§ MR. JAMES O'CONNORI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that a Mr. Carty, of Tomacork, County Wicklow, was awarded compensation for the alleged destruction of plough wheels; and, seeing that the wheels have since been found in a ditch situated within Carty's farm, whether he will order an inquiry into the case with a view to the return of the amount of the compensation to the local authorities; and whether, having regard to the increase of alleged malicious injuries under the Local Government Act, 1898, he will consider the advisability of amending the Malicious Injuries Clause in the aforesaid Act.
§ MR. WYNDHAMCompensation amounting to 9s. 10d. was awarded in this case by the County Court judge at Quarter Sessions on the 21st April. On the same date the wheels were found in a drain. The Statute confers upon the County Council the right of appeal to the judge of Assize, if it feels aggrieved by the award of the County Court. Whether such an appeal will be taken in the present case I am unable to say; but in any event the Government has 195 no power to intervene in the manner suggested. The reply to the second paragraph is in the negative.