. ,46 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE THE ^ t » f thini- if would be right to make a man that was guilty ot such flagrant and Tol^ ^ me£ ble to justice P- I think so; I think it 28 l838' ^^ B^^ S^ S'that any steps have been taken for that object ?- N03765. YOU have a criminal court sitting in Cork every week ?— Yes. 3764. In which Mr. Bennett, the deputy recorder, presides ?— Yes 3765. With jurisdiction to try offences, even transportable offences r- Yes. * » ' , J __ . J . • 1. r..„ fliof tinm 1- n t lis r> Y PS 766' He has been sitting every week from that time to this ?— Yes. 1 hat .. now had fire- arms in his house till I had them taken away from him ; I did not think it safe that such a fellow should have them ; I had a pistol taken away from hm- 767 Chairman.] Do you or do you not believe, that the present system and mode of registering puts upon the register only those individuals who it is in- tended by the Reform Bill should be put upon the register?— I think so. 5768. You think that there is great accuracy in carrying out the intentions ot the Reform Bill, by not putting any persons other than those intended upon the register ?— I think so, with such a barrister as Mr. Martley. ° 5769. Whenever the period of seven years or eight years shall have elapsed, when a new registry takes place, will not the same inconveniences which were in full force at the first registry recur ?— They will. 3770. Do you think it is possible, under these circumstances, but that many persons not intended to be put upon the register, under the provisions of the Reform Bill, will find their way there ?— I think with the activity of parties wishing to prevent it, that not many will. 3771. You mean to say, that, by great political excitement on one side or the other, such opposition will be made to improper claimants, as to prevent those claimants finding their way upon the register?— That is my opinion. 3772. Was there the same anxiety in the first instance upon the subject of the registration, that you believe to exist now ?— There was the same anxiety, but there was not the same length of time spent upon every case that there is now. 3773. Supposing the same length of time proportionably should hereafter be spent upon the renewal of the first registry as has been spent lately on the smaller annual registries, do you think that the barristers could possibly register the whole number of claimants within any moderate time?— I think they could. 3774. You mean to say that one barrister could register 4,000 or 5,000 persons after due investigation of all those various claims?—> No; I would have three or four or five barristers, as was the case before, when the great registry was made. 3775. According to the law as it now stands, could there be more than one bar- rister acting at a time?— I believe not; I believe that the barrister for that riding only can sit, unless the Government should order extra barristers for the extra occasion. 3776. Are you aware whether there is any provision in the Act for tiiat parti- cular case?— I am not aware. ^ 3777- Do you think, that, if the law in Ireland were assimilated to the law in England, namely, that the registry should be annual instead of septennial, the pro- bability is that there would be fewer fictitious voters placed upon the register?— I think it would be very desirable if it were before the recorder of Cork, so as to avoid taking the people the distance that they are obliged to go now, 20 or 30 miles, which is a most inconvenient thine 3778. I hat is an inconvenient circumstance, as well for the claimants as for those persons that may wish to resist improper claimants ?— Most inconvenient. 1 have myself, gone at two o'clock in the morning, 20 miles in a snow- storm, and it would be a great saving to me as well as to all the gentlemen supporting and opposing upon each side. 110 3779- Would it not be a good alteration in the law if the registry were to take place more immediately upon the spot, and to take place each year with reference to each individual, instead of, as it is at present, both with reference to time and placer I think it would be a great improvement for the better. \ 378o\ That is to say, that persons need not necessarily be disturbed annually, but hat ;, f they are bad voters they may be struck off each year, according to the circumstances of each individual ?- I think it would be desirable. 378i. Mr. Serjeant Jackson.-] Would not you think it likewise conducive to the having