ies by the ears or get the
better of either one or the other was looked upon as healthy and innocent
amusement.

On the 7th of June the contest began, and this, the first engagement,
lasted for 44 days, when the Chairman of the Committee announced that the
Bills would not be passed. Great was our delight and that of our allies,
though the cup of joy was a little dashed on learning that the Great
Southern had determined to renew the struggle in the following year.

My company was the principal opponent, and bore the brunt of the fight,
though the Dublin, Wicklow and Wexford Railway (now the Dublin and South-
Eastern) were vigorous opponents too. A. G. Reid (from Scotland, who I
have mentioned before) was general manager of the Dublin and Wicklow
Railway. Like myself he is a pensioner now enjoying the evening of life.
Living near each other in the pleasant Kingstown-Dalkey district, we meet
not infrequently, and when we do our talk, as is natural, often glides
into railway reminiscence. We fight our battles over again. We had many
allies, prominent amongst them being the City and Harbour Authorities of
Limerick. They were represented by good men who were hand and glove with
us. Sir (then Mr.) Alexander Shaw, John F. Power and William Holliday
were particularly conspicuous for their valuable assistance. Power (well
named) was a host in himself. Strong, keen, clever, energetic,
enthusiastic, yet cautious and wary, he was a splendid witness. I
sometimes said he would have made a fine railway manager, had he been
trained to the business. Could I give him higher praise?

Mr. Littler was in great feather at our success. He entertained us
(_i.e_., his Midland clients) to lunch. Over coffee and cigars we
learned that he had not been in Ireland for over 20 years; so to equip
him the better for next year's fight we invited him over, promising that
I would be his faithful cicerone on a tour through the country. As soon
as Parliament rose he came, and he and I spent a fortnight together,
visiting Limerick, Waterford, Cork, Galway, Sligo and other places. It
was a sort of triumphal march, for our friends, and they were many,
warmly welcomed on Irish soil the great English Q.C. who had routed the
enemy. Littler enjoyed it immensely, and was charmed with Irish warmth
and Irish ways. Full of good humour and good nature himself, with a
lively wit, and an easy unaffected manner, he gained new friends to our
cause, and in