Irish News.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XV, Issue 28, 4 November 1887, Page 9

Irish News.

Antrim.— Monaignor Persico on Aagustß, accompanied by the Mo3t Rev. Dr. MacA lister, bishop of the diocese, and Mgr. Persico 's private secretary, Father Gualdi, visited a number of religious and other institutions in Belfast. He first visited the Earl street phools, from which he drove to the Convent of Mercy, Ciumlin, where be made an inspection of the National Schools, and was presented with an address from the children. He was also received at Ardoyne by the Passionist Pathers.and at a later hour he drove to StPatrick's Industrial School, Miltown ; was very highly pleased with the work being carried on the'-e, and in replying to an address from the boys expressed a bopp that very soon many such institutions might be in the country. The convent of the Sisters of Bon Seoour was visited, and afterwards in succession the Christian Brothers' Schools and the schools at the Convent of Mercy, Sussex Place. In the evening a large number of the pris3ts of the diocese met Mgr. Pt-rsico at dinner at the Bishop's residence, Chicbester Park. On August 7, the annual excursion of the Belfast branch of the Irish National Foresters' Association took place, the party proceeding for their day's outing to Portrush. When Portrush was" reached the Foresters were subjected to ruffianly attacks from Orange rowdies who had gathered from Coleraine and elsewhere. The police arrangements were wretched, and the excursionists were obliged to defend themselves as best they could from the brickbats and revolvers of their assailants. Several shots were fired, and it was alleged that in one instance a Forester dischared a shot. He was pointed out to the police, who took him mto custody. None of the Orange party were inr^Tered with by the police. On the homeward journey the trains weu attacked at several statious along the way and long before they reached Belfast, the doors and windows had beea completely shattered. The worst attacks were made at Bally money and Ballymena, particularly at the latter place, where a very large crowd of ruffians collected for the express purpose of firing at the excursionists At both places shots were fired at the attacking mobs, and it is stated that a man at Balleymoney waswounaed. At Ballymena a Protestant clergyman named Dowds was shot in the leg, and a boy in the employment of a Mr. Beattie also received a bullet. At Belfast the police arrangements were excellent ; but, notwithstanding, as the excursionists drove through York street on cars, stones were thrown at them from the corners of Little George's street and Henry street. Nothing, however, of a serious nature occurred. Armagh.— The tenants on the Ball estate in the townlands of Crossmaglen and Cullybaaa, have been granted an abatement of 20 per cent, on non-judicial, and 15 per cent, on judicial rents. The tenants adopted the Plan of Campaign early this year on the trustees refusing to give them a reduction, On the night of August 12, Patrick Gaitlan was released from Armagh Gaol on bail. Gaitlan has been tried three times — once for the murder and twice for the manslaughter of a young Orangeman named John Procter. The juries disagreed at all the tr'als, and it was under these circumstances that an application was made to and granted by the Court of Queen's Bencb to have the prisoner admitted to bail. Party feeling in connection with the case has been very high, and the authorities considered it necessary to have a party of police on duty in the vicinity of the gaol when the prisoner was leaving. The prisoner was taken out privately by a back door Had he come out by the front door he would probably have been lynched by the Orangemen. The bailsmen are George Loughran, Ballycrummy farmer, and James Mullan, Thomas street, Armagh, publican, both members of the Armagh branch of the National League. Carlow. — Carlow Lay College has been extended by the addition of a new wing, to form a separate school for young children. Bagnalstown Fair was held on August 8. The show of cattle was small, and buyers still fewer, the a me causes operating on this fair that have so materially and injuriously affected of late so many others throughout the length aud breadth of the country. CavA^.— The first meeting of the Clifferena branch of the League since the Jubilee Coercion Act, was held in the Parochial House on July 31, Luke Brady, V.P., in the chair. There was a full attendance of members, and a resolution was passed expressing their determina* tion to carry out in their district the programme of the Irish National League, in spite of coercion. Clabe. — According to the 'statement of Col. King-Harman, Under- Secretary for Ireland, in the Hon&e of Commons, the Bodyke evictions cost the civil authorities, £1 ,020 4s 9d. The cost of the military is not given. The amount of rent due was not quite £600. Cork. — The number of emigrants who left Queenatown during the week ended August 7 was 855. In the corresponding week of last year the number was 558. On August 7an interesting handball match was played at Midleton by the American champion and ex-champion, Casey of Brooklyn and M'Quaid, against Murphy and Leary of Cork. The spacious ball court was crowded with spectators "from Youghal, Cork, Queenstown, etc. The Americans won by five games to two. On August 9, at the Castlemartyr Petty Sessions, John B. Higgins wa3 summoned by Mr. Marshall, on the part of the Inland Revenue authorities, for having a revolver in his possession without a license. He was fined £2 10s and costs. A short time before Mr. Higgins was summoned by the police for having the same weapon in his possession in a proclaimed district and fined £2 and costs. On August 10, at an adjourned meeting of gentlemen and traders interested in the furtherance of the project for, establishing a woollen and tweed factory near Fermoy, it was stated that numerous promises of subscription had been received, and that the prospects of the proposed factory was most hopeful. The factory is to be erected on the site of Furlong's Flour Mills, recently destroyed by fire. On the Curass estate on August 9 three tenants named Patrick Murphy, Daniel Daly, and Daniel Daly, jr., were evicted. The last-

named resisted with barricaded doors, and poured tar and boiling water on the bailiffs. Colonel Turner, commanding the police, threatened to charge the mob, who were hooting aud jeering. Henry Barry, solicitor, the landlord's agent, was arrested for scone-th'-owing, but subsequently discharged. A big fire took place on Capell Island, in Yooghal Bay, on the night of August 10, being the second that has occurred this' summer, caused no doubt by the great heat which has dried up the long grass with which the place is covered. Tbe fire burned throughout; the entire night and afforded a fine sight from the new promenade of the sea wall at Youghal. Tne island is uninhabited, and must have been set on fire either purposely to get rid of the loDg dry grass or accidentally by some picnic party that had visited tbe place. At the meeting of the Cork Corporation on August 12 the Mayor.'on behalf of the Royal Humane Society, presented a medal awarded' to Mary Young Patterson, of Passage, aged 21 years, who risked her own life in saving that of Lillie Heffernan. The ladies were bathing at Glenbrook and Miss Heffernan was carried out into the current. She was drowning when Miss Pattersoi gallantly swam outanti, after a hard straggle, succeeded in biinging her safely to the shore. All the catile belonging to John T. Cramer (only a few days before the property ot Wn. .Murphy and his bro oner) disappeared suddenly from the lands of Ballinadenisk on August 3. The cattle were seized about a week before by the landlord (Mr. Cramer) for non-payment of rent. Murphy was under noiice of eviction and at the execution sale of the cattle they were all purchased by the !andlord. On tne disappearance of the cattle Mr. Ciamer immediately got a posse of police, in charge of Sergeant Brennan, and scoured the whole country for four days, but failed to find any trace of their whereabouts. Gaelic sports were held at Carrisrnavar on August 7 in presence of a large crowd of spectators. W. Conneli won the slinking of tbe of the 561bs. with the poor throw of 19fc. lOin. Tae 100 yds. handicap was won by J. J. M'Carthy, of Kinsale. The two-mile walk wag secured by Hennessy, the Gaelic champion for the last two years. The long jump fell to a rattling good man, J. Sheehan, with the fine' jump of 20ft. 3in. ; and he also secured the hop-step-andjamp, with 44ft. Bm. which on a ground as hard and unspringy as steel meant that on a good turf he would do 47ft. The 120jds. huddle handicap was won by Fitzgerald at Ballyclough. McSweeney, of Moume Abbey, won tbe mile in splendid style ; and Walsh, of Kinsale, secured the 220 yds. handicap in good form. O'Connor, of Ballyclough, won the high jump at the good height of sfc. Bin. On August 9 the bailiffs, accompanied by some policemen, proceeded to the townland of Duneen, about two miles to the south-west of Roscarberry, by the sea coast, the property of Rev. Jaspar Smyth, of New Zealand,,to carry out evictions against seven tenants for nonpayment of rent. Five of the tenants occupy small holdings comprising from an acre to a half, and work as labourers and parts of the year at fishing. Two of the holdings are moderate-sized farms. The land is very poor and bare, and the occupiers miserably off. The townland is studded over with small houses occupied by half-labourers and fishermen, and are the most wretched, tumble-down, rejected-looking hovels that could be seen. The old walls and thatch are tumbling down, and are supported by props, in danger of falling in any moment on the unfortunate people who dwell in them. The evicted are : Denis Donovan (Goula), wife and 12 children; BattFarrell, wife and children ; James Brien, Patrick DoDovan, and John Donovan ; holding from an acre to half an acre. Denis Minahane, having a house and garden which he claimed as a freehold, and denied having ever paid rent for it. The family, consisting of a wife, six children, and a bed-ridden old mother-in-law, were put out, aad not re-admitted. After the evicting party leaving they re-entered into possession. They were threatened by two policemen with all the pains and penalties of the Crimes Act. The poor wife was an object of compassion as she declared the children were crying for shelter from tbe night air, and she was afraid the decrepid old woman would die if exposed [during the night. Johanna Minahane, a poor old widow, occupying one of tne miserable hovels, claimed it as a freehold, but was also put out and not re-admitted as caretaker. She sat all night in the yard by her scanty rickety furniture, with a few little embers which she had scraped together. Dbbry. — On August 12 the Orange Apprentice Boys' party celebrated the anniversary of the relief of Derry. The party disputed as to the details of procedure, and divided into two distinct bodies. The more select wing walked to the cathedral without bands ; the others, more numerous, with bands, paraded the city playing party tunes. There was a good deal of drunkenness observed, but no disturbance worth mentioning. The display was of the poorest character, and the weather was dismal. Donegal. — It is stated that four extra coastguards are to be stationed at Shrove station in consequence of reported smuggling 1 being carried on at Innishowen Head. Letterkenny fair was held on August 9, and the supply of stock was as large as usual, but only about one-fourth of those offered were sold, and those at a reduction of from £1 lOsto £2 ahead from recent prices. During their recent sittings at Glenties, the sub-Commissioners heard no fewer than 206 applications for the fixing of fair rents on the estate of the Marquis of Conyngham. Two of these cases were adjourned for want of eridence,9 struck out through legal informalities, 13 dismissed, in 7 the old rents confirmed, and in the remaining 175 cases reductions ranging from 10 to 50 per cent. made. The holdings were all small, and the total rent reductions made on them is over £200 a year. On August 5 there was put up for sale on an evicted farm in Castlequarter, Fahan, the cutting grass and grazing of same for the season. There was a considerable attendance of the public, the Royal Irish Constabulary being present in force also. After much persuasion from the auctioneer, he obtained the spirited offer of " one penny per acre, subject to the approval of the evicted tenant." Several abortive salei have been held on the same place previously.

On August 3 Mr. SwiDey, the agent on the Nixon estate, accompanied by bailiff d, proceeded to the Old town bog to dispossess a poor women named Coyle from a 6craw hut. The hut was a most miserable habitation, being merely a hole scooped out of the turf bank and covered over with sods. The woman and her sister got on top, and, vnbh the help of loose sods and sticks, kept the bailiffs for some time at bay. After a severe struggle both women were knocked down. Then one of the evicting party wielded his stick ferociously, causing a deep wound in the head of one of the women, from which the blood flowed freely. When he saw the blood flowing, it is alleged, he cried out, "Ha 1 I like to see the Papist blood." The hut was then levelled.

Dublin. — An enthusiastic throng of over 8,000 spectators assembled at Glasthule on August 7, to witness the sports promoted by the John Mitchel branch of the Gaelic Athletic Association. All the events were well contested, but though excitement occasionally ran very high, nothing occurred to mar the harmony of the day. Ann M'Garry, wife of Patrick M'Gairy, died in Brooklyn last week, at the ago of 68 years. Just before the abortive rising of March, 1867, Mrs M'Garry's house in Dublin was the rendezvous of many of the Irish-American officers who were the a in that city, and her hospitality and fidelity are well-remembered by most of the men who played a prominent part in Dublin Fenian circles at that time. Eventually her patriotism brought the attention of the authorities npon her family, and her husband was arrested and imprisoned for SOuie time on suspicion. On August 10, when a gang of labourers were removing debris in the nuns of Lambert and Brien's establishment, which had been destroyed by fire two days before, they came across a retriever dog, which was under a counter upon which lay tons of bricks and ashes. The animal was not only alive, bat had not suffered the slightest injury from the ordeal it had undergone, with tremendous fires all round it and gigantic masses of masonry tailing about. It belonged to one of the firm and had been forgotten in the confusion.

On August lan immense fire raged on the Hill of Howth. The fnrze on the aorthern side of the promontory became ignited and, fanned by tbe strong wind which blew across the sea, the flames spread rapidly until the whole slope of the mountain was lit up by the bright glare of the burning shrubs. When darkness settled over the sea the spectacle was a magnificent one. The flames rose fiercely, extending in all d" "ections, and emitting masses of thick, black smoke, which contrasted strongly with the brilliant blaze, and stretched over the sky like high cloud?. The conflagration could be witnessed from Bray, Dalkey , Sandymount.and other places along the coast, and many people came out with telescopes to observe it. Great excitement was caused in Howth itself when the fire was seen to assume such large dimensions, and great crowds of people gathered to witness its progress. The fire continued to blaze all night, and was not extinguished until noon next day. It carried de-truction far and wide over the mountain, and leaves a large tract of country completely disfigured by the flames. From the^back of Lord Howth 's demesne down to the sea at the other side of tbe hill, which was covered with heather, is a blackened mass of stones and rock. The file, however, did not reach any of the land uudei- crops or do any damage more material than the destruction of the favourite haunts of picnic parties and excursionists. The land belongs to Lord Howth and is, to large extent, utilised for pasture. Such fires on Howth Hill are of frequent occuirence. Scarcely a year passes without the fu.ze igniting in this way and spreading more or less devastation in the fields anu plantations, but on no occasiou has a fire occurred there on a scale of such magnitude as this last one.

Febmanagh. — All the tenants on the Annesley estate nncra r Enniskillen, numbering upwards of 250, have agreed to purchase their farms from Loid Annealey at fourteen years' purchase. Tbe landlord at first insisted on eighteen years' purchase, but the tenants last January adopted the Plan of Campaign, and paid their rents to Mr. John Dillon, M.P. Negotiations tor purchase have since been going on, with the result that all tbe tenants connected with the Plan, most of whom had been formally evicted, will become sole owners of their farms under Lord Ashbourne's Act.

Galwat. — Rent reductions, ranging from 30 to 50 per cent., were made by the Land Commissioners in cases recently heard at Ballinasloe, the rack-renters whose incomes have been thus reduced l3ing W. B. Kyle, W. T. Potts, St. George Estate, and Lord Clancarty.

On August 4 at Loughrea the Sheriff's deputy, accompanied by twenty policemen, effected seizures of thirty head of cattle and three hundred sheep from three tenants who had been writted by Lord Clanricarde. Tbe tenants did uoj expect the raid, being under the impression that they were to be made bankrupts. The names of the tenants are Forde, Ryan, and Cosgrave.

A Bplendid League demonstration was held on August 7 at Creagh, aboat half a miie from Ballinasloe, on the Roscommon side, to protest against the Coercion Bill and the eviction of a tenant named Barrett. There were about 2,000 present. The meeting was held near the o^d churchyard. Rev. P. Costelloe, C.C., Balinasloe, occupied the chair. A «<ozea police, under the charge of Head Constable Hensey, were prefaant, and two of the number took notes of the speeches.

At an early hour on the morning of August 3 the police stationed in a protection post on the property of Mrs. Hannah Lewis surprised a party of abojt 50 persons, iucluding n?en and women, who assembled in the townltnd of Drumnamuckla, for the purpose of cutting aud carrying away the crops off the evicted farms of which the tenants had been admitted as caretakers. The Property Defence caretaker and police succeeded in seizing six scythes and four reap-ing-hooks, but owing to the darkness of the night they were unable to identify any of the reapers.

The tenants of Clanthoo, near Tuam, who stand out for reduction in their rents, have been served with writs by their landlord, John Kilkelly, solicitor, Dublin. The writs, quite a sheaf, are hung up at the police barrack, Tuam.

D^rmott O'Conor Donelan, J.P., writes to the Irish papers calling attention to the painful fact that the Western capital is in a sad condition of deterioration, and that the decay of the milling industry has thrown a great many people out of employment, and consequently into poverty. Ho suggests the planting of the district around Galway with osiers and willows, which, as soon as they matured, could be utilized for the manufacture of baskets. The basket industry is a very profitable one, and if it could be once fairly started in Galway would be an inestimatible boon to the inhabitants. Mr. Donelan states that osier beds begin to give a return ia three years, and that about the filth year they are found at their best. Tbe planting of the beds would afford much employment to labour, unskilled as well as skilled. Mr. Donelan has already sounded opinion on the subject, and has secured a promise of hearty support aud co-operation from the patriotic Bishop of Galway, the Most Rev. Dr.MacCormack, who writes .— " We are sadly in want of employment. It is the moat crying need of tbe present hour. Here in this city there are thousands unemployed, and consequently a large proportion of the population are steeped in poverty. The mills are in a great measure silent, and the waters of our noble river are running waste to the ocean. I quite approve of your proposed scheme of osier plantipg. An admirable bed for osier could be had in the marshy lands that skirt through Corrib and the river. The basket-making industry might be established here as a convenient centre, where the idle but willing hands are so numerous. In furthering this project you may count upon my hearty and active co-operation." Galway Guardians at a meeting on August 10 passed a resolution approving of the project.

Kebby.— A respectable farmer named Daniel Sc&nlan, over 70 years of age, has been sentenced by tbe Tarbert magistrates to three weeks' imprisonment for an assault of the mrst tiivial character, and the fact that Mr. Scanlan's son is a prominent National Leaguer in the district has, with other circumstances, caused a great deal of indignation over the sentence of the old man, which is considered both excessive and vindictive.

On August 6 another batch of poor emigrants from this county took shipping at Queenstown for Canada in the Beaver Line steamship Lake Winnipeg, which specially called at that port to take them up. They numbered 108 souls, the greater number being young girls and young men. There were thirty married amongst them, with nineteen children.

On August 11 at the Castleisland Petty Sessions Edward Boyle, a bailiff and caretaker employed on Lord Ventry's estate in that district, was fined £2 for having been " drunk while in charge of firearms." He had been under police protection and carried a revolver, and he became so intoxicated while in charge of his pretectors that, according to their testimony, they were obliged to arrest him, not, however, without considerable resistance on his part.

KILDABE. — Lord Mayo's tenants, at a largely-atteaded meeting at Kill, near Naas, on August 7, unanimously refused a proffered reduction of 10 per cent.,and declared that they would not accept any reduction under 25 per cent.

Kilkenny.-Od July 31 a (handball) match was played in Kilkenny between Kilkenny (Dolan and Meuton) and Dublin (Berns and Devey). The local players literally ran away from the Metropolitan visitors, scoring 6 games to the 1 made by the Dublintnen. Gaelic sports, patronised by a huge assemblage, were held at Castlecomer on August 11. The following were the winners of the various events : KunDing hop-step-and jump, M. Hawe, 42ft. 6in. ; throwing 561 b. weight, John Clohessy, 20it. 4m. ; pole jump, J. Walsh, Bft. 6in. ; 220 yards flat, M. C. Curran ; ruuning high jimip, William Walshe,sft 6in. ; running long jump, John Bowers, 19ft. Sin. ; 120 yards hurdle, M. Hawe ; throwing 161 b. bammer, Jobn EyaD, 84ft. 7in.; 1 mile flat, M, Bergin ; 3 miles walking race. James Delaney ; 3 miles bicycle race, A. Coleman ; 440 yards flat, Wm, Bergin : 220 yards flat, Edward Hogan j ICO yards flat, John Fogarty.

Leitbim.— Aarsh eviction took place an Dromabair on August ] La Touches emergency brigade turning out of home a s'ck man with a wife and eight children.

Losgford. — The first evictions, consequent on the issue of 88 notices in this County, were carried out at Aughnagore, near Clondea, on August 10. The Sheriff was protected by a small force of police and there was no disturbance. The tenant first visited (James Kennedy j offered the rent, less costs, which the Sheriff refused. On the costs being advanced by Relieving Officer York the tenant waa reinstated.

Most Rev. Dr. Flood, 0.P., who has been appointed Titular Bishop of Ephesus and Coadjutor Archbishop of Trinidad, with the right of succession, is a native of the parish of Legan, in this County, and is a brother of Peter Flood, Chairman of the lown Commissioners and President of the Longford Branch of the Irish National League and Longford House League.

Mayo.— The Plan of Campaign has scored another victory on the Nolan-Ferral eßtate, Ballybaunis, the landlord baviog abandoned eviction proceedings, bearing all costs, and remitting four shill • 's in the pound. '

Meath .-Navan Fair was held on August 8. Owing to the restrictions placed upon the a fctJe trade in consequence of the outbreak of pleuro-pneumonia the bupply of cattle was small and business was comparatively dull.

At the meeting of the Kells Guardians on July 30 the following resolution was pas&cd unanimously :— •' That the Kells Board of Guardians in their meeting thib diy do unanimously protest against the proclamation by the Government, under the recent Grimes Act, in proclaiming the County of Meath under said Act, as no serious crime or other offence h?a for a lengthened period occurred in this County, especially the crimes which said Act is intended to snppiess, and as, evidence of the absence of such crime, thiP Board deuire to refer to the charge of the Judge at the Meath Assizes."

Monaghan.— On August 2, W. H. Swan, snb-Shenff of the County, accompanied by a large force of the Royal Irish Constabulary,

proceeded to the < state of Dacre Hamilton, of Curoacassa, for the purpose of /-ftiryirg ont evictions for non-payment of rent in the townlandsof Lennagh 1 , Dernahesco, Dernasella, Drumscor, Knocknalun, Tonnyrtacken Dunyallaghan, and Barrittitoppy. Thomas Hamilton, U.M., and Captaiu Mansfield, R.M., were present during the proceedings, which lasted over three days. The following were evicted and were not reinstated as careiakers :— Con McGuinnes, Leonaeht ; Michael McKenna, Lennaght ; Pat McCaffrey, Dernaheeco ; John L«ppin,}Drumscor ; Peter McCarren, Dernahesco ; John H.lfpenny, Derryallaghan. Wm. Lee, Tonnystacken, was evicted, but was afterwards reinstated as caretaker. Settlements were arrived at in the following cases when the Sheriff visited the lands :— Arthur Sonna, Dernasella ; Bernard Carben, Dernahesco ; Bernard Carben (Red.) Dernahesco; Catherine; McCaffrey, Dex-nasella.D. Deery,Derryallaghan ; Catherine McCaffrey,Dernaeella ; Decry, Derryallaghan ; Hugh White, Dernasella ; John McKenna, Tonnystacken ; Peter McKenna, Dernasella ; Pat Decry, Knocknalun.