§ CAPTAIN CRAIG (Down, E.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that on Tuesday, 28th April last, a cattle-drive took place at Bealragh, near Elphin, county Roscommon, in the midst of the country where the anti-ranching campaign of the United Irish League is in full swing, off the farm of a Mr. Stafford; whether this is the farm, let to a Mr. Hanley, which the local branch of the League have moved on several occasions to have divided up among its members, and is in close vicinity to the 1,200 acres of the Palace lands, belonging to Mr. O'Connor, Elphin, which were boycotted so rigidly last year that no farmers dare take them for grazing; whether on the 29th April last the whole 1,200 acres had to be set on fire in order to promote the growth of the new grass; and will he state what action the police propose to take.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) On the morning of 27th April it was found that during the previous night cattle had been driven off a farm which Mr. Hanley holds as tenant from Mr. Stafford. The 392 cattle were recovered on the same morning. The police have been informed that Mr. Hanley was asked last autumn to surrender the farm for division amongst the people in the locality. The Palace lands referred to have upwards of seventy cattle upon them, but are not fully stocked. They contain 780 acres, of which forty acres of uncut meadow have been burnt by order of the owner. The force of the neighbouring police stations has been strengthened with the object of preventing interference with cattle and affording full protection to persons who may require it.