Irish News.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIX, Issue 7, 14 February 1901, Page 9

Irish News.

ANTRIM— The Lord Mayor of Belfast— None of the leading men of Belfast seem particularly anxious to fill the mayoral chair. Up to the middle of December one gentleman after another appears to have definitely declined to have anything to do with the effloe, and the situation is almost unique in its awkwardness. Never before has there been knows such r dearth of candidates. CLARE.— An Eviction.— On the Thursday morning before Christmas Major Fred Cullinane, sub-sheriff of Clare, with six baliiffs, evicted Mr. J. Molony, Brickhills, Cratloe, from the house and farm of 110 acres. All the doors were locked and had to be broken In. Mr. Molony then, at the Sheriff's request, left the house There were some polioe present with the bailiffs. This, it is stated, v the fourth time Mr. Molony has been evicted in 14 months. PobMMion has been taken in connection with proceedings for the recovery of money lent by the old Munster Bank. CORE.— lllness Of Dr. Tanner.— The member for Mid-Cork. Dr. Tariner, has been lying ill for some time at Ventnor. The dootor, ft is understood, is suffering from lung trouble, and it is Vary unlikely that he will be sufficiently strong to resume his Parliamentary duties on the opening of Parliament. Death of & Priest in the United States,— News has been noafoa 1Z ?"* °* fco death of the Rev. Timothy McCarthy, p»«tor of fauMoalate Conception Chardh, T°ledo, who passed away after a long illneM that was the result of tireless and unsparing activity in his duties as priest and pastor. About three month b ago, utterly broken down in body and with a spirit wearied of the long combat with disease, Father McCarthy took to the bed from which he never rose. His disinterestedness, his zeal, his devotion to his work and to bis flock won not only the respect, but the love of all to whom he had ministered in the 23 years of hia priesthood. Father McCarthy was born in Durrus, County Cork, Ireland, November 6, 1843. As went to the United States in 1866, and studied his olassics with the Benedictine Fathers at St. Vincent's College, Westmoreland, Pa. He waa ordained to the priesthood by Bishop CMlmour, July 5, 1877. Death of a Nun.— On December 17 there passed to her eternal Mward in the Presentation Convent, Doneraile, Sister M. Stanislaus H'Najnara. By the pupils and by the community her tact, zeal, and gnsrgy were deeply appreciated. It was a source of grief to her two brothers, Rev. Patrick M'Namara, Penicuik, Edinburgh, and Rev. Thomas J. M'Namara, of the Cathedral, Plymouth, that they were unable to be present at her last moments. The latter, however, had the melancholy consolation of assisting at the obsequies, at which he was celebrant. DOWN— Prior of the Dominican Community.— Very Re*. D. B. Falvey, O.P. (says a Newry contemporary), haa been reappointed Prior of the Dominican Community. The appointment has been received with feelings of the utmost gratification in Newry, Father Falvey being extremely popular not only amongst the Catholio people of the town, but also amongst the members of the different Protestant denominations. DUBLIN.— An heirloom of O'Oonnell— The trustees of the National Library of Ireland have just purchased the fee- book of Daniel O'Connell. For the first [year his inoome amounted to only 42 6s 6d. The next year his income was £50, and from that time it rose by leaps and bounds until it readied nearly £4000 a year. An Alleged Libel.— Mr. J. J. O'Meara, solicitor, acting for Mr. T. 0. Harrington, M.P., has Berved a writ on the Freeman's Journal claiming £8000 damages for alleged libel. The Rotunda. — The noble circular room known as the Rotunda, Dublin, in which the Irish National Convention held its session, was built in 1757 as a place of public entertainment. It is 80 feet in diameter and 40 feet in height, without any middle support. It was the scene of the Convention of the Irish Volunteers in 1783, and of the Catholic Convention in 1798. The Home Rule Conference, which laid the foundations of the present Irish National movement, was held in the Rotunda in 1873. During the year 1798 and the three subsequent years, owing to the disturbed state of the city consequent on the insurrection, the Rotunda and the adjoining rooms were oocupied as barracks. The Decadence Of the Stage— Father Peter Finlay, 8.J., in an address to the Dublin Catholio Commercial Club reoently, referred to the decadence of the Irish stage. Plays which would not have been tolerated in Dublin 20 years ago were now produced to crowded and delighted houses. He spoke from hearsay only, but hit witnesses were thoughtful, level-headed men, who assured him that a grievous moral degradation had fallen upon the Dublin stage, and that it was becoming an increasing moral evil. Dublin Catholics had only to express their disapproval by absence to change that state of things. Catholio papers should refuse advertisements of bad plays and Catholio critics speak out their minds against The Trade in Secondhand Clothes— Lord iveagh's gift of a site for an old clothes market in Dublin interests ' the upper riUtsrn ' more than most people might suspect. Secondhand clothes appear to an astonishing extent in Dublin Society ; but all the facts connected with their purchase are carefully guarded by those most eomoexned. Still, 'figures talk,' and a turn-over of more than 46000 during the one year (handled by a single large firm) suggests a good deal of local patronage, as only a small proportion of the sum refers to the colonial export trade. Particulars furnished from the same source state that there is a large trade in secondhand evening luits among business and professional men of small means, as well

as waiters ; and that mantles, day-dresses, jackets, and furs are largely, though secretly, purchased at low prices by Dublin ladies. Evening dresses and millinery are the most difficult to dispose of, and bring the lowest prices when sold. GALWAY.— A Slander Case— ln the Court of Qneen's Bench the case of Mr. Thomas Higrgine, President of the North Galway Executive of the United Irish League, against Sir Thomas trrattan-Bellew for slander was listed for hearing. Mr. Bushe, QC , for the plantiff, said a settlement had been arrived at. The slander alleged vras said to hare been tittered at a meeting at wbioh Sir Grattan-Bellew was reported to have said that the plaintiff was dishonest and that he had taken human life. Sir Henry denied that he ever had made such imputations against the plaintiff. A consent had been drawn up in which Sir Henry repudiated having made the alleged charges, and agreed to pay the plaintiff £125 for costs. The consent was made a rule of court. LIMERICK-— A Practical Suggestion.— When the question of insuring the Union premises came before the Limeriok Guardians at their last meeting, the Chairman (Mr. O'Regan) said they heard a good deal about paying money to absentee landlords, and they ought not to be paying money to English Insurance Companies when they had good Irish companies with whom they could insure with perfect Bafety. Mr. Thomas Lane proposed that the insurance of ±,40,000 be divided between the National and Patriotio Companies. The Clerk pointed out that it would be necessary to ask for tenders, and a notice of motion wae given that thiß oourse be adopted. Heroic Act by a Lady.— At the Limerick City Sessions, Mr. Ambrose Haii presidio, Miss Christy, George street, Limerick, was presented with the medal and certificate of the Royal Humane Society as a reward for her gallantry in saving Mrs. Shields, of Castleconnell, from being drowned at Kilkee. Mr. A. Hall, in making the presentation, congratulated Miss Christy upon her gallantry, He said it was the wish of the Royal Humane Society that the presentation would be made in the most public manner. It was a pleasing duty to him to make the presentation, especially as the young lady was a Limerick girl, and particularly in such times as these when so much money is spent for making new inventions to take away life. The medal was for a different purpose— for preserving life. A Vigorous Criticism of the Irish Educational System. — At the distribution of prizes in Laurel Hill Convent, the Most Rev. Dr. O'Dwyer, Bishop of Limerick, delivered a vigorous criticism on Irish education, primary, secondary, and higher. Hia Lordship said he believed the payment for education by results was a false system. If they paid for French by the yard, for English by the pound, and science by the paroel, it was just as they paid tailors for the garments they make. They were simply degrading education, and getting results that would be measurable just aa mechanics' work was measurable. Some of them had thought to make a change in the present system of education for the better* ment of the country for years, but their work was worthless, and so, he believed, the whole of the country was crippled by a truly false and untrue Bystem of education. There was a commission last year to inquire into this Intermediate system of education, and they held a very exhaustive investigation, but the evidence on which to decide was largely given by those who were most interested in the pecuniary results of that system. And it was too much to expect from human nature that the people who were making hundreds and thousands of pounds in the year by an injurious system would be very enthusiastic to make a change and try another system that might be better for this country and would undoubtedly be serious for their own pecuniary interests. He believed that weight of money had dragged down the Intermediate Bystem of Ireland, and was now, he feared, committed to them for many a day. He thought that hitherto the National system of education was too literary and did too little for the manual and practical training of the people of the country. This was with the result to foster the absurd prejudices that existed in Ireland, and almost exclusively in Ireland, against manual labor. A clerk in Limerick earning 12s or 14s a week would strut down George street with a cigarette iv his mouth, despising the honest tradesman who waa earning £2 a week. There were lots of people in this country who would rather go to the workhouse than earn their bread by honest labor, and it was this state of things that left the country as it was. Gentlemen aired themselves on starvation and respect* ability in Ireland, but when they went to America, Australia, or South Africa they had to take off their coats and work to earn their bread. There they contributed to the wealth of the oountry, and were not consuming 1 the fruits of the earth, as they were in their own country. In conclusion, his Lordship expressed the hope that one of the results of the new system would be to knock the nonsense out of people's heads, and that boys and girls would come to know that labor and work were honorable. LOUTH.-Alleged Libel on the High Sheriff.-it will be remembered (says the Dublin Evening Herald) that during the course of the late elections Mr. William O'Brien, M.P,, made several speeches in Cork, in which he alleged that the date for the North Louth election had been fixed by the High Sheriff in collusion with Mr. T. M. Healy and the Castle, for corrupt and improper purposes. We learn that the High Sheriff of Louth has issued and served a writ claiming £5000 damages against Mr. O'Brien for alleged libel on him in the discharge of his official duty. It is understood that Mr. T. L. O'Shaughnessy, Q.C., has been retained as counsel for the plaintiff. It is rumored that the High Sheriff is also contemplating proceedings against the Freeman's Journal for libel alleged to be contained in the report of Mr. O'Brien's speech and their comments thereon. MEATH.— Religious Bequests.— Before the Irish Lord Chief Justice and a special jury, the will of Mr. John O'Neill, of

Navan, baa been established. The dooument dealt with assets to the amount of over £14,000, and by it a large number of bequests are left to Catholic institutions and persons, including a trust to bis Holiness the Pope for the benefit of foreign missions. MONAQHAN-The New Member for North Monaghan". —The vaoanoy in North Monaghan, caused by the death of Mr' MoAleeee, has been filled by the election of Dr. Thompson. The dootor has made his profession of political faith, in whioh he clearly asserts his adhesion to the National program me. and the party pledge has been signed by him. He should prove to be a valuable and ablo acquisition to the ranks of the Irish Parliamentary Party. Dr. Thompson, who is a Protestant, has been till lately a Conservative in politics. He is a man of somewhat independent thought, and not finding himself always able to subscribe to the doctrines and principles of his party, became accustomed to take his own line, and from that his development as a Nationalist was not a difficult nor a lengthy process. In the North of Ireland he is very popular wih Catholics and Nationalists. Dr. Thompson stood as a Nationalist for South Tyrone at the last election, and went within an ace of Mr. T. W. Russell — a faot which has given him a further olaim on the sympathies of the Ulßter Nationalists. TIPPERARY — A Famous Shot Thrower —Mr. Denis Horgan, the famous shot thrower, and the champion of the world, returned to Ireland from the United States just before Christmas, after winning all before him, and bringing back the medal entitling him to the championship. During a chat, he said his first match was on the 15th September, when Richard Sheldon, of the New York Athletio Club, and W. Cole, of Boston, competed, and Horgan defeated them by putting the shot 46ft l£in, which won the prize for him, for which he went specially to America. Three weeks afterwards he put the shot 48ft 2Jin, beating his own world's reoord by half an inch. Horgan subsequently threw the shot on the grounds of the Athletio Club, New York, 50ft lOin, which is a great performance. GENERAL. A Severe Storm. — A destructive storm passed over the United Kingdom during the last week in December, its effects being severely felt in all parts of Ireland. Not for some years had such damage been done to property in Belfast as on this occasion. The risk to life by being abroad was considerable, and in several cases persons sustained injuries of a more or less serious nature. The ambulance was frequently called out, and at the Royal Hospital the medical staff were busy for a time treating people for injuries. The reports from Armagh, Carrickfergus, Lisburn, Newry, Enniskillen, go to show that considerable damage was done both in the towns and the surrounding districts. Several houses were destroyed or unroofed, Many farmers were Bevere sufferers, as their corn and hay stacks were blown down and scattered broadcast over the country. The Church of the Sacred Heart, Omagh, was injured, the cross on the front of the sacred edifice having been smashed. In Dublin the wind blew with Buch velocity that it was difficult to walk along the streets. Several houses were unroofed, and many persons were seriously injured by falling slates, corrugated iron, and trees. While Mr. J. J. Molloy, J.P., waa walking down the avenue of Richmond Lunatic Asylum, where he had attended a meeting of the governors, on his way to the meeting of the county council at Kilmainham, he was thrown to the ground by the violence of the gale, and was severely injured, one of his shoulders being dislocated. A Catholic University for Ireland —in a recent issue The Pilot, an Anglican Church paper, makes a manly stand on behalf of Ireland's demand for a Catholic University. It says : — ' If the Government are wise they will take advantage of theii renewed majority to remove an Irish grievance with which it is fully in their power to deal. . . . Neither principle nor economy places any difficulty in the way of giving Irish Roman Catholics — the great majority, that is to say, of the people of Ireland— the University whioh an Irish Parliament would at once set up. Archbishop Walsh's latest utteranoe on this subject is as moderate and reasonable as it can well be. And Mr. Balfour's triumphant re-election at Manchester, in the teeth of the Protestant party, shows how groundless, as well as how unworthy is the timidity which prevents a section of the Cabinet from doing an act of equal justice and wisdom.'