§ MR. SEXTONasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether Mr. Eyre W. Preston, who lately resigned his office of Investigator of Tithe Rent Charge in obedience to the direction of the Irish Land Commissioners is still in the office of the Commission; and, if so, if he would explain the reason?
§ MR. TREVELYANSir, the Land Commission, thinking that Mr. Preston did not understand his tenure of office, gave him an opportunity of withdrawing his resignation, of which he availed himself. The matter having subsequently been brought under the notice of the Lord Lieutenant, without whose assent Mr. Preston could not be removed from office, His Excellency conferred with the Land Commissioners, when it was decided, having regard to the fact that Mr. Preston had been in the service of the State for 38 years without a complaint having been made against him, and to the fact that he never had anything to do with the action of the committee, upon which his name was placed without his authority, that the case would be fairly dealt with if Mr. Preston were reprimanded instead of being dismissed, provided that he undertook to withdraw his name from the committee of the Orange Hall and disavowed any responsibility for the terms of the appeal for funds, and further that he expressed regret at having allowed his name to appear, and undertook never in future as long as he should hold office under the Land Commission to take any public or prominent part in any political mat- 219 ters.With these conditions Mr. Preston has complied. Consequently, he is still in the employment of the Land Commission.