Page:Charleston • Irwin Faris • (1941).pdf/194

established a branch of the Ballarat Hibernian Society. It did not come under the H.A.C.B.S. until 16th May, 1872.

At Addison’s Flat in 1869 was set up a branch of the Fenian Society to work to secure the release of the Irish patriot-writer, John Boyle O’Reilly, who had been transported to Western Australia. As this Society was discountenanced by the Church, it was abandoned, and its followers decided to substitute the new organisation rising in Victoria under the auspices of the Hibernian Society. They arranged with the Ballarat Society to send a representative to open a branch at Addison’s, and remitted the amount needed to cover costs. Thus Addison’s expected, reasonably, to be the pioneer branch in New Zealand but Fate decided otherwise.

In response to the application, the Ballarat Society despatched Mr. F. H. Byrne, who landed at Hokitika. Mr. Martin Kennedy, of Greymouth, persuaded Mr. Byrne to set up a branch at Greymouth; and the inaugural meeting was held in the Brian Boru Hotel there on 16th December, 1869. This was the first branch in New Zealand, St. Patrick’s No. 17, and Martin Kennedy was first President.

Mr. Byrne then proceeded to Charleston, landing at Constant Bay by sailing vessel, and was induced to open a branch there on the evening of his arrival, 5th January, 1870. He walked to Addison’s Flat on the next day, 6th January, 1870, and opened the branch there. Thus of the branches, Greymouth was the first; Charleston the second; and Addison’s Flat the third. Nevertheless, Mr. Byrne called the latter branch “No. 1, The First,” as probably he felt in duty bound to do; for although Addison’s had not the privilege of opening the first branch, to its members is due the credit of having introduced the H.A.C.B.S. to New Zealand. It may be mentioned that John Boyle O’Reilly was liberated in 1869 and took up residence at Addison's Flat.

Of the Addison’s Flat branch, Thomas Gallagher was President; Michael Carmody, Vice-President; and William Duffy, Secretary. According to N.Z. Gazette of 1872, page 913, the Charleston branch did not come under the H.A.C.B.S. until 24th December, 1872. Assumedly Addison’s Flat branch came under it at about the same time.