§ MR. SEXTONasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether the Rev. James M'Fadden, P.P. Gweedore, county Donegal, was, on the 24th ultimo, during the scrutiny of the votes in the Poor Law election for the Dunfanaghy Union, expelled from the board room of the returning officer; whether the Rev. James M'Fadden had not a legal right to be present; whether, after the expulsion of the Rev. Mr. M'Fadden, the returning officer allowed Captain Murphy, Dunfanaghy, Mr. Beattie, Crossroads, and other persons who were not concerned in the elections, either as proposers or candidates, to remain in the board room; what notice will be taken of the conduct of the officials; whether illegalities and irregularities affecting the elections for the divisions of Magheraclogher, Meenacladdy, and Dunlewey have been reported to the Local Government Board; and, what decisions they have given, especially as to claims to vote which have been made by occupiers whose valuation is under £4 per annum, but is higher than their rent, and who are liable to pay Poor Rate on the difference between the rent and the valuation, and are not entitled by Law to deduct the Poor Rate on the amount of such difference from the rent?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANMr. M'Fadden was allowed to be present at the counting of the votes for the division for which he nominated a candidate; but he had no right to be present at the counting for other divisions. The Returning Officer states that Captain Murphy and Mr Beattie were not admitted until their divisions were called, and that then were no persons not concerned admitted during the day. The Local Government Board have received complaints and objections from Mr. M'Fadden in reference to the recent elections for five divisions of this Union, and they are in correspondence with him on the subject.
§ MR. SEXTONIs it not a fact that Father M'Fadden was entitled to be present?
§ MR. CAMPBELL -BANNERMANsaid, that the proposers were entitled only to be present during the scrutiny of their own division.