Dublin Notes.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XX, Issue 25, 8 April 1892, Page 21

Dublin Notes.

(From the National Papers)

No one denies the failure of Mr Balfour's lend Act, though some, like Mr Redmond and Mr Jackson, are ready with explanations of that failure. Le' anyone, if he can, get over these figures :— Out of 9,000 landlords only 43 have applied under the Act to the Land Commission, and out of half a million tenants only 175. These figures are taken from Mr Sexton's speech, and they are not contested.

Tha OaVtay Pilot states that the last survivor of Waterloo is dragging ont a miserable existence in the town on ninepence a day. Our contemporary observed the announcement some weeks ago that the last of those who had taken part in the famous battle had passed •wty, and then investigated the case of an old soldier who, according to repute, had served under the Iron Duke. The case of Patrick O'Eara would now appear to be mads out. His statement is that he was born in Spain, and was reared up as a soldier boy in the 87th Regiment; He was a bugler at Waterloo, and was shot in the neck. O'Hara is able to give a good account of himself. He is living in extrems poverty.

Mr Beaton elicited from Mr Balfour on Tnesday, February 16, the fact that the Government does not expect an nnchallenged passage for the promised Education Bill through the House of Commons ; •ad, that, therefore, they could hold out no hope of disposing of the measure before the end of the financial year. The Bill, Mr Balfour aaji, " not only deals with assisted education, but is also a Bill which deals with other questions, such as ft modified system of compulsion," Mr Balfour has, therefore, not taken Mr T. W. Russell's advice and left compulsion alone. The " awkward question *' is to be raised. We hope the authors of the Bill have, accordingly, pondered the points put to their consideration by the Bißhop of Limerick. Will they compel children to go to schools denied religious liberty ? And will they refuse to pay for the education of the compulsory schoolgoers in schools where the crucifix holds a place ou the walls aud the prayer of the Angelas is heard 1

A decision of surpassing importance to Irish leaseholders has just been made by Judge Bewley and Mr Commissioner Fitzgerald in the Land Commission Court. The point deoided was that the mere service of the prescribed notice constitutes the leaseholder a present tenant, and not merely secures against eviction on expiration of the lease but also avoids any restrictions inconsistent with the lights of a present tenant which tbe lease may contain. The case in question was from the County Eildare— Henry Smith tenant, Fletcher Moore, landlord. The tenant having served his notice, proceeded to sell his interest. The landlord contested the validity of the sale, on the strength of a strict clause against alienation in the lease. The Court held with the tenant that this clause was made abortive by the notice. The general result seems to be that the mere service of a notice is sufficient to change the status of leaseholder or ordinary tenant, and create at once the rights and liabilities of a present tenancy.

Considerable curiosity, says a Dublin journal, has been excited in Trinity College by the alleged appearance of a gbost in the College Park. A few days ago, between fire and six p.m. a member of the University Harriers, well known for bis athletic prowess, was returning from the Pavilion, when he wan surprised to see tbe figure of a man running swiftly round the Park. He immediately gave obase, but to his astonishment the figure saeily outdistanced him, and disappeared, apparently through the closed door leading to the dissecting room. He at once examined the building, but could find no trace of the mysterious athlete. He told the circumstances to a friend, and they determined to watch at the earns hour on the following evening. Stationing themselves behind a clump of trees they waited for some little time, when suddenly they became aware of a shadowy figure gliding swiftly by. They both pursued at full speed , but were quite unable to get close enough to make out anything of tbe strange visitant but a mere outline of his form which nude for the anatomy portion of the Medical School Buildings, and there disappeared as before, leaving no trace behind him. Much perplexed both returned to College, and the subject has been much discussed since, both gentlemen being positive as to the evidence of their senses. It has, at all events, suggested a subject for an essay to be read at the; j^lotopbical Society at their nesl meeting, when some interesting Experiences tending to elucidate the subject will probably be related.

The Weekly Regitter makes a courageous and outspoken protest against tbe duaibness of the Eiglisb Tory Catholics in face of the Prime Minister's attack on their Irish co-religionists. Irish Catholics have never since O'Connell's experience of tbe men to whom he gave liberty expected mnch from the people to whom the Earl of Shrewsbury of that day, and tbe Duke of Norfolk of this, were representatives. But Lord Salisbury's remarks were as insulting to themselves as to the Catholics of Ireland, and they stiow that they are party men before all. The Tablet, for example, has a leading article on

the debate on the address, and does not even mention Sir William Harcourt's denunciation, Lord Salisbury's appeal to bigotry, or Sir Charles Russell's indignant protest as an Irish Catholic. In a note, however, it charges Hir William Harcourtwith " twisting, contorting, and perverting " Lord Salisbury's venomous and calumnious utterance, " in order that he might embitter, for political purposes, the feelings of the Catholic population of Ireland." Frederick Lucas's journal has become a mere Primrose League sheet. The degradation is not to be accomplished without protest, however. Mr John G. Kenyon makes one against this silent endorsement of Lord Salisbury's heavy attempt to burlesque Oambetta.

Wales deserves a good turn from Ireland. We owe it something for the help it has given our cause, and on Thursday next the repre. sentttives of Ireland will have an opportunity of requiting the gal* lant little principality for its serrices. The motive for the Disestablishment of the Anglican Cbnrcb in Wales is down for that day. Last year it would have been carried had the Irish members turned' up in force. They would have done a good work for religions liberty, and tbe liberty of Ireland as well, had they been at their post on that occasion. Whatever may be said for the establishment of Anglicanism in England, its eaUblishment in Wales is a religious ascendency as baneful and hurtful to true religion as its establishment in Ireland. The Welsh people regard the State recognition of Anglicanism there as an intolerable grievance. They have sent a relatively larger number of advocates of Irish freedom to the House of Commons than Ireland itself . Their service gives theni a title to the help of tbe Irish members in their effort to end a wroDg. We are certain the Irish people recognise the title, and that the National representatives will be conforming to the wish of their constituents in responding to the whip which has been iaauod by the Irish whips for the division. Jt is a duty to Wales and to Irelaad that ought to be discharged.