Irish News.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 37, 11 September 1902, Page 9

Irish News.

CL A RE.— Death of a Priest.

Our Irish exchanges report the death of the Rev. Hugh J. Gleeson, P.P., Kilnxacduane, County Clare, which sad event took place at the parochial lcsidcncc, Cooraclarc, at the age of 72. The deceased priest was a son of the late Michael Gleeson, of Curragh, Portroe, County Tipperary, and was educated at the Diocesan College, Ennis. He was a studenti ia All Hallows College, Drumcondra, Dublin, and the Grande Seminaire, Quebec, and was ordained dn the latter city in the year 1858. He was for four years assistant priest in St. Patrick's Church, Quebec, and in 1862, on his return to Ireland to visit his aged parents, was shipwrecked, the vessel striking an iceberg, and sinking in thirty minutes. He and most of the passengers were saved, being picked up soon after by an outward bound ship which returned with them to Queenstown. Rev. H. Gleeson was appointed for a short time curate in Mountshannon, and was promoted successively to Templederry, Clonlara, Castleconnell, and Broadford. Twenty-two years ago he was appointed to the pastoral charge of Kilfidane, Coolmeen, and five years ago he was promoted by the present Bishop, the Most Rev. Dr. WRedmond, to Cooraclare, where he died Mr. Edward Banry, M.P. for South CORK. — Another Resignation. Cork, has intimated by letter to the ' Cork Examriaer ' his intention of resigning his seat in Parliament, to which he was elected in 1892. Mr. Barry finds himself unable to givo the constant attendance in Parliament which is requisite in an Irish member without serious .injuiy to his business, and so he proposes to make way for a representative who can givo the needful attendance at Westminster. The Exhibition. To uso an American phrase, the promoters of the Cork Exhibition seem to have ' struck ile,' as the attendance had been constantly on tho increase since it was opened on May 1 until July 22, on which dato a record was established — the numbers who passed the turnstiles "being 25,000. The concourse (writes a correspondent) was one of the most* fashionable ever seen in. tho ptovince of Munster. As to the various sii doshows, they were patronised beyond their capacity, notably tho water chute, which is considered by all who have seen it and seen others to he one of the most complete and safest ever erected . Cardinal Moran. In accepting the freedom of Cork last week, his Eminence Cardinal Moran expressed sympathy with Catholics in thoir claim for a university and their efforts to obtain tho enforced saie of farms to tenants and autonomy at least eqjial to tha.b of Australia, Ho was confident measures now bitterly opposed would ultimately be conceded.as perfectly equitable. DOWN.— Death of Mr. Jonhston. Mr. William Johnston, M.P , tho well-known Orange leader, died at his residence, Ballykilbeg, on. July 17, at the age of 73 years. The deceased, apart from his political and religious opinions, was respected for 1 his sincerity, and one of the first to send a letter of condolence to tho family was Mr. John Redmond, M P. DUBLIN —Census Returns. The census returns for tho city and county of Dublin state that tho total number of persons resident ttf the city on Census night last .year was 290,638 (of whom 140,388 were males and 150,250 were females), as compared with 268,650 in 1891, be-

ing an increase of 8.2 per cent. The number of distinct families in the city at the time of the late enumeration was 59,263, the average number of persons in a family being thus 4.6 and the number of inhabited houses was 32,061, showing an average of 8.6 persons to each house. The number of occupiers (or heads of families) in occupation of less than five rooms in 1901 was 46,869, or 79.0 per cent, of the total number of families in the city, and of these 92 were occupiers of part of a ,room only ; 21,702, or 36.6 percent, of the total number of famines ia in the city were occupiers of ono room ; 13,620, or 23.0 per cent., occupiers of two rooms ; 5971, or 10.1 per cent., occupiers of threo rooms ; and 5484, or 1.3 per cent., occupiers of four rooms. Of tho persons enumerated in the city in 1901, 66.6 per cent, were born in Dublin city or county, 16.2 per cent, in other counties of the province of Leinster ; 4 9 per cent, in Munster 3.5. per cent in Ulster, 2.0 per cent, in Connaught, 5.5 per cent, in Great Britain, 1.3 per cent, wero born abroad,, and 42 persons were bonn at sea. Of the total population of the city 237,645, or 81.8 per cent. were Catholics ; 41,683, or 14.3 per cent, were Protestant Episcopalians ; 2342, or 0.8 wero Methodists , and 4074, or 1.4 were Presbyterians ; 4861, or 1.7 were of other denominations ; while 52 refused information as to their religions. As compared with these figures, tho Catholics in 1891 formed 82.2 per cent ; the Protestant Episcopalians, 14.4 per cent. ; Presbyterians, 1.4 per cent. ; Methodlists, 0 7 per cent. ; and other denominations, 1.3 per cent. The percentage of inhabitants who wero ablo to read and write last year was 75.7 as compared with 69.1 ten years before, and the percentage of those who were able to read only was 4.6 as compared with 6 9, whilst the percentage of lllito nates was ]9.7 as against 24 0. A Princely Gift. Mr. Edward Martyn, whoso enthusiasm 'ior sixteenth century church music is so well known, has, accordiing to a Dublin journal, made tho princely gift of £10,000 for the endowment of a permanent male choir at the Pro-Cathedral, Marlboro' street, Dublin The choir will bo gin their regular work at tho Cathedral early in the autumn, and the finest polyphonic compositions by tho early and later masters of church music will be given. LEITRIM.- Salutary Advice. Rev. Father Tubman, pastor of Virginia City, Nevada, preached a powerful sermon on Sunday, July 20, in his native parish church, Augnasheelan, County Leitrim, on emigration. Ho has been a numben of years in Western America, and is at present at homo on vacation An immense congregation heard the Rev. Father's remarks with the closest attention. In the course of his discourso Father Tubman strongly urged his hearers to remain at homo and to make tho best use of tho opportunities at their disposal. As an example of the fate awaiting tho Irish in America, he referred to the very city where his priestly labors wero spent for years. In Virginia City most of the population was Irish. The principal industry was mining. Gold and silver formed tho product of these mines. The rate of wages was high. In fact, for eight hours workmen were paid 16s, yot when tbo great expense of living was deducted little was left to put away But this was not all. The nature of tho work entaiied tho gravest and most disastrous consequences Apart from the great danger to life and limb, the dust and atomised minerals and powder smoke from being constantly inhaled, produced that fearful disease known as ' miners' con. sumption. ' which usually attacked its victims after eight or 10 years in the mines, and which always ended

in death. Who would leave the blessed air of Ireland for such a lot? These people lay buried in a foreign land, when many of them could still bo enjoying life had they but remained at home. Father Tubmaa ended his sermon by expressing, delight to bo again among the fair hills, charming lakes, beautiful rivers, and delightful plains of his native Bailinamore. LIMERICK.— A Centenarian. Centenarians, as a rule (writes an Abbeyfealo correspondent), appear to bo remembered only when death has put an end to their long and invarfably -uninteresting lives Mrs. Ellen Reidy, who still resides at Old Chapel street), Abbeyfeale, may be found to bo one whose interesting reminiscences rango from the early part of tho last century, and who is now commencing what happens to be tho third century of her experience. Born tho year before the '98 Rebellion, her memory still retains impressions of many striking historical events which occurred shortly afterwards. Her recollections of the exploits of Captain Rock, the leaden of tho Rockites in 1819, whose headquarters were situate in the then unfrequented slopes of the Cratloe Mountains of West Limerick, and the White Boy raids of '21 and '22, aro still vividly clear. Incidents connected with the part taken by West •Limerick in the '48 movement are also indelibly fixed in her memory. Unlike most centeneriansv whoso biographical sketches credit them with robust health to the last, Mrs. Reidy has not enjoyed good health for some months past, while documentary proofs of the accuracy of her exceptional ago are in the possession of Mr. D. Leahy, solicitor. Death of a Veteran. Tho death occurred on July 18 at his residence, Georgo street, Limerick, of Mr Thomas Gaffney, J.P., at tho advanced of 75 ...Mr. Gaftney, who was a member of an old County Limerick family, was an ardent Home Ruler from Butt's tima downward, and took an active i art m politics locally. Ho sat in tho Corporation fon the Dock Ward rntil the end of 1897, and was engaged largely in the corn and Hour tiai'.p. Ho had been a justice of the peace since 1885, and had literary tasted and a tasto for archaeology. Of late he had been a confirmed in?t'ii I,'but his death occurred rather tmexpocod}y. General sympathy is felt ?•>• '.»•« membens of his family. SLlGO.— Released. On Julj 19 Mr John FttZtfil'boti and Mr latrick Webb coatolpted 'he term of four months' imprisonment imposed upon them under the Coercion Act, and were released from Sligo Gaol Demonst/rations wero organised at Ballagihadereen, Loughglynn, and Castlereagh, in order to greet the prisoners on their release. Mr. John P. Hayden, M P , and Mr John Cullinan, M.P., were present. WICK LOW.— A Visit to Bray. Cardinal Moron's 1 appearance in the pulpit at the Church of Our Most Holy Redeemer, Bray, on Sunday, July 20, diew thousands of visitors to that watering place, and many were unable to obtain admission to tho church. The sermon was one of great power, the Cardinal dwelling in vivid language on Ireland's missionary labors The sacred music was admiravly rendered by the Palestrina choir under the conductorahip of Mr. Vincent O'Brien. His Eminence was presented with an address by the Bray Runal District Council. In reply be assured them that Australia was in sympathy with Ireland. The people of Australia were proud to learn that Ireland was holding her own, and they hoped for her future.

GENERAL.

The ' O'Rourke Millions.'

A firm of solicitors in Glasgow who had written to tho United States Consul in London with regard to tho millions' alleged to l^e been left by the late Mn. Page O'Rourke, of Chicago, has received the following, reply : — ' I have your letter enclosing, newspaper, clipping about the ' O'Rourke millions " in America. I think II can safqly say that tha whole story is fiction-romance — plainly speaking, a scheme concocted to get money out of tho " o'Rourkes." Tho satmo scheme is industriously worked, and tho unsuspecting pay for being humbugged. This newspaper article gives no date whereby the alleged fortune could be located. You know such fortunes do not lie around loose — it is supposed to be in Now York or California,3ooo miles .uvay— or elsewhere ? A man from my ' cwu State worked this game for several years, by having an office m London to adviso the unsuspecting that large fortunes awaited thorn in America. He had an office in New York, and he therefrom advised them that largo fortunes awaited the legal heirs in Great Britain. This self-constituted benefactor got IS years in an American penitenary. If there was a man in America, who left an estate of £21,000,000 (105,O00,000clols) I would havo heard of it. The whole scheme, as I say, is a fraud., Don't invest one cent in it.' The Landlords' Combine.

The Irish Nationalist newspapers do not seem to take the new Landlords' Combine very seriously. The Belfast ' Examiner ' writes as follows :— Tho newest thing in trusts is the venture of the Irish landlords, which is to be floated on a capital of £100,000. The new combine is, however, only an old concern under a now name. The shares of the Land Corporation of Ireland Guarantee Company Limited are to be transferred to the Trust, and the former will bo wound up. The circular, in declaring the objects which tho Trust has in view, states the primary ends are to absjst the landlords to resist combinations of tenants, to take any legal proceedings necessary to defend themselves, and to assist in stocking or cultivating evicted or boycotted lands. The, prospectus pays an unwilling; tribute to the strength of the tenants' organisation, and goes on to point out tho necessity for a new defensive organisation of this character ' arising! from the widespread revival of boycotting, intimidation, refusal to pay rent, and other forms of unfair and illegal pressure at the instigation of the United Irish League, which is stated at the present time to have upwards of 1400 branches in Ireland.' An appeal is made for prompt and liberal support,' and subscription forms and other papers havo been sent out broadcast. The Right Hon. A. H. Smith-Barry hoods tho list with a donation of £1000. It is a remarkable fact that amongst tho names of the trustees are those of two Privy Councillors — Lord Clonbrock and Mr. Sinith-Barry~and it will bo remembered that tho signatures of these two gentlemen were also appended to the recent coercion proclamations. The interests of landlordism and of tho Castle are identical. The launching of this new eviction combination will, however, only bo the means of infusing fresh vigor into tho people's organisation. The new move only indicates the dire straits to which tho landlord party! have been reduced. Tho evictors and the Castlo arc now openly leagued against the open and legal union of tho tenants, but, nevertheless, we venture to predict that tho unholy allianco will find itself ell'ectuiilly checked by tho people's organisation in the end. A Generous Friend.

Mr. John E. Redmond, M.P., Chairman of the Irish Parliamentary

Party, received, on July 20, the folf olio wing letter from Mr. James D. Whelan, ex-Mayor of San. Francisco, who lutd been on a visit to Ireland : — ' Since my observation of men and events in London during the last two months, I am convinced that tho action brought by Lord De Freyno against the Irish National League is designed to crush your party and destroy the political lifa of the people. I trust that you will make a strenous defence, and show again that the Inish cause is not without leaders equal to the emergency or sympathetic friends. The work you and your Party have don© is beginning to tell in the improved political condition, and this effort to undermine your organisation must) surely fail. I enclose you mycheque for £500 for defence.''