§ MR. NANNETTI (Dublin, College Green)I beg to ask the, Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the correspondence between Mr. John Gore, solicitor, of Dublin, and the military authorities as to the damage done by the trespass of he troops on the lands and demesne of 44 Drimnagh Castle, county Dublin, during manœuvres and shooting practice; whether he is aware that the fences were levelled and broken down, and that the supply of milk from the dairy cattle has been considerably diminished by fright; and whether he will see that such steps are taken as will indemnify the owner for the loss sustained by him by this breach of the law.
MR. AENOLD-FORSTERA report of the case has been forwarded from Ireland from which matters appear to stand as follow: In May, 1904, the owner, Mr. Hatch, claimed compensation of £10 for damage done on April 25th to the fences, etc., by the cattle breaking away owing to the firing by the troops. The claims were carefully considered on the spot on May 24th by the military authorities, and Mr. Hatch was offered £2. On June 4th his solicitor, Mr. Gore, made a claim, which had not been mentioned by Mr. Hatch at his meeting with the military representatives on May 24th, for damage to the milch cows through fright, and threatened legal proceedings. On 15th March, 1905, he asked the Chief Crown Solicitor to accept service of a writ and was informed that the proper proceedings against the Secretary of State for War were by Petition of Right.