§ MR. RICHARD M. DANE (Fermanagh, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant, of Ireland (1) whether his attention has been called to the recent trial before the Lord Chief Justice of Ireland of an information at the suit of the Irish Attorney-General against Captain Con way Higginson for declining the office of High Sheriff of the county and town of Carrickfergus; and (2) whether it is the intention of the Government to deal with the question of the appointment to the office of Sheriff in Ireland during the present Session of Parliament.
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe reply to the first paragraph is in the affirmative. The whole subject is now under the consideration of the Government, but I cannot, at present, make any statement in the matter.