§ MR. WINGFIELD VERNERasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, with reference to recent events in Lurgan, If he is aware that the Law with regard to the playing of bands and drums on the public roads is differently administered in the North from other parts of Ireland, and if he will be good enough to explain why band playing and drumming are prohibited and put down at Lurgan and in other places of the North, while they are permitted and sanctioned in the South of Ireland, especially in the cities and counties of Dublin and Cork?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON,in reply, said, he was not aware that the law as regarded the playing of bauds and drumming parties in the public roads was administered differently in the North of Ireland from other parts of that country. In fact, he was aware that in certain parts of the North of Ireland persons had been punished for these offences. In every case the magistrates must make use of their own judgment, according to the probable effect of such a display upon the peace and tranquillity of the district, as to how far it might be expedient to put the law in force, for proceedings which otherwise would be extremely harmless might, on account of some particular day or locality, be calculated to lead to a serious breach of the peace.