§ SIR THOMAS ESMONDE(for Mr. WILLIAM REDMOND) (Fermanagh, N.) (Dublin Co., S.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Is it with the knowledge and approbation of the Local Government Board that the Ely Dispensary in Derrygonally, county Fermanagh, is used by the Orangemen of the district as an Orange Hall, and that an Orange Lodge meets, and the instruments of an Orange band 884 are stored there; is it a fact that Orange flags float from the windows of this dispensary; did a party of Orangemen take possession of this dispensary on the night of the 14th July last, and from the windows shout insulting language at the Catholic and Nationalist people; did those same Orangemen smash the windows of this dispensary on the night of the 14th July last, and, if so, who repaired the damage done to the windows; are Roman Catholic ratepayers asked to support by their rates the said dispensary; and, what course the Government intend to take in the matter?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH) (Bristol, W.)I am informed that the land Lord of the building let a part of it to the Dispensary Committee, and another part to an Orange Lodge. This arrangement has existed for several years, and neither the Local Government Board nor the Lord Lieutenant has any power to interfere in the matter. Orange flags did not float, as I am informed, from the windows of the building, nor did a party of Orangemen take possession of it on the night of the 14th of July. There was a party of Orangemen in that part of the building which was used as their Lodge, and crowds passing shouted at them, and were replied to by rival shouts on the part of the Orangemen. Some windows of the Orange Lodge were broken, but not the windows of the dispensary.