§ MR. O'KELLY (Roscommon, N.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord 821 Lieutenant of Ireland. Whether it is true that Mr. Cecil Roche, E.M., was sent specially to Boyle to try a summons for non-payment of rates, issued by the Town Commissioners against Colonel King-Harman, M. P., and Mr. Webb, J.P.; whether Mr. Roche accepted Mr. Webb's hospitality, and put up at Mr. Webb's house during his stay in Boyle; whether Mr. Roche dismissed the summons against the de-fondants on the ground that a question of the lawfulness of the prosecutors' title to act as Town Commissioners had been raised; whether Mr. James Candon, the present Chairman of the Town Commissioners, has been appointed a Justice of the Peace by virtue of his title as Town Commissioner, under Section 29 of 17 & 18 Vict., c. 103, and has held a Town Court fortnightly since his appointment; and, whether Mr. Roche sat and acted in the Town Court on the 9th ultimo with Mr. Candon, though he now questions the validity of Mr. Candon's claim to act as Town Commissioner?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. HOLMES) (Dublin University)(who replied) said: Mr. Cecil Roche was one of two Resident Magistrates sent at the request of the Town Commissioners to hear the case referred to. It is not a fact that he accepted Mr. Webb's hospitality, or put up at his house. The magistrates, of whom Mr. Roche was one, decided that, owing to the question of the Town Commissioners' title pending in a higher Court, they could not dispose of the question as to the rates. Mr. Candon having been appointed a magistrate, as described, by the late Lord Chancellor, Mr. Roche has naturally not felt it within his jurisdiction to question the appointment.