4 JANUARY 1851, Page 9

IRELAND.

The new Lord Mayor of Dublin, Mr. Arthur Lee Guinness, was in- stalled, with unusual pomp and ceremony, on New-Year's Day. Great preparations were made for a civic pageant, but very unfavourable wea- ther disappointed the citizens in this respect. The proceedings at the first meeting of the new Corporation were of a cordial tone anedignified: demeanour, very favourably contrasted with those of the defunct body. Mr. Guinness set an example of amenity by thanking in a very marked way Mr. John Reynolds' the late Lord Mayor, for his hearty assistance in making the transition from the old state of things to the new' a change pleasant as well as advantageous to all. On the motion of Alderman. Roe and Mr. Chambers, a vote was passed, in which only Alderman Rooney and Mr. Barlow refused to join, giving the marked thanks of the Corporation to Mr. Reynolds, for the "courtesy, impartiality, and judg- ment," which had distinguished his presidency over its deliberations, and for the efficient manner in which he had discharged the duties of Chief Magistrate.

A correspondence has taken place between Colonel Dunne, 31.P., and Mr. G. A. Hamilton, M.P.' with reference to the apprehended abolition of the Viceroyalty. Mr. Hamilton declares his views on the subject changed, and that he is now prepared to oppose such a measure ; believing it to be in furtherance of a policy of centralization, of which he disapproves

The returns of the Clerks of the Peace, of the claimants under the new

• Franchise Act, are now completed, with the lists of objections which are- to be heard at the revision before the Assistant Banisters. So far as can be judged by the materials at present available, the entire constituency of Ireland will considerably exceed two hundred thousand. In the boroughs there will be no great augmentation, but in the counties generally the in. crease will be immense, as contrasted with the existing electoral bodies, which, since the famine, had been in a rapid state of decay. In the city of Dublin the new constituency will not much exceed that originally esta-1 blished by the Reform Act. In the Western counties the increase will - be much less in proportion than in some of the Midland collude& For. - instance, Roscommon, which had, after the first registry under the Re- form Act, a constituency of nearly 3000, will not now have more than 1800 electors of all classes. But Meath, which had not under the Reform Act 2000, and which has not now more than 400 electors, will have between 4000 and 5000 under the new Franchise Act.—Dublin Correspon- dent of the Horning Chronicle, Dec. 31.

The Poor-law Commissioners have intimated to the several unions in. Ireland the necessity that they levy another " rate in aid" to defray the expenses of some still embarrassed unions ; 2d. in the pound is therefore called for. The "order" has been received with "surprise and indig- nation " ; and it will be opposed on legal grounds by the Ballinasloe- Union, and most likely by other unions. The act under which the order is made, 12 Victoria, is entitled "An act to make provision, until the 31st day of December 1850, for a general rate in aid of certain distressed unions and electoral divisions in Ireland" ; and the fifth section of the act recites, that an account shall be made up of the sums expended under - this act to the 31st December 1850: the Ballinasloe Board contends that the rate in aid now called for cannot be struck within the time of the operation of the act, and that therefore the striking of it at all would bss illegal. The Messrs. Birch, the eminent distillers of Roserea, have converted their distillery into flax-mills, and have set on foot a subscription to esta- blish a flax society in their locality.

The Mountfield Police, in Tyrone, having discovered an illicit distillery, in the country, made three men prisoners. While conveying them away, the officers were fired upon from some heath, and one of them was wounded in the thigh. The Police replied with a running fire from their rear-sank, and succeeded in carrying off their prisoners. It was found necessary to ampul- tate the wounded man's leg.