§ MR. DELANY (Queen's County, Ossory)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state when the Brusna Drainage Board, King's County, last met, and whether complaints have been made by taxpayers of the manner in which this board has discharged its duties recently, and what amount of money is at its disposal annually; can a statement of expenditure for last year be obtained; and will he state for what period the Ballykenehan tenants have been paying drainage tax to this board, and whether the charge is a permanent one.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe Drainage Board held a statutory meeting on the 1st February last for the election of trustees. No complaints have recently been made to the Commissioners of Public Works, but they are always prepared to inquire into any such complaints and to take steps, if necessary, to ensure the maintenance of the works as provided by statute. The proprietor, not the tenants of the lands referred to in the third paragraph, is liable for the payment of maintenance rates, and has presumably paid them since the date of the award in 1860. The Commissioners will ascertain the amount raised over the district for the purposes of maintenance, and the expenditure, in the past year, and I will communicate the figures to the hon. Member when I receive them.