Irish News

New Zealand Tablet, 27 April 1911, Page 775

Irish News

ANTRlM—Poverty in Belfast Now and again we hear of the alleged prosperity of Belfast as compared with other parts of Ireland, but the speakers at a meeting of mission workers held on March; 2 had another tale to tell. Lady Whitla, who presided, ■ asked how was it that under the flag of England there should be such squalor, distress, misery, and sickening sights, such as they all knew were festering round them in the city. Rescue work, Lady Whitla continued, dealt with the result of sin, and she thought they should all try to cope with it, and bring home to the public the wretched conditions under which their poorer brothers and sisters* live. Let them try to picture the homes of the poomill workers when they return from their day’s toil. The ordeal she was afraid would be too much for the bravest of them. A great many people would not believe that such conditions existed in their midst, but she had personal knowledge of the fact. How could a woman look after her home and her daughters if she had to be out all day working to keep the family in food? The poor of Belfast were living under terrible conditions. The owners of prize cattle, dogs, or cats would not allow these animals to live under the conditions that were countenanced by the city fathers in this centre of civilisation. Mr. J. J. Bell, in the course of a review of the work done by the society, said if they were to remove the people from the slums ail creeds must unite in the work. There were many causes that drove girls to the slums. One was the dancing saloons, which were a curse in Belfast. Another great cause that drove the girls of Belfast to the streets and tne slums was the starvation wages paid for their work. He had come across cases were girls were paid at the. rates of 5s and 6.1 a week. Pie asked the employer of Belfast woukl os and 6d or 7s -a week keep their wives and daughters. , Many o'; these people who paid low wages were professing Christians. It pained him to say so, but nevertheless it was true. CORK— Christian Brothers’ Centenary At a large and representative gathering of the clergy and laity of Cork, held with the object of inaugurating in a worthy manner the celebration of the hundredth anniversary of' the establishment of the Christian Brothers Schools in the southern metropolis, much enthusiasm was displayed and a tribute was paid to the great teaching Order. Mr. Maurice Healy, M.P., said what the Christian Brothers had done was done without one penny -of State aid, and through the voluntary contributions of the poor. He sometimes read discusssions that took place between clergymen of other denominations, and he was always proud to see the handsome way in which they spoke of the teaching imparted by the, Christian Brothers. Very. Rev. Canon McNamara said the Christian Brothers performed noble work in a devoted and efficient manner. The priests’ work would be hard indeed only for the great assistance rendered by them. The Brothers always kept religion in the forefront. DERRY —Sanitation and Religion Derry Corporation met specially on March 1 to appoint a sanitary sub-officer at 30s a week, when a letter was received from an applicant, who reminded the Council that twice before he had applied to it for a similar position, having recommendations from the Assistant Executive Sanitary Officer in Dublin, and that the Council had then interviewed him to find out (presumably) if he were “ a proper sort of person to nose out the disease and dirtinfested spots of Derry,’ but that, instead, the Council * heatedly debated the nature, length, strength, and breadth , of his religions convictions, which were finally disapproved of,’ it being decided that he had not ‘ the proper theology for examining Derry dirt.’ M may apologetically explain,’ the writer went on, that when passing my examination I was not asked a single question on any theological subject. _ ... I must also apologise for my name being O’Brien, as I admit it is a poor recommendation in a city like Derry. . . . Should your Council see fit to appoint me this time, I can assure them 1 shall not indulge in the popular pastime of some Derry people —viz., religious mudslinging, nor shall I take any steps (of which intention I was apparently suspected before) to bring over the Pope and saddle him on Derry by virtue of my position of enormous power and influence of a Sanitary Sub-Officer. Neither would I endeavour to dethrone his Majesty King George in favor of the Stuart claimant, whose family, you rememberas is occasionally mentioned in Derry—knocked out at the Boyne. If elected, I shall entirely confine myself to the useful and humble work of clearing, out Derry’s drains, dirt, and disease, as a Sanitary Sub-Officer should.’ The Mayor said the letter was a very good one. It was decided to appoint Mr P. Rooney, Derry, to the vacancy. DUBLIN— A Venerable Christian Brother His numerous friends and admirers will learn with keen regret of the- death of Rev. Brother Swan, which took place in the O’Brien Institute, Fairview, Clontarf, Dublin, on March 5, in the seventy-seventh year of his age. Deceased* was born in Dublin, received his education in the celebrated O’Connell Schools, North Richmond street, and

at the age of sixteen entered the novitiate of the Christian Brothers’. Community, then situated at Mount Sion Waterford . Liverpool was the scene of his early $ labors as ‘’.a teacher, and in that great centre of industry, where so many of his fellow countrymen have made a home, ho toiled in season and out of season, day and night, until his health' gave way, and he was recalled to Dublin. He was appointed to the staff of his Alma Mater, and there he worked , for forty years, with 'great credit to himself and inestimable advantage to the thousands of Dublin boys who .passed, through the schools. Brother Swan, after so many years of labor in his native citv, was selected by his superiors to fill the position of President of Prior Park College, Bath, and for seven years he worked with great success in his new sphere of labor, until his health gave way and he was in consequence recalled to, Ireland. During the last seven years of his fruitful career, Brother Swan was President of the O’Brien Institute, Marino, Clontarf, where he found most congenial occupation in assisting the orphan and training him to become a worthy : member of the community in which his lot was cast in after, life. For sixty years lie devoted his ability and groat talent to the education of the young with marvellous success, and his popularity was not confined to his pupils, for his unfailing courtesy won him hosts of friends in all circles. DUBLlN— National Health Association y His Excellency Lord Aberdeen, who was the principal speaker at the annual Charter Day dinner of the Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin, - recently, in replying f to the toast or his health, referred to the work of the Women’s Rational Health Association, and said that.during a recent visit to h ranee Lady Aberdeen and he had an opportunity of visiting a, magnificent sanatorium which had recently been erected near Dunkirk entirely for the benefit of little sufferers from tuberculosis. It had developed from very humble efforts and from the experience of how efficacious such seaside treatment proved. They felt vqry envious at such generous arrangements, and in expressing that feeling the founder of the institution offered, to take in any lush childien that they might send at the cost of a shilling P® r day- , rh fy u - ere trying to evolve a scheme wherebv the u omen s National Health Association might take advantage of this offer and send batches of children under the charge of Irish nurses to Dunkirk, provided that the modest cost of their maintenance could be xaised. Their idea was that some arrangement should be made whereby the children could be conveyed by sea direct from Irish ports to Dunkirk; and the association hoped that the medical profession, and especially the surgeons of Ireland would be good enough to co-operate in making this proposal practical and in choosing such patients as would be most likely to benefit by it. GALWAY — Rector’s Tribute A public meeting has been held in the Town Hall, Galuav, v ith the object of taking steps to commemorate the approaching golden jubilee of Very Rev. Peter Dooley V.F. J aere was a large attendance which included, amongst other non-Catholics, the Rev. J. Fleetwood Berry, Protestant rector of the parish, who in commending the project, said that for twenty years he had known Father Dooley and had a v ays found him a kind, courageous, Christian gentleman. Ihey all rejoiced in that opportunity of showing their appreciation of his work and worth, and he gladly joined the committee appointed to carry out the object in view. The Holy Father’s Thanks > The Archbishop of Tuam has received a letter from the Pope, written in Ins own hand, thanking in the wannest terms his Grace and his faithful clergy and people for their generous offering of Peter’s Pence and most cordially bestowing on all who subscribed the Apostolic Benediction. LEITRIM—At the Heels of a Political Party The Rev. Mr. Orr, a Church of Ireland clergyman Drnmkeeran, Co Leitrim, in the Church of Ireland Gazette says that the Church of Ireland has allowed herself to be dragged at the heels of one particular political party. She has suffered herself to be used as a political agent by those who were thinking only of their own selfish interests. ' All liiipo au been , against her true development on spiritual fines. Things temporal have been mistaken for things eternal, with the natural result. Unless the Church of Ireland and the courage to shako herself free fr’om these accretions SV+W ' lGr - attention ,to her own proper functions, the light that is in her must become darkness. LIMERICK; — A Protestant’s Experience r At the 1 meeting of the Limerick .Corporation Mr. William Halhday was re-installed City High Sheriff for the ensuing year. . The Mayor (Councillor Ryan), who presided said the election .of , Mr- Halliday, who was a, Protestant’ uas a complete vindication of a democratic and Nationalist Corporation and proved that religious and political intolerance did not exist in Limerick, -and" when Home Rule came all would unite m the building up of the country for the benefit of every creed and class. The High Sheriff in reply, said that as reference was. made to Home Rule being very _ near, he desired, to say that he had read Mr Dtuition s (the Law Agent) speech the other day, and' was pround of his allusion to Protestants. He hoped his words would reach the ■ll art, l° the more, prejudiced members of the Pi otestant faith who were opposed to Home Rule. The action of that Corporation in electing him High Sheriff

proved that religious intolerance did not exist in Limerick, and that Protestants were welcome to take their part in the government of the country. That was his experience after forty-four years’ business experience with Catholics, who were always sympathetic and tolerant towards their Protestant fellow-countrymen. ■ ' ROSCOMMON—The Breaking-up of Grass Lands Replying to a letter from the Department of Agriculture pointing out that there was a decrease of over fifty thousand sheep in the County Roscommon last year as compared with the previous year, the County Council attributes the great diminution to the breaking up of grass lands, and the creation of small holdings. TIPPERARY—A Catholic Hall With the object of taking steps for the erection of a new Catholic hall and library in Roscrea, a meeting has been held under the chairmanship of the Yen. Archdeacon Stewart. A company, to be worked on the co-operative principle, has been formed for the purpose. Amongst the subscribers are Venerable Archdeacon Stewart, P.P., £SO; Count O’Byrne, £25; Mr. James Dwyer, J.P., £10; Mr. A. Houlihan, solicitor, £5. , GENERAL Public Appointments In a letter to the press dealing with the appointment of Commissioner Finucane’s successor, a Catholic nationalist points out that in the Land Commission a Catholic enjoys the relatively subordinate position of one of a tolerated minority. Take the Estates Commissioners. All of them are non-Catholic. The judge, secretary, and all chief officials are non-Catholic. There remain only in any position of importance on the Land Commission staff Mr. Justice Fitz Gerald and Mr. Commissioner Lynch, who, when he retires, as in the course of nature must soon occur, will not have a successor. The secretary assistant and all the chief clerks are non-Catholic. Of the assistant Commissioners two only are Catholic. Of the lay Commissioners not a sixth are Catholic. _ Of the Examiners of Title only a fifth are Catholic! This disparity may be an accident, but it looks suspiciously like a calculated system and a concerted move, and the same principle of exclusion of the creed of the majority pervades all the other departments. The Home Rule Bill Mr. Birrell, speaking at the Oxford Union on a motion in favor of Horae Rule for Ireland, which was carried by 81 votes, said that the Bill which the Government would introduce would possibly be on the lines of that of 1893, with some modifications made necessary by the changed circumstances. Estate Commissioner Mr. William Henry Stuart has been appointed an Estates Commissioner in the room of the Right Honorable Michael Finucane, C. 5.1., deceased. Mr. Michael F. Hogan has been appointed a chief land inspector in succession to Mr. Stuart. Mr. W. H. Stuart, the new Estates Commissioner, is a son of the late Mr. Henry Stuart, of Cloonamore, Ballaghaderrin, Co. Roscommon. He is a member of the Institute of Civil Engineers, and holds the silver medal, diploma, and first-class certificate of the Royal Agricultural Society. Mr. Stuart was appointed an Assistant Land Commissioner in 1900. He was appointed an Inspector to the Estates Commissioners in 1904, and promoted to be Chief Inspector in 1908. Mr. Michael Hogan, who was one of the most successful farmers in Co. Galway, was the Chairman of the Loughrea Board of Guardians. He joined the Land Commission in 1904 as Assistant Inspector,* and in 1906 he was promoted to be Inspector, and was placed on the permanent staff in 1909. He now becomes the Chief Inspector in succession to Mr. Stuart. University Scholarships The Most Rev. Dr. Foley, Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, in his Lenten Pastoral, refers to the duty laid upon county councils of providing scholarships by which distinguished pupils of intermediate schools may be enabled to avail themselves of the facilities for higher education which exist in the colleges of the recently established National University of Ireland. At a meeting of the South Tipperary County Council Father Pembroke, President, Rockwell College, attended, and addressed these present in favor of striking a rate for the scholarships. The scholarships, he said, should be given only to students of undoubted ability, and not through influence. There was, he thought, rather a tendency to suppose, now that they had a University ,that every student should get a University education. That was a great fallacy. If the scholarships were given too cheaply, or for only average ability, the number of B.A.’s in the country in a few years would be exceedingly great, and their would be no occupation for them. By giving scholarships only on merit, the country would be provided with a number of young men whose high attainments would be at the beck v and call of the nation when, as they all hoped, it would have the management of its own affairs in the very near future.