The Sun.
London, England, 1847-02-12 00:00:00

IRISH DISTRESS.

Mr. C. O'BRIEN moved for a copy of a letter, dated the
4th day of December, 1846, from the Board of Works, ad...
dressed to Captain Wynne. directing an investigation of charges
contained in the annexed letter from George Westropp to the
said board, respecting partiality and misconduct to the Lie-
cannot. Relief Committee; also, of the said George Westropes
letter, and of the correspondence which took place between
Captain Wynne and Mr. Westropp on the subject.—Also, for
a copy of Captain Wynne's report to the Board of Works, as
the result of the investigation held by him, pursuant to the
board's letter, on the 17th of December, 1846; and also a copy
of . Mr. O'Brien's letter to the secretary of the board,
requesting a copy of the said report.—Also, a copy*
of the letter written by the Right Honourable Henry La-
bouchere to the Board of Works, dated the sth day of
October, 1846, on the subject of reproductive works, &c.--
Copy of the presentment made thereunder at the extraordinary'
Session, held at. Corofon, for the barony of Ine.hiquin, in the
county of Clare , on the 30th day of November, 1846.—Copy of:
the presentment made under the same letter at the extraor-
dinary Sessions held at Ennistymon on the 4 h day of Decem-
ber, 1846. for the barony of Corconcrae, in the county of Clare.
—Copy of the Tr. asury Minute under which inspectors of
Public works, or ot lists of labourers, were appointed to carry
out the objects of the Act 9 and lit Victoria, c. 107.—Copies
of all such instructions tor the guidance of the said inspectors,
and in explanation of their duties and responsibilities, as may
have been issued by the Treasury, the Irish Government, or
the Board of Works in Ireland—Lists of all the said inspec-
tors now or 'suety employed in Ireland; specifying the salary
and allowances paid to each inspector; and stating by whom be
had been appointed.-- List of the men employed upon the said
public works in the baronies in the said county.of Clare, in
charge of Captain Wynne, who were struck off the list of la-
bourers by the said inspector ; specifying the name and placuof
abode of each person so struck off, and the cause al-
leged by the said inspector for so striking him.
off, and the names of the persons so struck off the lists as afore-
said who had been subsequently reinstated —List of the several
relief committees in the county ot Clare of which Captain
Wynne took charge ; specifying how often he visited each for
the revision 4f lists, and the date of each visit.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he bad
not the least objection to give all these papers. but there would
be considerable difficulty in giving the names of all the men
discharged from the public works. They were upwards of
9,700, and to give their names would make rather a long list.
At all events, however, he had not the least objection to give
even the names, but it would take a considerable time to make
up the list.
Mr. C. O'BRIEN was understood to say that it was neceiss
sary, for the vindication of his character, that all the retort's
should b' given as he had moved for them. A charge had been
made by Captain Wynne that a body of men who had been em-
ployed upon the Board of Works had meditated assassinating
some of the Government officers, but he was unprepared to
prove, by the aid of these returns, that such an intention
never had any existence, except it was in the mind of Captain
Wynne himself. He etossid-tired that Captain Wynne had done
wrong in causing the rejection of certain presentments in s
barony in the county of Cla-e.
Mr. LABOUCH ERE sincerely regretted that any 61. nesti"r
of a per,onal nature should be mixed up with these r
of M
The Honourable Gentleman opposite had complained
Board of Works rejectieg a certain presentment. It was true
they did so, and, in his opinion, they acted perfectly rights
The presentment which was made by the Honourable Gentle-
man and others was for the advancement of a sum of money
ct
for the improvement of private estates. and in his opinion tho
board would have acted mnit culpably had they allowed it to
pass.—( Hear hear.) Capt. Wynne, he thflught, had been
unjustly attacked, and Government would be highly censurable
if they did not defend the gallant officer who had energetically-
and perseveringly performed duties of an important and diffi . ult
character, under the most painful and trying circumstances.--=
( Hear, hear. )
Mr. M. J. O'CONNELL said it would appear that the
Hon. Gentleman was desirous of clearing his character with
these returns, and he thcught it would be much better to
strike out that part of the return which would require three
months to collect, and then the returns themselves might be
before them in ten days.
Mr. C O'BRIEN was about to explain, but, being called
to order, he resumed his seat.
Mr. B. OSBORNE thought the Hon. Gentleman ought to
be beard. No doubt the Hon. Gentleman had risen to explain
an important matter connected with himself. An officer of
the Board of Works had made an accusation against him to
the effect, that he had urged on a mob to assassinate him, and:
he thought in justice the Hon. Gentleman ought to be heal&
because, if he had been guilty of that charge, then the Hem
Gentleman was not fit to have a seat in that House, or any
ether house.—( Hear, bear, and laughter.)
After a few words from Mr. C. O'BRIEN,
Mr. GRATTAN thought the Hon. Secretary for Ireland
ought to have stated that upon inquiry having been made into
the conduct of the Honourable Member, they were
fully exonerated from all the charges brought against them by'
the officers of the Board of Works. He thought those officene
travelled out of their duty in making charges against trust-
proprietors ; their ditty was to attempt to stave off the distress
of the country, and not to injure the reputation of Hon. Mein-
hers. The Hon. Member's property at Ltscannor was a per-
fect model of good management, and the tenantry the most
comfortable and contented ot any in Ireland, and it was very
hard for them to have such charges brought against them. He
hoped the House would not refuse the returns moved for by the
Hon. Member.

The SPEAKER then put the motion ; which,
After a few words from Mr. C. O'BRIEN and Major MAC"
NAMARA, which were totally inaudible in the gallery, tue
motion was agreed to.
COMIIISsIONERS OF RAILWAYS' BILL.
Mr. STRUTT said that it would be in the recollection of
the House that a Bill w,ts passed appointing a Board of Rail-
way Commissioners, and that it was understood that a mea-
sure would be introduced in this session for the regulation of
the railsiaa business before that board; that Bill he was now
prepared to ir.troduce, and woula briefly call the attention of
the House to the matter of the provisions of that Bill. The
measure was divided into two parts—the first related to
he preliminary proceedings required before bringing the Bill
before the Parliament; the second part referred to those rail,
ways which had already received the sanction of Parliament.
The first alteration proposed to be made was with reterenae to
the proofs of the standing orders. These alterations ssero not
proposed to be made entirely by the measure he was about
to introduce. A portion of them would be so modified, ljut it
was proposed that the House should have the liberty to regu-
late its own proceedings by their own standing orders. :-Thee
first measure contemplated by the Act was one relating to the
surveys of the intended railways which the various c, mptull"
were now obliged to complete before bringing it, the Bill. An
anomalous custom had for some time existed, requiring certain
plans and sections to he deposited with the House which could
not be obtained without a direct violation of law, and
latterly the trespasses committed, in order to procure
plans and surveys, had caused conflicts between the,
landowners and the different companies, several of
which had been brought under the consideration of
the courts of law. This evil it was now- proposed to
remedy, but it would be obviously unjust however to grant
large powers to these companies, except some protection were
also afforded to -the landowners, by giving them an easy and
ready mode of obtaining compensation for any damage which
their property might sustain by the persons employed to obtain
the surveys It was proposed, therefore, that before the p.." -
moters of any railway Bill should be authorised to go upon the
land to obtain the surveys, they should apply to the Commis-
sioners of Railways, and deposit with them such a sum as shall
be considered sufficient in the opinion of the Commissioners to
give compensation to the landowner for any damage that might
rise to the property from the surveyors Upon depositing this
sum with the Commissioners, the promoters of the company
shall be authorised by a warrant from . the Commissioners to
enter upon the lands in question ; and, after they had 1°
entered, should any damage arise to the property, full com-
pensation shall be Oven to the proprietor or landowner;
and in case the company should not be willing to afford such
compensation, then the Commissioners should have the powers
upon having the parties before them, to award such damages
as they might think fitting out of the sum placed in their hands
by the promoters of the company. The next alteration pro-
posed was one for giving increased facilities to those proprietors
of land whose property was affected by the proposed railway.
Great difficulties had arisen from the proprietors of land,
farmers, and others, not being able to distinguish by the plena
and sections deposited with the House, in what manner their
property was affected. It was now proposed that stakes should
be driven into the ground, showing the direction in which the
line would pass, the width of the proposed railway, and also
some mark to show, in case of an embankment or viaduct, what
height it was proposed to be carried, and also the depth
of cuttings where any, and the position of the proposed tunnels.
The next point was, that of local inquiry, a principle which the
Committee, of which the Hon. Member for Montrose y 1,0,1
member, strongly recommended. In ordinary cases, the land"
owner was not aware of the course of the intended line of rail-
way until the plans and sections were deposited, when it would
be too late to suggest any improvement in the course of the
line. In many cases the proprietor of land had gone to the
promoters V rad., hys, and pointed out to them a line that
would not so injuriously affect his interest, but the only answer
that he usually obtained was:, that they did not know of it before,
but that it was too late now, and there were then but two courses
left open to the landowner—either to submit to the injury, or
risk the chance of an opposition to the Bill in Committee, thereby
entailing both upon himself and the Committee a most enormous
expense, and the Committee, under such circumstances, were
compelled to say they must pass the Bill, notwithstanding the
IreLt injurt:ef? it did, or rofuse the.r caution to the motzure,
taigit` -haps, In a ilia: touch required tor the interest.,
of the public. It was now proposed, that after the line was
marked out upon the ground the raiiwsy oolumieeioner should