§ MR. SEXTONasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he has observed that, at a recent inquiry at Sligo, before Mr. Power, an Inspector of the Irish Local Government Board, as to circumstances connected with the election of a Poor Law Guardian for the Electoral Division of Ballinakill, in the Union of Sligo, it was proved in evidence that a number of votes had been improperly refused, and a number unduly recorded, that a proxy paper had been forged, and that a series of acts of illegality and neglect had been committed by officials concerned in the rating of the Division, and in the election for it; what action will be taken with regard to the return of a candidate at the said election, and to the conduct of the said officials; and, whether the Local Government Board will now proceed to hold a regular inquiry, and thereby afford opportunity for the tender of evidence with regard to the specific complaints which have been made of illegal conduct on the part of a candidate in the recent election for the Division of Drumcliffe, in the same Union of Sligo?
§ MR. TREVELYANThe Local Government Board have not yet received the Inspector's Report as to the case of the Ballinakill Division, and cannot express any opinion on it until the Report and evidence are received. With regard to the Drumcliffe case, I have already more than once this Session stated that if Mr. M'Govern, the unsuccessful candidate, has any objection to make to the right of the elected Guardian to act as such, the Local Government Board are ready to receive evidence in support of that objection. Mr. M'Govern was so informed by the Board three months ago. He has not made any reply, and the Board await 23 any further statement or complaint before taking the case again into consideration.