MR. PIERCE MAHONTI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will agree to the Return which stands on to-day's Paper relating to the Valuation of Electoral Divisions in Ireland?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI have caused inquiry to be made, and find that the population by electoral divisions according to the present census will not be known for all Ireland for about a year. Apart, however, from this, I may say-there would have been serious difficulties in the way of granting the proposed Continuation Return. The existing one occupied over four months in its preparation, and involved considerable labour, and I do not know that sufficient public advantage would be gained by continuing the Return to justify such a serious interference with the proper business of the departments concerned.