§ MR. MCCARTAN (Down, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to a letter of 14th April last, addressed by the Assistant Secretary of the Local Government Board to the Chairman of the Lisburn Board of Guardians, from which it appears that the bread supplied to the poor people in the Workhouse was "sour and badly baked"; that the wards are not sufficiently heated; that there is no schoolmistress in the Workhouse; that the relieving officers do not visit and report monthly on the condition of orphan and deserted children boarded out; if the Clerk of the Union, who is nearly ninety years of age, and unfit to perform the duties of his office, should be retired; and whether he will 955 state what steps have been taken to redress these grievances?
§ *MR. JACKSONThe Local Government Inspector called attention to the several matters referred to in the question, and his remarks were communicated to the Guardians on the 14th ultimo, and they, at a subsequent meeting, explained for the information of the Local Government Board that the quality of the bread now supplied to the Workhouse has improved; that the matter of the heating of the several wards properly has been attended to; that there are only a few girls in the school, and the Guardians are of opinion that they are properly cared for and attended, to; and that the relieving officers do visit and report on the condition of the orphan and deserted children; and further that the duties of the Clerk, who has a competent assistant, are discharged to the entire satisfaction of the Board.