THE IRISH ENVOYS

New Zealand Tablet, 3 August 1911, Page 1453

THE IRISH ENVOYS

AN ENTHUSIASTIC SEND-OFF IN WELLINGTON (From our Wellington correspondent.) The Irish envoys Messrs. Donovan, Hazleton, and Redmond have been touring New Zealand on behalf of the Home Rule campaign fund, were farewelled last night by the Wellington branches of the Hibernian Society. The proceedings took the form of a dinner at the municipal Concert Chamber, which was attended by about four hundred male and female members, together with his Grace Archbishop Redwood, the Acting-Prime Minister (Sir James Carroll), Sir Arthur Guinness (Speaker of the House of Representatives), Dr. Cahill (chairman of the reception committee), Mr. Martin Kennedy, K.S.G. (treasurer of the fund), Very Rev. Dean Regnault, S.M. (Provincial), Very Rev. Father O’Shea (Vicar-General), Very Rev. Dr. Kennedy, S.M. (Rector of St. Patrick’s College), Rev. Fathers Hickson, Venning, and O’Reilly, Councillors Fletcher and Hindmarsh, Dr, Izard, and Dr. McEvedy,

Bro. J. W. Callaghan (District Deputy) presided, and proposed the toast of 4 The Pope and the King.’ Bro. H. McKeown proposed the toast of ‘ Ireland a Nation.*

Replying to the toast, Mr. J. T. Donovan,' 1 who was most cordially received, said he and his colleagues would not forget the kindly, warm, and generous hearts of the people of New Zealand, who were sending them back with the magnificent tribute of close on £IO,OOO to enable them to carry on the Horne Rule campaign. At last they had touched the heart and the conscience of the British democracy, and they believed that at least 90 per cent, of the people in the British Empire were favorable to the demand of the Irish for a measure of national autonomy. The envoys, he added, had spoken at 73 meetings in New Zealand, attended by not merely Irish men and women, but by all creeds and all classes. They had succeeded in breaking down prejudices, in removing doubts, in elucidating the question as he believed it had never yet been put before the public of New Zealand. We thank you in New Zealand for all you have done to enable a poor struggling people to obtain their national rights. In conclusion, he made special reference to the valuable services rendered by Mr. Martin Kennedy, the organiser of the tour and treasurer of the fund. ~

Mr. J. E. Fitzgerald proposed the toast of The Parliament of New Zealand,’ coupled with the name of Sir James Carroll.

Sir James Carroll acknowledged first of all his cordial reception, and excused himself from speaking on such a dry subject as Parliament. There were weak parts of the British Constitution, he said. The edifice had stood too long, and its pillars were decaying here and there. In our small way we must try to think out the method of renovation of that national edifice, and the strengthening of its pillars. And where were the pillars? The outer ramparts had been fortified, but not sufficient consideration had been paid to the inner building. Not only did this affect England, but it affected Ireland and the dependencies of the United Kingdom. He firmly believed ■ that unless there was reconstruction at the seat of Empire disasters would follow. There would be disruption, not through granting Ireland Home Rule, but through failing to grant it. The greatest struggle that had occurred in Great Britain since the days of Cromwell was the fight for liberty, expressed by the democratic forces of the people knocking at the doors of Parliament and asking for freedom to exercise their national rights. Other nations would follow, but Ireland was first by seniority. Scotland must come in her turn. It was impossible, from a purely business point of view, "to carry on the Empire’s work any longer by the present me-

thod. Just imagine 650 members in the House of Commons. Why, they hadn’t even sitting room; they hadn’t speaking room, x The spirit of democracy was growing, and would grow in this federal age, and if we were to preserve our Constitution in most of its excellent parts, we must strengthen the weak parts to make them strong, solid, and lasting. The envoys could tell their kinsmen that they had found the people of New Zealand true to the sentiment' of freedom ! true to Ireland’s cause. For Ireland’s day was coming, in the near future, he hoped, and the Empirewould be strengthened by Ireland getting Home Rule. Dr. Cahill proposed the toast of the * Irish National Party,’ making reference to the wrongs the nation had suffered and the gallant fight put up by the Nationalist Partya fight without parallel in history. The chairman then presented the envoys with a beautifully framed and illuminated address as a token of esteem from the Wellington branches of the Hibernian Society. The illumination and engrossing was kindly done for the Society, by Rev. Mother Smith and Rev. Mother Dillon, , of the Convent of the Sacred Heart, Island Bay. At the top of the address was painted the Society’s emblem, and to the left a figure of St. Patrick driving out the snakes from Ireland, a scene of Killarney, Mt Egmont, Mitre Peak (Milford Sound), with figures of the New Zealand native bird (the kiwi) all these pictures being entwined with the shamrock and New Zealand native ferns and flowers. The following is the text of The Address. ‘ Dear Friends, —We the members of the Hibernian Australasian Catholic Benefit Society of Wellington, New Zealand, desire to extend to you a very hearty welcome. We welcome you as fellow-irishmenas envoys of the Irish Nationalist Party under the leadership of Mr. John E. Redmond. We desire to express our deep appreciation of, and gratitude for, 'the splendid and whole-souled work of the party which you so worthily represent. We trust that your mission in Australia will be a complete success and that as a result the party will be better enabled to fight on until that goal has been reachedwhen Ireland will have her own Parliament, when she will enjdy what her descendants are enjoying in New Zealandself-govern-ment. We sincerely hope that the time of announcing this happy order of things will not be far distant, that we shall soon have occasion to rejoice in Ireland’s prosperity and happiness, to' see the tide of emigration stemmed, and Ireland a nation once again. As membeis of a Society, that will ever cherish the memory .of Ireland, the Land of Saints and Scholars, you can always rely on us to do pur very utmost to aid and assist you to attain the end for which you are now and have been for years consistently and nobly striving; We trust that the material help and encouragement given in the United States of America to the cause, and also the success that has attended your efforts here, and what we confidently expect- for you in Australia, will spur on and give a fresh impetus to the party to make further efforts to fight for the . liberty of our people. Remember, you not only have the people of Ireland to support you, but Irishmen all the world overlrishmen who have been compelled to leave the land of their birth through the present conditions of Ireland under English rule. Therefore, be courageous, persevere in the fight, right and justice will in the end conquer, and the millions of Ireland’s sons scattered all over the world will rejoice and ever cherish the memory of her noble and self-sacrificing patriots. As it is the eve of your departure from New Zealand, we desire to wish you an affectionate farewell and God speed, Signed on behalf of the members—

J. W. Callaghan (District Deputy). J. J. L. Burke (President Newtown" Branch). C. J. McErlean (President Newtown Branch). C. A. Seymour (President Hutt Branch). L. Swan (President Thorndon Branch). • F. McCarthy (President Petone Branch). F. O’Flaherty (President Ladies’ Branch). P. D. Hoskins (Secretary Wellington branch). The chairman also read a farewell message sent through the Very Rev. Dean Regnault, S.M. from

Bro. F. J. Doolan (District Deputy), North Canterbury, on "'behalf'of ; , the branches in that district. ’'A Mr. Hazleton, in responding to the toast, said he was coming back again-to New Zealand, and after the kindness, consideration, and ’ hospitality they ;, bad received, he thought he could say that he would be coming amongst friends. When he did come it would be on a holiday, after an Irish Parliament met at College Green. He desired to thank all those who had so largely contributed towards the success of their mission, particularly Mr. Martin Kennedy, the reception committee, and the Hibernian Society, and- the ladies, for whose presence in such large numbers at their various meetings the envoys were exceedingly grateful. .He also wished to express his appreciation of the newspaper press of New Zealand, which had exhibited, with one or two exceptions, which did not count, a spirit of toleration and broadmindedness, and fair play and justice. In his opinion, not merely had the press supported them in the most outstanding and splendid manner, but they ought to be proud of the press of " New Zealand. „ It was a credit to the country and to the people of New Zealand. The speaker also thanked the public men of New Zealand for the sympathy they had exhibited, and in this connection spoke feelingly "df the loss New Zealand had sustained by the death of Mr. T. E. Taylor, who had boldly advocated the cause of Home Rule at the Christchurch meeting. We will carry back the message to our Irish , people that New Zealand stands to-day where it always stood, behind John Redmond, the Irish Party, and the Irish people, in their struggle for self-government. Mr. W. A. Redmond also responded to this toast, and in a vigorous speech thanked the people of New Zealand for the kindness extended to them. He said he could find no English word to describe the spontaneity and extraordinary enthusiasm, support, and allegiance that they had given to the Irish Party. He thanked the Hibernian Society for. the magnificent reception given them that evening, and reminded them that his uncle, Mr. William Redmond, was a very prominent member of their sister organisation, the Ancient .Order of Hibernians in Ireland. In concluding Mr. Redmond thanked Mr. Martin Kennedy for the great work he had done for the Irish Nationalist Party. Mr. Martin Kennedy was cordially welcomed in rising to propose the toast * The Hierarchy and Clergy of New Zealand.’ 'ln moving the toast he paid a high tribute to the clergy for the part they had played in securing the success of the mission of the envoys. His Grace Archbishop Redwood, in replying, said there were no more ardent Home Rulers in the world than the clergy of New Zealand, which was not composed entirely of Irishmen, but contained representatives of other parts of the Empire, all imbued with the same opinion and with the same sympathy for the cause which the envoys represented. Bro. W. J. Feeney proposed the toast of ‘The Ladies,’ which was responded to by Sister K. Robinson (past president of the, ladies’ branch). Bro. E. J. Fitzgibbon, LL.B., proposed the toast of ‘ The Press,’ which Mr. Reeves of the Evening Post responded to. In conclusion Mr.'Hazleton asked Bro. Callaghan to leave the chair and requested the Hon. Sir Arthur Guinness to fill the vacancy whilst he moved a very hearty vote of thanks to the chairman (Bro. J. W. Callaghan), the secretary to the reception committee (Bro. J. J. L. Burke), and the secretary of the banquet committee (Bro. P. D. Hoskins). The motion was seconded by Councillor Fletcher v On his rising to put the motion Sir Arthur. was enthusiastically received, ana he declared the motion carried by acclamation. ( The proceedings then terminated with the singing of ‘ God Save Ireland and the ‘ National Anthem/ During the evening the proceedings, which were throughout of an enthusiastic description, were diversified by a pleasant concert programme, contributed to by Mr. J. F. 'Carr, Miss Rose Segrief, Mr. P. L. Minifie, Mr. D. J. Kenny, Sister Maureen Griffin, and Mr, R, Sievers.