§ MR. O'MARA (Kilkenny, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that notices signed by two local justices of the peace were served on all hotel proprietors in Thomastown, prohibiting them from receiving travellers or serving them with intoxicating liquors on Sunday 26th January; will he state under whose authority this was done; and from what funds the expenses of 50 extra police, drafted into the town on the same day to watch a football match, will be met. And, is he aware that the nine magistrates in the Thomas- 539 town district, the district inspector, and all the other officials in the appointment of the Government are Protestants, whereas the Roman Catholics number 95 in a 100 of the population.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe Justices acted under the authority conferred upon them by the 21st Section of the Licensing (Ireland) Act, 1833. There is a corresponding provision in the English Act of 1872. The expenses will be defrayed from the Constabulary Vote. The force was not drafted into town to watch a football match, but for the purpose of preserving the peace, as disturbance was apprehended. I believe the nine Justices who attend the Petty Sessions are Protestants. The head constable, two sergeants and five constables are Roman Catholics.