INTERCOLONIAL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIX, Issue 22, 30 May 1901, Page 6

INTERCOLONIAL.

A Melbourne correspondent estimates that £2000 will be Victoria's quota to the Dr. O'Haran indemnity fund. On Wednesday evening of last week, in the Town Hall, Sydney, his Eminence Cardinal Moran made a presentation, on behalf of the Catholic ladies of the archdiocese, of a purse containing £750 to the Very Rev. Dr. O'Haran. The high honor of Knight Commander of the Bath, conferred upon Sir Thomas Fitzgerald, the well-known surgeon, of Melbourne, in recognition of his services in the South African war, is unique so far as Australasia is concerned. At a meeting held last week in Sydney Very Rev. Dr. O'Haran scathingly denounced the part played by the Orangemen during the recent case. He said that they were a contemptible crew, and but for their insidious union with blackmailers and oonspirators Bhould have been treated with contempt. On May 5, the foundation stone of a new mortuary chapel in memory of the late Bishop Byrne was laid in the Catholic cemetery, Bathurst. The ceremony was performed by the Very Rev. Father Dunne, Administrator of the diocese, in the presence of a number of the clergy and a large gathering of the laity. At the church of St. Patrick's College, Carlow, on St. Patrick's Day, Dr. Foley (Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin) ordained to minor orders Mr. Patrick Donogher, of Perth diocese (W.A ), and to deaconship the Rev. Maurice Griffin, of the same diocese, and the Rev. Wm. Slattery, of Goulburn diocese (N.S.W.) The Rome correspondent of the Sydney Freeman' > Journal writes : — ' It is thought here that the appointment of a Coadjutor to the Cardinal-Archbishop of Sydney will not be made for some time to come. Meantime Mgr. Kelly, the Rector of the Irish College, did another genial act on St. Patrick's Day when he invited, in memory and affection, the French Cardinal in Curia, Cardinal Mathieu, to preside over the dinner feast at the Irish College. As usual, some of the guests were Australians, and one of them was a visitor back from work under the Southern Cross, the Very Rev. Canon Belton, of the Lateran.' Our readers (says the West Australian Record") will be pleased to learn that it is not contemplated always to allow the mortal re-

mains of the late Bishop Salvado to rest, as at present, far from the scene of his heroio life. The tomb in Rome where they now lie is meant to be temporary only. As soon as the provisions of the Italian law can be complied with they will be brought to Western Australia for permanent interment at New Norcia. It will be generally recognised that the resting place of all that was mortal of the great missionary should repose among the surroundings that bear such glorious witness to his saintly memory. Mr. W. H. Triggs, of the Christohurch Press, whilst in Melbourne got the views of some of the leaders of religious thought aa to the outlook for the Commonwealth. The Archbishop of Melbourne wrote as follows :: — ■ The religions and intellectual development of the Commonwealth during the current century will depend chiefly on the system of education adopted in the variouß States. If the education of youth be purely secular, or only veneered with th© reading of some Scripture lessons in the schools, there is great reason to fear that both intellectually and morally the Commonwealth as a whole, while it advances in population and material prosperity, will decline in the essentials that exalt a nation.' The commemoration of the golden jubilee of Sister Mary Francis took place at the Convent of Mercy, Perth, on May S. High Mass was celebrated in the convent chapel by the Right Rev. Mgr. Bourke, V.G , the Rev. Father Martelli acting as deacon and the Rev. Father Keogh as subdeacon, the Rev. Father Smyth being also present. The sum of the services rendered to religion in Australia by the Sister Mary Francis may be calculated, so far as it is calculable, from the fact that it is over fifty years since, prior to her profession, she arrived in Perth from the famous house of her Order in Baggot street, Dublin. The sphere of the venerable Sister's works of charity and mercy has embraced, besides the city of Perth, Subiaco, Geraldton. York, and Guildford — where for ten years she filled the position of Mother Superior of her Community. Such a career in religion — as meritorious as it has been prolonged — needs no comment. At St, Patiick's Cathedral, Melbourne, special services were held to commemorate the opening of the Commonwealth Parliament. At the Pontifical High Mass celebrated on Sunday, the Archbishop of Melbourne and Bishops Moore (Ballarat), Reville (Bendigo), Corbett (Sale), and Doyle (Lismore) were present. Hia Grace the Archbishop preached from the Bth chapter of Proverbs, loth and 16th verses: 'By me kings reign, and lawgivers decree' just things. By me princes rule and the mighty decree justice. His Grace said that during the present week, with boundless enthusiasm, would be celebrated the political baptism of the Commonwealth of Australia. The object of that baptism would be to clean«e it from all stain of the differences and jealousies and the rivalries which almost every substantial change of Government brought with it The sponsors of that baptism would be the representatives of (he different states of the Commonwealth, who had come to promise that they would see to the strength and stability of that constitution which was the offspring of their political influence. And the minister of that baptism would be his Royal Highness the Duke of Cornwall and York, who would dedicate the Commonwealth to the glory of God, and to the services of the people. As members of the Catholic Church, they would do their part to assist at the celebrations and in future times to prove themselves amongst the most loyal adherents and the most fervent supporters of all that would be needed to increase the strength and glory of United Australia. They would do that, not as a matter of material profit or political exigency, but because they believed, according to the tenets of their faith, that there was no authority except from God, and that those who were ordained were ordained by Him. The following is the address of welcome presented to the Duke of Cornwall by the Catholic Hierarchy of Australia : — May it please Your Royal Highness, — We, the Catholic Hierarchy of the Commonwealth of Australia beg to offer your Royal Highnesr a most cordial welcome to our shores on an occasion which is unique in the history of Auntralia, and is made doubly memorable by the sacrifices which your visit involves. Even when personal and national affliction was most poignant, owing to the lamented death of the illustrious Queen, his Majesty the King graciously determined that the visit of your Royal Highness, which had been arranged in happier circumstances, should not be abandoned or even delayed. In that determination your Royal Highness readily acquiesced, thus giving a second and most practical proof of the lively interest you take in the life, prosperity and progrew of Australia. We have a confident hope that the presence of your Royal Highness at the opening of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia will largely contribute to unite all the citizens of the Commonwealth in fraternal union amongst themselves, and in filial and loyal attachment to the mother country. While professing our allegiance to the throne, and our desire to cordially co-operate with our fellow citizens in making the visit of your Royal Highness and the Duchess of York as agreeable as possible, we desire to take this opportunity of giving expression to the relief which we, in common with every Catholic subject of hiß Majesty, nay, with the whole of Catholic Christendom, feel at the action which his Majesty's Government is taking to remove from the declaration demanded of the King, words which are grievously and needlessly offensive to millions of his Majesty's loyal Catholic subjects. In conclusion we desire to offer to your Royal Highness oar deep great sympathy in a time of trial, and our gratitude for the interest which you have evinced in the welfare of these States now happily united in one great Commonwealth.