INTERCOLONIAL

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 38, 17 September 1903, Page 31

INTERCOLONIAL

Mr. Joseph Winter .(Melbourne ' Advocate ') and his brother, Mr. S. V. Winter (Melbourne ' Herald '), who have been on a health trip to China and Japan, have returned to Melbourne. The parishioners of North Fit/roy (Melbourne) recently presented the Rev. Father P. J. P'ltzgerald, who has been transferred to St. Mary's, Gcelong, wiih an illuminated address and a purse of 100 sovereigns. The Rev. Father T. Kenny, S.J., of St. Ignatius' College, Riverview, has been transferred to St. Patrick's College, East Melbourne, in place of the Very Rev. Father T. Keogh, S.J., who goes to St. Ignatius' College, Richmond. The Sydney papers announce that Miss Ada Crossley, who is coming to Australia, made it a condition of her engagement with Mr. Williamson that she should sing in St. Mary's Cathedral. She desires to redeem a promise she made Dean O'Hara before leaving Australia. The Rev. Father M. Ryan, who has been transferred from Woodend, Victoria, to Dandenong, was presented with a purse of sovereigns by the parishioners of Woodend on Wednesday evening, August 11 On the following evening he was entertained at a banquet by the people of East Trentham, where he was the recipient of another purse of sovereigns. He was also entertained at a farewell concert by the children attending the Trentham Catholic schools. The Very Rev. Father Fitzgerald, 0.F.M., who sailed for Europe recently, after 19 years' work on the Australian mission, left amid the universal regret of the whole Catholic community (says the ' Catholic Press '). Previous to his departure he was entertained at dinner by the suburban and metropolitan clergy, and he received an enthusiastic send-off and testimonoal from the eastern parishes in which he had chiefly labored, as well as one from the members of, the Wavearley branch of the A.H C. Guild. At the wharf bidding him farewell were hundreds of friends, whilst a specially chartered steamer, thronged with well-wishers went as far as the Heads to give him a parting cheer as the vessel proceeded out to sea. Irish Nationalism (writes a Tasmanian correspondent) has had a complete revival in Ilobart this year. A branch of the United Irish League was founded in February, and formed a strong and energetic committee, which succeeded in celebrating St. Patrick's Day by sports, after 11 years' cessation of any such, and resulted in £50 being sent to William O'Brien, M P., founder of the League, for distribution among pressing demands for relief of Irish evicted tenants, and £10 to the Orphanage in Ilobart. William O'Bnen distributed the £50 among tenants in exceptional distress : First, £10 on the Luggacurran Queen's County estate, £10 on the Clanncarde County Gal way Estate, £10 to the Maggerone County Louth Estate, £10 to the Coolgraney County Wexford estate, and £10 to the De Freyne County Roscommon estate, and sent an eloquent reply to Mr. M. M. Ryan, president of the Hobart League, describing the great effect messages like that fiom the Irish across the seas have in encouraging those at home in their battle for freedom The death of Monsignor O'Hea, of Coburg, Victoria, (says the ' Freeman's Journal ') was not unexpected ; for although he is said to have come of a family distinguished for longevity, the weight of his 8i) years had for some time been accentuated by failing health. The passing away of this venerable dignitary is another sad reminder that the ranks of the fine old pioneer band of priests are being rapidly thinned by the inexorable Reaper. Of the men who helped to build up the Church in Australia a couple of generations ago with the example of personalities which blended piety, simplicity, wisdom, and indomitable endurance, Monsignor O'Hea was a type. Born at Cork in April, 1814, he reached Melbourne in 1852, when the social elements of the country were mixed and rugged. For a time he ministered to these elements in their most emphatic form as chaplain at Pentridge penal establishment, but for the past 40 years had been identified as pastor with Coburg He brought to the ministry of Victoria just those qualities needed for the priest in a country where everything was in the making. As well as a priest he was an Irishman whose geniality, while it covered a commanding personality, made many friends even beyond his own denomination Ihs charity was in keeping with his character as priest and citizen, and will now evoke the reciprocal chanty of many prayers for his repose