INTERCOLONIAL

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIII, Issue 25, 22 June 1905, Page 31

INTERCOLONIAL

Queensland's population reached 523,240 on March 31, an increase for the quarter of 1585. New South Wales old-age pensioners number 21,649, and the average amount paid to each was £23 18s. In Victoria last year the pensioners totalled 11,609, their average payment being £17 6s Bd. Among the many message's of congratulation received by the Right Rev. Dr. Higgins on his enthronement as Bishop of Ballarat was the following $rom his Lordship Bishop Verdon : ' Hearty congratulations, best wishes, ad multos annos.' ! Mr. W. H. K. Redmond, M.P., and Mrs. Redmond were elected life honorary members of the H.A.C.B. Society during thedr recent visit to West Australia. Mrs. Redmond was the recipient of a handbag, a purse, and a silver card case from the women's branch of the Society. The Very Rev. P. Treand, M.S.H. (Superior of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart and pastor of the Randwick district), is about to take his departure for France to attend the chapter meeting of the Order. Father Treand will prc-bably We absent about six months. The family of the late Hon. Thomas Dal ton purpose placing) a stained-glass window to his memory in St. Mary's Cathedral, to which in his lifetime he was such a generous benefactor. The window, we belief, will occupy the position abave the chapel of the Irish Saints, on the Epistle side of the sanctuary. Very Rev. Dean Phelan, of Melbourne, while at Rome during Easter, was received in both public and private audience by the Pope. His Holiness received him most graciously, and readily granted the various requests he made. The Dean, was very much impressed with the personality of the Sovereign Pontiff. While at Rome Dean Phelan celebrated Mass at the principal shrines, chief amongst them the crypt of St. Peter's, over the tomb of the Apostle, and in the Catacombs over the tomib of St. Caecilia, and also assisted at the Holy Father's Mass. In R,ome the glories of the ancient Church and the towering greatness of the modern arrest the mind at e\dry turn. The Dean is now in Ireland. We are proud of the triumphs of democracy amongst us (said his Eminence Cardinal Moran at the annual Communion breakfast of the Hibernian Society in Sydney), and I trust that those triumphs \\)ll go on every day completing their course until perfect democracy prevails amongst us. But I say, what is the principle that underlies that democracy ? It is that the Government is to be a Government of the people, by the people, and for the people. And curely it is no act of di-loy-alty in Australia. On the contrary, when opportunity arises I am sure there is no people of any colony in the Empire more truly loyal at heart than our Australian people. And is it to be considered disloyal when the Irish representatives claim the same .privilege for Ireland — go \ eminent of the people, by the people, and for the people 7 They have declared that this is their aim, and they will be satisfied with nothing else, and I wish them, from my heart, Gods blessing to obtain that purpose. The members of the 11.A.C.8. Society, to the number of about 600, received Holy Communion at the 8 o'clock Mass in St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney, on Sunday, June 4. The annual breakfast was laid in the Cardinal's Hall, which was filled to its utmost capacity. The Cardinal, who presided , had on his right the Lord Mayor of Sydney, and on his left Mr. W. H. X Redmond, M.P. Among the others present were Right Re,Mpr. O'Haran, Brigadier-General Gordon, LieutenantColonel Freehill, Messrs. T. J. Dal ton, K.C.S G : Mr. J. Dwyer, Dr. G. Lane Mullins, and Mr. M. O'Riordan (Mayor of Alexandria). Mr. P. O'Loughlin (general secretary) read an apology from Mr. Justice O'Connor (Federal High Court), whose duties had taken him out of Sydney, and who promised to 'be present if he reached Sydney in time. 'Apologies were also received from a number of the clergy whose duties precluded their presence. The address of his Eminence the Cardinal, while touching on evil tendencies, such as gambling, pernicious literature, and divorce, was largely devoted to a plea for the preservation of the Irish people in the cradle of their race by virtue of self-government'; and this was supplemented by a stirring; oration from Mr. W. H. K. Redmond, M.P.. and briefer practical speeches by Brigaidier-Gpneral Gordon, the Lord Mayor, Colonel Freehill, and others. The occasion was marked by the presentation of ?.n address to Mr. John M'FMhone, J.P., past district president of the H.A.C.B. Society, in graceful terms by Mr. Redmond.