Intercolonial

New Zealand Tablet, 3 February 1916, Page 55

Intercolonial

After labouring successfully for 13 years in Australia, Brother T. J.~ Murphy, of the Christian Brothers, Lewisham, has been recalled to Dublin, Ireland. During his sojourn in,Australia he made for himself many friends.

The Very Rev. Father Ryan, S.J. (Provincial), received word recently of the death of the Rev. Oliver Daly, S.J., who pasesd away in Ireland at the age of 72 years. Some score of years ago, the deceased priest gave missions in various parts of Victoria, the other States, and New Zealand. He was an effective preacher, and his labors were most fruitful.

The popularity of the new Lord Mayor of Sydney (Aid. R. D. Meagher) has been evidenced by the thousands of congratulations sent from all sections of the community, while far-away prominent politicians and representative public men of the other States also forwarded messages of warm regard (says the Freeman's Journal). 'lncluded among the callers were his Grace the Most Rev. Dr. Kelly (Archbishop of Sydney), members of the District Board of the Hibernian Society, a number of the clergy, and many members of the State and Federal Houses.

Rev. Father * Fahey, who has been in the Blue Hospital, Malta, recently wrote from that institution to Archbishop Clune, of West Australia: 'When the campaign started in Turkey, the Blue Sisters placed their hospital at the disposal of the War Office. Hundreds of officers have been.through here, and they all speak most highly of the way they have been treated by the Sisters. The majority, of course, were Protestants, but they have all gone away converted from the non-Catholic to the Catholic view of convents and nuns.' The Malta Hospital was built by Mother Xavier, now of Lewisham Hospital, Sydney.

We cannot pass by without remark the devotion of our old boys to their religion (says Our Alma Muter of St. Ignatius College, Riverview, Sydney). A striking instance comes to mind. On the voyage from Australia to Egypt, we know that on at least three transports old Riverview officers and men conducted church parade on Sundays. One officer, since killed in action, Captain Barlow, actually had a congregation of 500 to 600 at each service. Four others on another transport were not content with Sunday services alone; they must needs have one every night: the Rosary and—never forgotten—the ' Hail, Queen of Heaven.' On yet another transport an O.R. officer preached each Sunday to the Catholic soldiers.

The heroism and zeal of the Rev. Father J. Fahey (Western Australia), chaplain to the Expeditionary Forces, has moved the Imperial authorities to award to the devoted priest the Distinguished Service Order (says the Freeman's Journal). Father Fahey has sent to his Grace Archbishop Clune, of Perth, several communications giving graphic details of the life and dangers in the trenches, but modestly omitted all reference to any of his own acts of devotion. Particulars of these became known from other sources. We know that the zealous chaplain landed with a covering party at Gallipoli, and spent many months ministering to the wounded and dying in the danger zone. He was finally wounded and conveyed to Malta, and subsequently was sent as a convalescent to:London. - Father Fahey spoke very highly of the glorious work of his fellow-priests, many, of whom have been wounded on the heights of Gallipoli. Rumors were circulated and published that Father Fahey had won the V.C. for leading the soldiers in a charge after all the officers had been killed, and high tributes were paid to his bravery, etc. ' As a matter of fact, according to his own words, Father Fahey was too busy consoling the dying to think about rushing any of the heights at Gallipoli. ; ;-. • ; '