§ MR. M'CARTAN (Down, S.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether his attention has been called to a statement in The North Down Herald of July 13, that no magistrate attended to hold the Petty Sessions at Newtownards Courthouse on Thursday, July 12; whether he can state the cause of their non-attendance; and, whether he will direct the attention of the Lord Chancellor to the matter, in order that magistrates may be appointed who will attend to their duties in this district?
§ MR. JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.)Before the right hon. Gentleman replies, 758 I should like to ask him if it is not the fact that the Grand Jury of County Down were assembled in the Courthouse at Downpatrick on the 12th of July, and that many of the leading magistrates were, therefore, unfortunately unable to attend the demonstration?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.), in reply, said, he had received no Report on this subject; but if the allegation of his hon. Friend (Mr. Johnston) was true a full answer would be given to the Question of the hon. Gentleman opposite.
§ MR. M'CARTANinquired, whether the right hon. Gentleman was aware that Mr. Brownlow, the agent to the Lord Lieutenant, was engaged in presiding over a meeting of Orangemen composed of the Lord Lieutenant's tenantry?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURsaid, he had no information on the point.