§ MR. J. F. X. O'BRIEN (Mayo, S.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is a fact that Mr. John Roe, solicitor to the lately dissolved Board of Guardians of Donaghmore Union, in the Queen's County, has received a sum of £800 out of the rates for fees under the Labourers' Acts; whether anything has really been done within the area of the said late Union in the way of housing the labourers; and, what work was performed by Mr. Roe in consideration for the sum mentioned?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)It appears, from the minutes of proceedings of the Guardians, that when the affairs of the Union were being arranged prior to its amalgamation with neighbouring Unions, the solicitor of the Board sent in his bill of costs, which had been allowed to run on since 1869, and amounted to £363. The Guardians agreed to allow him £300, which included whatever may have been due to him under the Labourers' Acts. The 846 amount is not distinguished; but, of course, it could only have formed a very recent part of the debt, which had been accumulating for 17 years. The schemes under that Act fell through, as, owing to delay on the part of the Guardians in the presentation of their petition, the dissolution of the Union took effect before anything could be done.