PEOPLE WE HEAR ABOUT

New Zealand Tablet, 2 August 1917, Page 43

PEOPLE WE HEAR ABOUT

A writer in the National News gives a penportrait of Father Bernard Vaughan—a "clean-shaven man," who, "though a Jesuit of the Jesuits, is, nevertheless, singularly wide-minded, broad-visioned, and entirely sympathetic and understanding." The writer recalls a scene aboard a P. and O. boat homeward bound from India. "At the pressing invitation of the whole of the passengers, he (Father Vaughan) consented to give us an address upon the Being of God. And there upon the wide, blue ocean, with only the canopy of heaven above him, clad in cassock and biretta, and in the presence of a congregation which included all sorts and conditions and classes of men and women, the most enthusiastic and admiring of them all being a Congregational and a Baptist minister, who bad purposely foregone their own service that they might hear the famous Jesuit preacher, he spoke, without note or book, and with the most winning persuasiveness. ... He made an impression that day upon his hearers which did not soon pass away." Widespread regret will be expressed at the news of the sudden death of Dr. M. U. Sullivan, which occurred at his residence, Eildon, Grey street, St. Kilda, on Sunday morning, June 24. Dr. Sullivan had not been in good health for some time, and had a few days ago returned from a trip to the north of the State. He had a sharp attack of angina pectoris early on Monday morning, and his eldest son, Major R. F. O'Sullivan (Staff Officer to the Director-General of Medical Services), who lived with his father, attended him. The atack seemed to have passed off, and Dr. O'Sullivan was talking to his son when he suddenly died. Dr. O'Sullivan, who was born in County Kerry, Ireland, 64 years ago, qualified at Edinburgh University (L.R.C.P. and L.R.C.S., Edinburgh) in 1877, and, after gaining hospital experience, came out to Australia in 1881. He bought a practice at Numurkah, and stayed there till 1885, when he came to Melbourne, and had practised in Collins street ever since. He specialised in gynaecology, and was regarded as one of the leading authorities in the world on this subject. For 26 years he was surgeon at the Women's Hospital, and for about 10 years was chairman of the staff. He was also on the staff of St. Vincent's Hospital for many years. He retired from hospital practice three' or four years ago. In 1905 Dr. O'Sullivan took a trip round the world, and during his visit to Ireland was elected a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons. Dr. O'Sullivan was a valiant son of the Catholic Church. On his visit to Italy in 1905 he had audience with the Pope, and was created K.C.S.G. Dr. O'Sullivan leaves a widow and three sons. There are several families in Ireland who have had political history for generations past, and the old Wexford family of Redmond is one of them (states the Hobart Daily Post). The late Major was a son of the late W. A. Redmond, M.P., and was born in 1861. He was educated at Clongowes College, County Kildare, and adopted the profession of the law. He married in 1886 a daughter of Mr. James Dalton, of Orange, N.S.W.—an extremely fascinating and accomplished lady. His father was a distinguished member of the Irish party in the days of Isaac Butt and other leaders. When quite a young man the late Major Redmond visited Australia with his brother John (now leader of the Irish party) on behalf of the Irish cause and was scarcely granted a hall in which to advocate the claims of Ireland. He was met with determined

social hostility everywhere. Times have now ■ changed, and if the late Major had visited Australia during the past year no mortal man would have got 0 warmer welcome from all classes of the community. ;He was a man of great natural ability, and although ailess polished orator than * his brother, the present , leader of the Irish party : (who might be said to be quite Ciceronian in his style) was none the less a master of language and phraseology. During the Parnell regime in Ireland the late Major Redmond was a little more inclined to allow' his feelings to influence .him in statement than his brother, who, though a man of profound convictions and strong feeling, is temperamentally more deliberate, and therefore more fitted for Parliamentary leadership. Major Redmond fully accepted the pacification between England and Ireland involved in the conversion of Gladstone to Home Rule, though at the time of the split in the Irish party he was a supporter of Mr. Parnell in a policy which protested against too great a reliance on the Liberal alliance. Almost the moment the war broke out the late Major announced his intention of assisting the Empire on the field of battle. That intention was put into practice, and after a military career which had added lustre to a name already revered as that of a patriot he made the supreme sacrifice. The late Major Redmond was a great admirer of Australia, and was the author of two books, A Shooting Trip in- the A ustralictn Bush, and Through the. New Commonwealth, in which he extolled the virtues of this country. He was member for Clare when he died, but in the 'eighties and 'nineties he represented his native County of Wexford.