The Sun.
London, England, 1846-09-19 00:00:00

IRELAND.

EMPLOYMENT OF THE PEOPLE—COMMENCE-
MENT OF THE MEETINGS CONVENED BY
THE LORD-LIEUTENANT.
DUBLIN, SEPT. 16.—The first of the baronial meet-
ings convened by the Lord-Lieutenant, under the La-
bour Rate Act, was held on Monday last, in the barony
of Upper Ormond, in the north riding of Tipperary;
and, all things, considered, the proceedings may be
considered satisfactory. There was no attempt on the
part of the magistrates or landholder, with an exception
scarcely worth naming, to oppose or evade the Act,
although it is now admitted that the law is not com-
pulsory as regards the passing of presentments for works
at the sessions. There is something hopeful in the cir-
cumstance that, even in Tipperary, the Act has been
put into operation with a disposition on the part of the
gentry to co-operate with the Government at so awful
in emergency.
As this was the first meeting held under the Act, and
as the subject is one of such vast importance, we subjoin
the report of the proceedings which appears in the
Tipperary Vindicator :
" Monday, pursuant to the proclamation of his Ex-
cellency the Earl of Besborough, an extraordinary pre-
sentment sessions for the barony of Upper Ormond was
held at Toomevara, for the purpose of applying for the
execution of public works under the recent Act of Par-
liament, to provide employment for the people now
threatened with the worst horrors of famine, which it is
ardently hoped the timely intervention of the Executive
will award off, aided by the co-operation of the magis-
trates, clergy, and cess-payers of the country. As this
was the first meeting under the new Act, intense in-
terest was felt about its result. The national school-
house of the village in which the meeting was held was
crowded to suffocation, whilst eager crowds of the pea-
santry gathered around the building, and betrayed by
appearance the great desire by which they were actuated
to become acquainted with the proceedings. It was
delightful in the extreme to witness the alacrity with
which the magistrates obeyed the proclamation of his
Excellency. The attendance on their part was numerous
and influential—the patience which they manifested was
exceedingly creditable—the spirit by which they seemed
to be actuated was most praiseworthy; and the unani-
mity—with one exception—which characterised them
throughout the important day, was witnessed with the
most pleasing sensations. The clergy, Catholic and Pro-
testant, mustered in great numbers, and vied with each
other in unanimity and zeal for the bests interests of the
poor; whilst the cess-payers were also present in num-
bers. At half-past twelve o'clock, J. J. Willington, Esq.,
J.P., was called to the chair.
"The other magistrates present were:—R. U. Bayly,
Esq., Ballinaclough; George Garvey, Esq.; John Car-
den, Esq., Barnane; A. Walker, Esq., Nena,gh; R. M.
Carden, Esq.; Captain Butler and Major Jackson. Mr.
Miller from the Board of Works attended. The cess-
payers present were:—Messrs. John Meagher, Michael
Meagher. George Rya,ll, John Dagg, E. Parker, and
Henry Smithwick. The Roman Catholic and Pro-
testant clergymen present were :—The Rev. John
Meagher, P.P., Toomevara; Rev. Henry Keary, P.P.,
Killeen; Rev. Edward Magrah, P.P., Silvermines;
Rev. Nicholas Power, C.C., Nenagh; Rev. Mr.
Scanlan, Ballygibbon ; and Rev. Mr. Molony,
C.C., Toomevara ; Rev. Mr. Fry, sen., Protestant rec-
tor ; Rev. Mr. Fry, jun. ; Rev. Mr. Jordan, P. R.,
Cloughjorclan ; and the Rev. Mr. Stoney. Messrs. J. P.
Kennedy, Ballyhane ; John Hunt, Hunt's Grove ; W.
Kennedy, Glenahilty Castle ; Dr. Kennedy, Nenagh,
Middleton, Elm Hill ; John Dwyer, Kilnefinch ; F. E.
Young, Ballygibbon ; D. E. Young, Ballygibbon ; and
Michael O'Brien, Lisbonny.
" The CHAIRMAN opened the proceedings of the day
by stating that they were assembled that day pursuant
to the proclamation of the Lord-Lieutenant, and under
the provision of the 10th Vic., for the purpose of grant-
ing public works to give employment to the labouring
poor of the barony of Upper Ormond, and any gentle-
man present that had any application to make for a work,
he (the chairman) would be happy to hear him. But
before proceeding any further he should wish to know
what was to be done with the works unfinished or not
commenced, granted under the Ist Vic.
" Mr. CRA.WFORD, RN., surveyor—The amount which
remains on hand must go to the completion of them.
" Captain BUTLER—Are there many of those works
under the Ist Vic. remaining unfinished?
" Mr. CRAWFORD—There are many.
" Major JACKSON—Is there a balance on hand to
finish them?
" Mr. CRAWFORD—There is, but it is not sufficient.
" After some conversation,
"Mr. BAYLY—I beg leave to propose that we apply
to the Treasury for 750/ in addition to the 4501. granted
under the Ist Vic., to complete these works already com-
menced under Ist Vic. which were fiated at the present-
ment sessions, and approved of by the Board of Works,
to give employment to the labouring poor of the barony
of Upper Ormond.
" Mr. GARVEY—I second your proposition.
"The CHAIRMAN having put Mr. Bayly's proposition
from the chair, it was passed nem. eon.
"Mr. G. RYALL —Gentlemen, you must give the peo-
ple work besides the filling of dykes and the lowering of
hills.—(Hear, hear.)
"Captain BUTLER—To be sure we will.
" CHAIRMAN—I want to know whether those roads
appointed under Ist Vic. will be finished forthwith ?
" Mr. CARDEN—According as they are necessary.
" CHAIRMAN—I know that many relief committees or
persons under their care, gave employment to persons who
did not require it, while others who were actually starving
would not or could not get any employment from them.
That was a very unfair mode of dealing.
" Major JACKSON—That shall not be the case now.
The country must get a fair return of labour for its
money. There must be a fair day' hire fur a fair day's
work.
" Mr. SMITHwICK—You must grant works on a very
large scale to give the people employment who are suf-
fering extreme want at this moment, at least in my neigh-
bourhood,
" Mr. GARVEY—I beg to ask the county surveyor one
question, which is, what is to be done with those roads
not finished, and with the others not commenced, all of
which passed under the Ist Vic., at the Extraordinary
Presentment Sessions, and were approved of by the
Board of Works ?
" Mr. CRAwFoRD—When we get the amount applied
for from the Treasury, we will complete all the works
not finished.
" Here the subject in reference to the unfinished works
executed under Ist Vic. terminated.
" The Rev. Mr. MEAGHER proposed the making or the
construction of the Gurtnagarry, or Mr. Lanigan's (of
Templemore) new line of road.
" The magistrates were afraid that the occupiers of
land we old claim compensation if the road were to run
through their property.
" The Rev. Mr. MEAGHER could assure them on the
part of Mr. Lanigan that he would ask for no damages,
that he would claim no compensation for the road run-
ning through his property—(Hear, hear)—and he was
sure neither would Mr. Faucitt.
" Mr. BAYLY—Then I propose that 4501. be granted
for the execution of the road, provided that Mr. Lanigan
and Mr. Faucitt will claim no compensation for damages.
"Captain BUTLER—I propose as an amendment that
the road do pass, and that the compensation for damages
be left to their honour.
" The amendment was carried, and the road passed.
" Mr. MlDDLETON—Gentlemen, I beg leave to apply
for the sum of 4136/. 14s. 7d., to lower the bed of the
river at Tiermoyle.
" Mr. GARvEY—I think this is a work that deserves
very serious consideration, and should be carried on
under the Drainage Act.
" Mr. MIDDLEToN—In my proposition I do not seek
for the drainage of lands at all; I seek for the employ-
ment of the poor; and I can have witnesses examined as
to the usefulness of the work.
"Mr. BAYLY—I should like to know what portion of
the 1,136/. would fall on the barony?
" Mr. MIDDLETON—I am not prepared to answer that
question.
Major JACKSON—Then we are not prepared to pass
the work.
"Mr. MIDDLETON—This work passes through or near
to the estates of the Hon. Mrs. Otway Cave and Lord
Orkney.
" Captain BUTLER—These are the very persons who
ought to do the work them Selves.
" Mr. MIDDLETON—I beg your pardon, they are not.
"Mr. E. TAYLOR—I will say, on the part of the lion.
Mrs. Otway Cave, that she will give 100/. towards the
performance of the work.—(Hear, hear.)
" Mr. GALWAY—And Lord Orkney will give the
same sum.
" Captain BUTLER—I would say to my Lord Orkney,
to my Lord Bloomfield, and to the Hon. Mrs. Otway
Cave, come and live amongst us here in Toomevara, and
drain and cultivate your lands, and give the people em-
ployment.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. GARVEY—Why, they can't live everywhere.
"Captain BUTLER—But, they are Irish, and ought to
live in Ireland.—(Loud applause from all parts of the
house.)
" Mr. BAYLY—The Hon. Mrs. Otway Cave is now
living amongst her tenantry in Castle Otway.
" Captain BUTLER—They should all live in Ireland
and not in England.—(Cheers.)
Mr. M. MEAGIIER—We-should return our heartfelt
thanks, at all events, to the Hon. Mrs. Otway Cave, fur
her exemplary charity and generosity towards her people
at all times.—(Cheers.)
Captain BUTLER—And many noble Lords should have
followed her example.—(" Hear," and applause.)
" After some further conversation, the CHAIRMAN put
31r. Middleton's proposal, which was negatived by all
the magistrates.
'• The Rev. Mr. STONEY—I rise to propose the making
of the next work, which will give great employment to
the poor—it will give an extensive scope for work;
it won't be limited to the repairing of old roads, or to
these little paltry jobs of lowering hills.—( Laughter.)
This work will extend for over a milt) ; it will improve

an exten3ive district °Nand, and reclaim about two

hundred acres of bog.—(llear, hear.) You come here
with the liberal view of giving employment to the poor,
and you ought, according to the instructions of Govern-
ment, to adopt some works that will be permanently
useful, and that will diffuse universal employment
amongst the poor of the barony.—([fear, hear, and ap-
plause.) Why, to-morrow or next day we won't want
any of thQsa old roads on which you are now exßending
money, because we will have the railways iu furl ope-
ration through the country.—(Hear, hear.) What you
ought to do is, to propose the making of canals.
" Captain BUTLER : The present canals don't pay.
" Rev. P. STONEY—Pass same works that will be a
permanent benefit to the country—that will last during
your lives, during the lives of your children, and during
the lives of your children's children.—(Hear, hear, and
I, lud laughter.) This application was granted.
• " The Rev. Mr. MEAGHER, P.P., proposed the making
of a now line of road which opens at Annamede, goes on
to th e cross of Blanc, and out at Gurtagarry. The Rev.
Gents 'email said—lt is a road of great public utility, and