THE HOME RULE DELEGATES AT AUCKLAND.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1966, 7 November 1889, Page 4

THE HOME RULE DELEGATES AT AUCKLAND.

Auckland, Nov. 4. The Irish delegates reached Auckland by the mail steamer Zealandia last night, and were accorded a most enthusiastic welcome. The steamer drew alongside the pier just at dusk, and some thousands of people were waiting. The Reception i Committee went on board, and formally welcomed the delegates. As Mr Dillon ascended the gangway of the steamer, in company with Mr Tole and others, the crowds on the wharf recognised him, and a scene of wild enthusiasm followed.! Mr Dillon walked to the nearest carriage, | followed by a crowd cheering themselves hoarse, while Sir Thomas Esmonde and Mr Deasy bad to struggle through, in; company with their friends and the com- , mittee, along the route of the procession, f followed by a number of men, women, and children, many of them running the: whole of the way in their anxiety to see the delegates. The crowd assembled outside the Star Hotel, and cheered Mr Dillon and his colleagues aa they alighted. Cheers were given again and again, and eventually Mr Dillon came out on the balcony and addressed the multitude. In the course of his speech he said :—“ 1 am deeply grateful to you for your kindness in coming down to-night to greet me and my colleagues with so much enthusiasm on this the first time we have landed on the soil of New Zealand. You can easily understand how great an encouragement it is to us, fighting as we are in a very severe, troublesome struggle, to find that at the opposite side of the globe we have so many friends—and warm frieuds-r-in the great cause in which we are [engaged. (Cheers.) I have,seen vary little of this country, but 1 Lava “recognised amongst the crowds not only the voices: of my own countrymen—and I always expect to find friends amongst them wherever 1 go—(loud cheers) —but I fancy I also recognised voices of .some who are hot Irish —who came there from a disinterested and noble spirit of Sympathy, to show that, although they were not Irish, they had the heart to sympathise In a just‘ and honest cause, and I thank them all the more heartily because it wa«‘ the more disinterested in them to - come and meet ua than it would have been if they had Irish blood in their veins,’’ In the course of a conversation, Mr Dillon said he would take the opportunity of witnessing some of the scenery of New Zealand when he bad finished his political duties. He had long wished to see New Zealand. He bad read a lot about it, but he never thought he would coins to this colony until three months ago. To-day, at noon, a large number of persons assembled at the Star Hotel, when addresses and souvenirs were presented to Mr Dillon, SirT. Esmonde, and Mr Deasy. The first address, one from the public who sympathise with Home Rule, was read by Captain McKenzie, and contained an assurance that the vast majority of the population of this part of New Zealand did not regard the Irish question aa alien, but, on the; contrary, as one that was bound up with integrity and progress of the Empire, whilst expressing hope that the marvellous results of the mission throughout Australia will be followed by success in this colony. Mr W. Beehan, President of the Auckland branch of the Hibernian Society, presented an address from that branch, and an address was also given the delegates by Mr E, F. Garlick on behalf of the young colonial sympathisers with the Home Rule movement. Mr J. Dillon, in reply, said: Gentlemen,—l have to thank you with all my heart for the three beautiful addresses to which I have just listened, and to say that the warm expression of sympathy which is contained in them only bears out the promise which was given to ; aae and my colleagues by the magnificent reception accorded to ua last evening. 1 was agreeably surprised at the extraordinary character of the demonstration which was accorded us on our first arrival in Auckland, taking into consideration the uncertainty of the hour and the evening. It was a most remarkable and significant demonstration of the amount of sympathy that we may look for in this' city for the cause in which we are engaged. I thank most heartily the members of the Committee, and also the members of the Hibernian Society, : and L thank moat 1 warmly the young New Zealand natives who presented the addresses. We have —1 and my colleagues have—come to this country to address people on a subject of vital importance to the peace, prosperity, and future welfare of the British Empire in all its parts, but it is also a subject which now has engaged to a very great extent the attention of all civilised mankind. The Irish question was no longer » local question : it is a question which has taken its stand as one of the great questions of European politics, and, therefore, not only citizens of the British Empire, but also— and in a higher degree —as members of that wider community which goes amongst us under the name of Christendom ; and aa members of a common humanity we are entitled to look to you for your sympathy aud interest io this great Irish question. I have always said —and I say it now—that all we ask ini any community which we visit ia fairplay, and a fair hearing—(cheers)—because I feel so convinced of; the justice of our cause, and so absolutely certain .that the opposition which exists to our movement is based on a want of knowledge and prejudice, that I am perfectly certain wherever reason is listened to with fair and. impartial r mind our cause must win the day. I have noticed a most remarkable fact since. I came to. the Australian colonies, that most of those who have arrived from Scotland particularly, and also ’ from Wales and England, during the last three or four years are warm friends of the Irish cause, the reason being that we have succeeded at Home in spreading the truth about the cause of Ireland, as I trust we shall now succeed in spreading it throughout these colonies. I have noticed that there has been published an advertisement calling a meeting of those opposed to us. I only allude to this for a particular purpose, L do not complain of chat in the slightest degree ; I always invite and take pleasure io controversy—(cheers)—and I should myself be personally delighted to meet any honorable opponent and discuss the subject while I am here before a mixed audience. (Applause,) I have no fear as what the result would be.” Mr Dillon proceeded to comment on the tact that whilst the approaching meeting of delegates would be public, the advertisement which he had mentioned invited only thoss opposed to Home Rule.

Sir T. Esmonde and Mr Deasy also replied. . The Ladies’ Reception Committee, through Mias Stranaghan, then presented Mr Dillon and Sir T. Esmonde with two handsome greenstone paper knives,' and Mr Deasy with a pendant. The greenstone in each knife ia in one piece, and at the base of the knife is a gold plate suitably inscribed. Each of th| platei.h'ia a shamrock and fern embossed in what is termed green gold,” and each knife is in a mottled ka'uuri case with lining of cardinal velvet. The pendant given, Jo Mr Deasyis in the form of an obelisk in three pieces, greenstone, Thames quartz, and petrified wood, and mounted at the top and based'with gold, ‘ - Mr Dillon, in replying, made happy ajlosioa to the combination of colors in| thfj presents, and trusted it ; would be, emblematic of the future of Ireland, a; combination of orange apd green, A meeting of thbse opposed to Hotnej Rule for Ireland is called for the Bth inat. This is intended as a counter demonstra-j tion to that of the Irish delegates. Wanganui, November 4*

Great preparations are ,being made here; to welcome the Irish delegates, who are; expected to arrive on Wednesday week,; November 13'lb. Representatives from alii up the coast and the district generally are; expected to attend. >