Intercolonial

New Zealand Tablet, 26 July 1906, Page 35

Intercolonial

Mr. Townsend Macdermoft, the veteran barrister of Ballanat, who is 88, was called to the Bar in 1842, and practised as a junior in the Irish courts with Daniel O'OonneU, whose trial he witnessed. The Rev. Father Gannon, CM., Vice-President of St. Stanislaus' College, Bathurst, has left for Ireland. Father Gannon has been 16 years in New South Wales, where he is loved and respected. Monsignor Beechinor says of the late Mr. Michael Davitt that, excepting Daniel O'Connell, no Irishman was held in higher esteem than the deceased, who had been a true friend of Ireland. The Hon. C. O'Reilly's reappearance in the House of Assembly (Hobart) is most interesting. After 30 years' absence, he brings back to a chamber which sadly needs it the courtly grace and dignity of the old-time politician ; aye, a nd the chivahy of the olden days, too. On Sunday, July 8, his Lordship the Bishop of Ballarat laid the foundation stone of a new church at St. Arnaud, in the presence of a very large congregation. The church is to cost about £1000. Already over £1200 1 in cash ha\e been subscribed, the collection on Sunday amounting to o\er £300. The death is reported of Sister Colette (Carolan), who passed away at St. Joseph's Convent, North Sydney, on July 7. The deceased had spent over 36 years in St. Joseph's Convent. Her early years were passed in the Queensland schools, a nd later on in New South Wales, and she was for a lime in Meanee, Hawke's Bay. A cable message was received last week conveying the sad intelligence of the death, on July 19, of Mrs. H. J. Olle, of Penshurst, Victoria, aunt of the Rev,. Father Hickson, Christchurch. The deceased lady, who was a near relative of the Irish poet, Gerald Griffin, was an extremely gifted woman, highly popular and very charitable, and her loss will be greatly felt in the district — R.I. P. Miss Amy Castles, in a private letter received in Melbourne, says that, notwithstanding her successes at Home, she is longiog lor a wsit to Australia, and that she is fully determined to forego all European engagements to come here in 1908. She is booked ahead for many of the principal musical festivals, and she has already been approached by an American syndicate for an appearance in grand opera throughout the States. On Monday evening, July ( J, a dinner was given by his Grace the Archb|ishop of Meltpurne in honor of the Irish envoys, Messrs. J. Devlin, M.P., and Donovan, LL.B. Nearly seventy gentlemen were present, including 1 the Postmaster-General (Mr. Austin Chapman), the Minister for Lands (Mr. Muiray), the Chief Secretary (Sir Samuel Gillot), the Hon. 11. B. Higgins, the Hon H. Mahon, the Hon. N. Fitzgerald, and the Hon J. G Duffy. One oosf s the oldest and most respected residents in the Yass district, in the person of Mr. James Gallagher, died at his residence on Tuesday, July 3, at the great age of 105. Deceased has been a resident of the district for over half a century, carrying on farming operations at Bango Creek until a few years ago, when he sold out and went to Yass. During the last few years he had neon in Uad health. The death of the Rev. Mother Mary Francis X a vier (Beechinor) took place on J*uly 3, at the Presentation Convent, Launceston. She had been only a week ill. The last Sacraments were administered by one of her brothers, the Right Rev. Mgr. Beechinor Another, brother, the Very Rev. M. J. Beechinor, of Deloraine, was also present at the Rev. Mother's death, which was most edifying. The deceased was born in the County Cork, Ireland, and was about sixty years of a^e. She was educated ay the Convent of the Sacred Heart at Roscrea, and in 1865 entered the- Presentation Convent, Bandon, as a postulant. As one of a band of postulant nuns she went to Hobart six months after her uncle, the present Archbishop, had assumed charge .of the diocese in 1866. The party of religious were accompanied by the Rev. Daniel F X Beechinor (now Monsignor Beeehinor), nephew of ' the Rev. Mother M a ry Francis Xavier, and brother of the postulant who was soon to become Sister Mary Francis Xavier. In 1&70, when a branch of the Presentation Order was founded at Launceston, the deceased lady was among the first nuns. She remained in Launceston ever since. Her aunt, Mother Mary Francis Xavier (Murphy) died in 1880. This venerated 'religions had governed the houses tooth at Hobart and Launceston, and on her death Sister Mary Francis Xavier became Superioress.