Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-02-24 00:00:00

MANOR COURTS (IRELAND) BILL, gth

On the motion that the House go into Conimittea on the
Manor Courts (Ireland) Bill,
Mr.W.Williams objected to the amount of compensa-
tion provided by the Bill.
The Attorney-General for Ireland said that there was
a principle of justice involved in the Bill which was as
important as the pecuniary consideration. It was absurd
to have this set of Courts existing beside the County
Courts. With regard to compensation, it was only given
on the same principle as that adopted on• the abolition of
the Courts for the recovery of small debts. in England.
Mr. Kirk objected that the seneschal of these Courts
was the returning
_officer of the borough ; and if the
office was abolished there would be no returning officer.

Mr. Harrison said it was only the legal duties of the
sene3ehal that were abolished.

After some further discussion as to the compensation,
the 'order for the second reading was postponed till after
certain resolutions on the paper had been discussed.
On the motion for the second reading of the Receivers
in Chancery Abolition Bill,

Mr. D. Fitzgerald made an appeal for its postpon-
ment, as there had not been time for its consideration.

The Attorney-General for. Ireland acquiesed, and the
bill was postponed, as was the Sale and Transfer of
Land (Ireland) Bill.

The-House then went into committee on the Manor
Courts (Ireland) Compensation Bill. •
On the first resolution beipg,yroposed,

Mr. J. D. Fitzgerald said,-iliat the number of these
courts exceeded 300, and in all of which cases compensa-
tion must be granted. He approved of the bill, which
substitutedjudges to whom authority proceeded
directly from the Crown for the judges of these
manor courts, who were appointed by private indi-
viduals ; he thought that to get rid of the difficulty
of compensation, they should appoint other judges accord-
ing to the provisions of the bill As vacancies occurred
in the present courts, those courts "would then be gra-
dually extinguished.

Mr. Whiteside reprobated the continuance for any
time of courts reprehensible in principle, on account of
considerations of economy. The judges of the present
Manor Courts had frequently no legal knowledge what-
ever. The Manor Courts produced the most mischievous
effect, as the administration of justice depended on the
whim of the Lord of the Manor. •

Mr. Wilson, approving of the bill, made some objec-
tions to the providing the compensation out of the Con-
solidated Fund, and moved an amendment that they
be paid out of a special fund to be voted by parliament.
Lord Naas consented, and the resolution was with-
drawn.

A discussion took place as to the present amount of the
fees and the details of the compensation to be given.
Certain resolutions were agreed to, 'and the House
resumed.
The House then went into committee on the Manor
Courts (Ireland) Bill, wh'n
Mr. J. D. Fitzgerald brought forward his amendment,
having for its object the gradual extinction of these courts.
The Attorney-General for Ireland said he only followed
the principle laid down when the local courts were abolished
and the county courts established in England. He pro-
tested against different rules being applied to the two
countries. He opposed the amendment on the ground of
common sense and common justice.

After some discussion,
Mr. Sergeant Deasy approving of the amendment,
Mr. Fitzgerald was willing to forego it rather than risk
the bill.

Mr. Richardson observed that, when compensation was
in question, the registrars ought not to be forgotten.
.

Mr. J. D. Fitzo•erald withdrew his amendment; and the
clause was agreed to.

On clause 3, comppsatinm the seneschals,

Mr. Grogan moved an amendment; extending compen•
sation to all the officers of these courts.

The Attorney-General for Ireland objected, urging that
it was not according to precedent to give compensation to
marshals and registrars, or other officers who had no legal
fees.

Mr. J. D. Fitzgerald sUpported the amendment.
Lord Naas objected to it, as it would be for the senes-
chal himself to compensate his inferior Officers.
After some further discussion, the words registrar or
marshal were introduced into the compensatiOn clause.
On the motion of the Attorney-General for Ireland,

Mr. Kirk moved an amendment, to the effect that the
compensation should be founded on the amount of fees,
and not of other emoluments.

The Attorney-General for Ireland opposed the amend-
ment. _

The house divided, when the amendment was carried
by 46 to 40.
On the motion that the clause as amonded, stand part
of the bill, . -

Mr. W. Williams protested against the principle of
compensation generally as applied to these courts.
The Attorney-_General once more defended the course
pursued, as in accordance with precedent.
The clause was then agreed to.

On clause four,
Mr. Cox objected, till they knew something more of
the number of persons to be compensated, and the probable
amount to be paid.
Sir S. Northcote assured the House that every care
would be taken by the Treasury to limit the amount of
compensation to persons entitled to it. The committee
divided, when the clause was adopted by 91 to 12.
On clause five,

Mr. Maguire moved an amendment, extending the
jurisdiction of the Petty Sessions Courts from sums not
exceeding £1 to sums not exceeding £2.
Mr. Cogan supported the amendment.
The Attorney-General for Ireland assented, and the
amendment was agreed to. _

Sergeant Deasy moved that a sum not exceeding ss. be
awarded for costs. _ .

The Attorney-General for Ireland assented, and the
provision was introduced into the clause.
The clauses up to clause 8 were agreed to, when the
House resumed.
The remaining business was disposed of, and the
House adjourned at 4.50, p.m.

TIIE AMERICAN NEWS Boys.—The New York Herald
says:—Some wise rural Draco has reported a bill rela-
ting to the theatres, and it has passed both branches of
the Legislature. It provides that it shall not be law-
ful for the manager of a theatre to admit minors to his
establishment unless they are accompanied by an adult.
This law, like the Sunday ordinance, is levelled at the
privileges of a very numerous and useful class of
persons, to wit, the newsboys: They are great
theatre goers, and acute critics They spend their
evenings in the pits of the cheap play houses, where
they get shelter, light, warmth and amusement
for about two cents an hour. Their sympathies
are always with the weak and against the strong ; they
rejoice when vice is punished and virtue rewarded ; valour
earns their applause—meanness or cowardice meets with
their scorn and contempt. As a rule, they do not display
more selfishness or impoliteness than fashionable ladies
in a crush at an operatic matinee or a jam at the debut
of a sensation parson. The newsboy almost always
makes his way, and in the teeth of poverty, with all its
temptations, is honest and fair in his dealings. The
present sheriff of the county, Mr. John Kelly, began his
life as a newsboy. The class, as a whole, will compare
favourably, in intelligence and integrity, with the mem-
bers of the State Legislature, and the boys are quite
capable of taking care of their own morals. As for the
policy of driving them into the street, because they may
see once in a while a bad play, it is quite absurd. It is
simply ejecting them from a theatre for the the profit of
a grog shop or some worse place. But the law can
scarcely be carried into effect, except in the case of
boys of a very tender age, as the manager cannot dis-
criminate between an old boy and a young man.
In fact, some boys are really older in appearance at
sixteen than many men of two and twenty. Why does
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Legislature need not trouble itself to make local 'laws
for us. We eau attend to these matters very Weil, for
ourselves,