§ MR. J. P. FARRELLI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that a vacancy for a justice of the peace in the Petty Sessions District of Arva, county Cavan, was recently created by the death of P. S. O'Reilly, Esq., Gonna; and that an extensively signed petition was sent to the Lord Lieutenant of Cavan, Lord Lanesborough, recommending the appointment of Mr. Eugene M'Manus, of Gonna, in his stead; whether this memorial was brought to the notice of the Lord Chancellor; and will he explain whether the request of the petitioners was refused, and a local Orangeman appointed in room of the deceased Roman Catholic magistrate; and, whether he intends to take any steps to have Mr. M'Manus appointed.
§ MR. G. W. BALFOURI assume that the memorial referred to in the first paragraph was sent to the Lieutenant of the County, though I have no official information on the subject. It is a fact that a memorial was received by the Lord Chancellor, and that a gentleman has been appointed to the Commission of the Peace for the Arva district since the death of Mr. O'Reilly. I have no knowledge with respect to the religious or political opinions of either of these gentlemen. It is the practice of the Lord Chancellor to appoint on the recommendation of the Lieutenant of the County, and I have no 1360 power to act as suggested in the third paragraph.