IN IRELAND.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 February 1921, Page 3

IN IRELAND.

BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT. AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. BATTLE OF SKIBBEREEN. SINN FEIN LOSSES. LONDON, February 8. The death of Michael Collins is si.ll unconfirmed. The police are assured that he fell while giving instructions to Sinn Feiners during the battle of Skib-

bercen It is believed that the Sinn Fein u s losses were even greater than six killed, and that the object of burning down Thomas Kingston’s house, which was used by the ambushers as headquarters, 7?as to conceal the number of dead. ■w: Kingston has lodged a claim of twen y - thousand poundsAt Dublin Castle it. is believed that the most recent ambush is due to strong flying columns of rebels, under Collins’ command, and acting as his bodyguard.

ULSTER ELECTIONS'.

(Received this dav at 1.30 p rn ) LONDON, February 8

The “Times” special correspondent in Ulster predicts the Catholics will "ua 12 out of 18 seats, but will abstain from attendance hoping that Parliament it ill die from inanition and ridicule. The immediate outstanding questions are liquor, which is mainly in the hands of Catholics. Many Protestants are fiercely” against liquor and will try to rash reforms through before the Catholics support is brought in. The Education question will be similarly tackled; though the correspondent hopes a compromise will be offered as an inducement to unity. Mr Devlin's position is problematical. H e is Hie greatest personality in Ireland and certainly the only man capable of creating a party as an alternative to Sinn Fein ; yet the leadership of the Ulster Catholics has undoubtely passed to the hierarchy, whose policy is not. known. The Independent Labour Party is negligible. Sir W r . Craig, speaking at Belfast, said his policy was not to put a paling rouNtl Ulster, but bring the South and West into line, which meant progressive Ireland.