PEOPLE WE HEAR ABOUT

New Zealand Tablet, 6 March 1919, Page 37

PEOPLE WE HEAR ABOUT

The Right Rev. T. Broderick, Titular Bishop of Pednelissus and first Vicar- Apostolic of ■■ Western Nigeria, a report of whose consecration appeared in the Irish News page of the Tablet issue of February 20, is a cousin of Mrs. J. Tavendale, jun., Kopua, Wan mate, and a nephew of Mr. Daniel Barry, of New Plymouth. " His Eminence Antonio Cardinal Vico, who spent most of his life in the diplomatic service of the Vatican, principally in South America, died recently. The funeral was held on December 16 in Rome. Sixteen Cardinals were present at the obsequies. His Eminence Cardinal Vannutelli performed the absolution of the body. Cardinal Vico, who was 71 years old, was Papal Nunciio to Lisbon at the time of the revolution. He was elevated to the Cardinalate on November 27, 1911. A cable message, under date London, February 17, announces the death in Paris of Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Mark Sykes, F.R.G.S., a Catholic member of the House of Commons. Sir Mark Sykes (of whom a portrait appeared in the Tablet issue of January 30) was the only son of the late Sir Tatton Sykes. He was educated at Beaumont, at Ecole des Jesuites, Monaco, Institut St. Louis, Brussels, and Jesus College, Cambridge. He served throughout the last South African war, , and in Mesopotamia and Palestine during the recent war. He was private secretary to Mr. Wyndham when Chief Secretary for Ireland in 1903. He had travelled extensively in the Turkish provinces of Asia; in 1905-6 was Honorary-Attache at Constantinople, and was the author of a number of books and articles treating of Eastern subjects. He had been member for Central Hull since 1911, and was again returned at the recent elections. Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the eminent Catholic statesman of Canada, whose death was announced by cable last week, was one of the master builders of Canada’s greatness; High Commissioner, Premier, and far-seeing statesman, to his energy and foresight is due much of the commercial prosperity and stability which she now enjoys. He had been Premier of Canada for 14 years consecutively a record un colonial Parliaments eclipsing even Mr. Seddon’s long administration. Sir Wilfrid Laurier, who was born at Quebec on November 20, 1841, was called to the Bar in 1864. In 1871 he entered Parliament and became Minister of Inland Revenue (1877) and Leader of the Liberal Party (1891). He was Premier of Canada from 1896 to 1911, being the first French Canadian to hold that post, and was then succeeded by Sir Robert Borden when the Conservative Party came into power. S/ir Wilfrid was a prominent figure at the Imperial Conferences of 1907 aud 1911. He was prominent in 1917 as an opponent of conscription, and in October of that year resigned his leadership of the Liberals. A Canadian writer, describing Sir Wilfrid Laurier, said:His clear eye, stately carriage, firmly-compressed lips, and general demeanor reveal the born leader of men, and in any gathering he would stand out in picturesque relief from those around him like a Saul among his fellows. His dignified and courtly bearing as he walks to his seat is that of the French Empire period. He looks every inch the type of a statesman and a leader

that appeals to the imagination of a people. His great strength as a. leader. lies in his personal charm of manner. Like the late Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, the Liberal Premier who preceded Mr. Asquith in office, between Sir Wilfrid and his followers' there subsist the most intimate relations. To see him flit from seat to seat for a quiet chat with some Liberal member is to discover! one source of his marvellous hold on the affections ,of the Liberal rank and file. When not engaged in debate or in conversation with his colleagues, Sir Wilfrid generally spends his time reading, the Bible and Shakespere’s plays , having a singular fascination for him. Like all great orators, Sir Wilfrid draws freely from the Bible for illustrations, and his speeches are replete with passages whose imagery suggests the sublime source of their inspiration. He stands in a class by himself as a Parliamentarian. His catholicity of outlook and abounding charity, his firm hand and clear eye, his ability to measure and to seize the psychological moment to press home the attack, as well as his consummate skill as a tactician, were never seen to greater advantage than during the recent naval controvery. There is no figure in public life in Canada to-day that stirs the imagination of the people as that of the Leader of the Opposition at Ottawa.