Irish News.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVI, Issue 8, 24 June 1898, Page 23

Irish News.

ANTRlM.— Conversion of Miss Johnston, Ballykilbeff.— Our readers will have already learnt, trom a paragraph which has appeared in many ot the daily papers, of the reception into the Catholic Church of Mis H Johnston of Ballykilbeg. Her iather, Mr. Urn. Johnston M.P is well-known as being perhaps the most violent Protesiant bigot in all Ireland and the conversion of his daughter has caused a great sensation. The Belfast Jnsli U'crkh/ of Apul 10 mvu- the follnAiii" p.irticulaisot this young lady's conversion. •On isunday.' (writes our contemporary)' • Miss Ada Johnston, of 15allykilbe». tin- lughl,) -docuuipli-hed d,iu_c liter of Mr. William Johnston, M.P for Belfast was received into the Catholic Church by the Rev. .J. F. M'Cauley, C.C . in fit. Patrick's Memorial Church. Downpatrick. Miss Johnston h,.d been attending Catholic services for sometime past, and her conversion wis not unexpected. Mr. Johnston is a violentanti-Caiholic and anti-Home Rub r. He represents the Orange party in Parliament ' A correspondent writes .— • The cause of bigotry in the North of Ireland has not received such a rebuke for some years by any private action, as it has by the fact of William Johnston's daughter becoming a convert to the Catholic Church. To the Orangemen it will be a more bitter pill to swallow than even Home Rule itself, and I should not be surprised it, after all Mr. Johnston had done and suffered for them, they turned their backs upon him and endeavoured to oust him from the representation of South Belfast. And. then, what a figure, in the light ot this incident, will Mr. Johnston himself n.ake in the Hou«e ot Commons as the representative of the most bigoted opposition to the Catholic Church .' But let that pass Of one thing we may be certain, that, apart from his fanatical Protestantism, there are few kinderhearted or more amiable men than the hero ot Ballykilbeg. And. as one who knows something of his history. I have no hesitation in saying that he is absolutely honest m hi-, political and religious convictions. It might appear to those who have heard, or read, his declamation about " the glorious blue banner of the Covenant."' and "the glorious, pious, and immortal memory. ' that Mr. Johnston was. in act as well as in principle, an unmitigated bigot. But those Catholics who live in the vicinity ot Hallykilbeg

near Ballycastle. For some time past a local syndicate has quietly been making investigations, and according to the report of a mining engineer the field contains over two and a half million tons of coaL somewhat superior to the best Scotch, and quite equal to the average quality burned in London.

ARMAGH.— Bad for the Workers.— So far we have not heard ot any of our colonial industries being very seriously affected by the wai. In Ireland, however, the disturbing influence which such a content always has, has already begun to make itself felt. Owing to the depression in the linen and cambric trade the Portadown manufacturers have put their employes on three-quarters time. In consequence ot the present unsettled state of affairs in America, manufacturers find it exceedingly difficult to dispose of their uoods unless at a sacrifice, and as stocks have accumulated it has been found necessary to reduce the production

CORK.— A Remarkable Old Man.— We have to chronicle the death ot still another Irish centenarian in the person of William Loveney. a peasant of Kilpatrick, who was recently laid to rest in Innishannon chapel -yard. He had lived to the age of 115 years, and was full ot interesting memories and reminiscences. He remembered IH2 years ago. when he saw a big concentration of troops at Banrfon. when the French fleet came to Bantry Bay. He lived at his native place of Cloughduv near Bandon, which town was then a hive ot nullify, lull of tanneries, factories, and mills On arriving at manhood s years Coveney went to work with a farmer near Kilpatnek. and there he lived for upwards of <X) y*»ars He was able to woik as a labourer up to 12 months ago. Coveney was of middle size, strongly built, and full of physical and mental energy Anybody looking at him would never take him to be much over <;o years or ag tor he appeared no way feeble, and his hair— he was not a bit bald— w as only grizzled. In his habits he was very simple and abstemious He smoked but little, and drank moderately Coveney was twice married: a son Thomas, by the tirst wife, is living in Queensland, and is h(i years of age. There was an interval of about .50 years between her death and his second marriage. The youngest son of this union is Denis Coveney, who is employed at the Upton Industrial School.

DONEGAL -The Chief Secretary and the Distress - Extracts trom the letters written by the Bishop ot Clogher and

people of Woodford district the benefit of the new Shannon steamer her vice. Williaoistown is also to be provided with a pier. LIMERICK.— The Influenza Epidemic— The influenza plague continues its ravages. According to a correspondent, the epidemic in West Limerick shows no signs of abatement, notwithstanding that it is over a month since it set in. In some places it is so severe that the school- have had to be closed. Whole families in several districts are laid up. but fortunately very few deaths have resulted. WATERFORD.-Spanish Sailors at Queenstown— On Sunday, April :i. the cony relation at last Mass in the Cathedral, Qu.^n-rown included the captain, officers, and crew ot the Spanish I warship Osado The Co, I; Hj-a miner ot a recent date said.— We •jo? an example of how practical Spanish Catholics are from a touching incident in connection with the other >pamsh toipedo boat destroyer. Audez. winch, it will be remembered, had very nearly foundered on th>' way down to Kingstown, and it was found necessary to put into Waterford Harbour in a disabled state. The escape ot the vessel and all on board was providential, and in order to i. tier special thanksgiving to God for their deliverance from a watery grave, one of the first acts of the master and officers was to arrange tor a full attendance ot all on board in the Cathedral at Watertord. Such an incident is not often recorded in connection with a ship's crew." QUEEN'S COUNTY -An Object Lesson in Technical Education —^ «- aie glad to note that Mr. b'eddon preposes to relniroduee during the couim-j session the Technical Education Bill wmch was so foolishly rejected last year. An interesting example oi what our tcacheis t;i n do in the way of technical education is tumished by the Piescnt ition Convent, Stradbally. which, notwithst i tiding its need of funds is domjr excellent work in "the practical trainin^ (it -iris The cooken and laundry classes have been most successful and although only inaugurated at the beginning ot the present ye.v the sixt.viour pupils ot which they consisted g aim d the highest in.uks hi each sublet By imparting instruction in these departuu nts ot household work the good Sisters have provided many poor «n « wit li the means o t earning a respectable Ihehhood at home, in-ste.-l oi swelling the army of useless exiles in America and elsewlk ir A public- laundry is attached to the Stradbally Orphanage. and is worki d by abour thirty yn-K who are trained there for about tlnei y. ais lietoie being rc\ omnu-nded as competant laundresses. TYRONE.— An Orange Row.— lt was hardly to be expected thar the blind bigots who compose the Orange Society in Ireland wi. ild allow the '.»- ilhihhMmi ion to pass without making trouble. A' (.ndii g to the hi-h conespondent of an American exchanue the Orin-i'incn cn-it(d a big disturbance' m Mewartstow n on April 11. Th..> anticipated that the Nationah-ts, who took part in a demonstra-u-.ti at Mullaghmoyle. would parade the toy n. and Orangemen from Th. huter and surroundn g districts took pn^svimi of the square. T l ■ Nationalists. v) , proceed m-- to the niee-timr. were attacked by th. rowdies. A scullle ensue d. and on the police intervening the Oiangemeii threw st,,m s and other misses at them. The police were compelled v. use their batons upon the- Loyalists, who beat a hasty retreat U midday the Orangemen attempt, dto force their w.t\ tlnoui-h a hit ot police, but were lepuKed with serious, injury to themseUes The authorities had consul, table difficulty in keeping both parties trom coming in contact, ow hilt to the persistent attitude ot the Orangeinuu in paiading. The policemen hud to drawthen s W (,rd.. ami in the mcli c an Orange tla- was trampled in the mud b> the (ithceis of the law. GENERAL. The Shamrock in the British Army and Navy. — We refeircd a w t ek or two ago to the pum> lunent*rec( ntly l.y imprisonment ot an Irishman m the British nay.v tor weannii a shamrock on St I'atiicks Di,\ an ,l lotusin.. to remove it at the biddinu ot mi Irish-hating otlicei. It is -ratifying to know that theie'is -oinc influential English opinion on the liish side in the matter, as we may inter horn the lolJoumg remarks m the Loi don S>it tir/hii/ 11,,, i a- —• How much longe'i are a tew wooden-heeded officers to l)e permitted to make mischiet and injure discipline by s. ntencinour soldiers, sailors, and mariners to imprisonment and" loss of »ood conduct marks tor wearing the shaimock on :>t Patrick s Day " It is woin by viceroy-, admirals. generals, and inmistt rs „t the Crown and in these days of •• territonalism "' m the services, what could be moie natural and proper than that men should be enconr,i<r e d to weai any little bit ot colour in which they take pride, and which will tend to make better and not worse soldiers of tht m .'" Declaration by the Irish Bishops : The University Question.— At a quarterly meeting of the Standing Committee of the Archbishojis and Bishop.' of Ireland held Tuesday, April 2<> at rtmeisity College. Stephen's Green, his Eminence Cardinal Logue presiding, the iollowing resolutions were unanimously adopted" — ■ I hat we have seen with considerable surprise statements recently made in the public press to the effect that the Irish Bishops have b en conducting private negotiations with the Government in refereme to the Irish University question. We feel called upon to d clare that those statements are without foundation. The views ot the Irish Bishops as to the constitution of the new University have been expressed in a document given to the public on the occasion of their meetirg last June. In that document they answered every question that had up to that date been raised by responsible statesmen in reference to this matter. They moreover, declared their readiness to answer any further questions upon the subject that might be put to them by anyone authorised to act on behalf of the Government. Since then no communication of any kind has been made to the Bishops on this subject. They have consequently been debarred from taking any further action in the matter. But they are ready, as they always have been, to facilitate me settlement of this grave matter by further defining- their views it called upon to do so, in reference to any point as to which the

statement issued by them last June may be considered insufficient. We take this opportunity of requesting the Irish members of Parliament to oppose by every means in their power the Estimates for the Queen s Colleges until the Government pledge themselves to bring in a measure to satisfy the admittedly just demands of Irish Catholics in the matter of University education. We also wish pnblicly to make grateful acknowledgment of the strenuous exertions during the recent debate on the Address of the great body of Z/ZZT^yVS? the concesaio " ot our »« rr * ht -. 8 ° The Bishops and the Local Government Bill —in the same Declaration the Bishops thus express their attitude towards certain clauses in the Local Government Bill :— While so far as irtT'u- 181101 Hkely that clergymen would seek election under the Local Government Bill, except under very rare circumstances, we must record in the name of the bishops and priests ot Ireland our emphatic protest against the disqualifications by Act of In v!?Ti ? S6S 6 i :ler - vv u of this cou n fc >T offices to which they eientl v If^ !\T- th ° 7"" ° f thek bein * citizeQ8 > independently altogether of their acknowledged qualifications to serve the ne\v W St r°«- the ,? 0B + rd , 8 r that are to under the "v t t (b^ ne(l) + MICHA^ Caud. Logue, chairman ■ TKJ. J. M-Cokmack (Bishop of Gal way and Kilmacd^a-hY mee°tin > l Hl Th r ; Y f ( niShOPn iShOP °l ? lonfert >' ao * n * -oreta^t^ r 6 r g ,'r a v!k-T B 'f h ° ps Were P re « e nt--His Eminence Caidmal Logue Archbishop ot Armagh and Primate of All Ireland • his Grace the Most Rev. Dr. Walsh, Archbishop of Lublin and Primate of Ireland ; the Most Rev. Dr. MacEvilfy. Archbishop oi r!Td m * R ,r u Dr - °;. Donnell - BWl °P of Baphce : the Most Rev. Dr. () Dwyer. Bishop ot Limerick : the Most Rev. Dr. Healy (Bishop ot ( loutert) and the Most Rev. I>r M-Cormack (Bishop of balway). Hon. secretaries. v The Redemptorist Fathers.— The Dublin correspondent of the ('utholir Ton,., announces that by the authority of the Holy See the houses, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer in Ireland Australia. and>ew Zealand, which hitherto formed pare of the English Province, have been erected int.. a distinct province known as the Irish Province ot the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. rhe \ cry Re,. Father Andrew Uoylan has been ap pointed the first Provincial, and is t ,. reside at Mount St. Alphoi.sus Limerick : the \ cry Rev. Father OLuNt-.ty becomes rector at Lime.ick \ erv Rev. rather Vincent Bourke lector ot St. Joseph's, Dundalk. i.n.l \ cry Rev. lather (Jr.ffith icdoi- „t Clorard, Belfast The \try Lev. lathers William Plunkett and Thciias OTarrell ire lectors of the Redemptorist houses in Austra'ia The Rev F-ith. r Bannon. the zealous director of thecontraternity ot the Holy Fa-nilv Limerick, is about to be transferred owing to ill-health. The Distress in the West.— The Chief Secretary for Ireland has repeatedly expressed the opinion that the newspaper reports ot thedistresMn the West are giossly exaggerated. He will hardly say the same ot the returns, furnished by the Registrar^ Jeneral which are suunnaiised in Tin y ri ,mun\ Journal, from which we take the following .— lhe average produce all over the country is only two tons per acre, as compared with an average for the preceding decide of 37. In other words, the yield of potatoes throughout the country last year was only 5!) per cent of an aveiage. h.ine-t. In cnsidering that aspect of the question regard must be had to the tact that the preceding lo yoarh< on wh ich the a\erage is calculated, includes the exeept.onally bad years of I«S7 l.sv.i. Win. is-) I and 1m»i;. m two of w hich jears, 181)0 and 1H!)4 the ji. J.I was pi.ititn.ally as bad a.s the pn-s« nt year being only 2-.1 tons luraue in lsKOand 2i) tons in 1 sjm Thoyitklof IM»7 is the woist si, , c Ls.ji when ,he average per acre wu> only \-A tons. Except in the years 1 •„»<> u .«l l.s'»4. abuve referred to ivul ISS2. when the yield w.i- 2 1 to.,s. the avera-e of any one ye ir s.me 1h7.» did not tall be low three t..n- to ihe miv. In a Wo<j<lW o<j<l year the yield lv, <r one U t> to 4 „ tons per acre, and ot that Mandaid the l,,s'"har\est <-aye . nly ■IS per cent The book docs not give the averts tor the counties and proMiices. and we have gone to the trouble nt calculating th. m Ihe failure is ('istnbuted over the tour proMiices as follows thJ a\eiaue in the first column being for the years LSM7 to LS'JG .— ' Average ISD7 tons tons Munster ... ... ;}-7 j .- Connaught ... ... ;{•; i-s T( 'i""t-er ... ... ;{•(-, 2'l l'l-ter ... ... :v ( ; 2 0 The provinces are given in the order in which the failure is greatest In .Munster the \ leld was only 40 per cent of an average • in Connaught it was only 4X per cent : in Leinster. ;>8 per cent"; and in I lstei ,2 per cent. In Munster the last harvest breaks the record of l.s,!i. It was the worst since 184ti. The yield was only IT, tons as compared with 1(1 tons in 187!!. The yield in Connaught is' 1 8 tons, as (ompar. d with M 5 tons in that province in 187!) The worst harvest m L.s7<.» was in Ulster, where the yield was only I -I tons per acre Last year Ulster was the least ill-circumstanced province. The yield per acre in Leinster in 1 871) was IT, tons I hough L lster w,,s not so badly hit this year as the other provinces it must be remembered that the failure ot 2.x per cent of the potato crop followed upon an almost total failure ot the flax crop in the prexious year. The total loss on potatoes alone is estimated at t12.708,0b"2.

The statistics of the population of Auitralasia, issued by Mr Coghlan, N.S. Wales Government statistician, states that the total population at the end of IS<)7 was 4,H(),124, showing a gain tor the year of KG.020. The particulars of the increase are as follows —New South Wales, 25.820 ; Victoria. 1,2!H ; Queensland 12; 521 South Australia, 2X24 ; Western Australia, 2;VUG2 • Tasmania V<)<r ' New Zealand, 14,894. " ' ' '

could tell how fur the conclusion would be troni accuiate. There are few men in the district more respected by all clas-es than i-- Mr. Johnston, and numerous are the instance- which the poorest Catholics give of the kindness and liberality ot him and his tanulv. It is remarkable that Mr. Johnstons -,(>n. a banister like himselt. is a stout Home Ruler. And now that the acooinplishe I daughter of the Member for Soutli Helfast h.is totmd a haven in the True Church, it will be the earm -i wish nt di ( ,ithohc~ who know Mr. Johnston that he, too. may i Mjntuali mid. alter a lite of ineffectual warfare against it. rest ,\nd coin tor, .sithin its bosom.' An Interesting Landmark Removed.— The in*h Wnhiy of Belfast thus describes the histoiy and approaching removal of an interesting landmark of the Catholic faith. One of the well-known and early landmarks of the Catholic faith, as well as a memento of the stirring times of '!)S, will, in the old parish church at Lisburn, be shortly removed. Many of the old parishioners who were at its building rest peacefully in ' Godsacre,' which adjoins, the inscriptions on the tombstones dating to 17KS, while their children perpetuate their faith and nationality scattered throughout the irlobe. As far as we can learn, the first place Mass was celebrated in the town of Lisburn after the Reformation was in a house in Bow street, opposite to Antrim lane. The site of this ' Mass house ' is occupied by Mr, Kilpatrick's shop. The ground of the present church was given by Mr Teeling, father of the glorious martyr patriot of 1795. The old church was built by Father Magee in 1756, and was a plain, oblong building, with the entrance along the side. Father Dempsey. whose remains repose in the church, added the wing. The Rev. Bernard Dorrian completed the church as it stands by erecting the tower and furnishing the internal fittings, etc. This last addition was made in the year 1841 . The other day, while excavating for the new foundations, a pike head was found, and is in possession of the parish priest. Seeing the necessity of having more accommodation for the parish, the Very Rev. Mark McCa.shin, has, with unwonted energy, undertaken the building of a new edifice, which, when finished, will add another to the sotately and magnificent churches in the diocese. The contract for the building, when finished, will cost over £12,000. A Valuable Discovery. — A very valuable discovery, and one which opens up big possibilities lor the future, has just been made in County Antrim. A large bed of coal, four and a half feet thick, •covering an area of about five hundred acres, has been discovered

Canon M Ki-niui in which it was a-eited that the severity ot the distress in Donegal H s intensified l>j a plentiful i- ue „f ejectment procv^e- ha\e already appeared m our column-.. Mr M'Xeill .IIP has brought the matter before the notice ot the Government but \v it limit afteeting uny practical result. Mr. M-Neill asked the Chief Seu-craij to the Lord Lieutenant ot Iroland whether his attention lias been directed to the letters ot tin P.ishop of Cl< ghei and Canon JVI-Kenna describing the great di ti. -s existing m rhe parish o f I'etigo ; whether the distress has been nggravaud l.\ the issue of ejectment processes, and whether he will direct an inquiry into the state of things existing there. The Chief Secretary replied • •My attention has been directed to the matter. As regards the alleged distress, it appears from the latest official returns that there are only 3o persons in receipt of outdoor relief in the entire Donegal Union in which Petigo is situated, the population, according to the latest census, being 22,8!»1. The average rate on the union is less than lid in the A, and it seems to me, und r the circumstances, that any isolated cases ot distress can easily be provided for by the guardians out of the resources of the rates. I have no information as to the number of ejectment notices issued in the district, but I have cabled for a report on the subject, as well as on the statements in the letter ot Canon M'Kenna. It is the old story. The Irish people a«k tor bread and they receive a stone. DOWN.-Church Progress in County Down.-The first Mass in the new cliurch at Teconnaught was celebrated on Sunday April 17 by the Rev. James M'Ardle. of Crossgan. pastor of KilmorV in which the church is. The style of the new building is Gothic ot a late period, and the dimensions give a nave of 80ft by 32ft The church will be dedicated by Bishop Henry, of Down and Connor' probably m August. The handsome parish church of Loughbriekland has now a splendid organ procured by the joint efforts of the priests and people of the parish. The instrument is an English organ ot great power and sweetness of tone, contains about 20 stocb and is constructed damp-proof throughout. ' GALWAY.— A Needed Improvement.— Yielding to strong pressure the Government are taking steps to improve the means of communication for the south-east portion of Gal way. At the earnest request of the inhabitants of the south-east district of the County made through their Member of Parham. nt. Mr. Roche, and Father Costello, the Government is erecting a pier on the property of Lord Clannckarde at Rossmore Point in Lou^h Dtrg. This will give the