§ Dr. FITZGERALD (Longford, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether he is aware that, on the night of the 1st instant, Orange bands paraded the roads in and around Strandtown, the Knock, and Bloomfield, immediately outside the borough boundary of Belfast, and that the persons accompanying them burst into the gardens of the residents along the county roads, and, notwithstanding the remonstrances of the owners, tore up the flowers, and carried them away; and, whether, under the circumstances, steps will be taken to have a sufficient force of police detailed for duty upon these roads during the remainder of the present month, in order to prevent further injury to the property of the inhabitants of the district.
§ * MR. A. J. BALFOURsaid, the police did all in their power to prevent the mischief complained of in the question; but so great was the number of people following the procession that, in a few instances, they were unable to prevent the gardens being entered by the crowd. Every effort would be made to prevent a recurrence of such injury.