Intercolonial

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 42, 17 October 1907, Page 35

Intercolonial

Madame Butt's advice to young Australian musicians or singers who' desire to go to England is ' Dont.' Some of them are good domestics spoiled. The Postmaster-<3reneral, Mr. Maugcr is -responsible for these figures :— Victoria's drink bill in 1890 was £6,730,430 ; in 1905 it had been reduced to £3,991,673 ; or from £6 os. 7d. per head to £3 ss. lOd. A special gold medal for teachers was awarded to Brother Casimir, of the Marist Brothers' School,-Parr-amatta. His _pupils won six first and four second prizes in the School Court of the Parramatta Exhibition. Mr. Justice O'Connor intends to pay a brief visit to Ireland t almost immediately. Ab a meeting of the Commonwealth Executive Council his Honor was given leave of absence from October 1 to the date, of the first meeting of the High- Court in the r new year. The appointment of Mr. Frank M'Donhell to the Legislative Council of Queensland was marked by a presentation at Brisbane recently, by _ the Queensland Irish Association, in the - shape of a, shamrock made of Queensland gold. - - - - . The Very Rev. Father Fogarty, of Burrowa, who has " been for some ~ time under treatment- in - Dr. O'Hara's private hospital, (says the Melbourne ' Tribune ') has left for Lewisham, •• where he will remain during, convalescence at the Hospital of the Little Company of Mary, before returning to his own parish. - The Rev. J. P. M". Connolly, pastor of Sandgate (Q.), for twenty-six years, died on Sep. 23. For the past eighteen months, he had been ailing.' Father Connolly was born in the North of Ireland in 1831 , and was educated in France. Ho arrived in- Brisbane in 1863, and was the "first priest sent to' North Queensland. Marie Narelle's niany friends throughout. Australia.: (says the • Catholic Press '), will be pleased to hear that she is almost completly restored to' health. • She is looking better now, than she has looked for - many years. At present she is at Medlow, and she intends shortly to leave Australia, continuing her. tour of the world. - Madame Melba attended the concert given in Ballarat ■ to aid Mr. Percy Jones, the leader of the Geelong Orphanage Band, to proceed -to Europe, for- the purpose of completing his musical education. The.diva.. was very gracious in her manner. She gave the bandsman an invitation to attend her home at ' Ercildoune, '. and promised to give hinv letters of introduction to all the leading music circles- of Europe. About £400 of the £500 required to send' the talented young artist home has been subscribed. The twenty-fifth anniversary af the foundation of St. Ursula's College, Armidale, was celebrated recently, (says the ' Catholic Press '). The festivities .were partioipated in,' not only by the people of the vicinity, but representatives were present from distant parts of New South Wales, Queensland, and" Victoria, all eagerly enthusiastic in manifesting; their 'esteem for the good!' Sisters of St. Ursula, and- offering their Sbngxatulations on--the progress made by the Order ~in Armidale during the past 25 years. " [ A handsome new Convent at Koroit, was blessed and opened on Sunday, September 29, in the presence of - about 5000 persons. At the conclusion of the ceremony addresses Wiere delivered by his Grace the Archbishop of Melbourne, and his Lordship the Bishop of Ballarat. The Rev. Father Lennon, pastor of K'oroit, announced that the sum of £5,493 9s. lid. had had been expended on the convent., to date, excluding furniture." The receipts amounted to £2,738 9s. 4d., leaving a debit balance of £3,255, including. £500 for furniture.- The collection was then taken up, and resulted in the substantial. amount of £712 10s. being realised.. . •"- On September 28, Mr. and Mrs. P. MacMahbn of 'Fir grove,' Willoughby, celebrated the, 50th anniversary of their marriage. On September 26, 1857, old" St. Mary's Cathedral, Sydney, was the scene of the ceremony, when Patrick MacMahon, second son of Patrick MacMahon, of Cloonteen, near Six Mile- Bridge, County Clare, Ireland, was united to Dora MacDonough, second daughter of Patrick MacDonough William-street, Limerick City. The officiating priest was Father John Eugene Gourf beillon (popularly known at the time as Father John), who, besides being a pious Benedictine, left his mark upon the old 'building in sculptured figures, which are still on the College street facade of the Cathedral.