§ MR. P. J. O'BRIEN (Tipperary, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been directed to the proceedings of the election petition recently held at 70 Nenagh regarding the urban council of that township, when, by the judgment of Mr. Commissioner Patchell, who presided, twenty-one members of the body were unseated on the grounds of bribery and corruption directly by three of their number, and the others by their agents; whether he is aware that the said urban council were seeking to provide a loan of £8,000 for the purpose of erecting sixty artisans' dwellings, and that, at the inquiry held by the Local Government Board, evidence was given on the part of the ratepayers that such an amount would be an excessive burden upon them, and also that such a number of houses were not required; and whether, in view of the fact that this body was unduly elected, their action with regard to the proposed loan, as well as other proceedings, will be declared null and void under the circumstances.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe loan applied for in this case was in excess of the borrowing powers of the council, and the scheme will be referred back to the new council when elected. It will rest with the new council to decide whether they will or will not proceed with an amended scheme.