§ MR. LONSDALEI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether police reporters were present at a United Irish League meeting in the public street at Elphin on the 25th of March last; whether the advice then given by two district councillors to boycott the farmers who had taken land under the eleven months system, was duly reported; and why, seeing that, in consequence of the intimidation which followed these proceedings, several farmers were compelled to relinquish their holdings, no prosecution has been instituted against the leaders in this agitation.
§ MR. BIRRELLI am informed that the meeting in question was not attended by police reporters, but policemen were present in the ordinary course of their duty. The proceedings were duly reported. Three prosecutions are pending in county Roscommon against twelve, eight, and six persons respectively for offences arising out of the agitation against the grazing system, and one of the district councillors referred to in the Question is a defendant.