§ MR. WILLIAM MOORE (Antrim, N)I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office, whether he is aware that the War Department took a portion of the agricultural lands at Athlone belonging to the Incorporated Society for Promoting Protestant Schools in Ireland, compensating the occupying tenant, but paying nothing to the society, who were landlords; that, having covered the lands with fortifications, mounds, and buildings, the War Department surrendered the lands under their powers in 1896 unfit for agricultural purposes by reason of these works; that, in proceedings by the society to compel the War Department to restore the surrendered lands to their original state, the War Office obtained in the Court of Appeal in Ireland an order for £404 4s. 4d. costs to the Crown: and, whether, seeing that the Society have no income available for meeting this expense, and that its exaction would cripple the society in carrying out its educational work, the War Department will favourably consider the remission of their claim for costs.
LORD STANLEYThe appeal of the society for the remission of the claim for costs is under consideration.