General News.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IX, Issue 468, 31 March 1882, Page 20

General News.

if. Leon Taxil. editor of two journals, of Montpellier Le Midi Republicain and & Anticlerical, commenced the publication of an infamous romance, referring to Pius IX., which was denounced promptly as a tissue of calumnious falsehoods by the Union Nationale of Montpellier. Count Girolamo Mastai, a great nephew of the late Pontiff, brought an action for damages against Taxil, which has just r jsulted in the condemnation of the calumniator to pay the sum of 60,000 francs as damages to Count Mastai, who intends to devote this sum to tkj benefit of the charitable institution founded by the late Pontiff.

Speaking at Leicester the Rev. J. Page Hopps, referring to the situation in Ireland, says : — We are challenged to say what we would do. It is hardly a fair challenge. The physician prescribes only when he is called in. When they call us in we will prescribe (applause). I will tell you without being called in, and without any fee, what I would have done. I would not have imprisoned speakers, however obstructive. I would have hunted out and punished all actual crime I could have got at (applause). I would have fought the Land League in the Land Courts (applause), and not in the prison. If the bill has advantages they would have been speedily discovered, and no league in the world could have ultimately resisted the working of a beneficent Act. I would then have shut up Dublin Castle, with all its bad legacies of generations of traditional misrule (applause), and appointed a commission, composed of 6uch men as Sir Charles Dilke, the Bight Hon. James Stansfeld and Shaw-Lefevre, William Shaw, Jo«eph Cowen (applause), George Russell, Juitiu M'Carthy, and Herbert Gladstone, to convey information to the Government, and to act as an executive upon the information they supplied and the demands they made. I would do that even now ; and so bring the British Government into immediate contact with the Irish people, untainted by the pernicious spy systems and the suppression traditions of Dublin Castle. And now, having fired what will be probably be my last shot in this campaign, I sball ask Mr. Bylett to address you. Richard M. Jackson, the eon of an Ohio farmer, went from Stcubenville to Stuttgart, ten years ago, to complete his musical education, intending to become a professional pianist. Too constant practice brought on a partial paralysis of the nerves of his hands, and he was compelled to give up his project. J. S. Potter of Boston was then the American Consul at Stuttgart. He employed Jackson as a clerk in his office. Americans were exceedingly unpopular in that city, chiefly through the bad conduct of some American students in the Conservatory, who had recently snowballed the King of Wurtemberg as be walked in a public park, besides offering him other indignities on several occasions. But this feeling was gradually overcome, principally by Jackson's personal tact and popularity, and he become Vice-Consul. The King became his friend, and last summer invited him to become a member of the royal count of Wurtemberg. This court is not a highly resplendent body, yet the offer the young American, and he has become a German citizen to except it. He is now a baron, with an income from the public treasury, and nothing 10 do except to be companionable with the Kiog. Moreover he wins favors from visiting monarchs. The King of Hollandses knighted him, and so has the Bang of Saxony and the Empercr of Austria. Baron Jackson, as described by a writer in the Boston Herald, is abort, fat, and not handsome ; but his eyes " have a pleatant, winning expression that lights up his face and makes it almost fascinating to those with whom he is in contact."

An Italian colony has been established near Gainsville, in I Florida, for the cultivation of oranges and lemons on a large scale. The Lord Lieutenant has reprieved the soldiers convicted at the ' the last Commission of murdering their comrade near the Curragh Camp, and sentenced by Judge Harrison to be hanged in the second week of Jan. Although their crime was one of brutal enornmity staining the name of British soldier, a name also sullied by the cowardly conduct of the dozen nvn who stood by and saw the poor young fellow kicked to death without lifting a hand to save him, we are not sorry that the tale of a human execution is spared to Dublin, penal servitude for life is the fate of the criminals. — Dublin, Freeman. On Sunday n:ght, Jan 22, the Archbishop of Cashel arrived in Watcrford on a visit to the Most Rev. Dr. Power, Bishop of Waterford and Lismore. A vast number of people met and gave a hearty wel•^ecne to the archbishop, who responded in a brief speech. Referring Wo the land question and emigration, his Grace said :— Let Let me say a few words about the land question. There was a great agitation, the object of which was to reduce the rackrents to an equitable level — to root the people of Ireland in the soil of Ireland and prevent emigration. I am opposed to emigration and I wish to see the people living on the Irish soil. There is no Teason why the Irishman should not live on Irish soil. There are ne people so fond of their native land as the Irish people. Why, then, do they go from their native land ? There is no reason why Irishmen should leave Ireland. You have a grand climate, a good soil, and everything that should be desired, and why is there such emigration as there is now going on ? It is said that there are only three hundred thousand Frenchmen out of France, and of these two hundred thousand come home to die. Irishmen love Ireland as well as Frenchmen love France, and yet our people are flying from Ireland. What is it that forces them to leave their native country? It is the condition of the land question. I believe there will be no peace or prosperity in the country so long as that question is unsettled Something has been done — the rental of Ireland has been reduced by five millions, and that sum has been taken oat of the pockets of the exactors of exorbitant rackrents and put into the pockets of the tenant-farmers, who have earned them by their labour and exertion?. A correspondent states that an ingenious contrivance for travelling in tbe air has just been patented by the Right Rev. Monsi^nor Capel and the Rev. A. de la Pauze. It consists of a light car of bamboo or tubing, covered with oiled silk or water-proofing, and having stretched above it on a mast, a level awning of oiled silk or coated canvass. This plane surface aids the buoyancy of the car by reason of its large surface pressiug on tbe air below. It can be inclined either upvvards or downwards at will so as to direct the rising or sinking of the vehicle. Stays extend from the mast to the end of the car, and carry bearing 3 on which are mounted universal joints, to which a fan or propeller is attached. These are drawn by motive power contained in the car, either in the form of electrioity or compressed air. The vessel is mounted on light wheels, and in order to start it, it ia run along the ground while the awning is inclined so as to gradually lift it into the air, while, on the other hand, in descending tbe awning is inclined in the opposite direction. — London Universe. The ninth annual congress of Catholics belonging to the northern districts of France has been a great success. The Balle Ozanam in which the meetings were held was splendidly decorated with the colors of the Holy Father, the archdiocese .of Cambrai and the city of Lille. Over the platform was the inscription : liutanrare omnia in Chriito capiti gloria membvisque concordia.] Monseigoeur Duquesnay, Archbishop of Cambrai presided, supported by Monseigneur Hautcceur, rector of the Catholic faculty of Lille, the Count de Caulaincourt, Professor Perm of Louvain, kc, ice. The Archbishop of Rouen sent a delegate ; and the room was crowded with priests religious, and Catholic laymen of note. Tha proceedings were characterized by great devotion and fervor, and afford another prooi that Catholicism in France has a bright future in store for it, not' withstanding the hypocrisy and blasphemous outrages of the enemies of God. At a recent meeting of the San Francisco Academy of Sciences i fine specimen of the desert land tortoise, captured at Cajon Pass, Sai Bernardino County, was shown, and Professor E. T. Cox relatec some curious circumstances in connection with it. This tortoise which is as large as a good-sized bucket, is a native of the arid region: of California and Arizona. On one being dissected it was found tha it carried on each side a membrane, attached to the inner portion o: the shell, in which was about a pint of clear water, the wholi amount being about a quart. Professor Cox was of opinioi that the water was derived from the secretions of tbe giant barrp cactus, on which the tortoise feeds. This cactus contains a grea deal of water. The tortoise is found in sections of the country,'wher< there is no water, and where there is no vegetation bu the cactus. A traveller suffering from thirst could, ii an emergency, supply himself with water by killing a tortoise. The] are highly prized by Mexicans, who make from them a delicious soup They are oftentimes attacked by foes, both for their wate and also for their flesh. They are overcome by th foxes and killed by being dragged for miles over tbe coantry at i pretty rapid pace. Mr. Redding afterwards stated that he was oi the Gallapagoß Islands in 1849, where heasisted in c? pturing 92 lam tortoises, varying in weight fiom 4301 b. to 6001 b. each. These the; brought to San Francisco where they sold them for more money thai the whole of the ship's cargo of lumber made. They were two month on board yet they neither ate nor drank anything, though food an< water were offered them. When killed, however, considerabl quantities of water were found in each of them. Th»y lived on th 0" nigtt lava rocks of the islands, where there are no springs or streams and the only dependence of animal life for water is necessarily upoi the irregular and uncertain rain showers. These were of a differen specious from the one shown. It was generally admitted that it woul be useful if the habits and peculiarities of these animals could t noted and some trustworthy information as to how they collect an secrete their water obtained. — Times.

Tbe Roman Correspondent of the Freeman's Journal, quoting DuranduB, give 3 the following as one of the reasons why the Pops does not use a pastoral staff. St. Peter sent his staff to Eusberias, first bishop of Treves, -which church still preserves that relb. H^nca the Pope uses the staff when in that diocese and never elsewhera, since having presented his staff to his inferior, he does not reclaim it. Amongst the many objects of interests at the Bazaar of St. Ann's School, says the Montreal True Witness, isona that wil[ bi coveted by hundreds and highly prized by the fortunate winner. We refer to an ancient Irish pike that has seen service in the gallant but unfortunate struggle for Irish independence in 1793. The Wviapoa one of no ordinary finish ;is made of polished steel ; has the regulation hook and side cutter, and is really, apirt from its value as an object of high historical worth, of considerable artistic skill. The owner obtained it from his grandfather, who fought in Ireland's glorious but unhappy cause in the d-trk days of the rebellion. It wa« brought to this country by the family, and kept as a sacred heirloom ever since. Brother Arnold is about the only man who cjuld have secured it from its possessor, and no worthier object could he found to apply its proceeds to than the St. Ann's School. No doubt the competition for the old Irish pike will be very keen. A public meeting was held in the Tempera ice Hall Sheffield on Thursday, January 19th, when the Rev. Harold Rjlett delivers 1 an address upan " The Policy of the Government in Ireland. " The chair was occupied by Mr. Ddlany. Dr. O'Meara proposed a isolation condemning the coerceive policy of the Government, and pledging those present to use every legitimate m ?ans to sacure tbe speeiy and immediate release of the imprisoned suspects. Mr. Bradley seconded the resolution. The Rev. Harold Rylett in an eloquent speech showed that the land for the people and Ireland for the Irish only meant that Ireland should be governed in Ireland by Ireland for the Irish, and that it did not necessarily mean the disintegration of the empire, and that England had no right whatever to rule Ireland at all, except by the full and free consent of the Irish people. The speaker then concluded a very able and eloquent address by explaining and defending the methods the Land League had used to secure the end they had in view, and strongly condemned the idea that tha League, or any branch of it, for one moment, ever arranged or countenanced a single act of violence or outrage. The lecturer was listened to by a highly appreciative andience, and, after the usual vote of thanks to the chairman and speakers the meeting terminated. A telegram from SwinforJ informs the world that a youag man has been arrested there under the Coercion Act, we presume, on a very novel charge under that legislative provision. It is that of illegal drilling. It is somewhat of a coincidence that a circular is i now being sent round this city pointing out that under the existing ' law great facilities are afforded for drilling, and arming and inviting men to come forward and join associations for this purpose. We want to know are the authorities aware of this document, and whether they are prepared to allow a section of the population to do what the bulk of the people are taught is illegal and punishable by law? We can fancy nothing more dangerous or more calculated to aggravate an already delicate position than the spectacle of one class being permitted to arm and practice military evolutions, while the police are hunting up arms all over the country. There cannot be two la/ra on ; this subject. Either it is illegal for civilians to drill and arm, or it 1 is not. On the Government rests tbe responsibility of keeping order, and offers of help of the kind now being made are most sinister.— Dublin Freeman. The Cork Herald! says :— " It i 3 stated that up to the present no will of Mr. Francis Wise, the distiller, who recently died in Cork, has been found, and in such an event his huge personal property will devolve in equal Bhares, one to Mr. Francis Wise Low, of Killshane, county Tipperary, and the other to the Gubbins family, as the issue of his deceased sisters, Mrs. Low and Mrs. Gubbins. Assuming that the case is one of intestacy, the freehold estates of the deceased would come to Mr. Low and Mr. Joseph Gubbins, of Killrush, county Limerick. Of course there is a tendency in the generality of instances to exaggerate the amount of the assets of a person like Mr. Wise ; but from what we learn — and we believe with fair accuracy — the capital will come up to £3 000,000 sterling. He i 3 said to have had an investment of £800,000 in the Government Funds, and a sum to his credit in the bank of £100,000. The interest of his i English funded property would be £2i,000 a year. Theu bis income from land and secuiiti»s in land so far back as 1870 was estimated at £30,000 a year. His holding in American securities, into which he ; bought in depressed times, were at least £200,000. Mr. Wise lived in an inexpensive and unostentatious manner, and while he was most generous during his lifetime to his relatives and friends, and also gave freely and often munificently to purposes connected with religion and '■ charity, the accumulation of his savings must have been enormous, i and it would, therefore, be no wonder that the state of his affairs will • prove that he was the wealthiest man in Ireland, and equalled in this respect by only a very few in England or Scotland." A Fa'riotic Irish lady, one of whose ancestors held a high position ' among ihe Volunteers of 1782, has visited the famous trysting place ! at Dungannon, an! has been a good deal disappointed. She eicepted l to find the historic old church, where the first Convention was held, l in such order, and with such memorials of the memorable gathering as befitted such a spot. But sic traiisit gloria mundi ! Not only did ' the lady look in vain for the memorial which she had been expecting l j to see, but she looked in vain even for the church ! It had long ago i j gone the way of all churches, having been demolished to make way I for a more modern one. But what caused her more surprise and s sorrow still was the fact that few of the inhabitants of Dungannon i knew anything of such a church. Few had even heard of it ; fewer , still that there Mere ever such people in the world as the Irish i Volunteers 1 This ia how the bistory of their own country in learned t by Irishmen. Happily, there is in the possession of one family in the I town an old picture of the church, from which photographs will, 3 perhaps, be allowed to be taken ; and by this means tbe people of the I present age will be able to form an idea of what the old building, the birthplace of Irish Independence, was like. — Dublin Freeman*