MR. JUSTIN HUNTLY M'CARTHY (for Mr. T. D. SULLIVAN)asked Mr. Solicitor General for Ireland, If it is a fact that for the two years preceding last May the High Constable for the barony of Ballinahinch, county Galway, Mr. H. Smyth never made an appearance in the Island of Boffin, or demanded county cess in that place; whether, in consequence of such neglect on his part, an arrear of cess accumulated which the poor people of the island could not possibly pay at once; whether those people were led to believe that the money would be taken from them by instalments, and whether they paid £50 of it when Mr. Smyth first came without a police escort to demand it; whether Mr. Smyth, with a gunboat and a force of police, came to the Island unexpectedly on the 6th of May, and immediately proceeded to distrain the sheep and cattle of the people for the balance of the money, thereby causing great excitement in the island, endangering the peace, causing injury to the cattle, and putting the tenantry to much trouble and cost; and, whether the Government will inquire into the proceedings which took place in the island?
§ THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. WALKER)It is not the fact that Mr. Smyth never made his appearance in the Island of Boffin, or demanded county cess for the two years preceding May, 1884. In March, 1883, he was on the island with two constables, and served his notices; but he and his boatmen were assaulted with stones and threatened. In August, 1883, a gunboat and party of constables were detailed to protect him; but as the order was countermanded he did not go till the 10th of September, 1883, when he re- 600 ceived about £52, and a fortnight after he paid another visit, and received £12. A gunboat and party were detailed to protect him in March, 1884; but this expedition was abandoned, owing to stress of weather, and he was not able to go then until May, 1884. It was not through any default of his the arrears accrued, and he did not lead the people to believe the money would be taken by instalments. He did, on the 6th of May, 1884, land with a force of police and made several seizures, and during his stay of a week levied about £70. The peace was not endangered, as he had a sufficient force with him; and I am informed no cattle were injured. Any cost incurred was the legal costs incidental to a distress when such was made. The only proceedings taken were the necessary ones in discharge of the collector's duty.