IRELAND.
The Countess of Clarendon was safely delivered of a son on Wednesday evening; and the bulletin issued next morning gave an exceedingly favour- able account of both mother and child.
The Lord-Lieutenant has set a bright example: he has originated a pro- ject for affording practical instruction to the working farmers throughout the country, by means of lectures to be delivered at convenient localities on the most improved systems of husbandry. The expense is estimated at 3001.; towards which Lord Clarendon has subscribed 501.; another 501. is contributed by the Duke of Leinster, who undertakes to bring the plan before the Royal Agricultural Improvement Society of Ireland.
The appointment of Secretary to the Irish Poor-law Commissioners has been conferred on Mr. William Stanley, late Secretary of the Relief Com- mission. Another appointment is that of Mr. O'Flanagan to the office of Poor-law Inspector, temporarily filled by Mr. Stanley.
The Land Improvement Act is now in active operation : according to the Dublin Evening Mail," loans to the amount of many thousand are now made weekly under the act."
In reply to a memorial from the Carrickmacross Union, Lord John Rus- sell has caused a letter to be written to the Guardians, in which they are told, that "by orders of the Treasury no repayment under the Temporary Relief Act will be required during the present year, when the rates for the current expenditure under the Poor-law equal or exceed 3s. in the pound."
" When the rates fall short of that amount, it does not appear that a very ruinous burden is imposed on the owners and occupiers of land. In such cases, therefore, a rate of 3s. will bare to be levied; of which a portion will be ap- plicable to the repayment of the elms advanced by the Treasury. In this coun- try, the rates for the relief of the poor have, in periods of scarcity, frequently ex- ceeded 5s. and 6s. in the pound, and no portion of those rates has ever been paid by the people of Ireland.
The Lowtherstown Board of Guardians has declined to make provision in their next rate for repaying the whole of the advances under the Tem- porary Relief Act; and the Board has been dissolved by the Poor-law Commissioners, under the powers conferred by the Irish Relief Extension Act. The members of the defunct Board have taken the matter in great dudgeon, and have published a statement complaining of the "insolent" .conduct of the Commissioners; who, they say, " have availed themselves of their official position to use language to a public board which in a private capacity they dare not use as private individuals."
The Guardians of the Killarney union, one of the most heavily-taxed in Ireland, have acted a very different part. Instead of refusing to make the required levy, they have set about their task with earnestness, and an exhortation to all classes—landlords especially—to set an example of obe- dience to the law.
Severe distress is said to exist in Mayo, Kerry, Cork, and other counties, arising from the delay in getting the new Poor-law into operation.
Evictions of tenantry are going on in Tipperary. Sixteen families are reported by the Tipperary Vindicator to have been unhoused during the last few weeks from the estates of Sir Edmond Buller and Lord Blomfield.
M. Soyer has written to the papers reporting the performance of the model soup-kitchen erected in Dublin, and used by the South Dublin Union. From the opening of the kitchen, on the 6th April to the 4th August, 1,147,279 rations, consisting of 2,868,197 pounds of food, were issued, at a cost of 7,7681. Under the old plan of preparing food in different depots, the cost would have been 15,5361. or double. One result has been, that whilst the ratepayers of the North Dublin Union have paid 38. 4d. in the pound, those of the South Union have only had to pay a Is. rate.
The Cork Constitution mentions, that on Wednesday sennight no fewer than twenty-four vessels laden with Indian corn arrived in Cork harbour: 2,200 quarters were entered on Thursday at the Customhouse for home consumption.
The majority of the Honourable Edward Stanley has been celebrated at 23allykisteen, Lord Stanley's Irish estate; a generous hospitality entertain- ing the landlord's tenants and dependents, to the number of six hundred, for three successive days.
The weekly meeting took place as usual in Conciliation Hall on Mon- -day; Mr. Edward Murphy presiding. Mr. John O'Connell denounced the conduct of Mr. Smith O'Brien and his "young" coadjutors in the South, in raising dissensions between the people and their clergy; and, "in his father's name," he implored the people to be guided only by their priests, and not by what he or any one else might say if it were not sanctioned by their pastors. Mr. Reynolds, M.P. for Dublin, declared his belief that the _state of the country would be worse in November than it had been for years; and called on the Ministry to stop the exportation of corn from Ire- land, and purchase it up, to be resold to the people after deducting ex- penses. Wheat could be bought at a remunerating profit to the farmer at .30s., and oats at 12s.; and if the Government bought up what was in the country, there would be no necessity to import. Rent 351.
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