§ MR. BUCHANANIn the absence of my hon. Friend the Member for Kincardineshire, I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether he is aware that the Sheriff refused to hear Petitions for five additional polling stations in Kincardineshire; that these Petitions were supported by both political Parties, and entirely unopposed; and that the creation of four of the proposed polling stations involve only a redistribution of presiding officers and clerks, and in the case of the fifth only could there be any extra expense incurred; and whether he will enjoin on the Sheriff the abvisability of reconsidering his objections at an early date?
§ * THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. B. BALFOUR,) Clackmannan, &c.I am informed by the Sheriff that he did not refuse to hear the Petitions, but that consideration of them was delayed of consent in view of its being expected that a Registration Bill might be passed during the present year. The Sheriff promised to take up the Petitions before Christmas, and the best course would be for the parties again to move in them.