Irish News.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIX, Issue 25, 20 March 1891, Page 9

Irish News.

Armagh.— B Beems tbat the Felspar mines near Grange have not proved remunerative ; worse still, Mr. Tottenham and Sir Henry Gore Booth are in law courts over the business. There must be a want of management somewhere . It is beyond belief that a mine of wealth Bhould require to be closed because it would not pay working expenses. Some one has blundered . Cavan.— The members of the Irish Democratic Labour Federation held quite an interesting meeting at their rooms lately. There was an unusually large attendance, the Rev. D. O'Sullivan, C.C« presiding. Mr. Francis Fehily called attention to the conduct of Messrs. Neilan and O'Sullivan, in waiting on Mr.Parnellon behalf of the Federation, and handing over to him the presidency of that organisation. He said that now there were two flags unfurled, one representing " Virtue and Erin," the other <: Parnell and guilt." He would ask them under which flag they were going to take their stand. Every member in the room sprang to his feet and said, " We'll have Virtue and Erin. Down with Parnell and his parasite crew." The speaker said it was a most insulting piece of business on the part of thesemen, Messrs. Neilan and O'Sulliv<tn, to assume to themselves the dictatorship of the Federation. Resolutions were adopted condemning Mr. Parnell. Cork.— The sum of £23,500 has been passed by the Cork County Presentment Sessions for police expenses in the county for the half year ending 30th September. At the recent Presentment Sessions at Timoleague a resolution was passed calling on the Government to start relief works in the district, and suggesting an extension of the line from Clonakilty to Glandore. The festival of St. FanahaD, the patron saint of Mitchelstowu j according to the ancieot custom, was observed as a Teligious holiday in the parish. Masses were celebrated in the Mitchelstown parish church, and during the afternoon there was the usual general, pilgrimage, not alone of the parishioners but of people from outside places to the holy well dedicated to the saint. St. Fanahan, who was a mitred abbot, was one of the earliest Irish saints after St. Patrick's time, and the ruins of the abbey at Brigown, built by him in the sixth century, is one of the oldest relics of antiquity in Ireland. A public meeting has been held at Kilberrihert, near Macroom, asking for " an extension of the Muskerly Light Railway from Peeke to Ballinagree via Ballinamorriv," and also calling on the Government to open up relief works to counteract the effects of the impending distress. The meeting was attended by lr.rge numbers of influential farmers and labourers. Mr. T. C. O'Brien, nephew and heir oE Sir Patrick O'Brien, has purchased Lohort Castle, Co. Cork, from Lord Egmont. It i 3 not so many years back since the latter expended £40,000 on the castlf. Mr. O'Brien can well sustain the style of the place, as his wife— only daughter of the late Sir Humphrey de Trafford— inherited largely at her fathers's death. At a public meeting held recently at Enniskeane, a resolution was unanimously adopted urging on the Government the necessity for the construction of a railway, bringing Mid Cork into direct communication with West Coik. It was decided to forward copies ol the resolution to the Chief Secretary,!} Duke of Devonshire, and Marquis of HartiDgton. There are now at QueeDStown as fine a fleet of ships to be seen as have vibitcd the port for some lime. The vessels are rather a godsend to the people comiDg on the holiday e, as their presence will cause the circulation and earning of quite a big sum of money. Several of the ships are stately four masters, with cargo of about 4,500 tous each. The ships are from various parts of the globe. There are several laden with wheat from California, Australia, and New Zealand, while some are from the remote regions of Japan, several from the La Plata with grain, and some from the West Coast of South America, laden with nitrate. It is a pleasant view at Queenstown at present, and well worth while visiting to catch a glimpse of the fine fleet of merchantmen and their forest of masts. Donegal*— Mr. Hugh McDevitt, Glenties, and Mr. Joseph McLoone, J. P., Donegal, have made an abatement of 25 per cent, to their tenants at Dyaert and Meenawullaghan respectively. This was the abatement given last year also on both estates. The Government have received reports from their seven commissioners and these official returns corroborate in full all that was said of the failure of the crop throughout the country. To take them at random— Of the county Donegal Mr. Thomas S. Porter says—" In all the poor barren mountain and moory lauds, and in all the shallow peaty lands lying along the West Coast, the crop is very short— in fact, seriously so. Ido not think I exaggerate at all the yield, when I say that I very much doubt if, over all that class of land comprising the greater portion of Donegal, the yield will prove one third of the usual crop, and tbat the feeding will not be one fourth of an average crop. By an average crop I mean an average of the last eight years, and by feeding value I mean ihe nutriment to be deprived from the

potato." As regards West Donegal Mr. Porter adds that he frequentlystopped to examine the cropß in the fields, and that he made inquiries from those whom he thought he could depend on to give reliable information, and he is of opinion that he does not at all understand the case in saying that the crop will not average one-fourth of an ordinary crop in the poorest and worst lands, and possibly, at the most, ore third of a crop in West Donegal generally. In the poor mountain land near Glenties, and in the " Rosses,' the crop was very bad. probably barely one fourth of an average. Recently a fleet of 12J boats were engaged fishing herring ia the Donegal Bay, and the total " takes" it is estimated, exceeded 300,000 which were lauded at Donegal, Mountcharics and Inver, and sold at 353 per 1,000. A circular has be"en issued to the tenantry on the Earl of Leitrim's Donegal estates directing his agent to allow 3s in the pound on the year's rent due November, 1890, to all tenants whose rents have been fixed for a sta-.utable term by amicable arrangement, providing such year's rent be paid at a reasonable time. What ia a reasonable time his lordship reserves to himself the right to determining. It is considered, however, that it will probably extend to the latter end of January. A most touching incident in connection with the recent Olphert evictions was painfully observed at Letterkenny lately. The five defenders of •' McGinley's Fort," who were hurried off handcuffed to Deny Gaol without being allowed to put on warm clothes repassed through Lettereenny, still thinly clad. A strong police escort accompanied them. They were brought up at Bunbeg Petty Sessions on the charge of obstructing the Sheriff in the execution of his duty and assaulting the police. Tbe prisoners, even on this chill and frorty day, were handcuffed, and must have suffered greatly during a journey of thirty -nine miles on open cars. The postal authorities have ordered the extension of the telegraph from Killybegs to Carrick, and it is now in course of construction. This will be a boon not only to the merchants of the districts, but also to cattle traders, who make it a point to get quotations from the English and Scotch markets before investing in cattle on fair mornings. Tourists also, who delight in the mountain scenery and excellent rod fishing of the Carrick district, will fiud tbe telegraph a great addition to the many attractions of Carrick Hotel. The present extension will be sixteen miles long, with an office at Kilcar besides the terminal office at Carrick. The community are indebted for the service to the Messrs. Musgrave, of Belfast and Carrick, who exerted their influence to procure it. Dublin.— Randall MacFinuan MacCarthy More, son of the late Eugene Mac Finnan of Tullo, Kenmare, and nephew of the late Most Rev. Dr. McCarthy, Bishop of Kerry, has been appointed receiver General of Stamp Duties for Ireland and Collector of Inland Revenue at the Custom House, Dublio, being not only the nighes Revenue position in Ireland, but the most coveted in the United Kingdom. This is the first occasion— with one solitary exception, some 50 years ago— that a Roman Catholic has obtained this appoint, ment. Gal-way.— The Lough rea and Attymon Railway has been opened for traffic. It is to be worked by the Midland Company and there to be two trains each way every day except Sunday. Lord Connemara, hilly satisfied as to the severe distress now prevailing in tbe west of lieland, has sent to the Archbishop of Tuam, to bo transmitted by him to tbe B shop of Galway, the handsome sum of fifty pounds, for tbe poor, a^ed and infirm ot the district from which he takes bis title. Kerry.— The first sod of the Kenmare and Headford Railway was turned recently at Kenmare by the Venerable Archdeacon O'Sullivan, P.P. Kenmare in the presence of a great gathering of the gentry and people of the distiict. An influential and largely attended meeting was held lately at Listowel, to urge on the Government the desirability of coastructing a line of railway from Listowel to Ballylongford and Tarbet. The Rev. Mr. Burns, rector, presided, and several speakers pointed out the advantages of the proposed line. The Killarney woikhouse was beeeiged during the late, meeting of the guardians by a body of 200 distressed labourers. The men were scantily clothed and tLey bad marchsd in from Kilcummin in a heavy snowfall. Father Fuller, who he \ded the deputation, handed in a written statement of the condition of his district, and the great need of giving immediate employment. The statement was forwarded by the Guardians to the Local Government Board. Kildare.— A head constable from Ki'dare recently called especially on each officer of the Castledermot Branch of the National League, and said that he was commissioned by the Government to wain them that unless they discontinued the course they had been pursuing the branch would be suppressed, extra police placed in the district, and other consequences which he did not name, but which are understood to mean prosecutions, would be tbe result-. The system of "snadowing" was brought to an extraordinary pitch lately in the Atby cattle fair, over 30 constable? being engaged

in following people about the streets and the Fair Green. At an early hour in the day Messrs. James Byrne and Larry Byrne, Luggacurren, and a man named Kelly from Aries, were arrested and charged with the offence of intimidating persons, by " winking and shaking their heads," from buying cattle from a person named Wilson, who is in temporary possession of part of the lands of Luggacurran. The accused were brought before Mr. R. R. Kennedy, R.M., and were remanded until next petty sessions, bail for their appearance to the extent of £200 being accepted. Messrs. John Kealy, and Thomas Breen were" shadowed " through the fair, and in the town the latter got the better of bis "shadower " by mounting a horse and riding off.

King's County*— Adam Mitchell, Parsonstown, has commenced proceedings against Sir John Pope Hennessy to recover the amount of his last election expenses. Mr. Mitchell acted as Sir John's conducting agent when he contested King's County and was defeated by Sir Patrick O'Brien over twenty years ago. The amount claimed for Mr. Mitchell's professional services, and as alleged to have been lent by him on Sir John's behalf, is £671.

A Clonmacnoise correspondent iB anxious to direct attention to a case of grabbing in hiß district. He puts the case in the following novel fashion — " All grabbers appear to be blacker than Satin. There is a Black Jack at Ballintotty, and a black Mike at Marbaha, and now we have a Black ' Dab ' in this end of the King's County. Strange, isn't it, that they are all " blacks.' But cur Black • Dab ' is acute one. He attempted to make parley with the League while his wife ' Blaok Jane ' and his son were grabbing their neighbour's land. But the game was found out by the Clonfanleugh branch of the League. The miller and the trashing machine owners would as soon take the small pox or cholera as the patronage of the grabbers. So the latter were obliged to go to Cloghan to find one willing to touch them. Surely the lot of a grabber is not a happy one under such circumstances."

Leitrim.— Attention has been called to the fact that jurypacking aB a system is not confined to the Assize courts. At the Manor hamil ton Presentment Sessions only two Catholics were selected to act out of a large list of cesspayers. Doubtless, says the Sligo Champion,, a few "jobs " had to be perpetrated, and some " Papists '' are very troublesome on such occasions. The Catholics of North Leitrim Bhould wake up, and not permit toe public business to fall completely into tbe hands of the squireens and their followers.

Limerick..— Some fourteen tenants on the Tower Hill estates at Cappenmore were evicted some years ago after adopting the Plan of Campaign, and have since been receiving grants from the National League. Lately, on presenting the usual cheque, the National Bank at Limerick refused to honour it owing to the dispute of the Irish party.

Effective measures have been initiated for the purposes of pre serving the old Dominican Abbuy at Kilinallock from further decay. The ruin is one of the most historically interesting of any in the country, and every year r undreds of tourists drop into the Irish Baalbec to visit the Old Abbey and the other remains of the past, which make Kilmallock so attractive a centre for antiquarians.

Longford. — A proclamation published in the Gazette puts into operation the second, or summary jurisdiction, section of the Coercion Act in the baronies of Moydow, Ardagh, and Longford. Also a Bimilar proclamation puts the boycotting aud resistence provisions of tbe Crimes Act in force in the parish of Templemicbael.

L,OUth.— At a recent sitting of the Drogheda Beard of Guardians the visiting committee unanimously recommended that the Sisters of Mercy be requested to give the sick poor of the Workinghonee the benefit of their gentle care and kindly ministrations.

At the recent fair at Ardee there was a very good attendance and a lorge supply in every Department, and a fair amount of business transacted. A good many purchases were for the export trade. Prime beef sold at from 55s to 5(3s per cwt in the first and second class, and light kinds from 48s to 50s per cwt. Springers and dairy cows of good quality, from £18 to £24 each ; secoDd class, £11 to £16 ; dry cows and strippers Bold at from £11 to £14. A large number cf buyers attended from Dundalk, Carrickmacross, Drogheda, etc.

Mayo*— Her Majesty's gunboat Britomart has been ordered to proceed immediately to Clare Island and Innisturk, in Clew Bay, with ten tons of meal for the relief of the islanders who are suffering from famine, the potato crop, upon which they depended for the winter, being a total failure. Mr. Huasey, agent to Lord Dillon's Mayo estate, has given notice of a reduction in this year's rent of 7s in tbe pound to those tenants who did not receive a judicial reduction, and 5i to those who have, in consequence of the distress. The tenants gay, however, that the conditions attached to the offer, viz., that it should be paid before December 20, render it useless to them.

Tipperary .-A largely-attended meeliog of the " supDresscd " branch of the League in Tipperary was held recently, Rev. David Humphrey's, C.C., presiding. Thecombinatioa <>n the Smith-Barry estate in Tipperary ia broken up, a largo number, gf. agricultural tenants having elujing the pas I

week paid full rents and costs. The f"l!owing hnve returned to their holdings — John Fanning, Lacken ; Alichael Kinane, Gurnacare ; Daniel Glasheen, do ; Martin Kinam.Ballyglass ; and Michael Heffernan, Cordangan. Several others have made arrangements to return home next week and the week following. As to the town tenants, neerly a dozen have paid the landlord, including two shopkeeper tenants residing in the new town.

Waterford* — The Dublin Gazette contains a proclamation suppressing the National League in two parishes in county Waterforl.

The annual collection in aid of tbe Christian Brothers' school?, Wai erford, has been made in all the churches of that city. These Bch 'Ola afford a sound religious education to 1500 pupils. The Brothers have lately been obliged to add considerably to their expenses by opening new schools and increasing their teaching staff.

'WeStmeath* — Dogs wandering about at night have elore considerable damage to sheep in South Westmeath. At Ballinadiffy, in tbe parish of Tubberclair, ten sheep were destroyed belonging to a farmer named James Brown. At Glasson two were killed belong. to a man named Brien, and one owned by Mrs. Costello. The police of Glasson and Littleton have given the farmers notice to keep their dogs muzzled, or if not they will be summoned. Several of the lands around have to be poisoned in order to protect the sheep from those midnight marauders.

'Wexford.— A most interesting ceremony took place recently at Enniscorthy on the occasion of the formal opening of a branch of the Irish National Foresters' Society in that town. The society, which is purely benevolent, is the first of its kind established in the County Wexford.

The Gorey Coercion prisoners, Messrs. James Redmond, Noctor, and Doyle, who were tried by a special jury at the Wicklow Assizes, have been found guilty and were sentenced to long terms, Doyle was sentenced to twelve months, and Noctor and Redmond to six months each.

At a recent meetiug of the Ennigcorthy District Council the following resolution was passed in respect to the Gorey Coercion prisoners : — That we hereby tender our heart-felt sympathy to Messrs. T. J. Doyle, James Redmond, sen., and Andrew Noctor, of Gorey, in their long term of imprisonment for their arduous labours in endeavouring t > remedy the grievances and redread fie wrongs of their sorely-afflicted and suffering country, trus'ing at the s.-.me time that against tbe expiration of their heavy sentences the pro-penty of the cause for which they are suffering will present a brighter aspect than it does at present.

On the arrival of the prisoners in Wexford they were accompanied by nine members of the constabulary, and were met at the station by a number of Wexford constab'es. Messrs. Doyle and Noc'or were handcuffed together, while Mr. Redmond was allowed tn go irc2. As soon as they alighted from the train they were huriiedly taken and lodged in gaol. Canon Doyle, P.P , of Ramsgrangc, County WexCoid, whose emphatic protest against Mr. Pamell's continuance as, Irish leader will carry great weight in Ireland, is one of the oldest priests in tin-coun-try. His popularity is probably greater than th it of any Iriih pnest, except Father McFadden, and he has been a foremost figure in every moveme&t since the days of O'Conncll. Ho is known throughout the country as " Canon Tom Doyle '" ; and theie is s*id to bo great indignation amoQg his admirers at the refusal of the Fncmani Journal to publish his lcttpr of protest.

The Wexford corporation h*s unanimously re-elected Mr. Edward Walsh Mayor of Wexford for 1891. Alderman Captain Hugh McGuire, in presenting the motion, said the reason which prompted him among others to do so, was that Mayor Walsh h id gone to gaol for what had been stated in the act under which he was prosecuted to be no crime. He was put in gaol i'or committing no crime whatev r. He (Captain McGuire) saw part iea who committed s'iiojs offences getting off with less than three months' imprisonment. He regarded the sentence of three months inflicted on Mr. Walsh as very heavy.

Wicltlow.— At the Leinster Winter Assizes, which wore opened recently at Wicklow by the Lord Chn f B.iron the Judge congratulated the Grand Jury on the decrease of crime, and said out of twelve counties, embracing one million of people, only thirt>-one cases were returned fnr trial to this A'-riz^p, during a pir.od of four and a half months. The County Inspectors had reported, showing the peaceable condition of their counties, only three murder cages, two prisoners connected with which were supposed luuatics, one manslaughter, and one boycotting cage. It will be remembered that at the last Wicklow (Summer) Assizes Messrs. T. J. Dojle, James Redmond, Thomas Noctor, Andrew Redmond, and John Gray, were put upon their trial to answer a charge of alleged conspiracy to prevent certain " planters " on the Coolgreany estate cf Mr. Brooke from bu> injj or selling with any degree of comfort from tbe shopkeepers of Gorcy and the neighbourhood. The result of the trial was that Messrs. Andrew Redmond and Gray were acquitted, whil« the jury disagreed about tlie remaining tbrpe piitoneis. The Cro.v[i trive n w dt'cidi-d to jut these three I gentlemen on Uwl for the stc^iid Uoio at tL j present \V lcklow Astazea-