§ MR. LALOR (Queen's Co., Leix)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If it is a fact that Mr. Vesey Fitzgerald, Divisional Resident Magistrate, at present residing at Portarlington, Queen's County, refused, on the 17th February last, to attest the signatures to four claims to vote at an election of Poor Law Guardians when presented to him in the Petty Sessions Courthouse, Portarlington, by Mr. John Kavanagh, Poor Law Guardian for Ballyhittas Electoral Division, Mountmellick Union?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. JOHN MORLEY) (Newcastle-upon-Tyne), in reply, said, Mr. Fitzgerald informed him, in respect to the case referred to, that he expressed himself as quite ready to attend to any application addressed to the Bench in a proper and respectful manner; but he did not re- 805 gard Mr. Kavanagh's application or demeanour as coming within that category. It was Mr. Fitzgerald's practice to afford every facility to persons desiring to address the Bench who claimed to vote.
§ MR. JOHN MORLEYMr. Fitzgerald's account of the demeanour of this gentleman is not prepossessing. As to Mr. Fitzgerald's particular action in that matter, I cannot say.
§ MR. O'KELLY (Roscommon, N.)Had not Mr. Kavanagh a legal right to what he asked?
§ MR. JOHN MORLEYA respectful demeanour should characterize the applicant.