The Sun.
London, England, 1859-02-23 00:00:00

JURIES (IRELAND) BILL.

The second reading of this bill was postponed for a fort.
night.

MANOR COURTS,_ &c. (IRELAND) BILL.

On the motion that thehouse go into committee on this
bill,

A.fr. WILLIAMS objected to the allowance of compen-
sation to the stewards of these courts, and suggested that
the committee should be postponed until the resolutions
allowing these compensations were discussed.
Mr. WHITESIDE explained that the object of the bill
was to do away with the jurisdiction of the seneschals of
those courts in matters relating to the administration of
justice, and to transfer it to the County Court magistrates
and other judges in Ireland. These manors were a rem-
nant of feudalism, and of no benefit whatever in the admi-
nistration of justice; and in many instances a nuisance to
the country.
After some discussion, in which Mr. Kirk, Mr. De Vere,
and Mr. Williams took part, it was decided that the bill
should stand over until after the other orders of the day had
been disposed of.

RECEIVERS IN CHANCERY, &c. (IRELAND)

BILL.

On the motion for the second reading of this bill,
Mr. J. D. FITZGERALD complained that both this
bill and the Sale and Transfer of Land (Ireland) Bill were
not in the possession of Irish members to enable them to
determine on their respective merits, and suggested that
they should be postponed for a week.
Mr. WHITESIDE said he had no objections to the pro-
posed postponement, but he wished to state that he would
not bring in any other Irish bills until the discussion on
these were disposed of.

MANOR COURTS, &c. (IRELAND) COMPENSA•
TION BILL

The house having resolved itself into committee on the
resolution for awarding compensation to the stewards of the
Manor Courts, the preceding debate on Manor Courts was
resumed by
Mr. J. D. FITZGERALD, who called the attention of
the committee to the case of those compensations. From the
returns of 1842 it appeared that in 25 counties there were
193 manor courts. He was unable to name the number of
these courts in the other seven counties. His proposal was
that they should not appoint any more judges of these
courts when the present judges died, which would provide
for their gradual extinction. He considered it would be
most unjust to leave the humble suitor without a court that
would supply the place of these tribunals. It would be desir-
able to increase the jurisdiction of the county court judges,
and to give magistrates at petty sessions power to adjudicate
on claims that involved debts amounting to 20s. However,
these alterations should be concurrent with the abolition of
the manor courts. These courts, amounting to 300, were
spread through the country, and he thought they should
be supplied with information in a tabulated form respecting
these courts, and the amounts of compensation that would be
required.
Mr .WHITESIDE expressed his surprise at the opposi-
tion offered to the bill on this subject which he (Mr. White-
side) had introduced. He thought they should apply the
same principle in dealing with these courts that they had
done when they abolished certain courts and established
county courts in this country with respect to granting com-
pensation. They might not like these courts, but they must
take them as they found them, and it was only equitable that i
what was vicious in principle should cease to exist n prac-
tice.

Mr. WILSON said that the proposed compensation was
reasonable enough, but he objected to its being charged on
the consolidated fund.
Lord NAAS said that Government had no objection to
adopt the suggestion of the hon. member, and moved that
the resolution should be withdrawn, on the distinct under-
standing that those compensations should be paid out of
the annual vote.
The resolution was then withdrawn.
MANOR COURTS (IRELAND). BILL.

Tmhre.
jh.oups.eFthieTnzwGeEnnt iAntoLDcOamgmaiin'ttaedevooncaithedis
hbiisll.
proposi-
tiontendefdorthathet
sgraomdellaralproexximtilleatti9o.llnOtof
tthheesceosr
ouitths,e
panrodpooosned.
suppliedi to the house by a respon-
compensation should
He denied that the increase in
ce of the small suits thatcob:en:sglien
tshibelesotamffiCper
douftytheinCr
would be tried before the petty courts would realise the
amount expected. Ho concluded by moving the omission
of the compensation clause.
Mr. WHITESIDE opposed the amendment, and con-
tended that it would be most impolitic to adopt one course
with regard to England and another for Ireland. There
were no less than 570 petty sessions courts sitting weekly
in Ireland, and the stamps that would be demanded for the
exteali nsia
on o
rge amount.f the business of these courts must necessarily
rese la
After some conversation the amendment was withdrawn,
and the clause was agreed to.
Mr. GROGAN moved in clause 4 that the word "offi-
cers" should be substitued for seneschal or steward, the
object of his amendment being to obtain compensation for
the inferior officers of these courts.
Mr. WHITESIDE opposed the amendment, and consi-
dered it would be moat unfair to give compensation to any
officers except when they could show that they had a legal
fee, of which they would be deprived by the abolition
of the courts.
After some discussion the amendment was withdrawn,
and the clause so framed as to include the marshal, or such
other officers as were created under charter in the proposed
compensation.
Mr. KIRK moved an amendment, to the effect that no
compensation should be granted on emoluments, but only
on fees.
The house divided, and the numbers were—
For the amendment
460
Against it
Majority
After some further discussion the clause was agreed to.

On clause 5 being read,
Mr. MAGUIRE moved an amendment to the effect that
the jurisdiction of petty sessions should be extended to the
trovery of £2, instead of being limited.
Mr. WHITESIDE did not oppose the proposed altera-
tion, and the clause as amended was agreed to.
The reinataing clauses were also agreed to, and the house
resumed.