People We Hear About

New Zealand Tablet, 11 October 1906, Page 28

People We Hear About

James McNally, who has just died "in London, aged 109, had' been for years past most tenderly cared for. by the good nuns in whose charge he had been. .The late Sir Walter Buller left hds collection , of Maori curios, birds, etc.,- and. pictures of New- Zealand life to his, sons in" equal shares, requesting, tliem to retain this collection in the family, but if they should not wish to do so,- first to' offer the collection as a whole at a fair valuation to, the New, .Zealand Government, for the proposed ' National Maori Museum, and subject thereto that the first offer of the collection of birds should be made to -the Hon.-Walt-er Rothschild, ' who has in -his museum at Tring the finest collection of New Zealand birds.' •

The - Emperor of China, who has just entered on his. thirty-iifth year, has been nominal ruler of - the "Chinese Empire for upwards of thirty years, the .actual sovereign being the Dowager-Empress. The leading events of his reign have been the Boxer riots, his extraordinary edicts which would have revolutionised China, and the war between his Empire and Japan. Poor Emperor ; he is x now only a cipher in his own court, though he has seemed to tie .susceptible to European ideas, and ,may be more opinionated' than we imagine. ' '■-' l

On the 3rd of next month' General Sir William Butler will be 68 years of age. Having reached the age limit last year, he retired from active service, after 47 years in the army of conspicuous public ser- ' vice, both administrative and in the field. The story of what at the time was preactically his military martyrdom in South Africa is well known. He riot only foresaw the fighting strength of the Boers, but also mistrusted the capitalists of South Africa and all their ways and works. Finding himself in hopeless antagonism to the policy of- the Government and the High Commissioner, Sir William resigned. Before two years had elapsed, his rehabilitation in the opinion of the public was grudgingly confirmed by the Government. An anecdote which is characteristic of Irying's great generosity, as well as showing his quiet sense of humor : A widow of an old Lyceum servant applied to him for some sort of occupation about the theatre, whereby she might earn a living. Irving appealed to Loveday, his manager. ' There is absolutely no vacancy of any kind,' said Loveday. • Can't you 'give her a- job lo look after the theatre cats ? I think we've too many mice about, not to mention rats.' ' No,' said Loveday, ' there are two -women already on that job.' 'Hum, ha, let me see,' said Irving, reflectively, then suddenly brightening up with an idea : ' Very well, then, give her the job of looking after the two women who are looking after the cats.' The widow was at once engaged on the permanent staff of the theatre. On the 14th of next month the Right Rev Dr Murray, Bishop of Maitland, will celebrate the fortyfirst anniversary of his consecration. His Lordsnip was born in County Wicklow, on March 25, 1828 was ordained priest in 1851. He was consecrated Bishop of Maitland on . November 14, 1865, and arrived in Australia towards the end of the following year. When Dr. Murray took possession of his See there were 20 churches in the diocese, 12 or 14 schools receiving State aid, and one religious community There are now in the diocese 92 churches and ohap'els 46 priests, nearly 240 religions, 16 superior arid 3& primary schools, with 3600 pupils receiving Catholic education, and a Catholic population of 30,000. One of the advance sheets of the Year 'Book -for the current year, just issued, gives the occupations of the members of the present House of 'Representatives. It ■ shows that farmers or "runholders furnish more members than any; other plass of occupation There are 21 of these in the present House The occupations of the others are :— Barristers and solicitors 9 ; journalists, s*; secretary to V.M.C.A., 1- ; miningadvocate, 1 ; intrepreter, 1 ; lecturer, chemist , -and insurance manager, 1 each ; land brokers arid estate agents, 3 ; director of financial company, 3 • natiye agent, 1; grocers, booksellers, etc., 3; merchant . • iron merchant and timber merchant, 1 each ; > storekeepers ;2 ; .commission agents, etc., 3 ; tailor, shoemaker,- and draper, 1 each. . There are two members who come within the ■ comprehensive designation of millowner arid builder, engineer and mine manager ; one railway employee, one . blacksmith, one printer, and three contractors ; whilst eight members come under the heading- of •' Settlers, Gentlemen, etc.'