§ MR. BIGGARasked Mr. Solicitor General for Ireland, Whether any legal means exist for compelling the county Leitrim grand jury to collect the arrears of cess, amounting to £53 10s. 8d. on the evicted lands of Colonel Tottenham, M.P. in the baronies of Rosclogher and Dromahaire; is it the fact that the owner has already been successfully decreed for poor rate and seed rate on said lands; can he explain why, out of £125 due, only about £50 was recoverable; and, if this be owing to a portion being over two years in arrear, will he give instructions to the Local Government Board for speedier collection to be insisted on in future; and, do any means exist of ascertaining the extra amount of poundage that falls on the rate and cess payers of Leitrim in consequence of the non-collection of the levies on evicted farms?
§ THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. WALKER)£53 10s. 8d. was returned as arrears of county cess, due on lands of Colonel Tottenham, which had been evicted. These arrears have been re-applotted on the lands liable, and it is believed no extra poundage will be imposed under this head. An arrear of poor rate and seed rate accrued while certain lands were un-tenanted. Colonel Tottenham, who is not, in any event, the person primarily liable, was decreed at the April sessions for poor rate and seed rate to the amount of £37 9s. 6d.; a balance claimed of 1839 £37 12.s. 1d. was irrecoverable by reason of more than two years having elapsed from the making and publishing of the rate, and the 12 &13 Vict., c. 104. protecting in such case the person not primarily liable. Colonel Tottenham has appealed, as he contends he had no beneficial use of the lands while they were untenanted. The clerk of the Guardians states instructions to proceed were given in time, but that the actual proceedings were not taken till too late. The Local Government Board is now aware of the default. I cannot say what the extra rate may be by reason of £37 12s. 1d. being lost; but it is very insignificant.