The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1874-08-29 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

LORD O'HAGAN ON "THE IRISH LAND ACT."  At the meeting of the British Association, held in Belfast last week, in the "Economical Science and Statistics " Section, Lord Ollagan, hi his eseellent and instructive address, thus refers to the Irish Land Act The changes in the social state of Ireland and the legislation of later years, have fixed attention on our County Courts and made some reforms in their procedure and some extension in their jurisdiction very desirable. The Land Act created exigencies in connexion with our agricultural and commercial life, and they must be satisfied by a moderate and carefully considered reform of institutions which have worked well and command the confidence of the people. This is one of the most important matters which can receive the attention of the Legislature, and I am glad to say that a beginning of improvement was made in the last Seasession by an Act which gives the chairman of the county / power to adjudicate in small cases and within certain I limits, although bond fide questions of title may have arisen. The want of this power has often produced a denial of justice to suitors whose poverty has forbidden them to seek it in a superior Court, with the frequent consequences of lawless contentions, violent assaults, and sometimes lamentable homicides. (Hear, hear.) The humble man who is wronged in fact or fancy, and has found all available legal tribunals closed against him, takes the law into his own hands and becomes his own avenger. I hope this great mischief will now exist no niore. (Cheers.) But the extension of jariediction in title cases and the further concession of a limited right to deal with transactions of partnerships are only, I trust, the heralds of a more comprehensive measure giving to our local Courts, with such modification as may be necessary, the equitable jurisdiction already possessed by the County Courts of England. (Cheers.) You will, I am glad to say, have the opportunity of hearing a paper on Land Tenure prepared by Sir George Campbell, who s eminently qualified to speak with authority on that momentous subject, and to whom the people of this country owe serious obligations for the counsel and assistance which his great ability and large experience in another land enable him to afford during the discussions which preceded the passing of the Irish Land Act. (Cheers.) Of that Act generally I have no purpose to speak here. It has been in operation for too brief a time, and its provisions have yet been too little interpreted by judicial exposition to warrant a confident pronouncement on many points connected with it. That it has already been 01 signal advantage, and will yield far greater benefits hereafter, there can be no doubt; butl refer to it now only that I may say sword of its purchase clauses and the best mode of giving ' them vitality and effect, a subject worthy of the attention of all who care for the prosperity of Ireland. As to those clauses, there was no controversy in Parliament, they passed with universal approval through both Houses. They recognized with all the authority involved in so rare a unanimity of acceptance the value of diffused proprietorship of land among our agricultural classes. It is impossible to over-estimate their importance to:the progress of this country in industry and order. Yet they have a very inadequate operation and remain almost a dead letter on the Statute Book. I learn from a report of the Commissioners of Public Works that since the passing of the Act 338 tenant farmers have purchased their holdings, comprising an acreage of 22,116 acres, of which the annual rent amounts to £13,141, at a AN ASTONISHING OIL WELL IN gross cost of £219,522, including advances from the Commissioners of £129,066. The report in.