§ MR. DONAL SULLIVAN (Westmeath, S.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, What is the population of the county of Cork; what is the proportion of Catholics and Protestants in that county; what is the number of magistrates in that county; how many are Protestants and how many are Catholics; and, how long has Lord Bandon, the present Lieutenant of the County, held that office, and how many 534 Catholic and Protestant magistrates has he appointed during his Lieutenancy?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH) (Bristol, W.)With regard to the population and religious professions of the inhabitants of the county of Cork I fear I cannot add anything to the information already before the House in the Census tables. Also, with regard to the number of magistrates of each religious persuasion the House is in possession of all the information at the disposal of the Government, an elaborate Return having been presented in June last on the Motion of the hon. Member for South Kilkenny (Mr. Chance). The present lieutenant of the county has been in office for nearly 12 years, and of the magistrates now in the Commission who were appointed by him 118 are Episcopalian Protestants and 49 Roman Catholics.
§ MR. CONYBEARE (Cornwall, Camborne)In connection with the last Question may I ask whether the Return to which the right hon. Baronet referred distinguishes between those magistrates who were Protestant and those who were Catholic?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHI believe it does. I believe that was the object of the Return.