Farewell to Mr. Martin Kennedy

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 2, 28 February 1907, Page 23

Farewell to Mr. Martin Kennedy

(From our Wellington' correspondent;.)

The large nunibers:.tbat- assembled at" Searl's' Rooms, Cuba street, en Thursday- dVeritng- to do honor to Mr. Martin Kennedy, prior" 'to _ his leaving on a visit to Ireland, bore fitting testimony" to- the great esteem in which the ,guest of the evening is held by his fellow countrymen. Mr.' Kennedy .has labored long v and well in the . cause of Catholicity, and in the cause, of Ireland. God has blessed him with prosperity,- and that prosperity has been wisely and charitably used. It was -a1 • proud : moment for Mr. Kennedy when he -saw the" fine assemblage -of "ladies and gentlemen come to show their appreciation of -his work and worth. The chair was occupied by Mr. P. J. O'Regan, who had on' his right the . guest of the , evening- and his Worship .the' Mayor - and- Mrs. Hislop. The clergy, were represented by Very Rev. Father >Keogh, "and "the Rev. Fathers O'Shea and. Moloney.- ■ .. Apologies for their unavoidable- absence, were received from-, the Very Rev. Father 1 - Lewis,- V.G., and the Yen. Archdeacon Devoy, S.M. „ ' ' The chairman said that ever sirice the recent _visit of -the Irish delegates there had' been a"- spontaneous desire -on the part of all Irish- people to recognise 'the signal services rendered by Mr. Kennedy to ,the delegation. In Mr. Kennedy they had- an excellent-type of Irishman, who was favorably known not only in Wei-' lington, but throughout New Zealand. As* Mr-. Dono- * van had said a ;few ' evenings agor "fMj. Kennedy's success as a business man was a living refutation of the oft repeated charge that Irishmen were unable to manage their own affairs. It' was first' expected that the- delegation would realise 'in New Zealand only £2000,' ' but' the visit had resulted "in 1 raising' £5000, a success' diie '.in 1 large measure to M\" Kennedy's-' -power cT organisation. lie wished- Mr. Kennedy and- -family, a. pleasant?" voyage and a safe" return ~ ' and 'at- the expense 'of toeing called hereafter 1 a bad prophet, he would venture to say that -ere his return Mr. Keiir netly' would be' privileged to see from the gallery of the _House of- Commons a bi-11 passed -granting* a measure oi -Home Rule fear' Ireland. Mr. O'Regari -then presented Mr. Kennedy with a greenstone shamrock, bordered with gold. The symbol is inscribed .as ' follows ,: ,' To Martin Kennedy, Esq., from the - United Irish League, Wellington' branch, as a" souvenir of- the 'visit -of ' the I ' lrish envoys, 1906-07.' The Rev. Fat be' O'Shea, - S.M., in a brirf- speech, testified to M|r. Kennedy's work as a Christian gentleman. His life was' a living evidence of the fact ' that

a man cdul'd reconcile the. "Ten. Commandments with success in business. In achieving the prosperity he how enioyed, Mr. Kennedy never dep.arted one inoh from the principles of , a- Christian gentleman. ,He, htfd receivgtf sound -advice .and .jriuch practical sympathy from Mr, Kennedy in__'the of -his^ duties as parish priest. "* * - -- - Mr. Uasey, on behalf of the young men, spoke of Mr. Kennedy's, generosity, especially in. granting. £500 for a new club room, an-d securing two other "grants of £500 each. - 7 -„ . Mr. Kennedy, in reply, said that it' was quite an exaggeration to give., him credit for the organisation of the visit of Messrs/ Donovan and Devlin. , The Rev. Father Cleary was ' responsible for the . organisation- of the vioit in Ota-go and Southland, and . the Hon. Mr. Tole and others co-operated " in Auckland. Moreover, the success of the visit was largely made by the envoys themselves,. With reference to Home - Rule he considered that one of its greatest blessings would be that the Irish people would have the opportunity of University education to a more liberal extent. They knew that the Irish people, valuing their faith above all else,, had -refused to attend the present existing universities. Itpsh people had no desire to separate. They were delighted to be part of the British Empire. They did not obiect to the constitution, but to its administration in Ireland. He thanked those present for the great honor they had done him. The toast of ' The Irish Parliamentary Party ' was proposed by Mr. .1. Carey-Fitzgerald. The Verjy Rev. Father Keogjh, in ta- fine reply, deaflt witlv the disadvantages under which the Irish members labored. He spoke of their untiring zeal.and independence. The toast cf the ' Chairman ' was' given by Mr. Kennedy. 'Mr. C. P. Skerrett, on being called, added a few words of eulogy to those already expressed with regard to Mr. Kennedy. During the evening musical items were rendered by Miss Nina Caldow and . Messrs. Leihy, . Carr, Mosohini, and Hendry. The accomnaniments were played by Miss Ivy McLaughlin. The orchestra was under Mr. Wm. McLaughlin. .The gatherine; concluded with a spirited rendering of ' God Sa^e Ireland.'