To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state the acreage of land purchased by the Congested Districts Board from Mr. Stoney, of Rosturk Castle, county Mayo, dividing it into arable and mountain land respectively, what was the date of purchase and the price paid for the whole, what was the price paid for the arable and what for the mountain land respectively; did the Board re-sell any of the land to Mr. Stoney, and, if so, when; whether it was arable or mountain, and how does the price Mr. Stoney paid for it compare with that which the Board paid him in the first instance for the same; how much did the Board re-sell to Mr. Stoney and on whose advice, and why did they re-sell it to him; did the Board use for grazing purposes the mountain which they re-sold to Mr. Stoney, and, if so, for what period; did it pay the Board to take in cattle and sheep for grazing purposes from the neighbouring tenants, and, if so, what was the amount of profit that was realised; if it was run at a loss for the grazing of the sheep and cattle of neighbouring tenants, what was the amount of the loss to the Board; could he give the names of the tenants who sent cattle and sheep to graze on this mountain while it was in the hands of the Board, the number of cattle and sheep belonging to each and the amount paid per head for cattle and sheep; did the Board graze on it with their own stock, if so, for what length of time; what was the amount of profit or loss during the time the Board grazed on it with their own stock. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The total area of the land purchased by the Congested Districts Board from Mr. Vesey Stoney is 5,217 acres, of which 2,292 acres were tenanted. Of the remaining 2,925 acres, 405 acres were arable and 2,520 mountain land. 5,019 acres were bought in June, 1900, and the purchase of 198 acres, not yet vested, was agreed upon on May 1st, 1905. The price paid for the first purchase was £7,300 and for the second £3,975. These prices included £5,667 for the 405 acres of arable land in the landlord's hands, and £800 for the 2,520 acres of mountain land. The Board were enabled to purchase the second portion of the estate by agreeing to a condition made by the owner, viz., that they would resell to him 1,965 acres of mountain land at £600, the price which the Board had paid for it. Mr. Stoney paid this sum on; May 3rd, 1906. This re-sale was made on the advice of the Board's officers, in order to obtain 175 acres of arable land for enlarging the small holdings on the estate. The tenants did not send sufficient cattle to graze the mountain land, and the Board therefore bought thirty-four cattle on April 27th, 1903, and put them on the land. As the cattle did not thrive, they were taken off the mountain on October 15th, 1903. Two bullocks were drowned in ditches, and there was a loss of £6, including a portion of the herd's salary. The Board received for the grazing of the tenants' cattle on the mountain; in 1901, £9 5s. 6d; in 1902, £13 3s. 6d.; in 1903, £3 5s. 9d.; and in 1904, £9 16s. 4d.; total, £35 11s. 1d. It would not be convenient to give, in reply to a Question, separate particulars as to the cattle sent to graze by the various tenants in each of four years, but it may be stated in general terms that the number of tenants was over forty, the number of cattle or horses sent to graze by each tenant ranged from one to ten, and the rate per head per month from 1s. to 2s. 6d. The total profit on the tenants' grazing for four years was £8 14s. 8d., viz., £35 11s. 1d., rents received, less a pro portion of herd's wages at £1 per month, estimated at £26 16s. 5d. The loss involved in the Board's six months' grazing operation was, as already stated, £6.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he will state how many candidates competed for cadetships, how many passed into H.M.S. "Britannia," Dartmouth, in July, 1901, and July, 1902, respectively; and will he state how many candidates presented themselves for the first examination held for admission to the Royal Naval College, Osborne; how many were successful; and how many who then entered the college still remain (Answered by Mr. Edmund Robertson.) In July, 1901, 239 candidates were examined for cadetships and sixty-four entered. In July, 1902, 226 were examined for cadetships and seventy-seven entered. In July, 1903, 278 boys offered themselves for cadetships, eighty were selected to attend the qualifying examination, and seventy five entered Osborne. Of these, sixty are now at Dartmouth.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the attention of the Estates Commissioners has been called to the case of Michael Lucey, Kilcranthan, county Cork, tenant on the Hunt estate; are they aware that the tenant was verbally informed that interest on the purchase money would be charged at the rate of 3¼ percent.; that when signing the purchase agreement before a magistrate it was not read over to him, and he was never acquainted with the fact that the interest was 4 per cent., which he would not have agreed to had he known the contents of the agreement; and what steps the Commissioners are prepared to take in this case. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that in the purchase agreement signed by Michael Lucey, the rate of interest payable by him, pending the completion of the sale, is set out at 4 per cent. The Commissioners have no knowledge that the tenant was verbally informed that the rate of interest to be paid by him was 3¼ per cent. The agreement was signed in the presence of a magistrate, and it does not appear that the agreement was first read over and explained to Lucey. The necessity for such explanation does not seem to have arisen, seeing that Lucey is not illiterate. The Commissioners are prepared to consider any application in reference to the matter which the tenant may desire to make, duo notice being given to the landlord.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that revaluation of the city of Dublin was a part of the consideration offered to the townships of Clontarf and Kilmainham to induce them to consent to be added to the City of Dublin; that in consequence of the delay in revaluation they are not getting what they contracted for; and will he represent to the Treasury the importance of commencing the revaluation at once? (Answered by Mr. McKenna.) I have been able to obtain no evidence in sup port of the hon. Member's statement in the first part of the Question; indeed such information as I possess tells some what against his assumption. I am advised that the delay is probably not inflicting any hardship on the townships in question.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that there are several evicted tenants on the estate of the Knight of Glin, situate at Glin, in the county of Limerick; and whether he will direct the Estates Commissioners to send down an inspector to report on these cases, with a view to bringing about their reinstatement? (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that they have received applications from fourteen persons seeking reinstatement on the estate in question. The Commissioners will have the cases inquired into by one of their inspectors in due course.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners will approach the landlord, the Rev. John T. Waller, of Pallaskenry, who evicted the late Michael Dalton from his holding at Pallas in the year 1884, and who is working the evicted farm, in order that they may reinstate his representative. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that Michael Dalton has not lodged an application for reinstatement. If he should do so his case will be inquired into.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the tenants on Lord Southwell's estate, in the county of Limerick, have signed agreements to purchase their holdings, and if he can say how the Estates Commissioners intend to deal with the case of the representative of Mrs. Baker, of Ballingrane, who was evicted from her holding; and whether they will refuse to complete the sale until the evicted tenants' representative be reinstated? (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that agreements for purchase by 120 tenants on Lord Southwell's estate in the county Limerick have been lodged. An application for reinstatement as an evicted tenant on this estate has been received from Mrs. Baker and will be duly inquired into.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Thomas M'Hugh was evicted from his holding at Rockfield, Rathkeale, by Lord Southwell; and whether now that the sale is about to be completed, the Estates Commissioners will see that his holding be given to him? (Answered by Mr. Bryce) The Estates Commissioners have received an application for reinstatement from Thomas M'Hugh, and will have inquiries made into his case as soon as practicable.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he is aware that William and Thomas Bourke were evicted from their holdings at Ballinagould Croagh, in the county of Limerick, by the Reverend John T. Waller, of Pallaskenry, in the county of Limerick, in the year 1895 for non-payment of rent; and whether he will say what action the Estates Commissioners intend to take in the matter with the view to bringing about the reinstatement of one of them and the representative of the other who died since the eviction. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Estates Commissioners have received applications for reinstatement from the persons named, and will have the cases inquired into in due course.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether it is intended to institute an inquiry into the working of the railway and canal systems operating in Ireland with a view to enable cheaper rates and greater facilities; and, if so, whether the evidence will be taken in Ireland at various suitable centres. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) A Commission on canals is already sitting, and will, in due course, visit Ireland and inquire there. The question of instituting an inquiry into the railway system is under the consideration of the Irish Government.

To ask the First Commissioner of Works whether, as stated in the Treasury letter of Sir Francis Mowatt to the Under-Secretary of State for India, published at page 58 of House of Commons Cd. No. 268, of Session 1900, the cost of the repair, upkeep, and decoration of the Imperial Institute Buildings, of maintaining the heating apparatus, and of defraying rates falls upon the Office of Works, with the exception that the cost of repairs, decoration, and lighting of the Indian section, or some parts thereof, is met from Indian revenues: and whether he will give a Return showing full particulars of the total cost from the date of transfer of the Institute to the present time of all repairs, alterations, and other expenses incurred by the Office of Works, distinguishing as far as possible the proportion

To ask the President of the Board of Education whether the grant of£4,000 per year paid to the University College of Wales at Aberystwyth is for general expenses or for certain specific purposes; and whether he will agree to present a Return to the House of the salaries and wages paid to the staff of the college during the last five years. (Answered by Mr. Asquith.) The grant is in aid of the general expenses of the college. I have no official information as of the cost incurred for the London University and the Imperial Institute sections of the buildings during the period the University has been accommodated there? (Answered by Mr. Harcourt.) The charge for the external maintenance of the Imperial Institute Buildings is borne upon votes, the Imperial Institute and the University of London bear the charges for internal maintenance out of funds administered by those bodies. The expenditure defrayed by the Office of Works is as follows: the proportions being charged in the ratio of Imperial Institute two-fifths, and the London University three-fifths:—

To ask the President of the Board of Education what was the total cost of elementary education in the years 1873, 1879, 1884, and 1900, and the number of children in average attendance for each of the above-mentioned years; and how much was received towards the cost during the same years from grants, rates, fees, endowments, and voluntary subscriptions, respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is customary for male and female prisoners to be moved together to and from prisons, which some times involves long railway journeys; and, if so, whether he will consider the desirability of making arrangements by which this practice may no longer be carried on. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) Male and female prisoners are never removed together between one prison and another by the prison authorities; but it is, doubtless, the fact that when the police bring remand prisoners and prisoners committed for trial to prison, and take remand prisoners from prison to court, prisoners of both sexes some times travel together. It is not easy to see how this is to be avoided in country districts, where the number of police available is small and the prisons are far from some of the committing courts. The matter is one for the local police authorities, who have to deal with it as best they can. I agree with the hon. Member in thinking that it should be avoided as far as possible.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that the Allotments Act, 1887, empowers local authorities to acquire land for allotments within or without their district; whether the Local Government Board have required the Docking Rural Council to give the St. Edmunds allotments holders notice to quit at Michaelmas, on the ground that the Board cannot allow the Docking Council to control allotments out of their district; and, if so, what reasons have induced the Local Government Board to take this action. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) I am aware of the power conferred by The Allotments Act, 1887. In the presentcase the allotments appear to have been provided by the rural authority for a parish, part of which was afterwards formed into an urban district. The allotments are stated to have been situate in the urban area, but I am informed that the urban district council are not inclined to take them over. The rural district council seem to be within their powers in giving notice to the allotment holders, but they have not been required by the Local Government Board to do so.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board if he will state the number of Poor Law children at present boarded out within and beyond the union, respectively; also the number of committees which exist for the supervision of children boarded out within the union; and the number of children in their care. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) On January 1st last the numbers of pauper children who were boarded out within and beyond the union were 6,963 and 1,818, respectively. There are 284 authorised committees in respect of children boarded within the union, and the number of the children under their care is about 2,000.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the Rhymney Railway Company's violation of the Board of Trade Rules, issued under The Railways (Prevention of Accidents) Act, 1900, dated August, 1902, relating to running trains without brake vans between Cardiff Docks and Heath Junction, about two miles, gradient one in forty-five, load forty-five empties up and forty loaded trucks down; between Cardiff Docks and Llanishan, about three miles, gradient one in forty-five, similar loads, and several other sections; if he is aware that the guards in such cases have to ride on the buffers or on top of the loaded wagons to the detriment of their own safety; and whether he will take steps to compel the company to carry out the Board's rules regulating such working.^*(Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) This matter has been recently brought to the notice of the Board of Trade and is engaging their attention. Whether or not the specified sections of line fall within the operation of the statutory rate referred to, I am advised that, with the gradients mentioned, the provision of brake vans is necessary for safe working. I propose so to inform the Railway Company. The Company inform me that in every case where a train runs outside station limits they have already given instructions that an empty vehicle must be provided for the guard.

To ask the Secretary of State for India whether in view of the fact that in the Bombay and Bengal Presidencies, daughters of deceased members of the Indian Civil Service draw as pensions £100 a year if living in England and 60 rupees a month, which amounts to £48 a year, if living in India, and that this difference is due to the fact that at the time this arrangement was made the rupee was worth about 2s. 3d., he will, now that the value of the rupee is only 1s. 4d., take measures to equalise the pensions drawn in India and those drawn in England. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Morley.) The rates of pension drawn from the Bombay and Bengal Civil Funds by the children of subscribers resident in India and in England, respectively, were fixed by the subscribers, and no alteration in either rate was suggested when the funds were transferred to Government, though the rate of exchange had then fallen to about 1s. 8d. The Funds have no surplus assets, and the increase in the rupee value of pensions paid in England has already thrown a charge on the revenues of India. I am not prepared further to increase this charge by raising the rates of pension payable in India.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that dissatisfaction has arisen amongst agriculturists on account of the change in the tender forms, which enables the meat of imported animals to be supplied to the troops stationed in Great Britain and Ireland; whether he can state the amount of money approximately which is paid to the importers for meat and forage raised outside the three Kingdoms; and whether he will represent to the Army Council the advisability of supporting the agriculturist taxpayer and employers-resident in the three Kingdoms. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) In reply to the first part of the Question: a few representations on the subject have been made to the War Office. As regards the second part of the Question, I am it would not be possible to give any even approximate figures without very elaborate inquiries. As regards the last part of the Question, I have nothing to add to the replies which I have already given to the hon. Member on the subject of the; change in the tender forms.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been directed to the fact that on the sole evidence of Detective Sergeant Rose, lately dismissed from the police force for giving false evidence, two lads named Patrick Ryan and Henry George Baxter were convicted, on 17th November, 1905, on a charge of attempting to pick pockets, but released on further inquiry establishing their innocence; whether he is aware that the wrongful conviction has injured the prospects of the lads referred to; and whether, in the circumstances, he can see his way to grant them a free pardon. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) On a reconsideration of all the circum stances, and after consultation with the magistrate who tried the case, I have advised His Majesty to grant a free pardon.