People We Hear About

New Zealand Tablet, 13 February 1913, Page 41

People We Hear About

The late Earl of Ashburnham, who became a Catholic in 1872, was a K.G.C. of the Sovereign Order of Malta and of the Order of Pius. He succeeded his father as fifth Earl in 1878, and is now succeeded by his brother, the Hon. John Ashburnham, who is a nonCatholic. Popular rejoicings have taken place at Doneraile at the restoration to health of the Very Rev. Canon P. A. Sheehan, D.D., P.P., after a prolonged illness. The whole town was illuminated, and a torchlight procession, headed by a fife and drum band, marched to the Canon's residence, where a selection of music was played. Commenting on the demonstration of Irish Protestants in support of Home Rule, the Daily News says: ' The idea that Protestants in Ireland are unanimously opposed to Home Rule has long been dissipated. The truth is that what is best in Protestant Ireland is in enthusiastic sympathy with Home Rule. Could the Unionist cause in Ireland produce any platform comparable with that of the other day when men of such conspicuous gifts and curious points of view as Mr. G. B. Shaw, Mr. Stephen Gwynn, Sir A. Conan Doyle, Canon Lilley, Canon Courtenay Moore, and the son of the defenter of Ladysmith united in protesting against the efforts which are* being made in North-East "Ulster to involve the political issues with religious conflicts? 5 Mr. Justice Real, senior puisne judge of the Queensland Supreme Court, was on a visit recently to Melbourne, with Mrs. Real and their son, Mr. E. Real, who is a, member of the Queensland Bar. The visiting judge (says the Aye), whose commanding figure stands over six feet in height, is a typical example of what a combination of study, energy and industry can achieve. As a young man he was a mechanic at Ipswich (Q.) railway workshops. His spare moments were spent in studying for the Bar, and in 1874 he was admitted. His progress in the law courts was rapid. Before many years passed he was called upon to act as District Court judge, and after filling the position of Crown Prosecutor with distinction for some years, he was elevated to the Supreme Court Bench in 1890 sixteen years after being called to the Bar. Mr. Justice Real, who was an old colleague of Sir Samuel Griffith on the Queensland Bench, is mentioned as likely to be appointed to one of the three vacant positions on the High Court Bench. The Irish News, at the request of an English correspondent, gives the following particulars regarding the ancestors of Sir Conan Doyle, who took a leading part in the recent Protestant Home Rule demonstration in London:—Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's grandfather was a famous artist in his day. Eighty years ago his initials, ' 11. 8.,' were as familiar as the names of Lord Melbourne or Sir Robert Peel. He was an original member of the staff of Punch, and materially assisted in making that paper's reputation and fortune but he resigned an important and remunerative post ; rather than lend his pen, or the sanction of his name, to the caricatures of Catholic prelates and the anti-Catholic jeremiads in the pages of Punch during-the controversy over the abortive Ecclesiastical Tithes Bill. John Doyle's (' 11. B.') sons, Richard and Charles, inherited their father's abilities, and were also famous artists in their day. Charles was the father of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. 'H. 8.,' who was born in Dublin in 1797, died in London in 1868. He was a Catholic; Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is a Protestant. No member of the family has been directly connected with this country since ' 11. B.' left Dublin probably eighty years ago, or more. The novelist, whose conversion to Home Rule has made a deep impression on so many minds, was born in 1859 at Edinburgh. -

Ashburton

(From our own correspondent.) The dates for the forthcoming bazaar have been definitely fixed for the Bth to the 15th March. The stallholders report a ready response to their appeals for assistance, and everything points to the bazaar proving an unqualified success. The Catholic Young Men's Club, after a vacation of a couple of months, opened the session on Thursday evening last by the holding of an 'At home' in the club rooms. Mr. W. J. Cunningham (president) presided over a large attendance of members and their friends. The early part of the evening was devoted to a progressive euchre tournament, the prizes for same being won by Miss N. Bradley and Mr. Duncan McDonald. A musical programme followed, the following contributing:—Pianoforte solo, Miss K. Nealon songs, Miss Cunningham (Christchurch), Messrs. V. Madden, T.' Purcell, and Duncan McDonald; recitation, Mr. M. J. Moriarty. Refreshments were handed round during the evening, and the entertainment in every way proved the equal of its predecessors.

Palmerston North

(From our own correspondent.) ' February 2. Rev. Father McManus, of Inglewood, who has been appointed to succeed the late Father Costello, will take charge of this parish during the coming week. At the recent half-yearly meeting of the local branch of the H.A.CB. Society, Bros. August Max and M. Rosauwoski were elected president and vicepresident respectively. The Hibernians will hold their St. Patrick's Day sports as usual, and a strong committee has the arrangements in hand, and, given fine weather, the success of last year will be repeated. Rev. Father Bergin, of Manaia, and now appointed to Waipawa, celebrated the 11 o'clock Mass on Sunday, after which there was Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament during the day. Father Bergin preached eloquent sermons both at Mass and the evening devotions. . St. Patrick's Choir will hold their annual picnic at Ashhurst. Their intention is to arrive in time to sing the music of the 11 o'clock Mass, and so give our friends of the two congregations of Ashhurst and Raumai a musical treat. The choir, which now num-

bers thirty members under Mr. Tabor, have never been so efficient as at present. At a large and enthusiastic meeting held on Sunday, night last, Rev. Father Doulaghty (being in the chair), a strong committee was set up to deal with the St. Patrick's Day' celebrations. It has been decided to hold ah Irish national concert in the evening. A sub-committee was set up, with Messrs. W. T. Tabor and R. Oakley as chairman and secretary respectively, to make the necessary arrangements.