§ MR. M'CARTAN (Down, S.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether his attention has been called to the report of the proceedings of a meeting of the Downpatrick Board of Guardians, as published in The Down Recorder of July 28, and to a letter read at that meeting from a number of ratepayers in the Killough Division of the Downpatrick Union; whether these ratepayers complained that no Division in Ireland, similarly situated, is so highly valued, and requested the Board to send their valuator to re-value the Division, and "equalize it with the rest of the Union;" whether Colonel Forde, the Chairman, stated, in reply, that the Commissioners could not reduce the valuation, as they had power only to increase it; and, whether he will take steps to relieve the ratepayers of this Division from the excessive rates and cess which such a valuation causes to be imposed upon them?
§ THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. MADDEN) (Dublin University)(who replied) said, the reply to the inquiry in the first paragraph of the Question was in the affirmative. The Chairman's observations would be seen, by reference to the newspaper report, to have solely referred to rates which might be put on in cases of the erection of new 1696 buildings. The case was one for the consideration of the Commissioners of Valuation, who gave attention to such cases annually at the proper time. The instructions of the Commissioners were acted on by the Guardians.
§ MR. M'CARTANDo I understand the hon. and learned Gentleman to say that it is within the power of the Valuation Commissioners to vary the valuation?
§ MR. MADDENYes, Sir.