§ MR. SAMUEL YOUNG (Cavan, E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the recent awards made by MR. Ryan, arbitrator under the Commissioners for Public Works in Ireland, in respect of the lands taken from the farmers by the Belfast Water Commissioners, near Carrickfergus, and to the difference between the amount of his awards and the awards by the juries on traverse at the county of Antrim assizes at Belfast; whether he is aware that in the case of a farmer called Legg the arbitrator awarded £20 only, and on traverse the jury at the assizes increased his award to £167, with £15 942 for costs; and, having regard to the dissatisfaction caused among the farmers by the awards of this arbitrator, whether he will consider the desirability of having the appointment of this arbitrator reconsidered and a man of larger experience appointed in his place.
§ MR. HANBURYThe Commissioners of Public Works are not responsible for the awards of the arbitrator, but only for his appointment. It is an essential feature of his post that he should occupy an independent position. The Board have no power under the circumstances to revoke the appointment.