People We Hear About

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIX, Issue 29, 18 July 1901, Page 10

People We Hear About

Mr. Swift M'Neill, M.P., is a barrister and for some time filled the Professorship of Constitutional History in Trinity College, Dublin. Mr. John Byrne, of Goodna, Queensland, celebrated his 103 rd birthday on June 10th, having been born the year of the great Irish rebellion. The veteran expresses himself as being in good fettle, and pluya uricktil uocaoionally. Johaan Kubelik, the young Bohemian violinist, after a concert at the Vatican recently, was received by Leo XI II., who engaged him in conversation touching upon music. In the end, the Pope conferred upon Kubelik the Order of the Knighthood of St. Gregory. Gregory is a name that is indipsolubly identified with the art of music. Kubelik first saw the light at Miohle, in 1880, and after receiving lessons from his father, who was a market gardener, he ptudied at the Conservatoire of Prague. It waa through Dr. Hans Richter, a compatriot of his, he went to England. The newest 'society 1 shopkeeper in London is Miss Moira O'Brien, daughter of Ellen Lady Inchiquin — and of a hundred kingn withal — who has started in millinery at the Marble A rob. Certainly few people became a pioneer to more purpose than the late Lady Granville Gordon, who was the first of the great world to go into business on a serious scale. Miss O'Brien's plucky desire to strike out a line of her own is not unintelligible. All Lord Inchiquin'a children by his second marriage — who are seven — are daughters, and all are unmarried. In all the chief of the O'Briens has 14 children. The English at Fontainebleau the other day, and there are a good many there just now (writes a Paris correspondent), were witnesses of an imposing manifestation in honor of Rosa Bonheur. The whole town was illuminated. The occasion was the unveiling of a monument to the memory of the deceased artist. It was not the rugged features of Rosa Bohneur or her form in masculine garb, with which the world is familiar, that were to be handed down to posterity in bronze or marble. The veil fell in presence of the assembled multitude, and disclosed a splendid bull in bronze. It was Rosa Bonheur'a single attempt at sculpture, bat it was a masterpiece, Mr. Hugh MMahon, one of West Australia's members in the House of Representatives, is a well-known Irish journalist. He entered journalism — of which profession he ia one of the best men of the time in Australia — while quite a youth, and was editor of a paper published in New-Rosa, in the county of Wexford. Here he laid the foundation of a reputation for journalistic vigor and freedom of expression which he has maintained during his connection with the Australian Press. When he arrived in Sydney, he was engaged as leader of the Parliamentary staff of the Tel f graph. When Coolgardie broke out he went to the West, where he conducted the Golden Age and the Courier, and afterwards founded the first paper at Menziep, where he became very popular and influential. Then he took charge of the Kalgoorlie Star, and from Ealgoorlie he was sent to the Federal Parliament. He is a clever speaker. The Ramsgate correspondent of the Star writes that Joseph Lawrence Butler, who claimed to be Lord Cahir, an Irish peer, his age being 81, recently arrived myßterioua.ly at Ramsgate. While lodging there he was described as extremely reticent, discouraging all inquiries as to his relatives or identity. Then, through lack of means, he drifted iuto Minster Union Workhoupe. where his personal effects confuted of some worthless South African shares. At hia death the workhouse master communicated with Lord Arthur Butler to ascertain whether the claim to the Irish peerage was well founded. Hia Lordship replied, disclaiming all knowledge, and Joseph Lawrence Butler, described on the workhouse certificate as ' commonly called Lord Cahir,' was buried by the parish. His manner was described by those with whom he lodged as that of a well educated and polished gentleman. When in the workhouse infirmary Butler became rather more communicative, and insisted npon the genuineness of his claim, but it does not appear that these facts were brought to the notice of the Board of Guardians until after the claimant's death.