PESENTATION TO MR GLADSTONE. STIRRING AND HOPEFUL SPEECH. No Carpet Knight. London, October 5.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 223, 8 October 1887, Page 4

PESENTATION TO MR GLADSTONE. STIRRING AND HOPEFUL SPEECH. No Carpet Knight. London, October 5.

A deputation of carpet-weavers from Kidderminster have waited upon Mr Gladstone and presented him with a handsome carpet. They congratulated him upon his' Irish policy, and condemned the repressive measures adopted by the Government in dealing with that country. Mr Gladstone, in reply, thanked them for the gift which he had pleasure in accepting. He said that though he had suffered a smashing defeat at the last general elections, recent byeelections had shown that public opinion was rapidly changing. At present he was hopeful of an early return to power. The secession of Mr Goschen and other Liberals had tended greatly to ! weaken the Liberal party ; but those gentlemen were now placed in the most deplorable position of being connected with the Conservative part}'. Beferring to the Irish Question, Mr Gladstone said that a settlement of the difficulty would soon be arrived at, arid he would be delighted if the Tories forestalled the Liberals by fringing ab,out that settlement.