Irish News.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 8, 20 February 1902, Page 9

Irish News.

ANTRlM.— Shipbuilding. It is stated that the White Star Line is having built at Belfast a gigantic steamer for the mail and passenger service between Liverpool and New York. The new vessel, which will be propelled by twin screws, will be named Cedric For the New Zealand and Colonial service of the White Star Line three new twin-screw steamers are at the present time being built. CORK The Exhibition. Twelve foreign countries will be represented at the Cork Exhibition, so that it will be international in character as well as name, while of course preserving its Irish type. The applications for space, which is now about to be allotted, show that Irish exhibits will occupy the largest and most conspicuous part of the Exhibition, which it is hoped will result in an enormous stimulus to Irish industries and commerce. End of a Strike. In the secent big strike at Crosso and Blackwell's, Cork, the Rev. Father Thomas, 0.5. F.C., was appointed arbitrator, with the result that the dispute was settled amicably. Father Thomas is a brother of the Rev. Father P. Dowling, of Newtown, while another brother is the Master of Novices in the Capuchin Monastery, Cork. Freedom of the city. At the meeting of the Cork Corporation, on the motion of Councilor A. Roche, seconded by the High Sheriff, and supported by some halfdozen members, Mr. John Redmond was voted the freedom of the city in recognition of his successful labors in America. Death of a doctor. The citizens of Cork learned with much regret of the death of Dr. James Tracy. The deceased gentleman was a member of a well-known Cork family, and his demise, coming as it did at an early age, and cutting off a career that gave promise of a bright future, occasioned general sympathy. Socially and professionally he stood in high esteem, and this was amply proved by the large and representative attendance of both priests and people at the funeral. It may be added that the assemblage of priests supplied evidence also of the popularity of the deceased gentleman's brother, the Rev. Patrick Tracy, of the North Cathedral. Derry.— Presentation. Rev. Father James Hasson, pastor of Moville, has been the recipient of a presentation from the Catholic citizens of Derry, in which city he was formerly stationed. The High Sheriff of Derry presided at the function. Father Hasson received an address and a purse containing 400 sovereigns. Gift to a church. It is learned that an offer has been made by Mr. Diamond, J L., Milford, to Rev. Father M'Guigan, parish priest of Kilrea, County Derry, of a magnificent bell for the church in memory of the deceased parents of the donor. For the reception of the gift arrangements are being made to have a belfry erected on the church tower. Father M'Guigan has thanked Mr. Diamond on behalf of the congregation for his great generosity, as this was not the first or second valuable gift presented by Mr. Diamond to his native parish. DUBLlN.— Destructive fire. One of Dublin's finest general warehouses was totally destroyed by fire early in the morning of January 1. The wiping out of the premises of Todd, Burns, and Co. (says a Dublin

exchange) throws at least 500 people out of employment during a "slack ' season in a city where it is hard to lind work in the best of tunes — and the majority of them are respectable and deserving young men and women from the South and West of Ireland, for ' Todd's ' v <is one of the most liberal houses m Dublin, as it was one of the oldest and most important. New premises will be built, and the company will survive. The Parnell monument. The woik of modelling the Parnell monument has been delmitoly placed in the hands of Mr. Augustus St. Gaudens, of Boston, who lias bound himself to complete the monument in live years. The design, which is almost iinished, will be submitted m a short time to the committee in Dublin. The monument is to be of heroic proportions, and will cost from $40,000 to $50,000, of which sum close on $30,000 has already been subscribed. LIMERICK. Mr. Stephen J. Glynn, district superintendent of the Great Southern and Western Railway at Tiuun, died recently in Dublin. He was a native of Limerick/ and for a long period was connected with the Wate'rford, Limerick, and Western Railway Company, part of the time as acting manager, with headquartei s at Sligo. When the amalgamation of the Waterford and Limerick line with the Great Southern and Western Company came into force at the beginning of last year he was made district superintendent at Tuu.ni, where he won the respect of the people by his upright and genial disposition. Jubilarian. Very Rev. Dean Busher, V.G., of Ferns, on Sunday, December 212, celebrated his golden jubilee. With, the exception of Father Doj le, pastor of Ramsgrange, who is the senior priest in the dioce.se of Ferns, and Father John J. Roche, O F.M., of Wexford, Dean Busher is the only priest in the diocese at present l'\mg who has attained the fiftieth anniversary of his ordination. A remarkable family. Apropos of the death of the Bishop of Sandhurst a correspondent supplies the following particulars to the 'Aye Maria' regarding the Crane family — In the year 1836, during the month of May, the Provincial of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate was invited to give a mission in the old chapel of the Augustinian Fathers in John's Lane, Dublin. The prior at that time was Father Martin Crane, U.S.A., who was taken to his eternal reward 'lately as Bishop of Sandhurst, Australia. Six Oblate Fathers were engaged in this mission for the space of six weeks At its close, with the sanction of Archbishop Cullen and the cordial assistance of the Augustinian Fathers, the iirst permanent mission of the Oblates was founded at Inchicore, near Dublin ; the sacred vessels, the altar furniture, and even the choir being lent for the occasion by Father Crane. A few years afterward the Oblates were invited to give a mission in a country parish in the County of Wexford, where the Crane family had been born and reared ; and the parish priest suggested one day that we should pay a visit to the widowed mother of this saintly family. On taking our departure that venerable lady approached me, and, whilst clasping the hand of her youngest son, said : ' Father, I have fciven' five 'of ,my sonsi to St. Augustine, but I would like to give this one to the Blessed Virgin. Will you have him ? ' In due time ho became an Oblate of Mary Immaculate — not, as stated, an Oblate of St. Charles. A few years subsequently Father Martin Crane was consecrated Bishop of Sandhurst, in Australia, where he labored with the utmost zeal, It pleased Almighty God to

afflict him with total blindness. Being unable to do anything for hiraself, his brother Father Nicholas Crane, 0.M.1., received permission from his superiors to devote himself entirely to the sick Bishop — a loving duty, which ho faithfully discharged until they were separated by death. It nniy be added that not only was the ojily sister of the devoted religious a Carmelite Nun (in New Ross,, County Wexford), but their eldest brother, Mr. John Crane, had the intent io^n of becoming an Augustinian.. lie was prevented from executing his pious resolve by the unfortunate bursting of a gun, his hand being so mutilitated that it would be impossible for him to officiate at the altar. But, as he once told me, if he could not become an Augustinian himself, he would at least foster the vocation of some of his children to that eminent Order, or according to their state, to some zealous communities of nuns . a resolution which Almighty God gave him the privilege of fulfilling. GENERAL. Mjgratory Laborers. It appears that 73.6 per cent, of the Irish migratory laborers in 1901 sought work in England, 20.1 per cent in Scotland, and 6.3 per cent. in Ireland. A comparison of the provinces shows that in Leinster of the 751 labourers, 237 sought employment in Great Britain, and 514 in Ireland. In Munster, of the 653laborers, 376 sought work in Great Britain and 277 merely migrated to some part of Ireland. In Ulster, of the 3010 laborers, 2617 sought work in Great Britain (257 in England, and 2360 in Scotland), and 393 sought employment in Ireland. In Connaught, of the 15,318 laborers, 15,264 sought work in Great Britain (1385 of these in Scotland, and 13,879 in England), and but 54 in Ireland. In the majority of cases the Irish migrant m England and Scotland has had a hard time of it, and the health of many of the young people is undermined by insufficient food and exposure to inclement weather wilhout the provision of a change of clothing. The general spirit amongst them is one of extreme thrift while in Great Britain, in order to save against a rainy day in the winter and the early spring. A Scotch employer tells of a lad working on his own farm who was brought to him one day in a faint. On inquiry he found that the young fellow had not had a proper meal for .several days, .:\eiy penny he earned being immediately dispatched to the old people in Alayo. These sidelights on the Irish laborer in Great Britain make one wish that an industry and self-sacrilicing spirit of such a kind could find their opportunities on Irish soil. A New Land Bill. It is confidently stated in wellmtormed circles in Dublin (says the London • Daily News '), that an Irish Land Bill is in preparation which provides an equivalent to compulsory purchase. The terms are said 1o be that the tenant is to buy at 17 years' purchase, and the fandlord to sell at 20 years' purchase, the State piovidmg for the payment of the three \ears difference. Death of a Dominican. The Rev. Joseph Dominick Slattery, O.P , died at Port Said, Trinidad, 'West Indies, in the beginning of December. The deceased clergyman was well known in Dublin, having been a member of the Dominican community at St. Saviour's, of which he was Prior for some time. Movement of population.

Mr. DaviU/s remark in Glasgow the other Sunday that there was no parallel in the history of the Christian nations for the steady and deadly drain of the population from Ireland, has its emphasis in the fol-

lowing statement from ' Facts and Figures about Ireland,' prepared by Dr. Grimshaw, the late Registrar for Ireland, in the course of his official duties in summarising the statistics of the country as the head of a Government department. ' The features,' wrote Dr. Grimshaw, ' which strike students ofj Irish statistics as most remarkable are those connected with the movement of the population. A people which, rightly or wrongly, has been considered to be one of the most prolific is found to be one of the most rapidly-diminish-ing in the world* so far, at feast, as regards the number of those who continue to reside • within the bounds of their ancestral limits. It is very probable, and, indeed, pretty certain, that the Irish element in the population of the world has increased to a proportion equal to that of any other ethnical element, and probably exceeded many ; but that increase has not taken place within the boundaries of Ireland.' Dr. Grimshaw in a foot note adds : ' According to the latest returns available, the Irish-born residents in the United States numbered 1,854,771 (of whom 198,595 were in New York) ; in Canada, 185,526 ; in the Australasian colonies as follows : New South Wales, 69,192 , Victoria, 85,307 t South Australia, 18,246 ; Queensland, 43,036 ; Western Australia, 2975 : Tasmania, 7192 ; New Zealand, 49,363.' Claim withdrawn. At the annual convention of tho Gaelic Association tit Thurles it was stated that Mr. Michael Davitt had generously withdrawn his claim of £450, loans made to the Association by that gentleman in connection with the Gaelic invasion of America. A resolution was passed expressive of gratitude to Mr. Davitt. and undertaking to refund the sum at the first available opportunity. Centenarians. The latest death of an Irish centenarian announced is that of Mrs. Quinn, who resided in the town of Ballymildoherty, County Down, and was upwards of 103 years of age. She was the mother of a large family, all of whom survive her, and she possessed a most retentive memory, being capable of recalling accurately many stirring events that occurred during the iirst half of the last century. She was able to superintend her household affairs up to a couple of days before her death. There is still living in Glasdrummond, County Monaphan, an old man named Henry Mines, who has completed his 107 th year At a recent meeting of the Castleblayney Board of Guardians it was stated that he had been in receipt of outdoor relief for a number of years, that the local dispensary doctor recommended the demolition of the house in which he lives on account of its dangerous condition, and that the old man refused to leave it as it was* his own property. The Hoard decided not to act on the doctor's recommendations unoer the circumstances . Deporting paupers. At a meeting of the Castlecomer Guardians, held recently, Mrs. Mary Fitzpatrick applied for outdoor relief. She said that her son was home from serving in South Africa, where he became sick from dysentery, and was a complete wreck. He had received no money since he came home, and she was obliged to seek outdoor relief. A warrant of removal was read from the Guardians of West Derby Union (Liverpool) deporting another soldier, named Joseph Doyle his wife and four children, to the Castlecomer Union, as- they had become destitute in that city. A third case, of a woman, with her child, whose husband was also out in South Africa, was also brought to the attention of the Guardians.