§ MR. MACARTNEY (Antrim, S.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether an application was made to the Sub-Commission Court (Messrs. Edward Greer, O'Callaghan, and Sproule) sitting at Downpatrick on Friday, the 4th instant, that a case in which an hon. Member was coming over from London to give evidence in might be fixed for Tuesday, the 8th instant, was refused; whether the case was fixed for Saturday positively; whether, on Saturday, the hon. Member being in Court, having been summoned by telegraph, the Sub-Commissioners refused to take the case on that day, and postponed it until Tuesday; and, whether the action of the Sub-Commissioners can be justified on grounds of public convenience; and, if so, what were those grounds?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)The Land Commissioners inform me that Mr. Greer, the Chairman of the Sub-Commission, reports that the facts are as stated in the first paragraph of the Question. He declined to accede to the application; as from the state of the Court list he confidently expected to reach and dispose of this case, with all the others on the same estate, on the following day (Saturday). The Court, however, unfortunately found itself unable to reach this case, which was accordingly fixed for hearing on the 8th. The Chairman adds that he was assured that the convenience of all parties had been suited and the despatch of public business facilitated. If my hon. Friend would like to see the Report, I will be very glad to show it to him.