THE TROUBLE OF AN EMIGRATION AGENT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume X, Issue 243, 24 September 1875, Page 2

THE TROUBLE OF AN EMIGRATION AGENT.

. rry t The Londonderry Sentinel and Londonderry Journal 'of May 28th contain lengthy reports of lectures delivered by Mr il'Devitbin favor of emigration to Queensland, and in Deny! * he appieara to hay been well received and attentively listened to. In Belfast, however, he in vain tried to get a hearing, and his lecture is published in the Belfast Morning IVews as intended to be delivered.' Wd abridge' fi-dm" that paper the following account of thei - scene at the meeting: — §- .... i • iyjt> t ,<. _- ,•■..*•■?• ■ L;y. i; /.;■:; \i{ j ' Lflst. evening the /Hon E,, O'D. M'Devitfe attended ' iii the Working ' Men's Institute, to deliver a lecture on 'Njjie above colony, its capabUitiesi,atid resource?. r , There, was a faitj attendance.! , Sanger Gpwan, Esq., was called to tbif chairlv '. " 7 *'*' / ' 'M^B^Devitfcth'en proceeded/frith his lectur^, and said his object inciting there thatfaighfcwaa.tq give them some , a, distant i.land, where he ' hdd pasaed^lß' liest years'of iiWliifei . and where he Wl enjoyed great happi.y ness, as ,of most of the pear pie who dwelt iajsve. The lectiirbr wea proceeding to d^eii on the advantage^ . , Pjf the ,9]limate,anttVertility .of . the e£un- ;- try, when he was Interrupted by obser- , vation^aaVl'^ueitiofbiatthe right sid^_ of the hall, where\i number of tbe "hardworkipg sons o^. toil " appeared, to, have assepabl^d. Sooft ( aftery spcae of j the audience rose 'to' mafee objections to/ the statements advanced by the lecture^ putting questions, and ending by making speeches. The following is a sample of whalt' occurred: — • ]> AlUyf: j 'The- lecturer was. pointing out the advantages ,pf the .laborer .in; Queens■lpd,.,,. ; ,, * ( _" ( ' ."."".' ! A Voice— We can do' aa well at home. (Applause.) -c: FF*v „FF ; The Lecturet;-^-! : a_a 0 gl§d that, and I hope thst gentleman will take advantage of the opportunities offered ; to him. ... (Loud applause.), -The » lecturer '"< wis.agaiu proceeding to jjbbw : the ad van tagea offered by the colony to *. ( '-!t|}'o working inan-^— - ,: ;u ' -'' ::!: ; — A~¥oice— -We hava to woek- where-.-vf.^W; wo, £°. h W*. , will slay at- home 77a_d.wq'r_j_. (Applause.)^ '' "| ,Tbe f Qhairraan .here . arose and in--j sjitedthftt orfterßttouldS ba; o^ervad^y! the meeting. „ \ " "" ; • A Voice rr ;Yoa sou ttle, jap many ships when you get us on the water. : (liaugKte.' addiapplausei.) ••*. : r '. 7\i I j At this stage a number of the knot ; 6f : speakers referred t6 ; he*__f__fe vetf , excited in 'their protests against the idea pf. emigration as well as t^e -iecturer*^!_yoc^ cy • offt ! !. { <sq ; e ! of these wda spebiafly conspicuous #y his eio . .quence, , andXwaa ew idently . referred r to by " *„'-...\ -; ."■■■■■■■-■?'.<■ Vr.....,-,; , Apoiher ."V^ia^-r-,1 move! ' that Mr Macartney tak^ihe_ohaJr. (Cheers.) f: M'F. 'Macartney did; not. lmmediately comply with .th,e,^q!|es^ notwithaland*ing, %hoi eaoo.uira^i^ oheers -of . ins j pals I Ho WeVer he, or ode^ of hik 1 ilelghb'oYs, delivered himaeff tips.— "I am sorry , to see any man corning to Belfast & ith a drop of Irish- blood > in .hisi veins— j> coming here to ma^_e Uhe ; "people go aad leave their own country. (Loud cheers.) -Emigration has caused more t&ars to' be she'd by the Irish than would float a squadron of ships. (Tremendous cheering,). Stay at; hoiae, boys; and if you' die* here you will have somebody to go and 'kneel beside your grave* (Great cheering.) ,\ _ : 7 _ f ; :. The lecturer again (essayed to speak , but -was Interrupted by: the. uproar.) A Voice — We want neither you nor anyiui^iQ.li^e^you, who is-an agent of the* British Goveroment/ : ' . The .lieeturer— lf itheae gentlemen .only heard;: me, and oonduoted them-TT-r ; -^— 1 _ __! . . {^^continuation of News see Jourth page.} ' j

aelyes in & gentlemanly way, I would try to give them some information AVoice-^ — Wo don't want your information. (Cheers.) ,We .are , listening, fSo lyou "ten minutes* j 'it ■is the longest ten minutes ever we spent. (Laughter and cheers ) Another Voice — Home sweet home ! Stick 16 if, bbys ! (Great cheering.) Another Voice— lf you would speak to the landlords of Ireland, and get them to reclaim the waste lands, to keep the people at home, it would fit yoo better., (Cheers.) But if you had done that,' yna would not have such a good "tack" to-night. (Laughter and cheers.) The Lecturer — I wont 't detain you very long. 1 (Cries of "We are tired of you," «• Home, sweet home !" " Get along, now,")- ' The Lecturer— Sorely it can do you no barm lo listen. There are others present, who want to bear, and it won't disturb you in any way. If you come to prevent me speaking, you oan do it, j but I bWe the people oi Belfast are supposed to be— i ,^L Vp|ce-rYou are come to induce/ Paddy to leave home, bat he won't/ (Cheers and uproar ) / At this stage the uproar and , confusion became so' great that nothing fqrtber could be^pne. . The ebemjU •of emigration jeered and cheered) til! it became ; evident to Jboih } chairnian and lecturer, after several ineffec ual attempts.bad been made to get order »nd silence restored, that furthei* efl >rts were; useless. Both gentlemen ace irdingly picked up hats and gloves and retired from the platform. , Herei poo the 'victors whistled, laughed, and stamped. One man (we, pres irae Macartney^,* the individual aire ady moved to the chair, was seized t pon and boroa from tbe platform to All the now vacant seat of honor, Severa of his supporters rushed forward, and j .imped bti the platform. The be. rlyelebtad .hairoaan haying planted himself behind the table, after the : appro vei fashion;' proceeded to entertain his i wn ./Itfppdrt'Srs, who ahowad ft defei Jed pymps. by. with ibis; views on the q estion of emigration, ao far as they: cc uld be made out. He had delivered bitt a* or . Royal I^ish appeared on . the sceneV The platform |fM.], cleared, and the lecturer once again. resumed bis place and his, discourse, Mr Gowau resuming thq.chpir., ., Mr M'Devitt said he was oot conscious of anything hostile to their interests, and did not wish to do otherwise than conduct himself as. a gentleman siro&tf. if tbey Would kindly hear him .A Voice— We respeot yoo as we reipbet any bther English agent— (cb*3era).and; we will treat you as an English (Cheers.) , , Another voice— What can you give give os ih Qiieehsland that we have not in Ireland? :*• .-•'•.* :*..*:. The, lecturer proceeded : to speak of the salubrity, of the climate. ' - Tito interruptions ahd uproar, were again ,f f&eniddi The lectorer, who saw that further attempts to gain a hearitigi were useleesF again retired. As he was leaving the platform, one of the interrupters remarked ! : We have Dothing against you yourself, and when you ,fiome back )We hope you'll have eonp-athiug better .to tell ua. , The le^tprer, (ryho appeared to take proceedings very coolly, loft with hU friendsj and the opPJPPg. E«Fty»: evidently well satisfied with the zeal displayed in their own cause, indulged in a float cheer and departed- ■