§ MR. P. MARTINasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Is he aware that John Nolan, of Faley, Kilmacow, farmer, was informed by Colonel Mollan, E.M., that he was unable to grant him a licence to have and carry a rifle gun with the barrel cut short to make it handy for the purpose of killing crows in and upon his farms in the county of Waterford, even though the application was duly signed in the usual way by the magistrates; is it not the fact that, on the district being proclaimed, the gun in respect of which the licence was requested was duly surrendered to the police by John Nolan; and, is it not the fact that he is a thriving, industrious, and independent yeoman, having some 166 acres held in fee farm in his possession, besides other lands which he holds in fee simple; is it the fact that Colonel Mollan has received special instructions from Dublin Castle not to grant a licence for any rifle guns; and, if so, when were such instructions given, and what are the exact terms; and, is Colonel Mollan justified if an 214 application duly signed be presented by John Nolan in now refusing to grant him a licence to have and carry this rifle on his farms?
§ MR. W. E. FORSTER, in reply, said, that the person in question could not be granted the licence required. It was not the fact that the application was signed by two magistrates of his district, as required by the Act.