§ MR. HEALYasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is the fact that Mr. Edw. Browne, Poor Rate Collector, Clones, county Monaghan, recently emigrated, leaving his farm and crop to indemnify the Union; that the Guardians disposed of these for £190; that, subsequently, another creditor, on a Dublin writ, sold the assets through the sheriff for £76; 500 that then one of Mr. Browne's securities became bankrupt, and thus the ratepayers will be obliged, by the dilatoriness of the Board, to make up a large portion of the deficiency; can he explain why the Guardians did not obtain the amount of the sale before the sheriff seized, as this was ample to cover Mr. Browne's liabilities; does their auctioneer still hold a portion of the proceeds; how will this be applied; and, what notice have the Local Government Board taken of the case?
§ MR. TREVELYANThe farm and crop were not sold by the Guardians, but by the Collector, Mr. Browne, who gave a written authority to the auctioneer to hand over the amount of the sale to the Guardians. The auctioneer does not appear, however, to have received the money, as the sale fell through, owing to some informality, and the purchaser evaded payment, and got out of his bargain. Afterwards, the farm was seized, and sold for the benefit of another creditor. The Guardians, under the advice of their solicitors, after inquiry into the condition of the affairs of Mr. Browne's sureties, accepted a composition from them. In doing so, they appear to have acted in good faith and for the interest of the ratepayers as well as the circumstances admitted; and I understand, from the Local Government Board, that they do not see any way in which they could usefully intervene.
§ MR. TREVELYAN, in reply, said, the composition was 15s. in the pound.