BARONESS BURDETT-COUTTS AND HER GIFT TO IRELAND.

Kumara Times, Issue 1128, 11 May 1880, Page 2

BARONESS BURDETT-COUTTS AND HER GIFT TO IRELAND.

A lot of melancholy rubbish has of late* been writtten and reprinted in colonial newspapers about Baronessßurdett-Coutts giving half-a million sterling for distfibu; tionin Ireland. In relation to the ject the following appears in the Northampton Mercury of February 25th, the paragraph being written by the Mercury's London correspondent:—" I am able to state, .on good that there is nd truth in the persistent report of the Freeman's Journal that the Baroness Burdet-fr Coutts is about to expend £500,000 hi improving the condition of the peasantry in the West of Ireland, ft is much to be regretted that a statement so extravagant should have been so pertinaciously put forward. Lady Burdett-Coutts' is perfectly aware that the,lrish peasantry wili not be neglected by the sympathy of England, and for herself she has taken the opportunity of Mr Ashmead Bartlett's willingness to visit Ireland in order td understand in what way her intended contribution (a very small sum in comparison with that mentioned), can be bestowed-. It has been the merit df Lady Burddtt-Cdiitts* charitable efforts that they have always had a practical direction, and I believe that one aim which the hardness had in view has been met by the rapid progress df Major Nolan's Seed Potatoes Bill. It is understood that Lady Burdetfc Coutts' agent in Ireland has made particular representations to her upon the" necessity of providing seed for the distressed tenant farmer^.