The Sun.
London, England, 1867-10-12 00:00:00

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, o`3t. 11.
The cattle show of the Erne estate at Lifford,
which was held this week at Ballindrait, was for
many reasons one of the most interesting that has
yet taken place. Lord Erne and several of the gen-
try of the neighbourhood attended. A striking im-
provement was noticed in the stock exhibited, and
the beneficial results of the inducements held out by
the Irish Peasants' Society of London to improve
the character of the cottage farms and labourers'
dwellings was greatly noticed. In his lordship's ad-
dress to his tenantry he announced the next year he
would give further prizes for seamstresses and for
farm servants who have lived the longest time in the
same employment. He congratulated the farmers
upon the prosperous harvest they had secured and
the prospect of obtaining remunerative prices for
their produce. He stated that he had never wit-
nessed more comfort, more cleanliness, or a greater
appearance of industry and prosperity than during
his visit to his tenantry. He was also gratified by
their open and friendly reception of him. There was
not, he said, a farthing of arrear due on the estate,
and the tenants had laid out last year in permanent
improvements £490. He referred to a return from
his agent, which showed that in nine years the
tenants had expended in permanent Improvements
—such as drainage, subsoiling, fencing, and build-
ing—no less than £5,900. He referred particularly
to one tenant, named Robinson, who had built a
scutch mill and gasworks at his own expense, and he
recommended the other tenants to imitate the regu-
larity, cleanliness, and system which pervaded all his
work. his lordship's plan as regards the society is
to contribute double the amount of the farmers'
subscriptions, and he strongly urged them to give
more liberally to it. He also advocated the neces-
sity of their improving the dwellings of their
labourers, if they wished to retain their services.
In order to encourage improvements he allows at
once 5 per cent. upon whatever is expended. The
advantage of estate shows, instead of county
shows, is apparent in the greater emulation which
they tend to promote, not only between the farmers,
but the proprietors, and in the good feeling which
is called into play when the two classes of landlords
and tenants are brought into closer contact, and
enabled to take a closer and more enlightened view
of their mutual interests. There are several societies
upon this plan in Ireland, and the effect of their
operation has been almost invariably to smooth
away prejudices on both sides, and awaken feelings
of attachment and confidence.
A magisterial inquiry was held yesterday with
respect to the conduct of Maurice Dunne, an engine
driver, in the employment of the Waterford and
Kilkenny Railway Company, who is charged with
having wilfully driven his the engine on line at
Maryborough on the evening of the 30th September,
without any authority, and thereby obstructed a
train coming from Waterford to Maryborough,
causing damages to the carriages and endangering
the lives of the passengers. An accident occurred
on the occasion, which, fortunately, was not attended
with any loss of life, although the accused himself
was at the time reported to have been killed. Evi-
dence was given that Dunne wilfully drove the en-
gine on the line and occasioned a collision with a
passenger train belonging to the Kilkenny Junction
Company. The magistrates resolved upon sending
the case for trial, but admitted him to bail. The
occurrence was only an incident in the fierce war
which is raging between the companies, and which
has been productive of much inconvenience and an-
noyance to the public.
The flax movement is extending steadily in the
county of Cork, owing chiefly to the active interest
taken in it by Lord Bandon and Col. Bernard. A
meeting of the Ballineen Farmers' Club was held
on Wednesday, at which his lordship presided, and
congratulated them upon the success of the flax-
market which they had already established. Some
excellent advice was given by gentlemen from the
north of Ireland who attended.
The Poor-law Commissioners in Ireland have an
extremely difficult task to perform in the fair and
firm administration of their departments. They have
succeeded, however, by their prudence and deter-
mination, in checking abuses and maintaining a
uniform and efficient system. Au instance of some
of the obstacles which were thrown in the way may
be mentioned. Some time ago it was accidentally
discovered that a relieving officer in the Longford
Union bad kept back for long periods sums of money
given to him for the use of the poor. The Commis-
sioners instantly required him to resign. Some of
the guardians attempted to shield " the poor man,"
but the Commissioners threatened to dismiss him if
he did not resign, and he had no alternative but to
obey. A majority of the guardians now persistently
urge the Commissioners to let them allow him a re-
tiring pension for his " faithful services" for 20
years. The Commissioners, however, have steadily
refused, and are not likely to establish so dangerous
a precedent.

Some petty charges of Fenianism continue to be
brought in different parts of the country. In almost
every instance the only offence proved has been
using seditious expressions while in a state of
intoxication, and sufficient punishment has been
imposed in binding the parties over to keep the
peace. No prosecution of a serious nature has been
instituted.
A gentleman, it appears, has recently taken a
pedestrian cruise round " Erin's Isle," and made
observations in his diary of the various phases of
Irish character which he witnessed. Perhaps the
following incident, which occurred some time since,
and has escaped notice in the press, may serve to add
a curious illustration of our manners and customs.
It is not merely founded " on fact," but it is in all
material points literally true. In one of the work-
houses of Dublin—north or south, it matters not
which—an old woman died who had long been an
inmate. Boards are generally as hard as they
ought to be, and are little afflicted by such a
casualty, except as it relates to their contracts.
They never omit, however, to show a becoming con-
sideration for bereaved friends, so far as giving
them notice of the fact, in order that if they choose
they may pay the last tribute of respect by interring
the deceased at their own expense. Accordingly in
this instance word was promptly sent to Bridget
Murphy, as we assume her name to be, informing her
that her mother was no more. Bridget hastened to
the workhouse, and was brought by an officer of the
house into the dead-house where the body lay. He
witnessed unmoved the outburst of Bridget's grief,
being familiar with such scenes. After it had sub-
sided she examined more minutely the features of
the deceased, and at length exclaimed, " That is
not my mother at all !" He calmly observed, " Well,
you ought to know best." She looked again, and,
more perplexed than before, remarked, "It cannot
be my mother—sure my mother had a Williamite
nose !" It may be well to explain that the Celtic
antipathy to the "glorious memory" of King
William does not extend to his nose, which is re-
garded with traditional respect as the type of true
gentility. The officer replied, " Well, you had
better leave her where she is." "Is it to leave her
in this cold place?" she said ; " no, I must take her
away." She had the remains accordingly removed
to her lodgings. Her friends and neighbours
assembled that night at the " wake," which was
conducted with the customary observances—the
chief essentials on such occasions being innumer-
able
candles, unlimited whisky, and an inex-
haustible mixture of sacred and secular things,
lamentations and lovemaking, snuff-taking, story-
telling, smoking, joking, gibing, and, to crown all,
an indiscriminate row at the end. Matters went
on as usual until an advanced hour in the night,
when misgivings as to the identity of the deceased
began to increase as the liquor.began to fail. At last
they were convinced that they had been " waking"
the wrong person. A hearse was obtained, the body
was brought back to the workhouse, and next day
they discovered that it was another Mrs. Murphy
who had died, and that the one in whose honour the
" wake" had been celebrated was still a living charge
upon the rates. Now comes the sequel of the tale.
In a few days a bill, of which the following is an
exact copy, was furnished to the guardians to re-
cover expenses incurred through their mistake in the

notice :-
4‘ Bread and butter, 4.4, 6d. ; office (for the dead),