A DESCENDANT OF AN IRISH PATRIOT.

New Zealand Tablet, 20 August 1908, Page 14

A DESCENDANT OF AN IRISH PATRIOT.

(.By Telegraph from our "own correspondent.) - , - ■ "" ' - August 17. At the banquet tendered by the Government to the admirals and officers of. the American fleet' last week, your correspondent discovered amongst the latter Ensign Robert* Emmet, a' great great grand-nephew o£ Robert Emmet, the great ' Irish patriot. " He was pointed out to me by Father Gleeson (Catholic chaplain, of the fleet), who, at the same time informed me of the young officer's relationship to young martyr. ' Your correspondent immediately sought him out. Ensign Emmet was highly delighted at "meeting one in this distant latfd.Jrtho knew his .family history- very well/ Soon there gathered around him Messrs. Poland, Hogan, "and Jennings, members of -Parliament. The last-named soon after brought, the Prime Minister, -who shook Mr. Emmet's hand warmly, saying, 'I" welcome 3 - ou as an American officer, but above that for the other great reason too.*- Herj^was this young man, only 20' years of "age, thousands of miles from his home in New York, on a foreign shore, yet he had gathered round, him in that spacious banquet hall an enthusiastic body of friends, gathered as if by magic, and drawn towards him by the common tie of fidelity to Ireland. At first quite a number outside the group looked on in surprise, quite unaware of the emotions which moved each member of the group. • Mr. - Hogan recited the closing sentences of Robert EmmetV speech from, ihe dock. The young officer was visibly affected, and said, ' Gentlemen, I cannot describe my feelings. I am delighted to meet you all.' Mr. Ngata, Maori member of Parliament, here joined the group, and asked to be introduced to Mr. Emmet, and showed a comprehensive knowledge of his famous ancestor; ' On last Friday evening a representative gathering of Irish citizens assembled to honor Mr. Emmet. Mr. W. T. Jennings, I M.P. for Egmtfnt, presided, and next him sat- the guest of tie evening. When Ensign Emmet- entered- -the room in uniform (he had attended a- dinner on his ship, the Connecticut), tho whole assembly of ladies and gentlemen rose, and enthusiastically welcomed him. - The chairman introduced him to the meeting, -and stated how delighted all were to receive one bearing the revered name of Robert Emmei— a* iname ■. the -bare mention of .. which sent a thrill of joy .through cv6ry' Irish heart. He felt -that the honored name was well bestowed on the young gentle- ' man' in their midst that night. In the service of his country Jie would be trucrto,the family traditions, and win renown and distinction in the future. ■ He hoped- when next the American fleet visited New Zealand .Mr. Emmet would be in command. On "behalf of the donors, the chairman then -presented a costly sovereign case inscribed as follows : — ' To Robert Emmeg, from Irish citizens of. -Auckland, 1908.' .~" On rising to respond, Mr. Emmet, who was enthusiastically cheered, was deeply-affected. He stood 'for some minutes unable . to reply. He said : ' The warmth of this reception has unnerved ' me. . 1 am -not-. accustomed to • speech-making ; in fact, I never made. a speech in my. life. '.I cannot find words to express my . gratifude to you. -It has all come so unexpectedly upon me. I little dreamed I. should-, find myself/in the midst of such warm- - hearted' friends". ■> r ßelieve > me,- to my- dying day, I shall recall this night' in" Auckland,, and especially*' will this splendid gift remind me of you. ; -These proceedings .will delight the heart of my" father, when he reads , of them. I am proud of the ' historical hanie I bear; for generations we have always had in .-our family a Robert Emmet. 1 have never visited Ireland, but - our fleet is expected; to .stay in France a fortnight, the whole xof which time T hope ; to- spend in the 'land -of my ancestors. In the near future I hope to revisit 3'bii^and renew our friendship.

I thank you from my heart for your cordial welcome and handsome, present. -I shall never forget you in Auckland. ' .Short speeches-were made by Mr. Hall and others eulogistic of the Emmet family, and expressing delight at meeting a repre-, sentative of it. Irish songs were sung, by Madame Caste-, Messrs. Lonergan and Pritchard. - The proceedings closed 'withthe whole company rising and singing ' God save ' Ireland. Ensign Emmet then left for the Connecticut, several_of those present; accompanying him to the ship's side in a steam launch. Ensign Emmet is to' be the -guest of Cardinal Mo'ran in Sydney, where a great reception will no doubt be given him. His father is Colonel Temple Emmet, of New York.