People We Hear About

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIV, Issue 25, 21 June 1906, Page 10

People We Hear About

Perhaps one of the strangest things in connection with the late calamity in California (says the 'Dublin Freeman ') is the fact that riot a single secular priest, nun, or -regular priest, or Christian Brother or mem'bter of any ot the religious or teaching Orders, was killed or seriously injured. It may be a coincidence, but it is a very striking one, and we are glad to record the fact, as fourtiiths of the Religious Orders and priests ami the Catholic teaching staff in the State of California are Irishmen and Irishwomen, m o st of them from the Old Country, and doubtless their friends, here at home will be glad to hear such pleasant news. Mr. Charles Santley, now in his 73rd year, is still singing leading baritone parts in English oratorio — a notable instance .of professional longevity in music. He is still billed at large on the hoardings, and was one of the principal vocalists at a fine production of ' Elijah ' in the Crystal Palace on. Good Friday. It is within a few months of 50 years since he began his career on the same difficult concert platform and there met the lady (then Miss Gertrude Kemble) whom he shortly afterwards married. Mr. Santley appeared successfully for a time on the operatic stale, but he never cared much for it, and h-as been engaged during the greater part of his life in concert and oratorio singing, varied by teaching and composing. The splendid reception accorded Miss Maud Mac Car.* thy in Dublin lends keener interest to the news that she has been made happy with the gift of a costly violin, subscribed for her by a few admirers. Miss MacCarthy has one dearly-prized possession, which, next tc her own violin, she cherishes with the greatest affection. It is a -book presented to her by the late Mr. Gladstone, who was among the audience when she made her first appearance as a child of ten at the house of a famous political hostess. Mr. Gladstone was greatly delighted with the little girl's playing, and in the fly-leaf of the book the distinguished statesman wrote : ' To the dear little Irish musician, from W, E. Gladstone. Thoughts for a future time, perhaps (which God grant), of happy retrospection.' i | |ij Monday last was the 24th anniversary of the consecration of Dr. Dunne as Bishop of Brisbane. In 1885 Queensland was made an ecclesiastical province, with Biisbane as the archiepiscoual £>cc, and by Papal Brief of May 10, 1887, Dr. Dunne was appointed the first Archbithop. His Grace was born in Lismore, County Waterford, 7i6 years ago, and after his preliminary education at the local grammar schcol, went to Rome to pursue his ecclesiastical studies at the Irish College, lie was ordained priest in 1855, and, after returning to Ireland, was for some years connected with St.- Lawrence's School, Harcourt street, Dublin, of which Dr. J. O'Quinn, first Bishop of Brisbane, was then Rector. Soon after Bishop O'Quinn's arrival in Queensland, he was followed by Dr. Dunne, who became the Bishop's private secretary. Later on he was appointed administrator of the Cathedral, then to the pastoral charge of Toowoiomba, and Vicar-Genenal. Bishop O'Quinn died in August, 1881, and Dr. Dunne was consecrated the second Bishop of Brisbane in June of the following year. The Hen. William Hall-Jones, the Premier-elect, was born at Folkestone, Kent, in 1853. He was educated in the public school, ami served his apprenticeship as a joiner. Up to the .time of his embarking for New Zealand, and for some time after his arrival in the Colony, Mr. Hall-Jones rworked at his trade. Landing in 1873 in Port Chalmers, he remained for about two years in Dunedin, removing to Tirnaru in 1875. For six years and a half Mr. Hall-Jones acted as foreman to Mr. Oorge Filmer, a local builder, and then commenced business on his own behalf, which he continued until the demands of public life necessitated his retirement. His early experiences in public lie were gained during about five years as councillor for the Borough of Timaru> and as a member of Ihe Levels Road Board, with which he was cennected for three years. Mr. Hall-Jones was first elected as a memtiier of the House of Representati\es for Timaru in August, 1890, at a by-election, caused by the death of Mr. RkJiard Turnbull, and he has held the seat ever since. Mr. Hall-Jones, when the late Hon. John Ballance came into office, was appointed colleague to Sir W. B. Perceval, as Junior Government Whip, and on the latter leaving to take up the duties of Agent-General for New Zealand in London, Mr. Hall-Jones became Senior Whip. In 1896 Mr. HallJones joined the Soddon Ministry as Minister for Public Works.