§ Major NEWMANasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware of an election of a Petty Sessions clerk that recently was held at Castlebar to fill a vacancy caused by the death in action of Captain H. R. Sheridan; whether he is aware that of the six candidates three were natives of Castlebar and Irish soldiers, of whom Captain Bluen, of the Connaught Rangers, had received the Military Cross and the Cross of the Legion of Honour and had been twice wounded; that twelve magistrates took part in the election, of whom five were Unionists, and that as a result the editor of a local newspaper got the appointment, obtaining seven votes; and will he say whether the election will be confirmed by the Irish Government?
§ Mr. DUKEI am informed that at the election mentioned, one candidate, who is the editor of a local newspaper, received the votes of seven of the twelve magistrates present. The appointment of clerks of Petty Sessions is vested in the magistrates subject to compliance with rules prescribed under Statute by the Lord Lieutenant, including a rule made under Section 8 (2) of the Clerk of Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1858, prohibiting a clerk from engaging in the occupation of editor of a newspaper. Until the election in the present case is submitted for confirmation by His Excellency, I am unable to say whether it will be found to have been duly made.