people We hear About.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 45, 8 November 1900, Page 20

people We hear About.

Alderman Eugene F. Kinkead, Jersey City, has decided to abandon business to become a priest. Ho is 2G years of age. He was a prominent figure in Democratic politics.

Frank Mathew, who has made such rapid strides in magazine literature in England during the past few years, is a nephew of Judge Mathew, who is himself a grand-nephew of Father Mathew. the famous apostle of temperance. It was the biography of the priest which atl Fr«tuk JIuLLo.v u^uii a. career v.'hich h0.3 rro^'ci a o successful.

A few weeks ago occurred the thirty-third birthday of Guy Boothby, the novelist, who is a native of Adelaide, and who once filled the highly honorable position of private spcretary to the Mayor of that city. While in Adelaide Mr. Boothby wrote a play, ' The Jonquille,' which was produced at the Theatre Royal, but it waß not a financial success, and nothing has since been heard of it. The company who presented it were amateurs.

The Tablet makes an interesting suggestion for a monument to the memory of the late Lord Russell of Killowen. It says ■ 1 What monument may be erected to him we do not yet know, but that it should be as serious a one as the reputation it signifies is certain — perhaps a chapel in the Westminster Cathedral or the decoration of a chapel from the brush of Mr. Sargent, to whom Lord Russell was twice a sitter for his portrait, and whose noble decorative work, religious in subject, attracts in the United States thousands of visitors yearly to the public library at Boston.'

The death is announced of Sim Reeves, aged 78 years. The deceased was first instructsd by his father, and afterwards took lessons from distinguished professors in singing. In December, 1839 he first appeared on the stage in baritone parts in Newcastle, and afterwards went to Paris to study his profession. Soon afterwards he made his first appearance in Italian opera at Milan, in a tenor part. He afterwards appeared at Drury Lane Theatre. After 184!) Mr. Reeves appeared at all the great performances of oratorios at Exeter Hall, the provincial festivals, and at the Crystal Palace. He completed his jubilee in 188.), and took farewell of the public in 1891, but did not finally cease appearing in public for some years.

Daniel Joseph O'Sullivan, widely known in musical circles in New York and throughout the West, died recently at Stamford, Conn., from heart failure. He was a nephew of Daniel O'Connoll, the Irish Liberator, and some years ago established a reputation in America as a tenor singer of exceptional merit, appearing in concert and oratorio. Mr. O'Sullivan was born .V> years ago in Cork, Ireland, but at an early age went to the United States. He serried in St. Louis, and was the pioneer piano dealer and hiumi. 1 publisher of that place. Later on he became a prominent dry goods aud lace merchant in that city. Mr. O'Sulhvan married Miss Elizabeth Glover, daughter of the late Professor J. W. Glover, of Dublin, the Irish musician and composer.

One or two curious facts (says the Standard) may be noted with regard to the constitution and history of the present Cabinet. It has now existed unchanged for five years, a circumstance for which there is no precedent in the history of previous Cabinet-'. It is all the more remarkable because the Cabinet consists of no fewer than 19 members, which again is unprecedented. In the five years that have elapsed since the Cabinet was formed, however, no fewer than 10 ex-Cabinet Ministers have died, namely. Mr. Glalstone, Lord Herschell, Mr. Mundella, the Duke of Argyll, the Duke of Northumberland, Lord Carlingford, Lord Aberdare. Lord Monk Bretton, Mr. Walpole, and Mr. Scan&feld. ThJH reduces the number of living ex-Cabinet Ministers from .r> at the formation of the preßent Government to 24 at the present time.

Moat of the British peerages have existed since beyond the memory of the oldest inhabitant, but several have had remarkably Bhort lives. The shortest life on record waa that of Hir Erskine May's peerage. Sir Erskine was a great lawyer, and occupied the high position of Clerk to the House of Commons from 1871 to 18Si». As many people know, he wrote the standard book on the laws and usage* of Parliament, which was translated into six languages, including Japanese. On May 11. 18S(i, he was created Baron Farnborough of Farnborough, Southampton, and on May 17 in the same year he died, so that he enjoyed his well-merited dihtinction only six days. Another peerage which had a very short life was that of Sir David Majorbanks. He was created Baron Majorbanks of Ladykirk on June 12, 1873, and he died on June 19. His peerage, whijh died with him, endured only seven days.

News was received a short time ago of the death of Sir Louis A. A. Verteuil, K.C.M.G., and Count of the Holy Roman Empire. Sir Louis was one of the most remarkable men the West Indies have erer produced, and the colony of Trinidad universally mourns his loss. He died on August 1 1 at his town residence, Port of Spain, 8.W.1., at the ripe age of 93. Sir Louis, who was born in Trinidad, belonged to a most aristocratic and ancient French family. He waa educated at the University of Paris, and afterwards took the degree of ' Docteur en Medicin.' For years he was the recognised leader of the reform party in Trinidad, and a most ardent worker in the cause of education. He acted as chairman of the Franchise Commission, and served on the Legislative Council of the island for many years. For three consecutive years he was Mayor of Port of Spain, and two of his sons are now members of the Colonial Legislative Council.

Miss Amy Castles, with her aunt, Miss M'Mahon (says the London correspondent of the Sydney Freeman), is now in Ireland. Miss Castles and Miss M'Mahon were the guests of Mr. and Mrs. Crowe, of Queensland, at their charming residence, ' Wavertree," Statham Hill, for the past month. During Miss Castles' stay in

London, she was invited by Madame Melba to her house, who subsequently gave up her box at the opera to the young Australian singer. Madame Melba pronounced the voice of Miss Castles as extremely beautiful. Sir Henry Parry was delighted with her voice, and spoke of its beauty and sympathy as well as its sweetness and power. All who met Miss Castles were charmed with her unassuming manner, gentleness, and suavity. Father Tierney, formerly of Randwiok, but now of St. Albanß, hospitably entertained a party, including Miss Castles, a few Sundays ago, and after dinner Bhowed them round the fine Benedictine Abbey.