THE IRISH ENVOYS IN AUSTRALIA

New Zealand Tablet, 1 February 1912, Page 9

THE IRISH ENVOYS IN AUSTRALIA

The Irish envoys, Messrs. R. Hazleton, M.P., W. A. Redmond, M.P., and J. T. Donovan, concluded their campaign in Victoria on January 13. On the previous evening Mr. Donovan addressed a large public meeting in the Prahran City Hall. The Mayor (Councillor Embling) presided, and in introducing Mr. Donovan said he took the chair not because he was interested or in sympathy with the movement of the envoys, but because he felt it his duty, as Mayor, to interest himself in them as distinguished visitors. He had received letters pointing out the enormity of the crime he was committing in taking the chair, and he had also received cuttings from newspapers from as far back as 1896, which he had not yet read.. A collection was taken up, and £7O was obtained. Messrs. Hazleton and Redmond arrived in Geelong on January 11. They were met at the railway station by St. Augustine’s Orphanage Band, Messrs. J. Kerley (president of the Hibernian Club), T. P. Walsh, M. Doyle, Brother Kerrins, and other gentlemen, by whom they were escorted to the Town Hall. There they were officially welcomed to the city by the Mayor (Mr. C. R. Williams), and his speech was supplemented by appropriate addresses by Messrs. W. Plain, M.L.A., A. T. Ozanne, M.P., J. Kerley, and Doyle . In the , evening Messrs. Hazleton and Redmond addressed- a large and enthusiastic meeting at the theatre. The Mayor presided, and on the platform were several councillors of the city and adjoining municipalities. The speeches delivered by the envoys were loudly applauded. A resolution in favor of,Home Rule for Ireland was carried on the motion of Mr. A. T. Ozanne, M.P., seconded by Mr. Wm. Plain, M.L.A. A collection in aid of the Irish National Fund was taken up, and £l3O was obtained. It was announced that other amounts had been promised. The Irish envoys’ mission to Sale resulted in over £l3O being subscribed to the fund. Mr. Redmond and Mr. Donovan were accorded a civic welcome to the town by the Mayor and Councillors at the Borough

Chambers, and afterwards entertained at dinner at the Club Hotel. Subsequently a largely-attended public meeting was held in the Victoria Hall, Councillor Finegan acting .;as chairman.- Mr. Redmond stated they came as accredited envoys from the Irish people, and had everywhere been received with gratifying warmth. - . • . The envoys held a successful meeting in Melbourne on January 12 at the Collingwood Town Hall: The Mayor (Councillor Wright) presided over a meeting which filled the hall. Mr. Hazleton, M.P., said he desired to express his deep gratitude to the people of Victoria for the generous response they had made. The present mission was the most successful that had visited Victoria financially, and had been supported by all sections of representative men, like the Prime Minister (Mr. Fisher) and many others. The people of Ireland only wanted the same political freedom that the people of Australia and New Zealand enjoyed. The treasurer of the United Irish League has forwarded a bank draft for £3OOO, accompanied by a letter in Irish, to Bishop O’Donnell, of Raphoe, one of the treasurers of the Irish Parliamentary Fund. The letter was written by Dr. Nicholas O’Donnell, president of the League, and the draft represented the first instalment of what , the envoys have collected in Victoria. Messrs. Hazleton and Redmond were the guests of the Shamrock Club, Melbourne, at a social on Saturday night, January 13, to mark the close of the Victorian tour. During the evening it was announced that the mission had realised £6OOO in Victoria, and that the total collections in Australasia to date were £22,000. After a strenuous and successful tour of Victoria, the envoys arrived in Sydney on January 17, and spent the remainder of the day welcoming friends at the Hotel Australia. In the course of a conversation with a representative of the Freeman’s Journal they expressed their delight at the magnificent response to their appeal on behalf of the Home Rule Fund. They will never forget the kindness and hospitality shown, to them during the course of their-travels. ‘

‘ Yes/ said Mr. Redmond in reply to a query, ‘ we are resting for a while, and will spend a short holiday at Orange. In a fortnight’s time we shall leave for Tasmania, and return to Sydney the last week in February.’ It was the original intention of the envoys to proceed to Western Australia, but their plan has been rearranged. As already mentioned, the envoys will supply the oration for St. Patrick’s Day, and are looking to a highly successful tour of New South Wales.