THE IRISH DELEGATES. MONSTER MEETING IN MELBOURNE.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 367, 11 May 1889, Page 6

THE IRISH DELEGATES. MONSTER MEETING IN MELBOURNE.

Monday night, last week, the Hibernian Hall in Melbourne was crowded fco hear addresses by the Irish -delegates. Before the hour of the meeting the crowd had overflowed into the street. Mr Dillon addressed those outside for a quarter of an hour from an upper window. Inside the hall the banners of the Irish societies, bearing numerous mottoes, were displayed. About 2,000 persons M-ere presents', including ladies and a number ot friends. Sir Bryau O'Loughlin \va& in the chair. A letter was received from Archbishop Carr, containing a cheque for E5O towards the objects of the League. The delegates were accorded an enthusiastic reception. Mr Dillon said he came to raise funds for the support of 480 evicted tenants in one county, and to aid in the struggle for righting the wrongs of Ireland. Prior to the agitation started by Mr Parnell and others the people of Ire land were worse bff than the serfs of Rus«ia. Outrage and muider had been committed in revenge, but the moral guilt of ciime rested upon law and the (Government which denied justice to the people. Their only hope was to make the government of Ireland impossible unless the demands of the people were conceded. He admitted that a great improvement, had taken place m the condition of Ireland during the past ten years, but having achieved co much it would be " idiotic to lay down the weapons by which they had achieved their present position. No settlement of the Irish question was possible without a measure of Home Rule equal to that enjoyed by the Australian colonies, and a scheme whereby tenants could purchase their hold ings. He declined to publish any state ment at the present time of the receipts and expenditure, because it would afford immediate grounds for.tho Briti&h Government to prosecute themforconspiracy. Sir Thomas Esmonds and Mr Deasy also spoke in a pimilar strain', the latter stating that the Pope's condemnation of the '* Plan of Campaign " was based on misrepresentations by the British Government. About £1,000 was realised by subscriptions and half-u-crown admission to the hall. The Australian and Melbourne press were very warmly condemned.