JUSTICE TO IRELAND.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume V, Issue 238, 23 November 1877, Page 9

JUSTICE TO IRELAND.

To the Ediior of the New Zealand Tablet.

Sir. — Tlie question of the unfortunate state of Ireland and her Rulers has been well ventilated this Session in the Houses of Lords and Commons. Will you permit me to inform your readers that the minute-book of the Irish Board of Customs, for 1719, discloses a state of affairs in the country alluded to, leaving little room to doubt that the title of hereditary bondsmen was not altogether a misnomer. '* Samuel Morris, a gaugcr, was dismissed upon repeated advices from Mr. Hutchinson, J.P., that his (the ganger's wife) is or was lately a Papist. ° " Henry Dillon, tide-waiter at Port Limerick, was dismissed, it appearing by a certificate of Mr. Napper, that the said Dillon had refused to drink some loyal healths. " In 1720, a letter is recorded from their Excellencies the Lords Justices requiring the Board to cause an account to be stated and signed by the proper officer, of the income arising by the fees of the licenses for exporting wool from Ireland to England— the fees for the exportation of wool (say the latter) having fallen off veiy much. "Holidays at the Custom-houses in Ireland were numerous enough to stifle any trade, the establishment being closed for a week at Easter, a week at Whitsuntide, in addition to several other holidays. In order to make matters pleasant, a special holiday was observed on the anniversary of the " Victory of the Boyne." Yours, &c, Dunedin, Nov. 19. James Sandekson.