§ MR. LITTONasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it be true that the clerk of the Midleton Union, on the occasion of the late annual election of guardians, completed his scrutiny on the 24th March, issued notices to the elected guardians on the 25th, and held the election of chairman, vice-chairman, and deputy vice-chairman, on the 26th, without having issued notices of such election to the ex-officio guardians, and having stated at the Board meeting on the previous Saturday that such election would not take place till Saturday the 2nd April; and, if true, whether the election of chairman, vice-chairman, and deputy vice-chairman, is legal; and, if not, whether the Local Government Board will have the same set aside or direct an inquiry into the circumstances under which the election took place?
§ MR. W. E. FORSTERI have made inquiry, and I find that the facts of the matter are very much as stated; but I cannot say that the clerk to the Guar- 1079 dians has acted illegally. I fear nothing can now be done. The Local Government Board are advised that the omission of the clerk to send the notices to the ex-officio Guardians does not invalidate the election, and it is, therefore, valid.