§ MR. SEXTONI have to ask the Chief Secretary whether it is true that the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Lord Londonderry, and the Lieutenant Governor of West Munster, Colonel Turner, have intimated their desire to resign; whether he can confirm the statement that the County Court Judge of Kerry has practically cancelled the sentence which the Removable Magistrates have inflicted on Mr. W. O'Brien; and whether he has done this in consequence of the Trustees of the Kenmare estates having refused to refer their disputes with the tenants to arbitration?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI have not yet received a full report of what has occurred, but, as far as I am informed, the right hon. Gentleman is under a mistake. Judge Curran has distinctly stated that the Resident Magistrates have only done their duty in the course they have taken with regard to Mr. O'Brien. I believe I was right in saying on the previous day that the verdict of the learned Judge had no reference to the action taken by the Trustees of the Kenmare estate. I believe there is no foundation for the rumour with regard to Colonel Turner. As to the 254 Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, he originally took the office for two years, and under pressure from the Government he consented, at great personal inconvenience, to extend his term of office. We have no right to suppose that he will continue to do that, but he has not sent in his resignation.
§ MR. SEXTONWith reference to Judge Curran, may I ask whether the upshot of the matter was not that the Judge inflicted no sentence with regard to the appeal before him?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI do not believe that is a correct statement. The County Court Judge reduced the sentence by two months, and left the remainder of the sentence untouched.