Intercolonial

New Zealand Tablet, 5 October 1916, Page 55

Intercolonial

Dr. O’Donnell’s retirement from the presidency of the U.I.L. will be received with deep regret (says the Tribune). For almost a lifetime lie has been an enthusiastic and sacrificing worker in every Irish cause. His devotion to Ireland has been on the altruistic kind, and little but sacrifice and loss came his way for the many efforts he successfully headed in the cause of the Fatherland. At one time, Dr. O’Donnell might have embraced politics with bright prospects. He declined, but made much time from the practice of his profession to advance the cause of Irish nationality in Australia. Though Australian born, Dr. O’Donnell has been for many years, perhaps, the leading Irishman of Australia, and it would have been a pleasing and fit termination of his efforts if he had represented Australia at the opening of the promised Irish Parliament. But now the page of Irish history is again turned back, and meanwhile the Doctor, after many years of earnest work, is in failing health. We trust the retirement is only temporary, and that he will be soon to the fore again in the cause of Irish-Australian patriotism. By the Omrah, which arrived recently at Fremantle, Sister M. Dolores, of the St. John of God Community, in the Vicariate of Kimberley, came back from Ireland, after an absence of two years, bringing with her five new recruits for the congregation—Sisters M. Annunciata, M. Visitation, and M. Presentation, who received the white veil in Ireland : Misses M. Doyle and J. Richardson, who came as postulants. After a few days’ sojourn with the St. John of Cod Sisters at Subiaco (says the Catholic. Pres*), they left for their new home in the North-west. Since the establishment of the Order by Mother M. Antonio O’Brien, in June, 1907, the St. John of God nuns have done splendid work at Broome, Beadle Bay, and Lombadina, among the natives, training the women and girls, attending the sick and afflicted, and imparting a sound religions and secular education to all the children committed to their loving care, whether white or colored. In addition to a well-designed convent, there are commodious quarters for the native women and girls, as well as a new chapel and school and spacious dormitories. Under the fostering care of the Very Rev. Father J Creagh, C.SS.R., who has lately been appointed to rule over the extensive Vicariate, the cause of religion and education is making rapid progress. In describing the great Irish relief meeting held in the Sydney Town Hall a short time ago, the Catholic Press had this to say : * An hour before the appointed time the seats in the vast auditorium began to fill, and when the Lord Mayor, accompanied by his Grace the 'Archbishop and the State Ministers, arrived, many thousands of eager faces turned towards the great platform, which was itself packed with some two or three hundred priests and other leading Irishmen. A few seats in the front, which had been reserved for country visitors, were immediately filled from the ranks of those who had come late, prepared to stand : and still the crowd flowed out into the corridors, while many hundreds, after vainly endeavoring to get within earshot of the speakers, returned patiently to their homes, thanking God that the Irish and Irishmen’s children in Sydney had not failed to hear their motherland.’ Among the speakers were his Grace Archbishop Kelly, the State Premier (Hon. W. A. Holman), the Lord Mayor of Sydney, and several State Ministers. In the course of his speech, the Lord Mayor stated that the sum collected during the evening amounted to £I7OO. He had presided at several great gatherings in the Town Hall, but never one of such historical importance as the present one. Within an hour’s time the cables would be vibrating with a message to the Prime Minister of England, acquainting him of the great gathering held in the Sydney Town Hall that night.-