Intercolonial

New Zealand Tablet, 20 August 1914, Page 41

Intercolonial

. Very Rev. Father J. P. Dunne, P.P., V.F., who, prior to becoming parish priest of Wollongong, had spent 18 years in charge of Bulli, was entertained at the friendly Societies’ Hall in the latter town the other evening, and was the recipient of presentations from the residents.

Mr. Frank Ccen, one of the most promising' young Catholic barristers at the New South Wales bar, has been selected by the Liberal Party to carry their colors during the Senate elections. lie is a robust young Catholic Irish-Australian, and is a younger brother of Father Alphonsus Coen, C.P., who is well known in the Eastern States as an eloquent and earnest missionary. The Catholic Federation (says the Melbourne Advocate) is to be congratulated on .the result of the last two by-elections, which, apart from their political aspect, show the weakness of the claim that outside the Catholic body there is a general demand for Scriptural instruction in the State schools. The Catholic vote was undoubtedly felt, especially at Essendon'; but, for that matter, so was the non-Catholic vote which swelled the majority. The members of the Bible Instruction League who can take comfort out of these last two elections must rival in optimism the famous Dr. Pangloss himself.

Among the recent appointments to the Legislative Council of Queensland (says the Southern Cross) is that of Mr. 1. J. O’Shea, one of the leading members of the legal profession in the State. He is the senior partner of the well-known firm of O’Shea and O’Shea. Mr. O’Shea is in the prime of life, being in the vicinity of 50 years. His father, at one time a well-known business man in Brisbane, is still alive and hale and hearty. Mr. O’Shea has always taken a keen interest in Home Rule, and during the sojourn of Messrs. Devlin and Donovan to Queensland he accompanied them on a trip to North Queensland. He was for six years president of the Queensland Irish Association, and is a polished speaker.

The North Queensland correspondent of the Catholic Dress writes: ‘ The people of Bowen were much disappointed that their late pastor, Rev. Father Roulliac, S.M., did not get further than Gladstone on his recent visit to Queensland. Many of his old friends looked forward to seeing him again, and are glad to hoar that he is enjoying good health in Sydney. Visiting members of the Marist Order have always been popular in Queensland. Townsville people remember Father Ginisty, and Father Thierry with kindly feelings and during his illness in St. Vincent’s Hospital, the late Father Englert was gratified to receive many letters and telegrams from people in Rockhampton and the outlying districts, where he worked for six or seven years.’

The Rev. Father James Ryan, the popular administrator of the Orange parish, in the Bathurst diocese, purposed, before the war broke out, taking a health trip to Europe in order to thoroughly recover from the very serious illness that recently caused his many friends so much anxiety (says the Catholic Press). In farewelling him the other day, his parishioners presented him with the largest testimonial ever offered an Australian priest. It amounted to nearly £llOO. Father Ryan will now probably change his plans, arid may defer his departure until after the war. Indeed, once the war is really on, travelling by sea will be a risky business, for all the contending nations will have their cruisers and privateers on the look-out for prizes.