The Irish Distress.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3456, 22 January 1880, Page 2

The Irish Distress.

PUBLIC MEETING AT THE

HIBERNIAN HALL.

A public meeting for the purpose of initiating a subscription in aid of the distressed.people in Ireland was held at the Hibernian Hall last evening. There were thirty or forty persons present, including many of our leading citizens, and His Worship the Mayor, Louis Ehrenfried, Esq., occupied the Chair.

The Chairman said, all present were aware that for some time past Ireland had been suffering from a distress so great that the Lord Mayors of Dublin and London had deemed it advisable to communicate with the Colonies, asking assistance. Several gentlemen had waited on him and requested him to . call a meeting of persons sympathising with the distressed people, and inclined to contribute towards a fund to alleviate them. He had acceded to their request, and the present meeting was the result. ' He was sorry to see that the attendance was so small, but the fact of it being small was not to say that the people here would not subscribe liberally to .the object in view. He was certain if the gentlemen present took it in hand a very substantial sum would be realised. Great depression existed here, and it was not a very favorable time for raising money. Not long ago £100 had been raised for the aid of the sufferers by the Chinese famine, and surely they could do" something for those mor£ nearly related. The success of the undertaking depended very much on the way it was handled, and be hoped all would work with a will. It had been stated that if the money was forwarded direct to the .Mayor of Dublin many would subscribe who otherwise, would not, and he tnonght the adoption of that course would be advisable. Ho might say that the Rev. Messrs Watkiii and Neill had seen him with reference to the distress, and both agreed to cooperate with the movement, though they could aot be present at the meeting. Mr Mcllh'ne, after thanking the Mayor for calling the meeting, moved " That those present be a committee for raising funds."

Mr McCullough, ia seconding the motion, dwelt on the fact that the distress was really serious—much greater than many supposed—and if assistance was not at once provided the misery and destitution that would follow would be worse than the famine of '46 and '47. He addressed himself briefly to the cause of the distress, pointing out that the great bulk of the population were dependent on the produce from their farms, there being not more than .60,000 persons engaged in manufactures in the country. Thus it would be seen the failure of a single crop was attended with disastrous results. Mitchell Henry, M.P., who with two others had been appointed on a Commission to enquire into the distress in Ireland, said that it was really deplorable in the south and west, the potato crop having been a complete failure. Mr Landers followed in the same strain, and urged that it would be well to act up to the maxim, " He gives twice who gives quickly." Mr Speight, M.H.R., also urged speedy action. He said that the people who began to cry out about the distress at their own doors as soon as a movement like the present was set on foot were generally those who did . (be least to relieve the distress at their own doors. Let them start at once, and all the work would be done in a week, and a good sum sent at once to Dublin,

The resolution having been put was carried, and Messrs Landers and Speight wera appointed joint Secretaries, and tho Mayor Treasurer on th» motion of Mr McCullough. It .Fas resolved, on the motion of Mr

Landers, (hat the money subscribed be despatched to the Mayor of Dublin. It was also decided to have lists printed and distributed, and that the committee hare power to add lo their number.

Tlie Committee consists of the following gentlemen : —Messrs Ehrenfried, McCullough, Mcllhone, Carrick, Burns, Duggau, Farrell, Cloonau, Wilkinson, Speight, Twohill, Syuington, 0. Stephenson, Hutchinson, Stone, M. Browne, Quint, IN'ewsou, Mclntyre, Grogan, Gillies, Eae, Donovan, Koach, Farrell, Byrne, Kiely.Brennan and Trainor.

A subscription opened in the room produced £32 7s.

Mr Dotiovan, a gentleman from Taranaki, made a few remarks on tho matter in hand, after which the meeting adjourned till Wednesday eveuing next.