THE IRISH INFORMERS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1142, 30 August 1883, Page 1

THE IRISH INFORMERS.

A deputation consisting of the AgentsGeneral of the Australian Colonies has waited upon Lord Derby to protest against the action of the Imperial Government in shipping Irish informers to the colonies. They asserted that as the step hud been taken, and the colonial Governments had prevented the informers from landing, it was the duty of the Imperial authorities to take tiie responsibility of having the men returned to the United Kingdom. The Standard comments upon the position taken up by the colonies in reference to the informers on board the Patlian, and contends that the colonial authorities in refusing to allow the men to land acted unconstitutionally, and that their action was calculated to encourage murder and prevent criminals in future from giving information of crimes in which they had participated. Mr Murray Smith the other day laid before Lord Derby the difficult position in which the Victorian Government was placed owing to the attempt to land Irish informers from the Patlian. He urged the Imperial Government to give their immediate attention, to the matter.^ There was some excitement in Sydney the other day .owing to a report tin.t Joe Smith, the Irish informer, had escaped from H.M.S. Nelson. The facts of the case are-that Smith and his wife hooked to Suez by the Messageries stemucr Melbourne under the name of Fiynn, finished with a letter of introduction to the British Consul there. Smith, instead of staying on board the vessel “t Wil iatnstown, went ashore and was recognised. Arrangements were made to keep him under surveillance while the steamer remained.