§ MR. STACPOOLEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, What is the cause of the delay in the Parliamentary publication of the Returns of the Owners of Land in Ireland, similar to those which nearly a fortnight since were published respecting the Owners of Land in England?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHI am informed that the reasons for the delay in the publication of the Irish Domesday Book are—first, that the official instructions for the work were not issued to the Irish Local Government Board until January, 1873, some months later than in England; secondly, that the local work fell on the clerks of the unions, who could only devote their leisure time to it, and, as the unions are very large, this caused much delay. I am happy to say that the work has now 1209 gone through the Press, and is expected to be ready for presentation about Easter.
§ MR. JOHN BRIGHTsaid, that there was a Return which was furnished to the Government before the Land Act was brought in, which gave an admirable account so far as he was a judge; and he should think that if the Government laid that Return upon the Table it would be very satisfactory to the public.
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHsaid, he was afraid that the Return would not answer the purpose, for it would not be correct down to the present time. The Return for Ireland would be, as far as possible, precisely the same as that for England.