28 AUGUST 1886, Page 2

Mr. Plunket, in his short reply, stated that in the

last four months the number of evictions had greatly decreased; that in 1885, of 3,127 tenants legally evicted, only 600 were actually evicted, all the others being reinstated. He pointed out how rapid is the increase of tenants desiring to purchase their holdings under Lord Ashbourne's Act, and resented very strongly Mr. Parnell's cold-blooded prediction of the failure of all con- ciliation in Ireland, and the need that would arise for recourse to a policy of stringent coercion. Undoubtedly that is a prophecy which Mr. Parnell has it in his power to fulfil.