Irish News. SOGGARTH AROON.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIV, Issue 51, 23 April 1897, Page 8

Irish News.

SOGGARTH AROON.

GENERAL.

CFrom Contemporaries.)

ANTRlM.— Catholics and Belfast Workhouse.— At a recent meeting of the Belfast Board of Guardians, the clerk read a letter from the Local Government Board enclosing: copies of communications received from the Bishop of Down and Connor and the Rev. P. Magill, relating to the salary of the Catholic chaplain of the Belfast Workhouse. The Bishop's letter to the Local Government Board was as follows :—": — " lam much concerned about the spiritual needs of the most helpless class of Catholics entrusted to my care — the inmates of the Belfast Workhouse. The chief consolation of those people in this world is derived from the practice of their religion, hence I am most anxious to give them all facilities of practising their religion that are afforded to the ordinary faithful outside that institution. It is quite impossible for me to do so unless a substantial increase of salary is granted by the Board of Guardians for the services of the Catholic chaplain. In my judgment it is absolutely necessary that the time of two priests should be devoted almost exclusively to minister to the spiritual wants of the Catholic inmates of the Belfast Union, especially when I take into consideration the fact that out of seventy nurses three only are Catholics. Last year I found it necessary, in the spiritual interests of the poor of this union, to expend £30 in excess of the chaplain's salary in giving them the ordinary opportunities of discharging their obligations of religion. As I cannot continue to do so, I have to request your honourable Board to cause the increase of salary asked by the chaplain to be granted by the Board of Guardians." Father P. Mag ill's letter stated :—": — " I beg to enclose copy of an application for an increase of salary made to the Belfast Board of Guardians, and dated January .'>. 18i)7. The revision of officers salaries was postponed from that date till February 3, when my application appears to have received scant consideration. Therefore, lam forced to appeal to the Local Government Board for justice. The position of Roman Catholic chaplain in the Belfast Union is somewhat peculiar. Catholic paupers are in a majority in the house over all other denominations combined. The Guardians are all Protestants except two ex-officios. There are only three Catholic nurses out of seventy, and consequently the chaplain, in addition to his ordinary duties, has to perform many little acts of charity " — Mr. Bowles : What about Cork, Mr. Chairman ? The clerk (continuing to read) : " which in other unions are done and can be done by Catholic officers. In making this application I am acting on the instructions received from my Bishop. Dr. Henry. He has visited the workhouse and is most anxious to bring the benefits of religion in a fuller manner to this poor portion of his flock, if the salary would permit it. Probably he will communicate with you on the subject." Father Magill's letter of application for an increase of £73 per annum was also read. It was agreed that the question of the salaries of all the chaplains be referred to a committee.

DOWN.— Farmers Preparing for the Worst.— At a meeting of County Down farmers held at Derrylecka, near Newry, under the presidency cf Mr. John o"Hara (vice-chairman of the Newry Board of Guardians), resolutions were passed demanding a reduction of GO per cent, in rents until the second term rents could be fixed, and in order to prepare ior the worst bound themselves to discourage, by every legal means in their power, the buying of goods and chattels which may have been seized, or the taking of a farm from which a tenant has been evicted for the non-payment of rent. A defence iund was opened and subscribed to.

DUBLIN.— High Death-rate in Dublin.— The weekly meeting of the Public Health Committee was held in the Municipal Buildings on Tuesday, February 1(5. President, The Right Hon. J. M. Meade, P.C.. L.L.D. ; councillors Peter O'Hara. Robert Mitchell, J.P., Joseph Hatch, Thomas Lenehan, Joseph Hutchin&on, J. J. O'Meara. Alfred Thornton, Michael O'Reilly, George Healy, J.P.. Thomas Sherlock. Sir Charles A. Cameron reported that during the week ending on the 30th January, 1897, there were registered in the Dublin Metropolitan Registration area 284 deaths. In the corresponding week of the previous ten years the mean number was 224. The death rate in the whole area was 4T3 per 1000 persons living, the rate in the city being 00 - 2. The zymotic death rate in the whole area was 6 i) per 1000, the rate in the city being y*2 per 1000 persons. During the week ending on the 6th day of February, 1897, there were registered in the city districts 48 deaths from zymotic diseases, in the corresponding week of the previous year the number was twelve. The deaths last week comprised 17 from measles, 1 from typhoid fever, 4 from scarlet fever, 22 from whooping cough, 3 from diarrhoea, and one from German measles. During the week ending on the Gth of February, 18U7, the following cases of disease were notified under the provisions of the Infectious Diseases Notification Act : — 11 typhus fever, 17 typhoid fever, 10 scarlet fever, 11 erysipelas, 1 diphtheria, 437 measles, 10 German measles, 2 undefined fever, 2 croup. He regretted to say that both the general and zymotic death rate continued very high. Three diseases affecting, with few exceptions, young children only are raging at presentnamely, measles, scarlet fever, and whooping cough.

FERMANAGH.— Improved Butter Manufacture for Ireland : A proposed Mission to France.— At the meeting of the Lisnaskea Board of Guardians on Saturday, February (!, Major Winslow presiding, a letter was read from J. G. V. Porter, Belleisle, Lisbellaw, informing the guardians that a meeting would be held at Lisbellaw, on the 17th inst. for the appointment of a competent agent to visit Cherbourg, France, and report on the butter blending system a* in practice there. He hoped that Lisnaskea and Enniskillen Unions would send a second agent with him. Mr. Porter stated that the blending process in Cherbourg, which for 2a years had sent the best butter and bold at the highest price in the London

markets, was quite different from the practice used in Ireland of buying small parcelß of butter in the local markets, made without M any special advice, and mixing them together, which had brought " discredit on the name and process of blending. Fermanagh butter now fetches fully 25 to 50 per cent, less than the best butter sold in the English markets, which was an immense loss to the farmers. Professor Carroll would attend the meeting: in Lisbellawon the 17th. Two of the guardians said they would attend the Lisbellaw meeting, Mr. Porter hopes to have a blending mill on the new principle at work at Lisbellaw this summer.

KERRY.— Gallant Act of An Irishwoman.— At a meeting of the Royal Humane Society held recently at the offices, Trafalgar square, Charing Cross, a handsome testimonial, recording the services rendered and the Society's acknowledgements, was awarded to Mrs. Catherine Moynihan, 33 years of age, a farmer's wife, of Killebanecamp (R. 5.0.), County Kerry, for an act of gallantry on the 20th of December last, whereby she was the means of saving three girls — Margaret and May Moore, aged i) and 7 years, a farmer's daughters, and Honoria Kennedy, it. a shepherd's daughter. The children were returning from school at Kitterham on the afternoon of the date mentioned when, on crossing the river Behenngh by means of a wooden plank, they were blown by a heavy gale into the water. Mrs. Moynihan fortunately witnessed the occurrence, and rushing to the spot at once plunged in and caught the children, whom she supported until further help came, and they were brought to the bank by Thomas Moore of Curra, and Patrick Duggan of Kilbeen lane. The river is is 60 feet wide where the accident happened.

LOUTH.— St. Brigid's Birthplace —Father Segrave, P.P., Faughart, County Louth, has written the following letter to the Press in reference to the new church directed to be built by Cardinal Logue on the site of St. Brigid's birthplace :—": — " In St Brigid's month it will interest many of her clients to learn that the church begun last winter, and which is to serve as a memorial of her birthplace, is now well in hands, and is rising all round to a height of five or six feet above the ground. Those especially who helped us so generously to begin the work, will rejoice to hear we have gone on so far, and all the more so because already the work gives evidence that when finished it will prove a very handsome church. It is not to be a very large or pretentious one, but while kept within the requirements of a country parish, it will be, I believe, not an unworthy memorial of our patron saint, and of the devotion of her people to her. The style is Romanesque, with rounded arches, doors, and windows, and the church will consist of nave and transepts, with a circular apse to receive the altar. The total length inside is 1 10 ft., 70ft. acrose the transepts, and a width of nave 30ft. Outside the stone will show all rock-faced granite, with limestone dressings, rounded doors and windows, and in the angle of the east transept and nave will rise a Romanesque tower, when we are able to built it. The contract is £5,700, and £700 more if we could go on with the tower. Altogether the design shows a very beautiful little church, and when I say Mr. Byrne, Suffolk street, is the architect, and Mr. M'Adorery, Dundalk, the builder, their names are a guarantee that both in the plan of the work and in the way it is carried out we shall have a most successful result, for each of them stands at the head of his profession. I take this opportunity of again very warmly thanking the many friends abroad and at home who so generously helped to start this memorial. I can make them no other return than the prayers of the people and the weekly Masses offered for them, but even without this I know they will be glad to have put their hand to work for St. Brigid's sake. I hope they will have many followers, and that many yet of St. Brigid's clients, as they become aware of this project, will be glad to place a stone in the church of her birthplace."

MAYO.— The Foxford Industries.— A writer of a special article in the Daily Chronicle bears testimony to the splendid work being done by the Sisters of Charity at Foxford in the County Mayo, in the revival of the woollen industry in this country. The Foxford Woollen Mills, though only established five years ago, have progressed wonderfully, and proved an enormous boon to the population of the dibtrict. Referring to the good Sisters who have charge of this great industrial work the Chronicle writer says :—: — •■ They are proud of the fine quality of goods they turn out, and aim at keeping up to the highest standard of production. Above all things they desire an English market, for the English have money to spend, and their people are so poor. What a godsend the weekly mill wage is to their homes can scarcely be realised in prosperous countries, where paying work is abundant. Now the people occasionally eat meat. The Superioress notes with pride that when they came to Foxford there was but one butcher — an amateur — in the neighbourhood. Now there are three professional butchers, i all making a small living. The enterprise of the Sisters does not end with the factory. They teach girls cookery, dairy work, laundry work, etc.. and encourage the people to rear poultry, superior breeds of fowls being given out to the peasantry by the Congested Districts Board."

The DistreSß in the West.— At a recent meeting of the Guardians of the Belmullet Union a letter was read from the Local Government Board authorising the Guardians to administer relief out of the workhouse in fuel or food to such destitute persons as they may consider require it, whether in the occupation of land or not, for a period of two months. The Guardians expressed their grave dissatisfaction with the terms of the above letter, and passed the following resolution thereon :: — '• Resolved — We regret that the Local Government have come to the decision announced in their communication received to-day. We again beg to state that not only have the potatoes failed, but also the oats, and that the live stock owned by the poor is at present valueless. The rapid increase of out-door relief, and the reports of the relieving officers on the destitute condition of the people, compel us to solemnly remind the

Board that the ratepayers of the Union are for the most part utterly unable to bear the burden of supporting some six thousand people from now to the end of August next, and that under these circumstances we beg to say that we can hardly be held responsible for the relief of the destitute when already our utmost care is unable to place the Union on a sound financial basis."

WATERFORD.-An Important Labour Meeting.— An important meeting, representative of skilled and unskilled labour interests, was held in Waterford on February 14. This year the Irish Trades Congress will be held in that city, and one of the objects of the gathering was to perfect the ranks of local labour by working up their various organisations. A resolution was adopted asking that the bacon trade dispute should be taken up by the president of the Board of Trade and dealt with under last year's Conciliation Act, and attention was also called to the want that existed for proper house accommodation for the artisan classes in the city.

WESTMEATH.— The taxation of Nuns in Athlone.— Both of the local Boards have protested against the inequitable valuation of £200 placed on the Convent of La Sainte Union des Sacres Cceurs. Our Lady's Bovver, Athlone. which will oblige the Sisters, it is stated, to close the Convent. Resolutions were forwarded asking for a reduction of the valuation, to the Boundary and Survey Commissioners. At the weekly meeting of the Poor Law Board the following reply was read from Mr. John G. Barton. Commissioner of Valuation :—": — " I have to express my regret that 1 cannot see my way to reduce the valuation further than I have already done this year. In fixing it at the sum oi C2OU I have taken into account the fact that many of the Sisters are engaged in teaching in the poor schools of the town, and in other charitable works, but on the other hand it must be borne in mind that the community are receiving a large income from pupils to whom they are imparting a high class education. All the premises used as free schools are exempt from rating." The reply was considered very unsatisfactory, and notice of appeal for a re-valuation, which will be heard before the County Court Judge at the Easter sessions was given.

WEXFORD.— Evictions in South Wexford.— Two evictions have just taken place on the estates of Lord Ely and Lord Templemore, in South Wexford. They were carried out by the Sheriff's head bailiff, Donovan, aided by a number of deputies and a small force of police. The party evicted off Lord Ely's estate was a small farmer named Murray, who. through family bereavement and other visitations ot Providence, owed several years' rent. The eviction of the poor destitute man proved very painful to the onlookers, but nothing in the way ot a hostile demonstration took place. Richard Doyle, who was evicted from his holding on Lord Templemore's estate the same day was admitted back into a portion of his dwelling, pending negotiations with a view to reinstatement. Decrees for a large number of cases ot dispossession on both these estates, on which the tenants are very poor, have been recently taken out, and accordingly a great number of "death sentences" are expected to ensue.

The Royal Irish Constabulary.— Mr. p. M-Hugh. M.P.. in the House ot Commons, January 2S. asked whether the cost of the Royal Irish Constabulary had increased from l()jd per head ot the population in 183(5 to (is 4d per head in IS'.)5 ; how many extra police were at present maintained at the Depot. Dublin, and what was the cost of same in the last financial year ; and would he. in view of the peaceful condition of Ireland, consider the advisability of reducing the strength of the Royal Irish Constabulary Force, and applying the moneys which might be saved by the reduction to the material improvement of Ireland. Mr. G. Balfour. — The figures quoted in the first paragraph of the question are approximately correct. There are no extra police employed at the Depot. The force there consists of men ot the reserve, and of the recruits in training for vacancies in the country, and these men. financially, form part of the Constabulary Force at large. The third paragraph forms part of a large question on which the hon. Member will hardly expect me to express an opinion at present. Mr. Daly asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether any large reduction in the Constabulary Force in Ireland was contemplated by the Government : and whether he could state how many Divisional Commissioners or Resident Magistrates were to be discmployed. and to what extent the lower grades of the force were to be reduced. Mr. G. Balfour.— In reply to this question I have to say that it is proposed to effect a considerable reduction in the strength ot the Royal Irish Constabulary by allowing the force to waste down through retirement and the stoppage of recruiting by <;<>.-, men to lu.s ;o. The gross reduction to be effected on the constabulary vote during the next financial year is estimated at W.M>»i<>. but againsT this there is an increase under the head of pensions of c 1 (i.i >i m». The ultimate saving arising out of the proposed reduction is estimated at CGO.OOO per" annum". There are no proposals at present under consideration for a diminution of the number of Divisional Commissioners or Resident Magistrates.

The Work of the Congested Districts Board.— The fifth report of the Congested Districts Hoaid show-, that the Board ha* done home useful work, notwithstanding that its income was entirely insufficient for the area over which it had jurisdiction. As? is stated in the report, the amount at the disposal ot the Board during the year was only C-H.2.">0, and the districts under its administration covered no less than :-WsOß..">S!> acres, and was inhabited by more than a halt million of people. The encouragement ot model plots and holdings, the development ot fruit-tree planting, and the improvement of the egg and poultry trade have all engaged its attention, but the small proportion oi its income spent upon these matters is open to adverse criticism. The system ot horso-breeding inaugurated by the Board is accountable tor the largest expenditure set forth in the report. A sum ot t;<l.!M:t IK nd has been spent on horses and stud farms, and when the numerous other agencies that

' have to be served by the Board are remembered it looks as if the importance of the horse-breeding experiments was over-exaggerated. The sum spent in migration and the enlargement of holdings has been £ 1 7,243, all of which is well spent money. The acquisition of the Carna Estate, County Galway, by the Board is one of the most useful projects in which the Board has embarked, and it is much to be regretted that the purchase of portion of the Renvyle estate should have fallen through for the sake of an extra £1000. In the development of the coast fisheries the Board is entitled to claim credit for good work, and it is to be hoped that increased powers, additional funds, and a modification in the existing proportion of expenditure, say on horse-breeding and migration, will make its labours of extra benefit to the congested districts.

(By John Banim.)

['" Sog garth Aroon" (or sagart aruti) signifies " Priest, dear " ; in the words of an Irish peasant addressing the "dear priest " this poem touches some of the causes of the remarkably firm ties that unite the Irish priest and his people, and which strangers find it so difficult to appreciate or explain.] Am I the slave they say, Sog garth a roan? Since you did show the way, Sog garth aroon, Then- slave no more to be, While they would work with-me Old Ireland's slavery, Sog garth aroon. Why not her poorest man, Soggarth aroon, Try and do all he can, Soggarth aroon. Her commands to fulfil Of his own heart and will, Side by side with you still, Soggarth aroon ? Loyal and brave to you. Soggarth aroon, Yet not to be slave to you, Soggarth aroon, Nor out of fear to you — Stand up so near to you, Soggarth aroon ! Who. in the winter's night, Soggarth aroon. When the cold blast did bite. Soggarth aroon, Came to my cabin door. And, on niy earthen floor, Knelt by me. sick and poor, Soggarth aroon ,' Who. on the marriage day. Soqgtu'th aroon. Made the poor cabin gay. Sog garth aroon .' And did" both laugh and sing, Making our hearts to ring At the poor christening. Soygnrth aroon '.' Who. a* friend only met. Sog (forth aroon, Xever did flout me yet. Soq garth aroon .' And when my heart was dim. Gave, while his eyes did brim. What I should gi\e to him, Sogqarth aroon ' Och ! you. and only you, Soggarth aroon! And for this I was true to you. Soggarth aroon ; In love they'll ne\er shake. When for ould Ireland's sake. We a true part did take, Soggarth aroon !