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New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 6, 7 February 1907, Page 13

WELLINGTON.

(From our own correspondent.) February 2. During the week Mr. Donovan, one of the Irish delegates, returned from a very successful mission on the— West Coast and in the Nelson and Marlborough .districts, and was the guest of Mr. Martin Kennedy. He was to have left Auckland with Mr. Devlin to-day, but the delay of the ' So.ioma ' will prolong the stay of the delegates in Auckland. Mr. Donovan left here*on Friday, morning. On Thursday evening a large number of friends and members of, the United Irish League gathered in Freeman's Rooms to honor our distinguished visitor. Mr. Martin Kennedy (president ■of - the League) occupied the chair. Mr. Kennedy, in his opening remarks, referred to the splendid work done by the delegates in making known to the people of New Zealand the cause of Home Rule ior Ireland. The wor.cthey had done was not to be measured merely by the • amount of contributions received. The great moral support that the conciliatory and able speeches of the delegates haH raised was not- to be overlooked. Mr. Donovan had done some very hard work on- the WestCoast, and although the notice was very short the supporters of the Hiome Rule movement desired to pay him their respects. That was why they mustered so largely at this gathering. He wished Mr. Donovan and his colleague Mr. Devlin further success and bon voyage. Mr. E. J. Fitzgibbon, in proposing the toast of the guest of the evening, expressed the. great" pride he felt in having such a pleasing duty to perform... Not only as the son of Irish parents but as a young New Zealander, conscious of . the glories of a free constitu- • tion, he could speak to such a toast with enthusiasm-. New Zealanders did . not forget what they owed to the pioneers of the Colony, and many of the best and bravest of the first settlers were- men and women that were driven from Ireland. . The delegates had done a great work. They had - explained the cause for which . they were striving, and their speeches had won the sympathy of all creeds and classes. The idea of an Imperial council was bound to be realised in the near future, and then might he express the hope than an envoy from these shores^ would . find himself seated side by side with an envoy from Ireland, but from an Ireland glorious and free.

Mr. O'Regan, in speaking to the toast, eulogised the efforts of < the delegates, _and referred to the broad sympathy that their visit had aroused. Mr. Donovan had acquitted himself splendidly on the West Coast. The old objections to Home Rule had been shattered. Jie might say that with regard to the cry that the Irish were an inferior race, they need only look at the recent successes in the examination for the degree of Bachelor of Laws, and they would find that the first three names were those of Irishmen. , Nowhere outside of Ireland were the people so . much in favor of the Irish cause as in New Zealand. Mr. Donovan, who .is ,-a most' vigorous speaker, was. received with applause. He thanked the gathering for their great kindness— a kindness which had. characterised their visits everywhere in Australia and New Zealand. He felt that night as though he were a sen? tinel on the outposts of civilisation, and if they asked « _

him, ' How goes the cause in Ireland ? ' he could answer back : ' The cause goes well ; we are on the brink of victory.' . Prominent men all .over the Empire were in favor of Home Rule, and the late Mr. Seddon,. after his last public speech in Australia, said he would be pleased to preside at the main., meeting in New Zealand. He bad just concluded a visit to the West Coast, and he could say that nowhere outside of Ireland did he meet such kindly, hospitable people. The Coast ' was indeed a part; of Ireland. In conclusion he said that he would carry .home 'fond memories of this beautiful country, where there were so : many warm advocates- of , the Irish cause. Mr. Donovan in a felicitous^ speech proposed the toast of the Chairmau, whom he described as a great friend and, valued supporter of the Irish cause. It was to Mr. Kennedy's great zeal and ability as an organiser that the success of the delegates' mission was , largely due. The toast was enthusiastically received, and after Mr. Kennedy's reply, the proceedings concluded with the singing of ' God Save Ireland. 1 During the evening musical items were- given by Messrs. Clarkson, Finlay, Foote, Carr, and Master Poote. Mr. McLaughlin presided at the piano. A Message. <Jn Thursday evening I asked Mr. Donovan for a message to the young New Zealanders, and he graciously wrote me in the following terms :— ' What -has struck -.me particularly in connection with the young New Zealander— especially the young New Zealander of Irish • extraction— is his bright, frank, and manly" disposition^ He lives in an atmosphere of freedom, in a land strikingly beautiful" in its varied colorings and its sharp contrasts. Realising"- the advantages derived from- the blessings of liberty enjoyed by him almost in the apotheosis, the young New Zealander has extended the hand 'of friendship, comradeship, sympathy, and. support to the .Trish delegates representing a people struggling towards the light of freedom. Let the, young New Zealander rejoice indeed that he shares the*"glor<es of liberty. Let him ' ever guard,' in a spirit of jealousy and. extreme vigilance if you will, the inestimable- advantages which free constitutions bestow. His land is rich- in natural wealth and beauty ; its potentialities are immeasurable. Its future rests in the hands of the young men. The heritage of a free New Zealand" in the opening of -the twentieth century is theirs to cherish "and preserve. If I read aright the character of the young New Zealander, the trust so descending will be preserved in all its integrity. Let me only hope that the future holds for the young men of New Zealand, who in sympathy and support are- as \ one man at the back of Nationalist 1 reland, the choicest of -" blessings. That prosperity be theirs is the sincerest wish of JOHN T. DONOVAN (Irish delegate).