THE IRISH ENVOYS

New Zealand Tablet, 1 June 1911, Page 1002

THE IRISH ENVOYS

[SUCCESSFUL MEETINGS IN THE NORTH Te Aroha ; (From our own correspondent.) A meeting of sympathisers with the cause of Home Rule was held on Tuesday evening, May 23, for the purpose of taking steps to procure a visit from one or more of the Home Rule delegates now in the Dominion. There was a large and representative attendance (says the local Mail), and the chair was taken by the Mayor (Mr. R. L. Somers). The chairman referred briefly to the improved prospects of Home Rule, and expressed a fervent hope that a visit by the delegates might be arranged. On the motion of Mr. Gavin, Mr. Greville-Smith was asked to act as honorary secretary, and consented. . Mr. Gavin said he had much pleasure in moving that a letter be written to Mr. M. J. Sheahan, the secretary of the Auckland committee, asking him to use his best efforts to get one or more of the Home Rule delegates to visit and address an audience in Te Aroha. The motion was seconded by Dr. Kenny, and supported very heartily by Mr. C. O’Driscoll. ’ Rev. Father McGuinness suggested that they might get a visit on the Saturday following the day fixed for the Waihi meeting. He pointed out, as was indeed evidenced by the composition of the gathering, that the cause of Home Rule was wholly unsectarian. Some of the best of Ireland’s patriot sons had been Protestants. It was evident that the two races had come to know each other better and to trust one another. He referred to the remarks made by Mr. McNab, and reported in that morning’s Mail, to show the justice of the cause of the people whose loyalty had been proved on many a hard-fought field.

The motion was then put and carried. Mr. Gavin said if they proved to be not so fortunate as to obtain a visit from the delegates, there was still a way open for the expression of their sympathy, and no opportunity better than the present. He moved that the secretary open a subscription list forthwith.

Mr. Milliken, in seconding the motion, remarked that he came from the ‘ Black North, where they were not supposed to believe in Home Rule; but like many Englishmen and others., he believed that Home Rule was the best thing for Ireland. The motion was carried, and in a few minutes subscriptions amounting to nearly £SO were promised. The following were appointed a committee to carry out the objects of the meeting:Messrs. Somers, Milliken, O’Driscoll, Baine, Gavin, J. B. Johnson, McSweeney, Maurice Fitzgerald, Greville-Smith, Dr. Kenny, and the Rev. Father McGuinness. Levin (From an occasional correspondent.) The visit of the Irish delegates to Levin on May 20, although not remarkable for its financial success, was noted for a few incidents which should be chronicled in your pages. The member for the district, Mr. W. H. Field, travelled about sixty miles from his home to take the chair, and his introductory speech was afterwards referred to by Mr. Redmond as a complete grasp of the Irish question. The Mayor (Mr. B. R. Gardener), who proposed the vote of thanks, was equally up in his subject and most sympathetic. Grehi Roera, a chief of the Ngatiraukawa, was also present and made a most forcibel speech in the usual Maori figurative , style. Why (said he) does not England. grant Home Rule? Is it because she is afraid to lose her Irish warriors ? If England is the mother of Ireland, why does she not give the baby the milk it has been crying for for over 100 years ? On the following morning the delegates attended Mass, where the respected parish priest, Father Cognet, heartily welcomed them to the district, and preached a most elo-

quent sermon on St. Patrick and Irish fidelity to the See of Rome. At the , close of the Mass the Rev. Father; gave them his blessing ,and the organist, Mr. Kearsley, played the hymn, 1 0 Glorious St. Patrick.’ During the rest of the day the delegates (with , several, friends) were entertained by Mr. and Mrs. Hurley at their residence, 1 Avonmore,’ where they could eat sloes and Irish 1 strawberries 5 grown, from Killarney blackthorn and Killarney arbutus. In the afternoon Mr. Kennedy’s motor-car arrived from Wellington and took them off there. i Ashburton (From our own correspondent.) May 28. , A representative meeting of those interested: in .the visit of Mr. Hazleton (Irish delegate) : was held in the Catholic boys’ schoolroom on Saturday afternoon last. Very Rev. Dean O’Donnell presided, and very complete arrangements with reference to a suitable reception were made. The very respectable sum of about £9O was subscribed in the room for the Irish cause. , • Christchurch v (From our own correspondent.) The Irish envoys, Messrs. R. Hazleton, M.P., W. A. Redmond, M.P., and J. Donovan, arrived at Lyttelton on last Thursday morning by the Maori. They were met by representatives of the Christchurch committee, who accompanied them to the city. Carriages were in waiting :at the Christchurch Station and the delegates were driven to the Clarendon Hotel. THE CIVIC RECEPTION. The delegates were received by the Mayor at the City Council Chamber at noon, and were accorded a civic welcome. There were present members of the : Council, local members of Parliament, and a number of prominent citizens. The delegates were introduced by Mr. H. H. Loughnan. ' V ; The Mayor said he had much pleasure, on behalf of the citizens of Christchurch, in extending to the delegates a very hearty.welcome (says the Press). The stay of the delegates was going to be very brief, but it was hoped that -their recollection of Christchurch would be altogether pleasant. The delegates had already had an opportunity of seeing a good , deal of the North Island, and they might perhaps understand why New Zealanders referred to their country very frequently as ‘ God’s Own Country.’ He thought that New Zealanders, perhaps better than the people of other countries, could understand the intense • passion Irishmen had for their own country. The people'in New Zealand were not conscious of any grievance against , the Motherland, for she had granted absolute power of selfgovernment, a power that was almost grotesque in its fullness. The freedom we had was so unique that under the protection of the British Navy we were able to develop , our own affairs, make our own laws, and to do with our power some things which seemed to be in direct hostility to the interests of the Old Land. For instance, we used our power to develop our local industries under, a system of protection that was entirely hostile to the development of the British industries, but we saw that if our people could be made prosperous and happy, that was the best guarantee for the promotion of affection and love towards the Old Country. That was a unique power, and he felt sure that a very large majority of the people of New Zealand looked forward to the day when the only local difficulty existing, so far as he could think of, in the whole Empire, would have passed away, and when absolute harmony would exist between all the peoples making up the British nation. . Of course, one could expect to find differences of opinion in this country with regard to the visit of the delegates, but he felt he was right in saying there was very little of the old passion existing with regard to political and religious questions that unfortunately were a factor in past politics. He believed the old spirit of passion , was dying, and : people were beginning all over the world to know what freedom meant. He hoped that the ultimate purpose of the delegates’ mission might be soon accomplished, and that the accomplishment of it would confer just as much honor upon the British Parliament as the granting of complete, selfgovernment to other countries had done. He referred particularly to Canada, Australia. New Zealand, and South Africa. In conclusion, the Mayor expressed: the hope that the delegates would look back to their visit to Christchurch with feelings of intense satisfaction. Mr. R. Hazleton, M.P., who was the first to reply, thanked the Mayor for the welcome words he had spoken, not merely with regard to the visit of the delegates to New Zealand, but with regard also to the great cause which they had the honor to represent in New Zealand at the present time. • The welcome which they had received in Christchurch that day was only one more example of the kindnesses they had experienced on all sides, not merely from their own kith and kin in this country, but from people of a different race and different religion who had extended to them the hand of welcome, believing that the delegates came upon a great and noble work, in which, as lovers of liberty, they were free and ready and anxious to join with them. He was glad to think that what the Mayor had said with regard to the change in public opinion upon Questions

of religion and politics was true, and lie was glad to think that it applied not merely to this country of New Zealand, but also to Ireland as well, and not only to Ireland, but to the other parts of the United Kingdom, and he thought it was largely due to that change that had come about in public opinion that the Irish question occupied the proud position which it did at the present moment, of standing upon the verge of success. The claims of the Nationalist party-in Ireland had in the past been largely misunderstood, and although they had held out for Home Rule, they did not ask in Ireland, and did not expect to be given anything like the same freedom as the people of New Zealand possessed. The Mayor had spoken of the protection of the industries with regard to which there was a considerable tariff against England and the United Kingdom, but the Irish party did not ask under a system of Home Rule to be given the power of putting on tariffs against Great Britain, because in the first place that power would riot be given to them, and in the second place, they did .not' consider that it would be necessary or desirable, insomuch as under a system of Home Rule such as they had 'been fighting for, Ireland would still continue not merely to be a self-governing portion of the Empire, at large, but would also still continue to be part and parcel of the United Kingdom. Apart altogether from the object of their mission to the Dominion, it was of particular interest to them, being engaged in political work in the Old Country, to come out to a new land such as this and to study and examine the way in which the people had tackled their social problems. In many respects, New Zealand had shown an example to those at Home who were attempting to follow in the footsteps of the people here in dealing with the.- same problems. Of course, the New 7 Zealanders had many' advantages which the Irish people did not possess. They ere people of a new country, and they had not to pull down; they had not the old bad traditions behind them as- the people had at home. The statesmen at Home were attempting to follow the example set by the statesmen here, and that example led to the many great and sweeping social reforms which, since the advent to power of the Liberal Government in England, had been carried into operation in that country. They believed it was by the uplifting of the democracy at Home that social progress could best.be secured, and it was therefore a very useful thing for people like himself to come out from the Old Country to see the good work the peoples, had been doing in this direction in New Zealand. V " Mr. W. A. Redmond, M.P., said that not only was it a great material support for the delegates to have the leading representatives both in political and municipal affairs at their back, but'it Was also a great moral support in the Old Country to the delegation. The Mayor was inclined to over-state the case of the Home Rule party. They did not ask for what the people had got in New Zealand; all they asked for was for local and domestic self-government No one suggested that Home Rule should give, the Irish people the right to raise a barrier of any sort or kind against their sister country of Great Britain. He had been nu*ch struck with the equality that existed in New Zealand, mwmly of temperament, but of ealth, and the democracy that was in existence in New Zealand was a far more ideal state of affairs than the democracy in existence in America. Mr. J. Donovan said that what the delegates appreciated very much was that the Mayor should have come out plainly in support of the Nationalist cause. It showed that the Mayor was a man of fine character, of principle, and courage, when he could give expression, as he had done, to his conviction that not merely would the settlement of the Irish problem conduce to the prosperity and happiness of the Irish people, but that it would tend to consolidate and strengthen the Empire itself. The delegates had come out to New Zealand bearing a message of goodwill and good cheer to the people who Were living in this land. They were in the happy position of being able to tell the people here that at last they had touched the heart and conscience of the great British democracy, and that within the next couple of years the cause they represented would be successful. t The Irish party and people would ever have reason to feel extremely grateful to the people of New Zealand for the -magnificent way in which they had rallied to their practical and moral support. : After the civic reception the Envovs were the guests of his Lordship the Bishop and Very Rev.- Father Price, Adm.. at the episcopal residence, where they were entertained to dinner, and met a number of the clergy. THE PUBLIC MEETING. 7 3 : A . large end enthusiastic meeting was held in the Theatre Royal on Thursday evening to listen to addresses hv the delegates (savs the Lyttelton Times). The Mayor, Mr. T. E. Taylor. M.P.. presided, and there were also on the platform his Lordship Bishop Grimes, Very Rev. Dean Ginaty, V.G., Very Rev. Dean O’Donnell, Very Rev. Father Price, Adm., Hon. J. Barr, M.L.C., Messrs. T. H. Davey, M.P., G. Lanrenson. M.P., H. H. Lbughnan, D. G. Sullivan, J M‘Combs, T. Gapes, F. Burgoyne, H. Hunter, \V. R. Smith, and A. I). Hart. h’ y " The Mayor’s Address. ; The Mayor said that he had much pleasure in presiding at ; that evening’s gathering. He bad often wished, . and he supposed many people living far away from the Old Country had also wished the same, that he could have-heard at first hand some of the great men who were forcible

enough to help to mould the affairs of the British nation, J hat ■ privilege had been denied them, but by way of compensation they had enjoyed many things the people of the Old Country did not enjoy. They were that evening to hear something of a great movement from men who : had been at; its centre, and ; who could tell them what ; they believed the merits of the question of Home Rule were. He thought his hearers w ould agree with him that the envoys on behalf of the Irish party who w ere present that evening had the honor of representing one of the most unique parliamentary parties ever possessed by any Parliament, The whole Irish question bristled with controversies, and differences of opinion of a very fierce and determine! character were involved when the question of Home Rule was mentioned.- But they could all do honor to men of eminence and remarkable power, and he had always personally felt keen admiration lor one of the most fearless parliamentary leaders Great Britain had ever produced. He referred to the late Mr. Parnell. It might not be quite true, but it w 7 as very nearly true, that there was not a man in the British House of Commons during the life of Parnell who could approach him in his wonderful power of holding a party together, with the exception of the late Mr. Gladstone. The two men were in their ways the very opposite of each other, but they were probably the two most remarkable men who ever sat in the House of Commons together. He did not believe that any man who happened temporarily to occupy the office of Mayor of this city or any other city would be doinjj his duty if he declined to extend a welcome to men who represented a large parliamentary group such as that represented by Messrs. Hazleton, Redmond, and Donovan. He would go further and say that some of the very people in this country who might protest against their extending the hand of fellowship and cordial friendship to the men who were to speak that evening, would scream with indignation if any man in New Zealand had refused to take the chair for Mr. Balfour and some of that gentleman’s colleagues on the Conservative side of English politics. He was always willing to do what he considered to be his duty on any great public question without fear or favor of any man or group of men. He had for many years past, on this great question of Home Rule, refused to mix up with the matter of political rights the. matter of religious faith. He held that they had no right to refuse to men political freedom because of their religious faith- He believed that the cause of Home Rule was nearing its triumph, and that when it succeeded it would convert the British House of Commons into an Imperial Parliament, rather than a mixture of Imperial Parliament and a large local Board of Works. It was a remarkable thing that Great Britain, with her genius for teaching other nations the art of self-government, as evidenced by her work in India, Egypt and South Africa, should withhold the right of self-government from Ireland, and he could not help hut believe that England was on the verge now 7 _of giving the Irish people what would really make a united people and a nation of the peoples making up the British Empire. It.would mean the union of the English-speaking race, outside the United States, and that union, too, they hoped .might come before long. The Empire at least would be composed of units, all having the rights belonging to manhood and nationhood, in a bond of union that nothing would ever break. Mr. Hazleton’s Speech. Mr. R .Hazleton, M.P., opened his address by thanking those who attended the meeting in such large numbers, and those who had gjyen his colleagues and himself such a hearty welcome to the city. He rejoiced ip. the fact that there ere present that evening not merely their friends, their kith and kin, from Ireland, but men of all shades of political opinion and of varying nationality, to testify their belief in the cause of Home Rule for Ireland. He was also glad to see so many ladies present. If he were addressing a political meeting at Home he would be seriously alarmed by their presence, because he would be sure they would tackle him about votes for Women. But there was no danger of that in New Zealand, where the ladies had votes, and, he felt sure, exercised them wisely and well. He had hoard stories about Christchurch. He had heard there were people in Christchurch who looked upon the delegates with grave suspicion, and who w 7 ere inclined to look upon them as representatives of a system of anarchy and revolution. They had only to look at Messrs. Redmond and Donovan, to say nothing of the speaker, and judge for themselves whether they were representatives of revolution. His colleagues and himself were also accused of being the representatives of a system rf religious intolerance, but, in spite of this, Christchurch had shown that it had a hand and a heart for Ireland and the cause of freedom. The Mayor and the other representatives men on the platform that evening. had not allowed themselves to be deterred or intimidated from coming there bv anonymous critics or anonymous bigots. * The day when that would have been possible was past and gone. Not merely the people of the United Kingdom, but the people from end to end; of the Empire, were coming to view the Irish question in its true and proper light. It had too long been viewed through a storm of prejudice!, hatred, misunderstanding and misrepresentation. The fight against that had lasted for thirty years, but it had at last been conquered and beaten down. It was no longer possible either in Groat Britain or in New Zealand to gain

votes or raise prejudice with a cry against Home Rule and against Ireland. The Mayor had already referred to Charles Stewart Parnell, the man who more than anyone else was instrumental .in changing this position of affairs. The work which Parnell so well began had been carried on with unfailing success and undaunted courage by the man who sat in the chair of the Irish Party of to-day, Mr. John Redmond. The speaker went on to say that he was sorry to read in one of the local newspaper's a sneer at the men who had, with many sacrifices, been carrying on the movement for Irish freedom for the past thirty years. He did not object to criticism, but he thought he was entitled to protest when a newspaper, speaking of Irish members, said, ‘ They will remain at Westminster if they are allowed to, drawing the £4OO a year.’ He would like to inform the writer of that that the Irish party only last session passed a resolution asking that Irish members should be exempt from this £4OO a year. He could remind that newspaper that never in the history of the party had any member betrayed • his trust or his pledge, or taken bribe or position from the English Government. A great English journalist, Mr. W. T. Stead, had said, ‘ Were it not for a self-denying ordinance which disables Irish members from taking office of profit or honor, or asking for any such offices for their friends—were he in English politics, an English Liberal instead of an Irish Nationalist, Mr. John Redmond and not Mr. Asquith would be Prime Minister of England to-day.’ The Irish members had received no rewards save the confidence and esteem of the Irish people at Home and abroad, and. that they would continue to receive until once more they opened the doors of the Irish Parliament. The remainder of Mr. Hazleton’s speech was similar to those delivered by him in other centres, and at its conclusion the Mayor said he felt impelled to say, though as chairman he should hardly do so, that he would have been very sorry indeed if any political bias of his had prevented his hearing one of the most lucid and logical speeches he had ever heard from any public man. . Bishop Grimes’s Speech. , Bishop Grimes said that he thought the audience had beard one of _ the most eloquent and logical addresses ever heard in Christchurch, and he desired to congratulate Mr. Hazleton on the speech he had made. He had put the Home Rule question before them in a different light, and it would serve to correct many false impressions heid by a few people in the Dominion. Every Britisher and Imperialist, in the true sense of the words, should be in favor of Horae Rule for Ireland, if only on the score of equality and justice. Surely the men who had worked so well for Great Britain, who had given their services at the Bar, on the Bench, and the battlefield, could be trusted to direct the destinies of Ireland and the Irish people. After the services of the Irish soldiers, it was due to them that Home Rule should be given them as a reward. He was surprised that the Irish party was asking for so little. There was no suggestion of separation, but merely that justice should be done to Ireland. The wounds of Ireland’s wrongs had been open for years, and he thought that all Britishers should glory in healing them. There was, as Mr. Hazleton had said, no danger of any religious difficulty, and no question of the Catholic majority persecuting the Protestant minority. The Irish had given many proofs of their loyalty and their tolerance. In the early part of Queen Victoria’s reign Daniel O’Connell, when there had been a threat that the young Queen would be molested, had declared that ho would rally 10,000 men ready to shed their last drop of blood to protect her, and that when Ireland was being cruelly oppressed. Addresses were also delivered by Messrs. Redmond and Donovan, on the same lines as those given by them iii other centres. Votes of Thanks. Mr. G. Laurenson, M.P., moved a hearty vote of thanks to the speakers, and remarked that it was the third occasion on which he had moved such a motion at a meeting addressed by Home Rule delegates in New Zealand. Speaking on the question of Home Rule, he said that it was bitter irony that though the Irish had fought bravely in South Africa, had given their life’s blood for the British Empire, and had seen the people who had been the Empire's enemies in that war, granted self-government, .they had been refused it by the British Parliament. The motion was seconded by Mr. D. G. Sullivan, and was carried amid tumultuous applause. Mr. Hazleton responded. on behalf of the delegates, and then moved a vote of thanks to the chairman. The motion was seconded by Mr. H. H. Loughnan, and carried amid cheers, . led by Mr. Redmond. Mr. Loughnan announced that up to that time £270 had been collected in Christchurch, and there were still many subscription lists to come in. On Friday the Mayor, Mr. T. E. Taylor, M.P., who was particularly kind to them from first to last whilst they were here, took the delegates for motor drives in the suburbs, and otherwise extended hospitality and cordiality towards them in a generous degree. LINCOLN. (From our Christchurch correspondent.) A large and enthusiastic meeting was held in tho Druids’ ~Hall, Lincoln, on Friday evening, to . listen to

addresses by the Irish delegates. Mr. R. W. Lockhead presided, and with him on the platform were Messrs. M. I. Ryan, M. Ryan, E. O’Rourke, and G. Cuneen. The addresses were, on the same lines as those delivered in Christchurch on. the previous evening ‘ At the conclusion of the meeting a hearty vote of thanks was accorded the speakers on the motion of Mr. R. M’Cartney, seconded by Mr. J. Docherty. Mr. W. A. Redmond responded, thanking the audience for the attentive hearing accorded the speakers. A collection taken up between the addresses realised £7O. I §m v- : ;■ { i At Lincoln the delegates were entertained to dinner by the, Irishmen of the district, and taken out there and brought back by motor cars by the committee. At - their meeting there the vote of thanks accorded was moved by a North of Island Protestant, and seconded by a North of Ireland Catholic. rr On Saturday ' they were the guests of: the Metropolitan J. rotting Club at their meeting on the Addington grounds, and right royally entertained by the stewards. In the evening they were entertained to dinner at their hotel by committee representatives and others. In > moving a vote of.thanks to the Mayor for presiding, Mr. H. H. Loughnan said the success of the envoys’ mission to Christchurch was assured when Mr. Taylor so cordially consented to take the chair at their public meeting. Later in the evening, many of the old friends of the cause, and new found ones through the envoys’ visit, saw them off by the Maori at Lyttelton, when returning to Wellington. Over £3OO will be the net . result of the envoys visit to Christchurch. This notice would be incomplete were not an acknowledgment made of the sterling and indeed strenuous work performed on behalf of the envoys’ mission to Canterbury by the local secretary Mr. E. O’Connor. No such splendid meeting as that in the Theatre Royal on Thursday night has ever before been seen here. The enthusiasm from the very first was wonderful. A remarkable feature, too. was tliat there was not even a symptom of interruption. Auckland By telegraph from our own correspondent.) mi -j ... ' May 29. The Irish envoys are expected to reach here on Thursday afternoon, and the greatest interest is displayed in their mission in city and province. The completed itinerary lor the Auckland district is as follows:—Auckland City June 2; T Dargavillo and Waiuku, June 5; Pukekohe and To Aroha, dune 6; Ngaruawahia, June 7 ; Thames, Whangarei Jme 12 T’ a i ° n + ime 8 t ; Waild June’9; Rotorua; June 12, le A 'i tU ’ June 12; and Te Kuiti June 13. The meeting at Gisborne has been indefinitely postponed. The envoys will have two days rest hero Saturday and Sunday. Mr. Hazleton goes north on Monday, and speaks at Dargaville and Whangarei while Messrs Redmond and Donovan, assisted by Councillor J. 0. Gleeson, will attend the meetings south of the city Sund e ay!° yS WIU dm ' vlth llis Lordsld P the Bishop next Feilding (From an occasional correspondent.) Two of the envoys of . the Nationalist Party, Mr. W A Redmond, M.P., and Mr. J. Donovan, arrived’by the New llymouth express tram from Hawera on Thursday, the 18th inst and were met at the station on arrival by members of the reception committee. Among those present Rev 6 IVW' £? the r °’D'vyer (chairman of the committee)! Kev. m n + i Kincaid, Messrs. Cobbe, MeMauawav Her(Ma’vo?)lC^mf h n B p y • (se^ e tary), E. Goodbehere Uuayor), and D. H. Guthrie, M.P. • The delegates wpm M lVe M t^r tho Feild 1 tel, where they were the guests of Mr. Me Alan away during their stay in the town. ' ‘..Whatever our individual opinions may be on the impor ant question of Home Rule .for Ireland,. .we ought to be thankful for the opportunity of , hearing the Irish side of the question from these delegates to-night.’ With these words the Mayor introduced the Irish delegates, Messrs Redmond and Donovan, at the Drill Hall last night, when there was a moderately filled hall to hear the Home Rule . lbe meet occasionally rose to enthusiasm, and tion d gates received a most cordial and favorable recepAt the conclusion of the delegates’ speeches, Mr. Fred Pirani said it was no unpopular thing now to support Home Rule, because , everyone who knew anything about it Relieved in Horae Rule. Ho referred to the fact that thirty-five years ago the best Premier of New Zealand— John Balia nee was an ardent supporter of Home Rule He proposed the motion as follows : That this meeting of residents of Feilding and district is of opinion that in the best interests of the good government of the Empire, Homo Rule or the right of -self-government should he accorded to the people of Ireland.’ With the Mayor, he welcomed the delegates not so much for their own personal worth but because they represented a movement which had stood the toughest times that anv movement had ever had to face in the history of the world. - ce Mr. D McCarthy seconded the ’ motion, which was carried with one dissentient voice. ’

Votes of Thanks. . Mr. John Cobbe had the pleasure of moving a very hearty vote of thanks to the delegates, and he expressed the fact that it was no formal motion. The delegates had come to tell them that the dark cloud which had hung over Ireland for more than two and a half centuries and, like some deadly miasma, had brought with it ruin, despair, and poverty, was at last breaking. Even now there might be discerned signs of that coming sunburst which meant political freedom, which Irishmen fondly hoped would lead to a new era during which peace, prosperity, and education shall flourish, political hatred and sectarian animosity shall disappear, and in which the country would take the honored place she occupied in poetry, art, and education in an age when ignorance and paganism were rampant in other lands. ; He was particularly pleased at the optimistic tone of the speeches- of the delegates, who had told them that the new Ireland,/ chastened by oppression and refined by sorrow, should once more be 1 Great, glorious and free, first flower of the ocean, first gem of the sea.' Mr.’ W. J. B. TreAvin seconded the motion of thanks in a brief but eloquent speech. The motion was enthusiastically carried. In acknowledging the vote of thanks, Mr. Redmond mentioned the fact that the delegates had received a contribution of £BO from this district, which' he considered a magnificent response. >- Mr. E. Short very kindly placed his motor-car at the service of the envoys, and in this they were conveyed to Wanganui the following afternoon. Dunedin In addition to the centres already mentioned in our columns, meetings will be addressed by the Irish envoys at Ranfurly and Omakau, and probably at Waikaia. SUBSCRIPTIONS. We have received the sum of £2 from £ Four daughters of Erin,’ Pelorus Sound, for the Irish Home Rule Fund.