Irish Notes.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 22, 17 March 1893, Page 9

Irish Notes.

Armagh*— W. F. Bailey, B.L. ;T. Micafee and C. W. Thompson, eub-GommUsiouers under the Land Ac', sat in the courthouse at Armagh recently for the purpose of hearing applications to fix fair rtnte. A number of cases on the estate of J. M. Shaw, Keady, were heard. In nearly every case the tenants estimated a fair rent at about 75 per cent less than the present rent. J. 0. Mcßride, who was examined on behalf of the landlords, estimated a fair rent at a reduction of 20 per ceut. W. C. Gillespie, solicitor, appeared for the tenant!, and 8. H. Monroe, solicitor, appeared for the landlords. B. G. Swifte of Dublin, who possessed land in Bally workan, Drumnakelly, and Aogbnataraghan, has offered the folio wiDg abatement of rent and extension of time to his tenants in these townlands. 1. Abatement. — Judicial tenants who, having previously cleared off their arrears fif any) up to November 1, 1891, shall, on or before February 1, 1893, pay one or both of the half-year's rent of the ysar ending November 1, 1892, will be allowed ten per cent (or 2s in the pound) on each half.year's rent so paid. 2. Extension of TimeNo step will be taken before May 1, 1893, to enforce payment of any portion of the year's rent due to November 1, 1892, from any tenant clearing off his or her arrears (if any) to November 1, 1891, before January 1, 181)3.

Derry.— The handsome church of St John, parish of Killowen, Ooleraine, has been beautified by the setting in of a memorial window to the memory of the late Mrs Ferris, wife of Robert Ferris, New Bow, Coleraine, and mother of Rev Daniel Ferris, of SuttoD, Surrey. The window, whic^ was presented to Father Mulholland and his

devoted flock, is sitnated immediately above the altar of St. Joseph, and in addit on to several chaste floral designs, it bears emblems i luatrative of the Passion, Death, and Glorious Resurrection of our Blessed Redeemer. In tbe centre is the figure of our Lord Himself to the right the Blessed Virgin and Child, and to the left St Joseph, There are two panels with floral scrolls, one of which bears the text : " Her children arise np and call her blessed ; her husband also and he praiseth her. On the other is the inscription: " Erected by Robert Ferris, in loving memory of his beloved wife, Mary Ann Ferris."

Donegal*— When matters in relation to the Olphert estate were being examined by the Commission recently, R°v Jit n Boyle said b* had been in tbo Cloughanenly since April 1880, and a f the time he went there thirteen tenants had been evicted. He might say that the downward course of the tanantry in that district dated back to 1879, when they had a partial famine. In the spring of 1879 relief from public funds, subscribed by the charitable pubic towards the relief of these people. la 1880 crops were fair ; in 1881 the Guardians of the Poor were obliged to supply seed relief. In fac f , from 1878 to 1887, every alternate year hal been a bad one. In 1879, six weeks after h» weot to the parish, the bishop sent him £100 to enable the poor people in the parish to purchase po'atoes and seed oa*s, and ha was aware that the bishop bad given over £100 to his pariah for the came purpose. Tbe condition of these tenants at all limes was bad, even in the best of years, but when the potato crop failed and theie was a bad price for stock they were on the brink of starvation. On an average two members from each family on the estate went to seek labour every year in Scotland or England or the Laggan Mr Shaw Lefevre in May, 1889, attempted to settle the diepi c by

arbitration, but Mr Olpbert t^ited that he wbb bound to those who were maintaining him. There seemed to be at the bottom of it a combination, that those parties had ass-sted Lim to continue his struggle on his estate, at d that it was due to them that he should not surrender to the Plan of Cam.aigD. To witness's knowledge there was something like thirty houses burnei on the cs-atc after the evictions.

Dublin. —There is a rumour at the Viceregal Court, Dub'in* that Lord Houghton will grace his first y^ar i f office as Viceroy by bringing a bride to the C>Btle. The 'ady named is the youngest and only unmanied daughter of ibe E*rl of Feverehtm, and sister of the beautiful Dqc ness of Leineter. Lady U rica Duncombe is only in her seven eenth year, <xactly half the age of the Lord-Lieutenant. Theresa Kreighley who recently arrived in New York from Dublin, reported an unpleasant adventure to the police. A man informed her toat her futber had expressed a desire that ehe should go to America, and she, believiDg her infoimant, accordingly made her prep nations and sailed with him for New York oa board tbe Ethiopia. When in mid-ocean the man informed her that her father'd message was only a ruse on his part to abduct her. On her arrival in New York she applied to the police for protection, who placed her under the care of tbe Immigrant Girls' Mission. Warring Wolf, an Apache Indian of a Wild West Show in DubliD, was brought up at the Dublin Police Court last week, charged with having stabbed a " bill sticker " named Bjyan. Warring Wolf took a great interest in the manner in which Bjy n hung his bills, and wishing to get some information about it addressed the man in his owq tongue saying "whoa whoa," which in English meant " come here." Toe bill sticker, being in a bantering mood, commenced to chaff the redskin, who, beiDg naturally morose, resented it in his own gentle way by deliberate^ getting off his mustang and flooring

I>e bill sticker with a blow of his tawny fist. The bll sticker swore that the Apache tben stabbed him but Wolf state I through an interpreter thitthe hole through Boyan's hand was caused by tbe iron spikes of a railing. The Indian w->s remanded on bail.

December 21 being the twenty-fifth anniversary of the ordination of Very Rev Father Gregory, C.P., Provincial of the Anglo-Hiber-nian Province, the event was celebrated with great telat at St Paul's Retreat, Mount Argus Dublin, Oa the high altar, with its magnificent gilt throne and gorgeous canopy, floral ornamentations and handsome candelabras presented a brilliant pictu-e, while palms and other exotics gave the sanctuary «. festive aspect. Ihe sweet-toned j jybella rang out proclaiming the gladnete that animated the community of Moud Argus on an occasiou so full of joy for their beloved Provincial as well as for themse.ves. The Province of which Father Gregory is the Chief Superior is very extensive, embracing within its sphere the houses of the Ordrr in these countries as well as in Paris acd Australia. NtedU 83 to observe, therefore, that the duties are no sinecure. Father Gregory has been several times elected rector of various retreats, and for some years discharged the responsible duties attached to the mastership of novices. He has endeared himself not only to his religious brethren, but tv countless fiiends, by hie kind and unassuming disposition, as well as by his singularly exemplary life as a priest and as a Passionis'.

Gal way.— A motion was made recently in the Dublin courts on the part of the Earl of Clanricarde to attack John Roche, M.P., for alleged contempt of court to remove certain huts on the plaintiff's Galway estate. Counsel for tbe defendant stating that an appeal to the Hous™ nf L ris wis pen Imp, tbe mo'ion wa* allowed to stand. Kerry.— •* large num^xr of fair-r^n' decisions have b en

published by the Bjlla Poor Commission which eat in Killarcey. The majority of the tenants htd for their landlord the Earl of Kenmare, and in almost every case large reductions have been made.

Through the intervention of Sir Thomas Grattan Esmond, representative of the West Kerry division, the fishermen of Castlegregory and Brandon districts have been conceded a long-dpni«H pnviVgP. From time to time several fishermen of these districts have been snmmoned and heavily fined for fishing within what was held by the Fishery Coneervators to be the prescribed limit. Their deferc always was that the limit defined by the Fishery Conservators w> s not the proper one, bat that it was nearer the month of the River* Owenmore and Scernb by half a mile. As a result of Sii Thomas Ksmonde'a exertions on their behalf, the fishermen have now been conceded by thp Government all that they had been so long un*uccesafally struggling for, and are now permitted to fi,h where they were so often fined for fishing before.

Longford,— At Kilbile near Arthurstown, lived Nicholas Oonway, who has been ailing last year from cancer in his lip, aud on Sunday night he died, as his friends supposed, was laid out, and a wake was held. The shops in the neighbouring villages of Arthurbtown and Ballyhack had shutters np. About eight o'clock on Monday morning some " knowing " old woman remarked how the corpie was not getting cold, and, indeed, considering the temperature of the weather, the wonder is it did not. Their suspicions were aroused, and not a bit too soon, for in a few momeots after, poor old Nick complained of heing thirsty. Some youngsters who were at the wake made a simultaneous rush for the door, and indeed a few old women who were at the wake, attempted to make the sign of the Crosß on themselves. Nicholas spent a quiet day daring the remainder of Monday, but, alas I he died in real earnest on Tuesday, amidst the lamentations of the neighbours. The affair has caused no little,

excitement in the neighbourhood, and especially amongst those who were witnesses of the " coming back to life " of the deceased.

Mayo.— At recent meeting of the Westport Union Mr Fitzpatrick handed in an eviction notice in the case of Lord Sligo against Maria McNally aad Catherine McDonnell, Lamore. Mr Walsh— What a warm bed they are giving the poor people in this weather. The Relieving Officer handed in a notice from the samb landlord that he was about to evict Pat Malley and Mary Connor.

William Barrington, C.8., who surveyed the Westport and Molranny Railway, the Achill Extension Railway, and the proposed railway by the Werern route to Belmullet, has been in Achill making inquiries as to the moat suitable sites along the seashore f r the election of piers. Dooegß and other places were examined. We understand that those inquiries are made with a view to developing the fishing industry aad establishing a piscatorial school in Achill on the same principle as that founded by the late lamented Father Davia at Baltimore. Dooegs is well fitted for euch a school, havirjg the nuclens of a fishing fleet with good bo^ts and suable gear. With the railway to Achill Sound the fish caught wjuld fiad a ready sale in all the markets of the Couaty.

Meath.— Longevi'y seems to be peculiar to the residents of this coun y. Quite recently many deaths have occurred with 'he ages over 80 years, and now have been reported the deaths of Thomas Duffy, Jamestown, Rathout, at the patriarchal age of 87 years, Catherine Bergm of Treascon, at the age of 82 years, and Lawrence Smith, Germanagh House, Nobber, December 14, at the age of 81 years. The funeral of the la ter was one of the largest seen iv the disirict for many years.

Monaghan.- Justice Bew'ey, sitting in Chamber at the Land Commission Court, Dublin, had before Lim the case ot the Most Rev Doc'or Donnelly, tenant ; Lord Kossmore, landlord, on an

application to have a draft ca^e state 1. The case has been heard before (ho Commissioners at Monaghan in July last on appeal from the sub-Commissioners, who he'd that the Most Rev Djctor Donnelly was entitled to have a fair rent fixed for a small holding adjoining the one on which he n sides at Mouagban, and fixed a fair rent accordingly. Lord Kosmore appealed on the ground that the Most R<3v Doctor Donnelly was not a present tenant and that he lived in the town and suhurbs, and therefore his hoi ho;? was a town park. After hearing Mr Gordon, Q C, (instiucted by Mr Wright) for the landloid an.t Mr Mclnerney (instructed by Mr Kusb) for the tenant Justice Bewley held tr at the Bishop, as a matter of f ,ct. did not )iv« in a town park or suburbs, and tint he was present tenant.

SHgo,-A demonstration was held at Flouphena, near Buninadaen, a few day? ago, on the farm from which Tom Durkan was recently evicted by Mr O'Connor of Mount Bruid, County Roscommon Contingents, with bands and banner?, were in attendance from Carracastle and Derncarthn, and all the surrounding districts were well represented Bailiff Slattery, who was accompanied by two policemen, informed the meeting that they were there as trespassers, and the sooner they would leave the better. He wai met with groans and very soon withdrew. The chair was taken by Patrick Kearns, Floughena. After a few remarks he introduced Father McDermott, who was received with the utmost enthusiasm, and who said :-The first time he had occasion to witness such a heartless scene as they now Faw before them was beside historic Keash at the bands of Owen Phibbs of Curradoo, wben he beheld a poor mother and her helpless children cast out upon the roadside to either live or die ; but, however, he had the pleasure of seeing them living comfortably again in their old home after the short storm bad panged away, and he hoped the conclusion would be arrived at in this cise. All depended on the people. K'ep offliad and grass-

grabbers and all will be well, he said.

A public meeting was held at Augharoullon a few daye ago for the purpose of taking the views of the farmers of Clonoe, with a view to aok landlords of the parish for a reluctim of rent. The parish com. priseb the followiog estates :-Bch )ol lands (National Board of Education), Manorannesley, Mount joy, Killon, Killory, Aughagalla, Corr Gortgonis, Drunaard, and Uortnaguig, There were several hundred* p-rsons present, and a couple of members of the Royal Irish Constabulary took a note cf the proceedings. Rev Francis Donnelly, Clonoe, occupied the chair It was ultimately agreed to aek landlords for a reduction of fifty per cent on tte rent now due and to clear off arrears.

The tenants on the Tintern esta'e entered the estate office recently to pay their rent, and learned that the usuU abatement was not to be allowed th s year, though it ih one cf unexampled depression, Tht tenants resolutely declined to pay, except those who held und«r judical leaseF.