MR. O'BRIENasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether Mr. Elliott, the rate collector of the Blackrock Township Commissioners, is now rate collector of the Rathmines district of the South Dublin Union and secretary of the Drummond Institute; whether, at a recent sworn inquiry, ordered by the Local Government Board, it was proved that there were 121 persons on the Parliamentary register for the county of Dublin for the Rathmines polling district alone, as rated occupiers, whose names did not 1475 appear upon the rate books, and who were not objected to by the Union authorities at the last County Dublin Parliamentary Revision Courts; whether, at such sworn inquiry, Mr. Elliott, on cross-examination, stated on oath that in his district the larger portion of the rates for the year were collected before the 1st day of June 1883, and that he considered that his duty to make inquiries as to rated occupiers with a view to making objections on the Parliamentary Voters' Register ended when he received payment of the rates, and that in many instances landlords in the Rathmines district, owning a large number of houses, paid the rates thereon, and in such instances he had made no inquiries, and relied solely on such notifications of alterations in tenancies as these landlords had given him; whether Mr. Elliott has collected and misappropriated more than £2,000 of the Blackrock township rates, and has assigned substantially all his property as security therefor; whether a Committee of the Blackrock Commissioners make a daily audit of Mr. Elliott's collecting accounts; and, whether the Local Government Board intend taking any steps in reference to Mr. Elliott's conduct?
§ MR. TREVELYANMr. Elliott holds the appointments stated. The evidence given by the Clerk of the Union and Mr. Elliott at the sworn inquiry bear out the statements in the second and third paragraphs of the Question, and these officers have been censured by the Local Government Board. The Board have at present no information, beyond that contained in newspaper reports, as to the alleged misappropriation of the township rates; but the subject is engaging their careful attention. I am informed by the Secretary to the Township Commissioners that the entire matter is under the consideration of a Special Committee of the Board, who have all but closed their proceedings; but have not yet brought in their final Report.