§ COLONEL O'BEIRNEasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If he can now state the result of the inquiry that has recently been held into the circumstances attending the election for clerk of Petty Sessions of the Dromod and Drumsna Districts, County Leitrim; and, if he will lay upon the Table of the House a Copy of the Correspondence, and of the Report of the Inquiry?
§ MR. TREVELYANI have inquired very carefully into this case, and have found that there are two magistrates who support Mr. Ruthven's statement that he took part in the general business of the Petty Sessions on the days in dispute—the 9th of January and the 20th of March—which attendance would be necessary in order to qualify him to vote. On the other hand, there are two magistrates who maintain that on those occasions he took no part in the business. Under these circumstances, I have come to the conclusion that the original entry in the order-book must govern the case; and I have, therefore, recommended Mr. Ruthven's vote to be set aside, on the ground that it was not properly registered on the occasions in question.