INTERCOLONIAL

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10, 9 March 1905, Page 31

INTERCOLONIAL

Mr. M. ORiordan has been elected Mayor of Alexandria for tlhe third' year. The Very Rev. Father M. O' Sullivan, the popular administrator of the Goulbuin Cathedra', leaves within a few days for a holiday in Ireland. The population of the Commonwealth is estimated at 3,055,0C3. The icsult of the estimate will be, it i, said, to giKe New South Wales one more represents ti.e in the Federal Hoase, and to reduce Victoria's representation by one. Superintendent Farrell, of the Tasmanian Police Department, nephew of Viscount Gormanston, a former Tasmarian Governor, has lesigned his appointment, preparatory to leaving for England, where he has inherited some important estates. He is a cousin of the piesant Governor, Sir Gerald Strickland. Sir J,ohn Forrest (says the ' Freeman's Journal ') is of opinion that we are over-governed, aji'd that ' the burden at 700 legislators was too much for a community of less than 5,000,000 people to carry, , and pointed oMt that much of the wonV, which they wee pai-l about £200,000 a year to perform, dimply had th" effe-t of embarrassing the energies of the peoile.' Yet the people seem fond of it. Why, Sydney alone, a city of only 500,1000 inhabitants, nas nearly 600 aldenr.cn trying to govern it in some 50 tin-pot boroughs. The Rev. Father .J. Sharkey, who has been stationed at Tumut for some time past a*> assistant to the Very Rev. Father J. O'Dwyer, P.P., v/as recently transferred to Gundagai as curate to the Rev. Father Donovan, P P. The news of his removal was received with extreme icgret. lie was fatewellcd in the various parts of the parish, arid the people by their testimony showed the high regard in which he was held. lie was preprinted with a purse of sovereigns and an address at Tumut, and the children of the convent school banded him a gentleman's outfit and an address. St. Pal lick's Cathedral, Melbourne, was covvded on Sunday evening, February 19, when the oiatorio, ' Immaiula'ta,' was leprodueed by 400 pupils of the Sisters of C(harily, with orchestral accompaniment, as a complimient to Dean Pliclan, who was to leave in a few days on a trip to Europe. The oratorio was rendered with fine eFevt, and Dean Phrlan complimented all tJioM; who took pa r t on the quality of the music anil ringing. It was gratifying that the work produced that right was not only I,he product of Aus-t v.lians, bit was is-'ng by Australia's daughteis Mrs I' !i a Maty Veibrugge, of Pott MelbiHTi c, widnv, v. ho died on Jrnuarv 11, under a will dhted October ?7, U! ( )0, left estate valued for proiimte at £2250, mcli dint: lealty £2^2(5, and rer.so^.li v £21 All the lectures and other ormaments <-he left ' to be ploccd amon,g the article--, for sale at t.he first ba7aar in aid of St. Joseph's Catholic school, Port Melbourne,' and the proceeds o f furniture to be given to St Vincent de Paul's Ornhanja'oo After several bequests to friclrd-, and providing for the repair of the family grave and Masses for t<he repose of her stoul, she leaves proreries to St Joseph's Church, Port Melbourne, and the residue of the elstate equally between the Little Pi lers of the Poor and Sisters of St. Joseph. The Very Rev. Dean Phelan was given an enthu.'i,i<--tic send-off at the Cathedral Hall (writes a Melbourne correspondent), vvl on fomc 2000 persons, voi ng rnlfM. crowded the fine buiMing Since his arrival in Melbourne lfi ve<irs ago Dean Pheljm has been attached to about halfv-.n-doven parishes in and aiourd Melbourne, and the g,]theri'n<', that nicht v.-.as largely lepresertative of them nil For the rast fVe years he has been Dear, of the Cathedral, and the ypeches of the night were for the me-st rmit culoci^tic of the work he has rime tih'Pre Mr D SL*liery, as chairman of tihp committee vl'-iich orgpr-s^fi movement presented the Dean with an i'l'impnaied pddres^- a.nd a frameil nhot-oci anh. On behalf of the Catholic Yovn? Men's So'ietv, with v/Jii -h Dran Phelan has been actively associated for many yea r s, the president, Mr. R. A. Warmina, presented an illuminated address. The Hon. N Fit'/srerald, K.R.Pr ,ML P., also spake. Dean Phelan, "who was riven a very ro-rdUl reception, acknowledged the snirit which prompted such a splendid gathering- and kindly expression of goodwill. A musical programme of a very entertaining character was ci yen.v en. The general arrangements were car.ried out by Mr. J. P. Rrennan, 8.L., hon. secretary. Many clerical amid lav friends Rtoid good-bye to the Dean on board the ' Mongolia ' at Port Melbourne.