§ MR. O'SHEAasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he has received a Copy of a Resolution unanimously passed by the guardians of the Corofin (county Clare) Union, calling attention to the widespread distress which is apprehended throughout that Union; and, whether ho is in possession of official information, with respect to similar warning, contained, in a Resolution recently passed by the guardians of the neighbouring Union of Ennistymon, and in other documents which have been laid before him?
COLONEL THE O'GORMAN MAHONasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether his attention has been called to a Resolution passed on the 24th of October by the guardians of the Ennistymon Union, re- 946 lative to the distressed condition of that part of the county of Clare; and, whether the Government is likely to carry out the suggestions of the guardians with regard to the means that ought to be adopted by the former for the purpose of adverting, as far as possible, the threatened calamity?
§ MR. TREVELYANI have seen a copy of the Resolutions passed by the Guardians of the Corofin Union, and I communicated with the Local Government Board in Dublin upon the subject last evening. To-day I received a telegram from the Vice President of the Board, in reply to my communication, stating that the Resolution adopted by the Corofin Guardians on the subject of apprehended distress in their Union had reached the Board, who have instructed their Inspector in charge of the Union to proceed there and furnish a Report upon the subject without delay. I cannot, however, expect to receive his Report for a few days. With regard to the Ennistymon Union, I perceive that the hon. and gallant Colleague of the hon. Member also puts a Question to me, and I may answer both Questions together. The Resolution of the Ennistymon Guardians was received by the Local Government Board on the 30th ultimo; they at once directed their Inspector to proceed to the spot, and inquire into the matter. He has done so, and his Report was received this morning in Dublin, and comes over to me by to-night's post. I understand that he reports that the potato crop was a bad one, and that there will be a scarcity of potatoes, and that want of employment will be felt; but, at the same time, he says that it can hardly be contended that the resources of the Union have, up to the present, been seriously drawn on by the expenditure for the relief of the poor, and he thinks it premature to allege that they will prove insufficient to meet prospective expenses. I perceive that in the Resolutions of both Boards of Guardians the work of constructing the Ennis and West Clare Railway is particularly urged, and I am asked to communicate with the Treasury with a view of facilitating whatever loans maybe necessary. I brought the matter before their Lordships on the 3rd instant, and I propose to supply them with copies of the special Report made by the Inspector, which will show how far the necessity for ex- 947 ceptional measures may exist; but beyond this I cannot interfere with their discretion and that of the Board of Works.