Irish News.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIII, Issue 47, 20 March 1896, Page 8

Irish News.

(From Contemporaries. 1 )

Cork.— UNPRECEDEN TED FLOODS—Never within living memory did Clonakilty suffer so mach from floods as early this yearThe heavy and continuous raio oveifloweJ the streams and nvers &nd tbe low-lying lands are covered with water in some places to the depth of four feet. The river flowing through the centre of the town Hooded the streets to the depth of several feet. Thursday the town wag deserted, as nobody could venture forth, owing to the depth of tbe water, and tbe majority of the people were engaged in trying to rid their houses of it. No serious damage h&s been reported, but in tbe country districts a good deal of hay, straw and farm produce was destroyed. Pedestrianiem was rendered impossible, and all sorts of vehicles were resorted to by those who ventured abroad. SEIZURES FOrt RENT NEAR MITCHELSTOS.-Tbe sheriff's officer at Fermoy, accompanied by several bailiffs and protected by police, unexp' ctedly visited 'be Araglon distiict and made two seizures for rent. The seizures were made at an early hour in the morning. The landlord in both cases is Captain Cooke-Collis, of Kllworth. The first farm visited was that belonging to Mr Joyce, where three horses, one cow, and four heifers were seized on foot of a claim by Captain Collis fcr rent amounting to £51 15a. The holding of Mr Strangman on the same property was next visited, and four cows and two horses seized to satisfy a claim for £61 rent due. Clare.— A LIVELY TIME FOR THE EVICTORS — While executing decrees for n in-pay ment of reut in Eaßt Clare, Mr A. R. Martin, special bailiff, Ennis, and his staff met with resistance, sticks and pitchforks being freely used against them. One of the first houses visited was that of Thady Walshe, Caherhurley, Bodyke. Tbe holding is on tbe estate of Sir George Bentinct, and the tenant owed £45. As soon as the party were seen approaching Walshe and two eodb drove the stock across the mountain, Martin and bis party following at a rapid pace. When Martin overtook them a fierce struggle took place, the Walshes endeavouring to keep tbe stock. In the end, in order to stop tbe fight, the police drew their batons, and then the cattle were seized. Martin then proceeded to the holding of Simon Walsh, who owed £39 odd. Here Martin seized more cattle. Meanwhile Tbady Walshe's sons had again provided them* ■elves with more pitchforks, and when Martin and his bailiff's attempted to drive away the cattle they made another attempt to rescue them. Tha police again drew their battons and used them freely, and it was only alter a sharp struggle that Martin was able to drive away the cattle to Tulla Pound, COLONEL O'OALLAGHAN'B AGENT FIRED AT.-Mr Ernest Browne, the to Colonel John O'Oallaghai, Maryfort, was fired at at Bodyke. It eeems that a number of cattle were found on one of Cjlonel O'Callaghun's evicted farms at Clonmoher, tbe scene of some of the moat exciting incidents during the famous Bodyke eviction campaign, presen'ing symptoms of poisoning. Mr Browne, with Mr E. C Winter, V.S , Limerick, drove from Limerick to Bodyke. On their return journey, at a point ab^ut half way between Bodjke and Broadford, a volley of shots was discharged from a grove some distance from the road. The bul.ets passed above Mr Browne and his companion. Mr Browne returned the fire, but it is not known whether hia shots have had any effect. Cavan.— A HANDSOME NEW ALTAR.— In Cootehill Ca'holic church is to ba erected a eide altar in Caen stone and different coloured marbles. The altar, which is to be dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, is in the Gothic style, in keeping with th i church. The Very Rev Thomas Brady selected the design. REDUCTION OF RENTS.— The agent for the estate of William YouDg, attended as usual at Bailieborougb, to receive rents. An all round reduction of 20 per cent was allowed. On the Armstroog property, adjacent to Bailieborougb, the tenants have oeen allowed a reduction of fifteen per cent, and the tenants on the estate of Mr Lynch. Land Commissioner, in Drung, near Cootehill, a reduction of 10 per cc.it on judicial rents. Carlow.— Mß REDMOND ON UNITY.—" Mr Redmond made a very remarkable speech at Carlow. I s importance writes the Jfreeman's Journal, lies not so much in the expressson of his personal view as in tbe expression of the overpowering opinion of the Nationalists of bis party. It is not worth while commenting on Mr Redmond's vapouring over the success that had attended the party under hia leadership. The party has advanced backwards from thirty members to eleven siuce Mr Redmond assumed the management. It would be impossible for him to point to a single service it rendered to Ireland, to a single disaster it averted. He will not, we assume, claim credit for having thwarted the Nationalist party in their txertions for the national cause. The substantial thing in Mr Redmond's speech is the great advance towards unity since he addressed a meeting of his supporters in Roscommon. He no longer declares the extirpation of the Nationalist members as false traitors to be the indispensable condition of unity. He is now for immediate

co-operation in pressing on the Government the reforms which Ireland so urgently needs and demands. He says that on material/ questions— such as tbe amnesty question, tbe land question, the evicted tenants question, and the industrial development of tbe country — they conld all co-operate, and he would again ask for co-opera-tion. Let Mem on these material questions present a united demand to the Government, and if they did, then the demand would be stronger than if it came from any one section. Let them have reunion on these questions, but on tbe broader questions of high National policy union could only come by the people once more uniting on the lines of the independent policy. Assuming that by on 'independent' policy Mr Redmond means merely a policy independent of English parties, in all this there is nothing to which tbe faintest exception can be taken. Wo are not disposed to cnticite Mr Redmond's change of tone, of which we so heartily approve. ' Derry. — OtiANGE BIGOTRY. — Lord Li utenant of Ireland paid a visit to Deiry, accompanied by the Duke of Abercorn, Lord Rossmore and Mr John R >88, the defeated Unionist candHae for Derry City. Ha was met by the members of the corportion, an exclusively Protestant body. The party drove through the city and during the day visited a large number of Protestant lnptitucions. So grent a respect had this official for the feelings of Citholics that neiiber himself nor any member of his party condescended to soil their feet by entering one Catholic institution. The carriage in which the party was seated was surrounded by a howliDg mob, who groaned the member for the city. Mr Knox, continuously, and indulged in this gentle amusement when any house in which a Cat&olic resided was passed. The Lord Lieutenant and party was entertained by the corporation, the members of which are elected by 400 voters in a city populated by thousands. Fermanagh. -DEATH OF PEGGY MCQUAID AGED 113. There has just died in Coe Ballinamaliard, near Enniskillen, Peggy McQaaid who was bora on Old May Day, 1783. Deceased and the late Peggy Elliot, or " Orange Peggy," as she was called, who lived on Trasna Island, Lough Erne, and was popularly known ac the " Queen" of the island, were born iv the same year and month, and their parents lived in the same townland. On Peggy McQuaid's wedding day the " Queen of Trasna waß bridesmaid. They were always great friends and are now interred beside each other in in Magheracross graveyard. Edward McQaaid, the husband of Peggy p died two years ago, aged 107 years. Gal way. -A VENERABLE LADY.— Mrs Mary Walsh o! Castebar, died Christmas eve at the residence of her son, Rev Thomas Walsh. P.P., Glenamaddy, having reached the fine age of 86 years. She was mother of the late Rev John Walsh, CO., Athenry. CONSTRUCTION OF RAlLWAYS.— The geoeral belief in wellinformed circles, is that Mr Gerald Balfour, the Chief Secretary, wlil carry ont the policy of his brother, Mr Arthur Balfour, of the construction and extension of light railways in the congested districts of the West and Northwest of Ireland. The people ot Dunmore and Glennamaddy are alive to the interest, and every movement now made regarding railway construction in Ireland is carefully watched. A line to Dunmore would be a paying concern, and its extension to Castlerea would bring vast material benefits to the districts. A baronal guarantee on Danmore, Clare and Ballymoe, with the Treasury grant of 2 per cent, would make the prcjrct a success. MUSTY MULLEN, 108 years old.— There resides at Merchant's Road, Galway, Murty Mullen who has attained the age of 108 years, according to the Galway Express. It is only a short time since that he saw the grave close over the remains of bis wife, who died at the age of 94 yearp, and at whose funeral there attended two of the husband's contemporaries of tbe last century, but those have since gone to their long rest, and there remains none but himself of those who associated with him 'n boyhood "one hundred years ago." The subject of this paragraph is now very feeble, but wonderful to relate be Btill retains all his faculties, and can tell tales of the rebellion in Ireand which took place when he was eleven years old, all of which are still fresh in his memory. He is living with his daughter, a married woman, who contributes to his comfort as well as her circumytances afford, and he is allowed two shillings a week by the Board of Guardians. King's County.— A FEMALE MIaER.— A prosecution brougDt by tbe Tullamore local Bamtary authority against Briiget Carroll, residing at Aughafin, Lomonagban, bas brought forth disclosures of a miser's life. Dr Hubert K. Costello, medical officer of the district, deposed that he had found the bouse in a shocking state. The roof, walls and windows were all bad, and the interior of tbe dwelling contained heaps of ashes and other refuse. Mr James Cloonan, sub-sanitary officer, informed tbe court that the woman was well off, but lived in this wretched habitation by herself. The room of tbe bouse was loofless, and there was no bed on the premises the tenant being in the habit of sleeping baside the embers on tbe hearth. The dwelling was a freehold, and the woman's sister had died there in an awful condition a short time ago. Tbe object of the

Guardians was to get her ioto the workhouße. The chairman laid the Court conld only make an order prohibiting the place from being need as a human habitation unless pat into a state of repair, Saoald the defendant fail to comply, it woo Id then be for the sanitary authority to proceed against her for the penalty, Kllbenny.-PBOPOSED AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION.—An important meeting haa been held in the Town Hall, Kilkenny, in furtherance of a proposed local agricultural society. The meeting was most representative and influential. A letter approving of the proposed society was read from the Bight Bet Mgr Brownrigg, Bishop of Ossory. In the coune of his letter, after referring to the advantage of such a society, his lordship said : " The sooner we make np oar minds that the prosperity of Ireland can no longer be secured by the mere products of the soil or by numerous flocks and herds the better.and hence every one who has the welfare of oar coantry at heart should do what lies in them to revive the industries and crafts which made the Ireland of 100 ytars ago bo prosperous. I consider that if the proposed show be well and skilfully managed, it would in a very few years result in reviving and giving vigour to many of our lost trades and industries, and thus diffusing wealth and the means of an honest andjaonourable livelihood throughout all classes of our people, Leitrlm.— disappearance of the " mummers." The " mammers " made no appaaiaace in Drumsnaitbis year on St Stephen's Day. The old and good customs are dying. Old residents often tell enthusiastically of the great fun and amusement created in times gone by, when McGeooey, Linty, Patsy Val and other wellrtmembered characters uaed to take part in the performances wbich were kept up daring the twelve days of Christmas. I^ongford.— A TEE BIBLE DEATH.— Patrick Cunningham, 86 years of age, Lettergullan, near Ballinamuck, met with a horrible death by burning on last Saturday night or Sunday morning. The only person living with him was his son John, who is an imbecile, but who was able to assist him in the tilling of a small patch of gronnd, and his is the only evidence obtained regarding the circumstances. From the rambling and incoherent statement he mpkes it would appear that he was awakened early on Sunday morning by the smell of smoke, which he found to proceed from the kitchen. He started up and saw that the kitchen ,was a mass of flames, and that his father's body was lying in the midst. Darting in, despite the suffocating smoke and scorching flames, hi succeeded in carrying out the charred remains of his aged parent. Leaving, them outside the house, be went to aronse the neighbours, who answered his call immediately. On arriving at the scene of the occurrenceitbey found that they could render no assistance.Jthe spirit had fled. The Coroner, Dr Gray, and a jury of thirteen held an inquest on the body, and a verdict that death was caused by burns occasioned by the accidental firing of the house was returned. Qlonaghan.-Tbe remains of William Miller, who lived near Mooaghan and who had attained the age of 100 years, were interred in the family burying ground on January 8. Mr Miller, up to within a few days of bis death, was in possession of all his faculties, and could relate many an interesting event of the stirring times, ROBCOmmon«-WHITE GLOVES AGAlN.— O'Connor Morris, County Court Jadge, commenced the Quarter Sessions in Roscommon on January 7. The grand jury he discharged without having them sworn, as there was no criminal business. George James, SubSheriff, gave Judge Morriß white gloves. White I gloves wert also presented to him at the Boyl« Quarter Session* the week following. SIigO.— UNION OP SOGGARTH AND FLOCK.— Right Rev Bishop Clancy, alluding to his reception and to a demonstration which showed the unity which existed the priests and people of the country said : " Why should it not be so i For ages had not the priests and the people marched ehoalder to shoulder together ? Had they not gone through wars and pestilences, through persecutions and through blood Bide by side f And he could not thick tbat in the end of this nineteenth century it was possible for them to be separated. THE MOTHER OF FIVE NUNB.— We leara from amexchange of the death of Mrs Mary Ann, wife of D. A. O'Brien, of Woodburn, Ore., and mother of five nuns, The husband and four of her surviving six daughters, Sister Mary Rose, O.S 8., directress of Mount Angel Academy ; Sister Alfred, of the Sisters of Charity, and druggist at St Vincent's Hospital, Portland ; Sister Genevieve, 0.5.8., teacher at the Sacred Heart School, Milwaukee Street, Portland ;

and Lilian, the only child residing at home, were at her death bed. The two other daughters are Sister Margaret, G. 5.8., teacher at the Grande Bonde reservation ; and Bister Gertrude, of the SUten of Charity, teacher at North Yakima, Washington, Mri O'Brien was born in Touney, County Sligo, fifty-seven yean ago. While a child, ■he moved with her parents to Australia, where she married D. A. O'Brien. In 1867, they moved to California, From there they went to Oregon, and settled at Woodburn in 1869, which was at that time ft wilderness. GENERAL. A MIDNIGHT MA. B B IN THE PENAL DATS OF BEEN. The candles are lit in the .lonely glen ; The priest is vested, the clerk is there ; A stone for an altar, the women and men Are gathering round in the midnight air. Gathering up from the spreadingivale, Gathering down from the mountain pass ; 'Tis Christmas Eve, none must fail To tell their beads at the Midnight Mass. Silently falls the drifting snow — Falls as thelfeet of angels light ; Btill through the thickening gloom they goGo like spectres across the night. Stealthily, watchfully over the moor, Wary ol tarn and deep morass, Till they stand by the soggarth's aids secure, In the Glen of the Gorse at Midnight Mass. Grouped together the young and old, Maiden, matron, sire and son ; Grouped together the brave andjbold, Banned in the valleys their fathers won, Kneel they there on the muffled sod, Sighful and tearful, alas I alas I Bending low in their prayer to God For succour and help at the Midnight Mass. Slowly, solemnly tinkles the bell, Baiseß the prießt the Hoßt on high ; Rises upward with surging swell A sorrowful people's prayerful cry — " Save us, O God 1 from the bloodhound's tooth, The bigot's wrath and the scaffold's doom ; Keep us, O God J in the paths of truth In our woeful journey towards the tomb, " Ruined altar and rifled fane, Scattered homestead and bligbted'hearth, Brethren banished, and kindred slain — These are oar trials, Lord, on earth I O let our wail in Thy eight ascend, Poor and forlorn we turn to Thee I Turn to Thee as the sufferer's friend For pity, O Lord, in our misery 1" The rite is over, the Mass is said, The blessing is given, the chant is sung, Tbe Litany told for the living and dead, And scattered again the old and the young. Timid and sad on their homeward way, Praying to God for a better day For themselves and their faith in the Midnight Mass Ceases the white snow's silent fall, The sickly moon through a pile of clouds Shines on the glen where a fleecy pall Clasps the cold earth in a frozen shroud, Was that a shriek on the piercing wind ? And that tbe glint of a steel cuirrass 1 O God 1 the wolf is again in the fold, And the lamb is slain at the Midnight Mass I Down in the glen'of the Golden Gorse — His altar stone for a rigid bier — A saintly soggartb lies a corpse, His bosom pierced with a trooper's spear. But the angel who bears bis soul away

And sees his heart's blood|drop on the grass, Will witness bear on the Judgment Day For the priest and his flock at the Midnight Mass. — New York Freeman.