Irish News.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 25, 20 October 1893, Page 9

Irish News.

(Prom Contemporaries.)

Antrim. — The Belfast Trades Oonncil are doing their best to make the forthcoming meeting of the Trades Union Congress in that city a success. Exceptional interest attaches to it as it will be the first time it has met in Belfast, arid the second time in Ireland.

Cork* — The autumn mackerel fishing on the south coast has opened moßt auspiciously. The Bay of Dunmanusand the Berehaven waters are equally productive, and all along to Galley Head the waters are teeming |with fish. Many large herrings are captured in the nets with the mackerel.

An important document has been issued to members of Parliament showing tbe scope that exists for still further accelerating tbe American mail service, via Qaeenstown, and urging on tbe G >vernmeot to receive tenders for their carriage, so that faster bo Us may be built.

Among the passengers on the steamer Ariz ma, which arrived at Queenstown on the 26th ult, from New York, was Mr T. St Jobn Goffney, 8.L., who has come to Ireland specially for the purpose of assisting in securing the release of the Irish political prisoners from British gaols, In the course of a brief interview, he said that he has been specially retained as counsel for Dr Gallagher, and is in correspondence with the State Department of the United States, with the view of obtaining the prisoner's release without further delay. He has a thorough knowledge of the case, and he is armed with full authority and under power of attorney from Dr Gallagher's family. Mr C. O'Connor Hennewy, who is vice-president of the New York Press Club, accompanies Mr Gaffney, and represents a large newspaper syndicate.

Down.— Bally mscarrett was tbe ecene of anothei exhibition of rowdyism on Saturday night, Oue of the local bands bad gone to tbe railway station to escort an excursion party home to Bloomfield. At Bridge-end, without the slightest provocation, some members of tbe crowd threw stones at the windows of a respectable Catholic publican. Two of the plate-glass windows in the shop, value for at least £6, were smashed. The crowd passed down tbe Newtownards road, where they attacked the windows of another Catholic publicansmashing glass of very considerable value. No arrests were made. An oyster man, who waß pursuing his calling at Bridge-end when the mob was passing, says that bis cart was plundered, and he was told that if he dared to call the police he would be well beaten.

Donegal.— The potatoes look well and are in a flourishing condition, writes a correspondent of the Derry Journal, referring to the crops in the eastern part of the county. The oats have improved in growth by the rain. Tbe hay-crop is light, but on well-cultivated farms the crop in general is the best I have seen these many years. Bat now the low price of cattle, and the advance in the cost of labour has made the farmers feel the weight of agricultural depression, it is to be hoped some feeling of consideration will be shown by tbe landlords for the tenant-farmers in such a time of depression as the present.

Dublin.— The Bey Canon O'Hanlon, of Dublin, the erudite Irish historian and the hagiologist, whoee great work on " Tbe Lives of the lnsu Saints" is gradually approaching completion, is at present engaged in a work entitled "An Iriab-American History of the Uoited SUtes," in which he will show the extent of influence of the Irish settlers of America, says the London Daily Chronicle, His

introductory chapter will deal with St Brendan'? pre-Columbian voyage to the Continent, Canon O'Haolon is, of course, an authority on the life of St Brendan. The work is now in the press, and will appear in the autumn.

At the competitive examinations held between the Old and New Borough National Schools, Swords, rive out of tbe six priaet, valued at £20 each, awarded annually, were won by tbe Catholic children This success must be most satisfactory to everyone connected with the Catholic schools.

Mr F. W. Croßsley, of Dublin, is taking a prominent part in a movement to attract more tourists to Ireland. It is questionable* says a leading London paper, whether the natural attractions of Scotland are greater tnan those of Ireland, yet every summer and autumn Scotland is crowded while Ireland is neglected. Hundreds of toon* sands of pounds go to Scotland for every bank note that (roes to Ireland.

It is announced in Dublin that a committee of mm u r> of nil par-ies is being formed o promote the volunteer m ivem^a in lrel .nd.

Oq Sunday a procession of labour and trade organisa ions took place in Dublin, and a meeting was held in the Phcenx Park in furtherance of tbe interests of the builders' and brick-layers' labourers. The immediate object was to try to secure for the builders' labourers the same scale of wages during tbe winter months that they receive in the summer ; but the meeting further petitioned for manhood suffage for all electoral purposes and changes in Parliamentary procedure, and passed a resolution in favour of a general federation of labour, as well as demanding the immediate application of the powers obtained by the Corporation of Dublin for a main drainage scheme.

Galway.— John Baane and wife were evicted from their house and holding at Eillaloonty, near Tuam, on June 27, by Alex.

ander Strachan. A considerable crowd had assembled from the town and neighbouring villages who during tbe execution of the decree lustily cheered for Buane and groaned the evictor. Ruane offtred to pay all the rent due— or leave the matter to impartial arbitration, but in vain. Buane had by his own hands built the house and made the few acres out of barren cutaway bog. Last January he was evicted from this holding for the first time. He then as now offered to pay down all the rent due, but the tender was declined. Under the belief that though legally dispossessed he had not, in equity, lost claim to his home, Buane returned and took shelter beneath the roof- 1 ree, where he remained till removed on a magistrate's warrant to Galway gaol to spend three weeks there on tbe plsnk bed. Nothing daunted by his imprisonment, he went back as soon as liberated to bis evicted house and continued undisturbed till the 27th ult. Strachan proved inexorable. He would not even give compensation demanded by Buane for improvements amounting to £9, made on the house with the eviotor's own sanction. The dwelling is now occupied by a caretaker, guarded night and day by two policemen, while Buane and his wife have taken refuge in a hat hurriedly erected on a bit of bog hard by the meariog.

Mr Timothy Clarke, one of the Claniicarde campaigners, died after a loDg and painful illness. Mr Clarke waa the very first tenant attacked by Lord Clanricarde at the beginning of the memorably struggle seven years ego. Bat with ench determination and ability did he oppose the proceedings in the law courts (and out of them, too) that he was not finally evicted until a little more than a year ago. In anticipation of this a but had been built for him and bit family, but it was seized during the eviction on the allegation that it was built on Mr Clark's holding. A garrison of tmergencynen was

l«ft ln itj^^P^mhrifles and revolvers. Next evening, however, the plucky tsnanTand a few friends walked into the hut and summarily ejected the emergencymen before the latter conld secure their firearms. Next day the agent attempted to recapture the dwelling, but found the occupants bo well prepared that he withdrew his forces and bttook himself into the law courts, where he was also defeated. After this Mr Clark lived unmolested in the hut until lately. Then* at a time when hit physician believed him to be hovering between life and dsath, he received notice to remove the hut within fourteen days. He sank steadily in spite of the untiriDg devotion and skilful nursing of his family, and died.

Qtteen'B County.— An unsuccessful attempt was made to evict Mr Thomas Tynan from his farm and residence at Pea field, Mountratb, on June 26. Last July a writ for possession of Peafield, in lieu of balance of money due and secured by a mortgage on that farm, was obtained. On December 8 the creditor, it is alleged, was paid, through Father Feehan, pastor of Caatletown, the full balance then due him, and Mr Tynan holds the receipt in full. Nevertheless, on that writ of last Jnly, Peafield was visited by the sub-sheriff and a protecting party of police to hand over the farm and pat out Mr Tynan and his family. A large number of his neighbours, with whom Mr Tynan is deservedly popular, assembled to meet the evicting party and prevent, if possible, the eviction, Father Feehan, of Castletown, and Father Joseph Tynao, D.D,, nephew to the tenant, were present and succeeded in preventing a violent collision, for, after a protracted parley between them and the sub-sheriff, who then became aware of the true nature of the action, the latter acquiesced in the suggestion to withdraw and seek farther advice on the matter.

Waterfbrd.-The Waterford Star of Saturday publishes the details of an eviction that bas taken place at Newratb, near Waterford, under circumstences of peculiar hardship. The tenant was Mr John Mackey, who with his wife and family has heen turned out on the roadsids, and th« landlord is Mr John H. Jonea, of Mullinabone. The history of the case stretches over a period of four years. Daring the late landlord's life an originating notice was served to hate a fair rent fixed, bnt before it came on for bearing the landlord died, and his son, the present proprietor, came into possesiion. The Utter contended that as bis father was a life owner in the lands by a deed executed at his marriage, which provided that bis tenancy ceaHd at the time of his death, the tenant's tenancy terminated at the same time. The contention was upheld by the Bub- Corn mission and afterwards by the Chief Land Commission. The tenant was refused leave to go to the Court of Appeal,Jand found it too costly to go to the superior courts for a mandamus to compel the Land Commission to give leave to appeal. The result was seen in the eviction of Mr Mackey and his family on Saturday week from the land which had been held by himself and his ancestors for generations. Assuredly this ii a case which strongly illustrates the hardships still possible noder the Irißh Land Acts.