TOPICS OF THE DAY. (FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) London, May 10.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 381, 29 June 1889, Page 5

TOPICS OF THE DAY. (FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) London, May 10.

>> MR.PARNELL AS A WITNESS. Contrary' to expectation. Mr Parnell proved but a dull witness. Every point raised 1 by the "Times'" was, no doubt, important, but it took > such' a' tremendous amount of leading" up to. ~ s Moreover, "neither counsel nor judges 'could persuade Mr Parnell to" give a, direqt answer to a plain question. ' Hehad always some modi- ' ticabion, or amplification, or, explanation 1 ready, and at ' times ' wearied' the Court to the verge of exasperation. The length of His answers was prodigious, and would nob have been tolerated in any other man. Sir Richard Webster 'more, than once lost/iis tern per in 'the * course of the cross-examina-tion, ;but ' he f - never "''once' succeeded in shaking the witness's cold J calmness. Instead 'of being the principal actor in a great 'national' drama,» Mr Parnell might, judging from his indifferent aspect arid level 'tonesj 'have been merely 'an outsider accidentally drawn in. ' His l^ replies were irritatingly reflective and introspective. "It was " (for instance,' he would say, having ad*rriitted'using some phrase capable" of being twisted >s ihto an 1 incitement to; 'violence), " indeed curious he should.have made use of such language^ He supposed he T must have done 1 so^ as the report said so. He could riot recall the words. He recalled the circumstances)'Kowever, and the Court would .see' * when 'he , explained '* them, etc.', etc, 1 ," 'and so "off into cfuite a long • story. •"/ In vain', the 'AttorneyGeneral tried* to "curb his discursiveness. Mr Parnell ignored 4 interruption, and talked deliberately* on in J u'dge^ Day' fell r a'sleep mbre u thari' once on Friday, and a, general air of tameness pervaded ,tKe"probeedings.' jii " i' x > VJptf WiUh?\K& Catholic '* Archbishop of Dublin, wh'o^ollowe^Parriell into the box, Is av ery, remarkable ? personage". -^ He was^ jlitlle'mpre^thSn ? 4o ; *wKen first; appointed to* his'high'bffice/and eveii* mow r now' J looks 4 quito a \youhg man? f iltf'app'eirance' Dr. Walsh is t ; < u > naduljberated^addyJ"^ . f He^tiasHhe long protruding.-'.upper lipi-'daricing eyes,, and, f sof^voi^of'blie Galway rCBltsr C8ltsV "^ ;A brilliant : sfeh'olai\J gifted' { oratori"'" arid ready' e wit, the * Trish^are^verylprou^^of^Jtheir Archbishop, 'ama m d f 'h ! e i 'hafe more -influence 'over them than' 5 baf:Pa'f nelP t him&elf:4 - v >

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