Intercolonial

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVII, Issue 15, 15 April 1909, Page 584

Intercolonial

Ballarat St. Patrick's Day celebration gave a net profit of £525, which is a record.

Though the exact date of the return .of his Grace the Archbishop is not known (writes the Melbourne correspondent of the Freeman's Journal), the laity arc preparing to give the Most Rev. prelate a whole-hearted welcome home to his Cathedral city. A meeting, convened by circular, was held in the Cathedral Hall tot arrange details, and a public meeting will follow, -at which the form of welcome to his Grace will T)e decided upon. The Archbisliop will be welcomed even with more enthusiasm than was the case ten years ago, when his reception partook of a public demonstration, tko city being- en fete for the occasion. The Hon. John. Gavan Duffy, is chairman of the committee, Dr. A. L. Kenny, K.S.G., secretary; Mr. Mornane (solicitor), treasurer. Mr. James Finan, Lower Turner's Marsh, Tasmania, died recently (says the Advocate). Mr. Finan went to the district over forty years ago, and resided there ever since. He lived to be over ninety years of age, and was up and about until a week or two before his death. He hailed from County Sligo, and he came to Tasmania aver seventy years ago. He was an example to the entire district.. Neither cold nor heat nor rain ever prevented him from regular attendance at Mass and the Sacraments. Ho lived more than nine miles from the church, and most of the way was until recently very difficult to pass over. Yet in winter, as in summer, this good old Irishman, even when the weight of ninety. years rested on him, was the first at tho church on the Mass Sunday," and he nearly, always went in order to receive Holy Communion.

Mis Honor the Chief Justice (Sir John Madden), speaking at the Irish national concert in Melbourne, thus spoke of the Very Rev. Dean Phelan, V.G., the administrator of the diocese: — ' I thank the Dean for giving me this opportunity of addressing you in connection with the celebration of Ireland's National Apostle. In the Dean'sremarks we had an example of what is true in the history of our country,"- the strong predominant notes of joy and triumph, with an undercurrent — a minor chord— of lament. In a day the like of which the Irishmen of Melbourne have not seen, the Dean expresses his regret for the absence of his great chief, the beloved Archbishop. In this we all share the regret of Dean Phelan, for the Archbishop was not only the greatest churchman that ev«r came amongst us, but also a citizen of the highest rank, and a statesman whose views on matters of state were respected by even those Avho differed from him. How ever , in most human affairs there was a gleam of light in every trouble, and we are all glad to find that in this day of triumph we have as substitute for the Archbishop a man who has won not only the confidence and admiration of his own' people, but the respect of the entire community.'

A statement went the round of the Home papers to the effect that his Grace the Archbishop of Melbourne was about to apply for a Coadjutor. Referring to this rumor and also to the reported serious illness of his Grace the Advocate says: — "We referred these statements to the Very Hey. Dean PhelaiT/'V.G., and it so happened that lie was in a position to contradict them wholly or in part. . Oiir - readers will, therefore, bo pleased to learn that there is no foundation in the news as to the serious, character of the Archbishop's illness, nor regarding his Grace's application for a Coadjutor. '- Dean Phelan received a letter by the last mail from the Bishop of Ballarat, Dr. Higgins, in which his Lordship anticipated that the rumor would find its way to Melbourne,' and assuring the Dean that it had no foundation, saying ' I hasten to assure you that there . exists no ground for alarm. The Archbishop caught a cold when in tlie country, and he came up to. Dublin for the marriage of his' nephew, when a slight form of influenza supervened. He is now completely, recovered, and in a few days will seek a change, likely in Trance.' - \ With regard -to the alleged application for a Coadjutor, the Dean was told that ' there is no truth in the rumor that the Archbishop has applied to Rome for a Coadjutor, and, of course, no truth in the rumor about Dr. O'Dea.' xr