§ MR. J. C. FLYNN (Cork, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether his attention has been called to the action of the paid Vice-Guardians of the Killarney Union in evicting from a labourer's cottage at Ballybar, on Tuesday last, a labourer named Sheehan, notwithstanding that his rent was fully paid up; and, whether he can state the reason for the eviction of this man.
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe Local Government Board have been informed by the Clerk of the Union that Sheehan owed 23 weeks' rent at the date of his eviction, but that the immediate cause of the eviction was brought about in this way. Upon the plot of land attached to the Guardians' cottage, occupied by Sheehan, stood an ornamental gate, the property of the owner of the land, to which neither the Guardians nor the labourer had any right or title. Sheehan refused to allow the owner to take away the gate and the Vice-Guardians were advised that the simplest course, under the circumstances, was to resume possession of the plot and hand over the gate to the owner. The Vice-Guardians informed Sheehan that this course would be adopted, but he persisted in his refusal, and they then recovered possession of the plot.