§ MR. LEAasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If he has investigated the reports of extreme distress prevailing in the neighbourhood of Carrick; and, if he proposes to adopt any measure of relief?
§ MR. TREVELYANOne of the Inspectors of the Local Government Board was sent specially to the Carrick district to report on the alleged impending famine in that district, and I have received his Report, which is dated the 28th ultimo, and is of a re-assuring character. An Inspector of the Board is at present on the spot making further inquiries, and I expect to have his Report in a few days. No exceptional measures of relief are at present proposed; but we are closely watching this, and the other districts, where exceptional distress is said to exist, or to be anticipated.
§ LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILLasked whether the right hon. Gentleman was aware that in the autumn of 1879 nearly all the Inspectors of the Poor Law Board gave reports of a re-assuring character?
§ MR. TREVELYANassured the noble Lord that the Government had been, and were, quite aware that it was always much safer to be on the hopeful side in the early days of what might prove to to a serious matter.