IRELAND.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3637, 9 March 1883, Page 3

IRELAND.

A meeting was held in London on the 30th January to devise means for the relief of tho distress in Ireland. Mr Justin McCarthy said he anticipated tho pinch of famine Avould bo felt in February or March. Mr O'Donnell, M.P., made a violent attack on the Government, in Avhieh he said they had a million to spare for bayonetting the Egyptians, but none for the relief of Avant. The Lord Mayor had been asked to open a relief fund, and the Government is directly appealed to. The Avhole of the north of Ireland is in a most Avrctchcd condition owing to the complete destruction of the grain crops in September by a tornado, and the rotting of the entire potato crop, caused by constant rains. In one place such general destitution prevails that twenty-two tons of Indian meal per week are required to keep the people barely alive. Despair is staring everybody in the face. Reports reached Sligo on the 23rd of deaths by starving in the Island of Innesmurray, and a man Avas found starved to death on the sth at Loughrea, County Galway, on enquiry the Poor Luav Guardians found that the sad case was one of many. A crowd of hungry pcojilc gathered in front of the residence of the Rev. Patrick Duggan, Roman Catholic Bishop of Clonfert, on Sunday, the 4 th, and the Bishop had to inform them that he and the priests had distributed every shilling available. The opening of relief works, in the Bishop's opinion, Avas the only resource left to relieve the suffering. £30,000 left from the Duchess of Marlborough's relief fund is to bo devoted to assisting Irish emigration. Mr O'Brien, editor of tho Dublin United Irishman, avlio avus committed for trial on January 22nd charged Avith seditious libel, Avas elected M.P. on the 24th over Mr John AValsh, by it majority of six. A hurricane at Limerick on the 26th occasioned serious damage. Houses were blown down, and the A'csscls in the harbour suffered. A large bog near Castlereagh shifted its position on tho 26th, causing great excitement. Apprehension is felt for the safety of a portion of Castlereagh. On the 24th Judge Lawson gave judgment against Messrs Davitt, Healy, and Quinn, for seditious language. They were ordered to find security for their good behaviour, or go to prison for six months. Mr Joseph Covvcn, M.P. (Radical), telegraphed from London his readiness to go bond, but the parties refused to give bail, and were sentenced to solitary confinement and hard labor in Kilmainham gaol. Judge Lawson said, in giving judgment, that he had never read more blasphemous language thnu Davitt's. Mr Forster, speaking at Leeds to the Liberal Club on January 26, said Ireland should have the same franchise as England and Scotland, and be made one country with them. The Irish people ought to be treated as we treat ourselves. Thomas Higgins and Michael Flynn were hanged on the morning of January 17 at Galway for complicity in the murder of Huddy. Both Avalked firmly to the scaffold, and died Avithout a struggle. Neither made a statement, but during their confinement both expressed penitence. Small interest was taken in the execution, and but few persons were present. At Tralec on the 23rd Jaff and Barrett were hanged for tho murder of Thomas Brown near Castle Island. They protested their innocence till the last. Only fifty persons were inside the gaol, including Jaff's Avife. The local Avorkmen refused to erect the scaffold at Tralec, and Mar wood, the public executioner, had to bring carpenters from Dublin for the purpose. Upon tho arrival of Marwood at Limerick en route for Tralce the jiolice had great difficulty in protecting him from the mob at tho railway depot. Reporters Avere refused admission to the executions. Mr AVoodhousc, the Poor LaAV Inspector for Ireland, in answering demands for employment for the starving poor Avho assembled at his hotel on the Bth of February, admitted there Avas distress in the County of Donegal, and advocated emigration, when someone in the crowd exciaimed, " AYe would rather die than emigrate." The organisation of the committee of the Irish National League announce that the total subscriptions to January 17th were £17,000, of which there is on hand £1300. The gunboat Redwing made a fruitless attempt to reach the island, of Innismurray Avith stores for the staning inhabitants.