§ Sir THOMAS ESMONDE (Kerry, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state when the inquest on the Irish gold ornaments, which has been ordered by the Treasury, is likely to take place.
§ MR. G. W. BALFOURIt has recently been ascertained that the words of the patent of 10 Charles II., granted to the Irish Society for the plantation of Ulster, are large enough to vest in the society the right to treasure trove. Under these circumstances it will be necessary to consider whether the Crown has any interest in the controversy and whether such proceedings as may be taken should not be instituted by that society.