§ MR. TUITE (Westmeath, N.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If two men named Keena and Costello were summoned to 1354 appear at the Rochford (County Westmeath) Petty Sessions, on the 15th July last, to answer the complaint of Mr. Rochfort Boyd, J.P., D.L., for injuring an eel weir, his property, and also to answer the complaint of the Kilbeggan Drainage Board for trespass; whether the defendants, with their solicitor, extended; but, as only one magistrate appeared, the cases were postponed until the 17th August; whether, on the 17th August, the defendants again attended, with counsel and solicitor; but, as no magistrate attended, the Petty Sessions clerk declared the Court adjourned; whether, on the latter occasion, even the prosecutor, Mr. Boyd, did not attend; whether the frequent non-attendance of magistrates at not only Rochford, but several other Petty Sessions in Westmeath, has been frequently complained of, and what action will the Government take to ensure the attendance of magistrates at Petty Sessions in the county; and, whether, having regard to the loss sustained by the defendants, Keena and Costello, in bringing counsel from Dublin, a distance of 54 miles, any compensation will be afforded them?
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER SECRETARY (Colonel KING-HARMAN) (Kent, Isle of Thanet)(who replied) said, the clerk of Petty Sessions reported that Keena and Costello, the two men referred to, were summoned to appear at the Rochford Petty Sessions on the 20th July, and not the 15th. Two magistrates attended; but one of them being a Trustee for the drainage district he could not hear the case, and the other magistrate adjourned the cases so that he should have assistance. The defendants raised no objection to the adjournment. They appeared again on the 17th August; but no magistrate attended. Mr. Rochfort-Boyd was not present; but he was represented by his solicitor.
§ MR. TUITEsaid, the right hon. and gallant Gentleman had not answered the last paragraph of the Question.
§ COLONEL KING-HARMANsaid, he did not see that there was any necessity for granting costs for bringing counsel from Dublin. There were excellent legal practitioners in the town.
§ MR. TUITEMay I ask the right hon. and gallant Gentleman, whether the celebrated Major Traill is in charge of the Mullingar district for a consider- 1355 able time, and that he had only attended one Petty Session since he became locum tenens?
§ COLONEL KING-HARMANsaid, he was not aware.