Irish News

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 28, 9 July 1903, Page 9

Irish News

ANTRIM.— A Generous Offer extraordinarily generous offer has been made by the Most Rev. Dr. Henry, Bishop of Down and Connor to the Belfast Board of Guardians. The Guardians have been casting about for some means for dealing with consumptives, outside the workhouse buildings and the Bishop proposes to give them a site, free of rent, at a place called Orlanda, near Carrickfergus. This place consisting of a mansion and a huiuUed acres of land' was purchased by him some years, ago, one of his objects being to affoid facilities for the open-air treatment of consumption. Belfast Bigotry The latest manifestations of Belfast bigotry is found in the fact that the Belfast Board of Guard4ans has re' fused to allow outside nurses the opportunity of acquiring a training in the Union Fever Hospital similar to the opportunity given to them at the Maternity Hospital In Belflast. Mr. O'Hare, one of the Catholic Guardians, brought forward a proposition that the Belfast Board with the approval of the Medical Council, admit outside nurses to receive training in the Union Hospital, but the motion was rejected because the Orangemen feared that if it were passed Catholic nurses, as well as others, would enjoy the privilege 1 Fire in Belfast A big fire occurred -in Belfast on Sunday night, May 17 The conflagration was one of the most disastrous that has occurred in Belfast for a long time, and completely gutted the chemical stores of Sir James Haslett, doing considerable damage also to the boot stores of R. and J. Dick. The damage was estimated at £25,000, fully covered by insurance. Two firemen were injured, but neither seriously. Eleven years ago a bad outbreak of fire occurred in the same premise®. CLARE.— A Vote of Censure Mr. William Redmond, M.P., writing to the chairman of the Urban Council at Ennis with regard to the censure passed on him by the publicans of Ennis on account of his having voted lately for the Early Closing Bill and against a Liquor Compensation Bill in the House of Commons, says that he regrets to find himself out of agreement with some of his constituents over the matter. He has many friends all over the country in the licensed trade, upright and honorable men, to whom he wishes to do no injustice At the same time, he has become convinced that certain legislation is desirable in the interests of the country, and if the resolution condemning him for having supported the Saturday Early Closing Bill should prove to be the opinion of his constituents at large, he can only accept the verdict when the time comes. CORK.— The Exhibition The Lord-Lieutenant was to open the Greater Cork International Exhibition on May 28. The exhibition is on a larger scale than last year, and the exposition of Iriah arts, manufactures, scientific and agricultural education promises to be most extensi\e and varied. One important, if not the most important, section of thr exhibition, is that allotted to agriculture. This department occupies a site comprising several acres, with experimental plots and buildings. Demonstrations will be carried on daily, and should prove one of the principal attractions DONEGAL.— A Centenarian Mr. William Stuait, who died recently at Gortley, near Lotterkcnnv, in the County Donegal, 'at the age of 120, easily heads this year's list of departed Irish centenarians. When a boy he is said to ha\e seen Admiral Warren's battleships in Lough Swillv in 1798, after they had defeated and captuied a hostile French squadron, with which was Wolfe Tone He also attended the ceremonies held in honor of the 12th centenary of St Columbkille, and was present at the 13th centenary held a few years ago The Carpet IndustryIt is pleasant to loam on the authority of ' New Ireland ' that the Donegal carpet industry is making wonderful progress, and that a market exists for the carpets as they ait* made. The director of one of the largest London establishments says : ' I think carpetmaking is one of the best rural industries that Ireland could have. It is absolutely an assured success as an industry, and the appreciation of the peasant workers' skill and the. demand for the carpets are growing every day as far as we are conerned. We sell them as fast as we get them from Donegal.' DOWN.— Damage by Fire Damage amounting to between £4000 and £5000 was caused at Walker's Mills, Newry, by a fire about the middle of May. DUBLlN.— lmproved Outlook Like the ' Freeman's Journal ' Company, Bolands, Limited, was on the down grade when Mr. Thomas Sexton was induced to accept the post of chairman of directors, and now, thanks to his financial ability, the comppaiy is on the hig>h. roa(d to prosperity. At the annual meeting some remarkable figures were given by the chairman showing the money market estimate of the improved position. The ordinary shares have ap-

£™ t?«^ f alue £85 U'oooU ' 000 as compared with two years vf hip «nH P /h e et T^ e . Shares have increased £45,000 in SluSnn T? e^ ntUres £15,000- a total appreciation ?L +~+ 'i°°oi °°0- however, with profits accruing equal to fSniifw °t5 * he , previo , us y^r this appreciation is in-{?-S^»S2g f r P SffiS. y6ani has thfi comi>any *•» A Meeting Disturbed rt,-Qtnihon!i ria! J eekly ''.. Writin & with reference to the disturbance at the meeting in the Rotunda on behalf of whin? 1 ? Parl^ a ™ entar y Fund, exaggerated accounts of which were cabled out to the coloniei, says : Allegations have been made that the Gaelic League was a faSor T cuAibUK the dibtuibauce, another libel on that organisation which we are glad to see has been promptly repudiated from headquarters. Mr. Redmond has made a statement m reference to the aßair which B hould commend itself to the critics. After pointing out the cross ho a ffv« atl '°™ "* u £<* in by newspaper correspondents! he says Ihe disturbances would have been easily nipl ped in the bud were it not that the people ra&uraJE shrank from using force to remove Mrs Maud l Gonne Mcßride and some other ladies. 1 The entourage of Mrs Mcßride consisting of some thirty or forty young men! Mr Redmond regrets, received ro,'ugh treatment, as was natural in the circumstance's, but the subsequent proceedings were unanimous and enthusiastic, and Lord Mayor Harrington received an ovation when entering the street after the meeting had terminated. The Press Association recalls that Mr. Edward Martyn, who was the principal supporter of Mrs. Mcßride in interrupting Mr. Redmond's meeting, is a member of the Kildarf Street Conservative Club, and was chairman of Mr Horace Plunkett's election committee when that gentle man was defeated by Colonel Lynch. The agency also declares that no one was really hurt, Mr. J. O'Donnell M.P., only receiving a scratch. vnm,u, Study of Irish History An important lecture was delivered by Dr Keno Meyer in the Dublin Rotunda the other day on • The Necessity of a School for Irish History, Philology, and Literature. Dr. Douglas Hyde, the head of the Gaelic League, presided over a very large attendance, and Dr. Meyer delivered an important address, touching upon the Gaelic revival and its beneficial effects, and advocating as a matter of national concern the provision of some means whereby the wealth of existing Irish, manuscripts might be preserved, studied, and made available Tor general popular knowledge. Dr. Meyer offered to Rive practical help in the inauguration of a movement tor the study of Irish manuscripts, if the Gaelic League or any other organisation, would take the necessary steps to provide for him a room, a black board and a. tew students. Dr. Hyde thanked Dr. Meyer for his lecture and his practical interest in the scheme, which will no doubt be proceeded with. LIMERICK.— Death of a Priest On May 16 there passed away at Castleconnell the popular pastor of the parish, Rev. Father B. Scanlan The deceased was in his seventieth year. Champion Dancer Limerick having eairied off the principal prizes in the dancing competitions nt the Oireachtas, it is of interest to note that one of the competitors , has long been looked on as the champion step dancer of Hreland. That is Mr. Joseph Halpin, who, with his little daughter, Teresa, shared the honors of this year's Oireachtas competitions Mr. Halpin holds a unique record, as does his daughter He distinguished himself at Jones's Road on more than one occasion by carrying of! the championship of Ireland in step-dancing, as the result of which he was presented with a massive gold medal. He likewise was declared champion at several competitions at Cork and in other parts of the country. In fact, during the past ten or twel\e years, during which period he took part in dancing contests, he never failed to come first As a result he is the possessor of no less than 400 prizes, of which over 40 are gold medals. His daughter, who is not yet nino yeais old, is the holder of close on 20 Oireachtas prizes, and added to her laurels this year by taking first place in the hornpipe contest. ROSCOMMON.— The Viceroy at Home The Lord-Lieutenant has set an example to future Viceroys which will probably embarrass some of them. He is actually residing in Ireland constantly. This is what a Viceroy should do The Indian and" Canadian Viceroys remain in their respecthe countries during all their terms of office, unless perhaps for an occasional holiday, if the term be prolonged over a number of years But of late Irish Lords-Lieutenant have resided but little in lieland, daiting back and forward now and then when some formal occasion required their presence Lord Dudley has taken Rockingham Casitle, Boylo as a summer residence, ahd is entertaining there thie Duke and Duchess of Connaught, who have gone down for the Boyle Races. His Excellency was presented with an address by the magistrates of Roscommon, headed by Tho O'Conor Don, who. in presenting- the address, assured the Lord-Lieutenant that he had not met with a single refusal on the part of any magistrate of any political party who was asked to sign the address. WEXFORD.— Death of a Franciscan The death is reported of the Rev. .J. O'Neill, 0.5. F., who passed away at the Franciscan Convent, Wexford' after- a short illness. Father O'Neill had only been stationed in Wexford 1 for the past twelve months ; never-

theless he was a great favorite, and his demise is greatly deplored. He was a great scholar, and could speak no less than seven different languages fluently. During his time Father O'Neill had been stationed in nearly all the Franciscan centres throughout the country, where his death will be learned with unfeigned, regret. GENERAL The Gaelic League Dr. Douglas Hyde has been unanimously re-elected President of the Gaelic League, and the Rev. P. O'Leary and Mr. John MacNeill vice-presidents. A Vital Clause _ A cable message received last weoic states that the Irish Parliamentary Party is delighted with Mr. Wyndham's amendment to the Land Bill exempting nonJudicial tenants from the limitation of ' the zone ' system, and leaving liberty to judicial tenants to bargain with their landlords either with or without that system. Mr. J. E. Redmond declares that the concession has saved the Bill, there being no vitally-contentious points left. The progress of the Bill is very slow. A resolution to empower the Commissioners to arrange for the restoration of evicted tenants, moved by Mr. W. O'Brien, was withdrawn after some discussion. Mr. Wyndham declined to give a peremptory direction to the Commissioners, but allowed them a wide discretion in regard to reinstating and providing capital to restock. Employment Bureau The Gaelic League of London has started an employment Bureau with the object of enabling Irish people at present residing in London to find employment in Ireland should they desire to leturn there, which it is found that many wish to do, but having once left are not able to arrange to get back to their own land No charge is made except postage, for which sixpence is charged. The bureau is already in touch with Irish employers. Advance in Temperance The annual report of tho Dublin Total Abstinence Society, a non-sectarian body Jn which all creeds combine to combat the drink evil, saj s that there has been a great ad\ance in temperance during the past year. This it attributes to ' the action of the Catholic societies throughout the country and the spirit in which tho Anti-Treating League has been received.' This is pleasant reading for the founders of the League and for tons of thousands who pin their faith to it as a most powerful factor m the work of making Ireland sober and Ireland free. Gaelic at Oxford Students of many nationalities and of \aricri speech have found shelter \\ithin the v\alls of Oxford in tho course of the I nnersity'.s histoiv The Irish language, howe\er. had probably never been heaid in a public speech at a Innersity Society's dinner until a few weeks ago On that occasion the Neuman Society, comprising all the Catholic undei graduates, entertained a number of guests, including the Duke of Norfolk, tho Bishop of Birmingham, Lord Fdinund Talbot, M P , Mr. J. P. Boland, Ml' , and Mr Uilane Belloc Replying- to the toast of the Newman Society, of which he was formerly a piesident, Mr Boland startled the gathering b\ concluding his speech in Irish, expressing the hope that when the Catholics of Ireland had obtained the same facilities for unnersity education that the more foitunate English. Catholic had obtained a feature of the Irish student lile v,ould be the use of heland's language A Contrast Mr. Balfour, in a letter to Lord Kilmamo, who challenged the accuiacy of his .statement that Irish landlords, unlike English landlords, have not, as a rule, expended a shilling on iniprcn eimnts on the holdings of their tenants, lesolutely adheies to his judgment, and concludes thus . — ' If on futuie consideration you .still differ from me, and, 1 inav add. lrom every Commission which has c\er reported on Irish land, I would gladly examine any facts von may wish to bring to my notice ' When Lord Kilmain's letter Mas published the * Freeman's Journal ' leproduced a passage from the Devon Commission repot t nhich supported Mr Balfour's statement, and similar passages could without difficulty be produced, to use Mr Balfour's words, ' from every Commission which has ever reported on Irish land' Here is a striking- piece of evidence, given before a Select Committee to m\estigate the relations existing bet wot* n landlord and tenant in Ireland appointed in 1825. Sir Franklin Lewis, an English landlord, who was also proprietor of estates in Ireland, said — ' Tn the maintenance of a farm in England all the expensive part of the capital employed upon a farm is proMded by the landlord ; the houses, the gates, the fences, and the djrains are all provided by the landlords Everybody knows that in Ireland that is not the practice At the fiame time everybody knows that the landlord obtains in rent in Ireland a much larger propoition of the value of the produce of the land than he obtains in England ; and in parts of Ireland it appears to me that tbp landlord sometimes obtains for rent more than is produced by the land.'