Parnell Downey as secretary. It was decided that an invitation he extended to the delegates to visit Hokitika, where they are undoubtedly assured of a very hearty welcome.

Dunedin ....... On Wednesday evening of last week a meeting of sympathisers with Home Buie was held in the Board Room of His Majesty’s Theatre, to make arrangements for the reception and public appearance of the Irish Envoys in Dunedin, and also to arrange a programme of meetings for Otago and* Southland. • . - ; ; .The Hon. J. B. Callan, M.L.C., was voted to the chair, and there was a representative attendance. ■ r >'i - The Hon. Mr. Callan said the object of the meeting was to make arrangements for the reception and public appearance of the Irish Envoys—Messrs. Hazleton, Redmond, and Donovan. He had no doubt but that their meeting here would be as successful as similar meetings had been in the past, and that they w'Ould receive the same cordial reception that was accorded Irish delegates on former occasions by the press and people of Dunedin. He suggested the appointment of a secretary and treasurer, and also a small working committee to make the necessary arrangements. - Mr. J. J. Marlow was appointed secretary, and Mr, M. Goughian treasurer. ' , , : Rev. Father Coffey said that he had been in correspondence with Mr. Martin Kennedy, of Wellington, and at first he was given to understand that the delegates would reach Dunedin about the middle of June, but the latest information to hand was that they would not arrive here before July 1. He tried to get an earlier date for Dunedin, so that the meetings in the country districts could be held before the bad weather set in, but he was not successful, owing to the dates being already arranged for Canterbury... Not only would the suggested working committee have to make arrangements for the Dunedin meeting, but they would have to arrange dates for those in Invercargill, Oaraaru, Lawrence, Milton, Gore, Otautau, Queenstown, and probably Central Otago, speaking with regard to the exception taken by the conservative press to the appeal for monetary assistance in these colonies, he pointed l out that the Irish Parliamentary Party had fought two elections last year, which required a considerable sum of money, and that possibly they might have to contest another election before the end of this vear. The Irish people had contributed generously to the parliamentary fund, and they were justified in asking assistance from the Irishmen and sons of Irishmen who were blessed with the means, and lived in a colony - which enjoyed Home Buie. He could not understand any man living in a self-governing colony being opposed to Homo Rule for Ireland. The opponents of Horae Rule had raised the religious question, but this was done for political and party purposes, as there was no difference about religious matters in the South and West of Ireland where Catholics were in an overwhelming majority. 13 It was resolved to appoint all present as a general committee, from which the following working committee was set up: —Messrs, A. E. Barclay, F. Armstrong, C. A. Shi el, J. B. Caban, jun., J. Collins, T. J. Hussey, W. Goughian, J. O’Neill, and Rev. Father Coffey. When more definite information is to hand the working committee will arrange dates for meetings in Otago and Southland. A number of those present were appointed to solicit subscriptions in the city and suburbs, and before the proceedings were brought to a - close a subscription list was opened, and in a very short time the chairman was able to announce that over 100 guineas had been collected. - The enthusiasm displayed and the generous response to the appeal for subscriptions augur well for the success of tho Envoys visit to Dunedin. Thames (From oar own correspondent.) May 11. A committee of loading citizens has been formed for the purpose of arranging details of the reception to the Irish delegates, who are to deliver an address in Thames on June 8. . Subscription lists havq been issued, and the district will, it is anticipated, sustain its reputation of the past by raising a substantial sum in aid of the Home Buie movement. . v Qreymouth \ —■ ——— (From our own correspondent.) ■ . May 11, A public meeting was held in the Public Hall last Thursday evening to make arrangements for receiving tho Irish delegates on their visit to the West Coast. His Worship the Mayor (Mr. A. C. Russell) presided, and explained the objects of the meeting. The following committee were elected: —The Mayor, Messrs. E. M Sheedv T. P. Fogarty, J. Kerr, T. 'Keenan, J. P Beirne, D Shannahan, M. J. Phillips, and H. F. Doogan. - A sum of over. £6O was subscribed in the room, and it was decided to forward lists to residents in various parts of the district. ; . •- , .