INTERCOLONIAL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 32, 7 August 1902, Page 7

INTERCOLONIAL.

The Hon. Tt. E. O'Connor, X C, has accepted honorary membership in the United Irish League of Australia.

A deputation of clergymen a few weeks ago urged the Premier of Queensland to make religious instruction a part of the education curriculum of the State schools. Mr Philp said a referendum would be taken on the subject.

The Rev. Father McCauley was recently entertained by members of the St. Arnaud brauch of the H.ACB. Society and the parishioners of the church, who presented him with a purse of 100 sovereigns and a testimonial. The presentation was made by Mr H. Kain, in the presence of a large gathering, including Mr P, Mcßride, M.L.A. The recipient has recently recovered from a long illness.

Amongst the honors conferred on Australians by his Holiness the Pope, is that of the Cross ' Pro Eccleaia et Pontifbe.' bestowed on Mra John Hughes, senr., ' Kincoppal,' Elizabeth Bay, in recognition of her servioes to the Church, to which she baa been one of the greatest benefactors in Xew South Wales. This honor has been greatly appreciated by Mrs Hughes' large circle of friends who know so well how truly the honor is deserved, for Mra Hughes' name is always to be found foremost in all charitable and good works.

Mr Arthur Griffith, M.P., writes thus in the oolumns of the Sydney Daily Telegraph -.—'The Rev. W. W. Rutledge, sppaking at the Orange demonstration on Sunday last, made by implication, the most damning charge that has ypt been formulated against the administration of our public service. He ia reported to have eaid, speaking on the subject of public service appointments : " He personally knew of the case of a Protestant who had temporarily left a billet and tried to get back. He was unsuccessful for a long time, bnt being wise in his day and generation, he joined the Roman Church, and before three months he was back at work. This instance might be multiplied by scores of otherß." Now, sir. this statement is either true or it's a lie. Personally, I don't believe it, but that is not the point. The statement has been publicly made, and ought to be investigated, for the public ought to know whether our Public Service Board does or does not practise this corruption. If Mr Rutledge will supply me with particulars of his alleged facts, I will undertake to get a select committee of Parliament to thoroughly Bift the matter. If he will not take this course the public may draw its own conclusions. It is a cheap and eaey course for any person desirous of stirring up sectarian hatreds to make irresponsible statements of this sort ; it wou'd be an interesting variation to spe one substantiated. This is straight talking, tays the Frccmaris Journal, and Mr Giiffith is to be congratulated on his challenge to the reverend gentleman. The challenge, up to the time of publication, is still unaccepted ; but the quickness with which the matter wan taken up by a fearless public man, and the offer of an investigation by a competent tribunal, ong*>t to stop a lot of this random sectarian statement from being made by gentlemen iv the Bey. Mr. RutledgeV position.

The funeral of Senior-Constable Guilfoyle, who was shot dead whilst attempting to arie^t coiners at Red fern, took place at Rookwood Cemetery. The cortege moved from the Prince Alfred Hospital, and the ehtcem iv which tbe late constable was held was evinced by the large attendance ai the funeral, wni< h was a very lengthy one, no 1- ss than 350 con&t^blea and officers of the Metropolitan Police Dim r;cts taking part. Tbe rank and file were formed up in the roadway leading to the Hospital moigue, while the hearse drawn by four hoibts wan taken into tbe Hospital ground, and stationed in frout of the morgue. About 50 m< u.ber.s of the H.A.C.B. Society, of which he was a mem' er, walked in the procession. Constable Denis Guilfoyle was born at Scariff, County Clare, in 1859, and wan therefore 43 years of age at the time of his death. In 1879 be emigrated to South Africa, where a wealthy uncle of his resided He remained there until 1884. After the death of one of his sisters he left (accompanied by a second sister) for New South Wales, where they arrived the same year. In November, 1885, he joined the New South Wales Police Force. After his marriage to Miss Rogers in 1887 he was transferred to Redfern, and had been attached to that station up to the time of his death. He was a practical Catholic, and highly estetmed by the members of the force aB well as by the general public. On one occasion during the first outbreak of plague Constable Guilfoyle conveyed a patient to the Sydney Hospital. The case turned out to be one of plague, and the constable with his patient wai despatched to the Quarantine Station, where he remained for the usual period of 14 days. Constable Guilfoyle had five brothers and three sisters. Thomas, the eldest, inherits the farm in County Clare, and his only surviving sister is married and is living in County Clare also. His other brothers are Michael Guilfoyle, who is doing 1 duty as a police constable at Cardiff, a buburb of Newcastle, and Patrick Guilfoyle is employed in the General Post Office ; the other two brothers are in Western Australia, where his third sister died, leaving a husband and two children to mourn her loss. Constable Guilfoyle had nine in family, five of whom died ; only recently two of them were buried. Three girls and one boy survive, the oldest girl being amongst them. His wife, who is in most delicate health, was just recovering from a severe illness. Naturally, she has been seriously affected by the news of the death of her husband, which was conveyed to her by the Rev. Father P. Power (of Redfern) shortly after the tragedy occurred. Only quite recently he insured his life for £200, which Mrs Guilfoyle has already received. The Government have also promised to make provision for the family, with whom the deepest sympaty is felt throughout Australia.