INTERCOLONIAL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIX, Issue 12, 21 March 1901, Page 7

INTERCOLONIAL.

In the election for the Temora Hospital oommittee the other day, the Very Rev. Father Fallon headed the poll with 75 votes. Alderman Michael Real, a brother of Mr. Justice Real, has been elected Mayor of Ipswich. The Rev, Father Hogan, Forest Lodge, has succeeded the late Father M'Glone in charge of the Lithgow parish. The Very Rev. J. Ryan, 8.J.. Hector of St. Aavierß, Kew, and former Rector of St. Ignatius's College. Riverview, has been appointed Superior of the Jesuit Mission in Australia. The appointment, whioh waß made by the General of the Society, comes from Borne. The Rome correspondent of the Iruli Catholic states that it is generally believed in the Eternal City that the Holy Father has approved the nomination of the Right Rev. Monsignor Kelly, Rector of the Irish College, as Coadjutor to his Eminence Cardinal Moran, Arohbishop of Sydney. Talking of churohes reminds me (writes a Melbourne correspondent) that the fine church under the invocation ef St. John, East Melbourne, is now receiving its finishing touches. Two leading features in the design of this pretty church are of special interest — its Irish Round Tower (the only one in the colony) and Celtic Cross of New Zealand Oamaru stone elegantly carved. The latter is inserted in the facade, and its arms enclose the main lights. The new church will be solemnly blessed and opened on Ireland's Patron Saint's Day. Lord Hopetoun has submitted the following programme for the Duke and Duchess of York's movements for Mr. Chamberlain's approval: — Arrive in Melbourne on May 6 ; open Parliament on the 9th ; leave on the 17th ; arrive at Brisbane on the 20th ; leave on the 25th ; arrive at Sydney on the 27th ; leave on June 8 ; arrive in New Zealand on the 12th, and leave on the 28th ; arrive at Hobart on July 1, and leave on the 6th ; arrive at Adelaide on the 9th, and leave on the 15th ; arrive at Perth on the 19th, and leave Australia on July 24. The Melbourne Argut of a recent date has the following paragraph concerning a son of the Hon. N. Fitzgerald, K.S.G., M.L.C. : — ' Captain P. D. Fitzgerald, of the 11th Hussars, who distinguished himself at Ladysmith, recently returned to London wounded. He went to South Africa from India on special service before war was declared. Captain Fitzgerald served as adjutant for six months in the Imperial Light Horse, and then joined the staff of the Earl of Dundonald. He has been twice recommended for the Victoria Cross for two separate deeds of gallantry, once at Lombard's Kop and again at Wagon Hill, Ladysmith, on that memorable day when the garrison was hard pressed and was saved by the Devons. Captain Fitzgerald on this occasion rallied the troops at the moment the Boers pußhed home the attack, and of the officers engaged 15 out of 21 were killed or wounded he being among the latter.' The death is reported of the Rev. Father Casey, pastor of Bourke, New South Wales, who passed away at the early age of 33 years. Father Casey was born in the parish of Carna, in the County of Galway, on the Feast of St. Columba, in the year 1868, and on the same day he was baptised and called Colme, or Colman, after that great Irish paint, and Jarlath, after the patron saint of his native diocese. Evincing at an early age a Btrong inclination for the priestly life, he entered the diocesan seminary, St. Jarlath's College, Tuam. Having finished his early training he resolved to labor for God and his holy religion in a foreign land. With this end in view he entered the Ecclesiastical College of Carlow, and commenced there his philosophical studies. Just at this time Dr. Dunne, the zealous bishop of the newly-formed diocese of Wiloannia, was looking for volunteers for this new and difficult mission. The young student offered himself, and was joyfully accepted. His course at Carlow was short, but most successful. He was ordained in Carlow Cathedral in June, 1892, and arrived in Australia in October of the same year. On Sunday, February 17, at All Hallows' Convent, Brisbane, there passed away, at the age of 84 years, Rev. Mother Mary Elizabeth. A peculiar interest was attached to the life of the deceased nun, owing to the fact that she was one of the company of Sisters of Mercy who went through the Crimean War in 1854-6, oaring for and tending the sick and wounded British troops. Mother Mary Elizabeth was a member of a very old English family named Hercy, of Berkshire, and a sister of Major-General Francis Hercy, who is still living. The late Sister took the black veil at Baggott street, Dublin, in 1845. Going with the Sisters of Mercy to the Crimea, she remained there, from 1854 to 1856, being associated with all the good work done by the worthy Sisters. Ten years later, 1866, she arrived in Queensland, where she had remained almost ever since. Mother Mary Elizabeth was 8 1 years of age on the 20th January last, so that she was actually in her 85th year when she died, the cause of death being a general breaking up of the system from age. On the occasion of the Queen's Jubilee in 1897 it was decided to decorate all the nurses then living who had been at the Crimea, and the late Sister was one of five who were then living, three being at the Bermondsey Convent, London, and the other at Gort Convent, County Galway, Ireland. All the others, excepting Sister Mary Elizabeth, attended at Windsor on this occasion ; but for a time there was some doubt in the minds of the authorities in England whether she still survived. The Sisters were decorated with the decoration of the Royal Red Cross, and Sister Mary Elizabeth's Order was sent to her brother, General Hercy, to be forwarded to her.