NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE Irish Executive is turning its attention, not too soon, to improved administration. The Privy Council has sanctioned a change proposed by the Judges which will, it is believed, put an end to a most dangerous form of rioting. Writs have hitherto been served upon de- fendants in person, and the regular method of resistance has been to attack the process-servers. Henceforward, in the pro- claimed districts, service by post and by placard on the nearest .police barrack will be deemed sufficient. Moreover, the worst eleven counties have been divided into five districts, in each of which a picked Stipendiary has been appointed Resident Magis- trate, with the full authority of the Crown over all employs and police within his prefecture. He will report direct to the Castle as to the state of the district and the measures required for tranquillising it, and will act, where necessary, without wait- ing for authorisation. This is, in fact, a decentralising measure urgently required, and is based upon the truth, universally recognised on the Continent, that wherever the people do not trust the gentry, the best security for order is the presence of highly-placed agents of Government on the spot. If Ireland were an independent Republic, the Lord- Lieutenant of each county .would be at once replaced by a Pre- fect, with charge of the whole administration. The English system only works when people and proprietors trust one another.
