asked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether he is aware that at a public meeting of the leading citizens of Dublin, held within the past few days, the scheme adopted by the Government for the erection of the National Science and Art Museum in Dublin was condemned and protested against by men of all political parties, and whether not a single voice was raised in its favour at the meeting; whether it is a fact that a meeting of Irish architects has unanimously condemned the site selected by the Government, and that thirty-six of the principal architects in Ireland, including both non-competitors and competitors, have united in a public declaration that, in position, area, and adaptability for the purpose, the intended site is most inconvenient and unsuitable; that a building erected thereon will be cramped, inconvenient, badly lighted, and deficient in ventilation; that, irrespective of the site in Merrion Square, there is ample room to erect a building in every respect suitable and convenient; that all the competing architects with whom the signatories to the declaration had the opportunity of consulting found the greatest difficulty in providing the required accommodation on the site, but they were restricted by the rigid instructions, and allowed no scope for their suggestions; and several architects, on receiving the instructions furnished to intending competitors, were so convinced of the force of the foregoing objections, that they did not compete; and, whether the Government, in deference to the unanimous opinion of the Irish public, will now agree to re-open the entire question, and will accept the guidance of Irish opinion in regard to the erection of this Irish Institution?

Sir, I saw that a meeting had been called for the purpose of condemning the Government scheme, and it had done so. Various well-known persons connected with Dublin appear to have been present. I have heard nothing of the meeting of architects; but, after my previous replies, the hon. Member will not be surprised if I think the opinion of Dublin architects on this question must be received with much reserve. No practical suggestion has yet reached me for building on any other site. But the Government will very shortly be in a position to come to a final decision in the matter, when it will have all these representations before it.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office, Whether the sum of £1,686 16s. 8d. paid to the Commissioners of Wood sand Forests as compensation for damage caused by fires in Woolmer Forest in May 1881 (as appears by the last Re- port of the Commissioners, page 126), was paid by the War Office; and, if so, why the owners of private property who suffered equal or greater losses from the same cause were refused any recognition of their claims to the like compensation?

Sir, in reply to the right hon. Gentleman, I have to say that the War Office has paid the sum of £1,686 to the Commissioners of Woods and Forests as compensation for damage caused by fire on land at Woolmer Forest leased by the War Department from the Commissioners of Woods and Forests. The payment was made because, by the terms of the lease, the War Department is bound to make good all damage by fire on this land. No land is held at Woolmer of private owners, and the Secretary of State for War has no liability in respect of the adjacent lands not rented by him.

said, he would again call attention to the subject.

asked Mr. Attorney General for Ireland, Whether it is a fact that on the 6th of July 1877, Thomas Connolly, now an Alderman in the Municipal Council of Drogheda, and high sheriff during the present year of the county of the town of Drogheda, made a declaration on oath in the Court of Common Pleas for the city and county of New York, United States of America, in the following words:—

Sir, I am not aware whether the facts are as stated in this Question or not; but any person interested in the matter can raise the question, if so advised, by proceeding at law in the ordinary way.

I shall now hand the right hon. and learned Gentleman an attested copy of the declaration made in the Court of Common Pleas in New York, and I shall ask a further Question on the subject at the end of Question time.

I appeal to you, Sir, whether this conduct is not most irregular?

The right hon. and learned Gentleman will use his own discretion in the matter as to what he will do with the Paper.

If I am in Order, the course I shall adopt is to return this document to the hon. Member in a sealed envelope. When I find the Mayor of the town elected to that duty, and fulfilling that office, I take it that primâ facie he is fully qualified to discharge that duty, and I really cannot undertake to inquire whether he is or not.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If he will state the circumstances which were held to justify the sentencing of Mr. Henry Brennan, of Cliffoney, county Sligo, to three weeks' imprisonment; and, by what section of the Crime Prevention Act the sentence was authorised?

At half-past 8 o'clock on the evening of the 30th ultimo, two sub-constables arrested two men for fighting in the streets of Cliffoney. Henry Brennan came up and seized one of the constables by the collar and demanded his authority for making the arrest. A large crowd assembled and stones were thrown at the police, and had it not been for assistance coming up, the prisoners would have been rescued. The night was so dark that no one except Brennan could be identified. The charge against him was heard by two Resident Magistrates, and he was sentenced to imprisonment for the offence, under Section 8, Subsection D, as directed by Sections 21 and 22 of the Prevention of Crime Act.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether the Commission appointed to inquire into the complaints of the Dublin Metropolitan Police has as yet formally reported; whether one of those complaints was that the Dublin Metropolitan Police had been excluded from the gratuity given to the constabulary for special services; whether the Commission has made any Report as to this complaint; and, if so, what is its purport; and, whether, having regard to the great strain now placed on the exertions and sense of duty of the Dublin Metropolitan Police, he will give prompt effect to any recommendations made by the Commission in favour of the force?

The Commission appointed to inquire into the complaints of the Dublin Metropolitan Police has not yet formally reported. One of the complaints was that the Metropolitan Police had been excluded from the gratuity given to the Constabulary. The Commission made a preliminary Report in reference to this complaint, recommending that the gratuity should be granted. Immediate attention has been given to that recommendation, and the Irish Government has obtained the assent of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury to a gratuity not exceeding three months' pay being given to the men of the Dublin Metropolitan Police. Under the circumstances, the Government is prepared to advance the money out of civil contingencies—the amount to be repaid next Session out of a Vote which we shall present to the House, and which we hope will be sanctioned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether there is in use in the prisons any instrument for the infliction of corporal punishment on criminals besides the "cat" or birch rod; and, whether one "like three canes twisted together," or otherwise resembling the "Austrian stick," has been introduced and used?

I answer both these Questions in the negative.

asked the Vice President of the Council, Whether he will inquire whether placards connected with some of the candidates for the School Board at Birmingham continued to be exhibited on some of the Board Schools of that town after the declaration of the Chairman, quoted by him in this House; and, whether, in that case, he will draw the attention of the School Board to the matter, with a view to enforcing the impartiality which he desires?

, in reply, said, that after the very fair statement which he had read from the Chairman of the school board last week, he did not think the House should have been troubled with this further Question. He had, however, received the following telegram from Mr. Dixon on the subject:—

"The placards referred to do not continue to be exhibited on some of the Board Schools of Birmingham. There has not been any partiality shown, the placards of every party having been posted on one of the schools, that of the Bible party appearing the first."

explained that the reason he had put the Question was because his information was to the effect that these placards had continued to be exhibited after the statement of the right hon. Gentleman and before the election.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been drawn to the remarks of Mr. Justice Hawkins, at the Old Bailey, on the 28th November, on the subject of the failure of the Public Prosecutor in the preparation of prosecutions; and, whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

The Public Prosecutor is sometimes supposed to be a subordinate agent of the Home Office; but that is not the fact. Mr. Justice Hawkins was entitled to make his observations; but they would have been entitled to greater respect, and would have been more useful, if they had been addressed either to the Attorney General or to the Home Office, instead of generally to the public. If any facts had been stated, it would have been more easy to inquire what the grievance was. I have always been of opinion that the office of Public Prosecutor ought to be established on a far more extensive scale. In fact, I said so at the time the office was created. At present it is established upon a very narrow scale indeed, there being only one gentleman, with an assistant, to do all the public prosecutions of the country, which greatly limits his power for usefulness.

inquired whether the right hon. and learned Gentleman would put himself in communication with the Attorney General and the Treasury, in order to press the necessity of the original scheme being carried into effect?

inquired whether the right hon. and learned Gentleman would ask the Judges to confine themselves to the discharge of their official duties in the future, and not to deliver public harangues from the Bench?

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty, Whether the question of Warrant rank for noncommissioned officers from the Royal Marines who have been transferred to Militia regiments is yet arranged?

This Question ought to have been ad- dressed to the Secretary of State for War, as it lies with him to determine which classes of non-commissioned officers serving with the Auxiliary Forces should receive warrant rank. I may, however, say that the conditions under which Marines serve with Militia and Volunteer Regiments are under the consideration of the two Departments.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If the Treasury will grant any facilities for the creation of a local Harbour Board for the management of the Port of Clare Castle, and the improvement of the navigation of the River Fergus to that point?

said: The suggestion in this Question has already been under consideration, and it is so at the present time. It involves the breaking up of the Shannon Trust, which would require legislation, and the distribution of its assets, liabilities, duties, and privileges between a certain number of local bodies. To this the Government have already professed themselves favourably disposed in principle; but the constitution of the local bodies presents much difficulty.

also asked, If the Treasury will consent to grant the surplus sum, amounting to considerably over £2,000, to the credit of the Port of Clare Castle, to improving the navigation of the River Fergus to that place?

I am not aware of any such balance as that named in the Question now standing to the credit of Clare Castle; but my answer to the previous Question will have shown the hon. Member that his suggestion, though, premature at present, will be duly considered at the proper time, should the course indicated in that answer prove capable of adoption.

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether he will lay upon the Table of the House any communications which may have taken place from 1869 to 1871 between Her Majesty's Consuls in Cuba and the Governor of Nassau with any of Her Majesty's Secretaries of State, relative to the acts and proclamations of the Captain General of Cuba with respect to refugees or rebels escaping from Cuba?

We can find no trace in the archives of the Foreign Office of the communications between Her Majesty's Consuls and the Secretaries of State referred to by the right hon. Member; but as regards those from the Governor of Nassau, they would naturally be addressed to the Colonial Office. There were two Proclamations sent home by Her Majesty's Consul General, one dated March 24 and the other July 7, 1869. The second abrogates the first. The earlier of these Proclamations, which was never acted upon, is relative to the seizure upon the high seas of vessels, arms, men, and ammunition, and persons suspected of lending aid to the insurgents. Nothing is said about landing refugees. The Proclamation rather appears to apply to vessels on the high seas going to, than to vessels quitting Cuba.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether the Papers referred to yesterday are ready for production?

said, that the Colonial Office had not received the letter he had referred to yesterday. He, however, undertook that before the Prorogation all the Papers received on this subject up to the Prorogation should be laid upon the Table.

asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether the authorities at Gibraltar gave to the ladies who accompanied General Maceo the option of remaining in the fortress; or whether they were expelled by the police at the same time as the General?

The Government telegraphed to Gibraltar inquiring whether the ladies referred to had or had not asked to be allowed to stay in the fortress. His impression was that they did not wish to be separated from the others; but he had got no answer to his telegram.

stated that, in reply to a private telegram sent last night, he was informed that the ladies were now free.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether the Court Valuers attached to the Land Commission for appeal purposes will be dispensed with at the same time as those attached to the Sub-Commissions; and, if not, if he will state the reason?

asked if the right hon. Gentleman would state what was their tenure of office; and, whether the views expressed in the debate on Tuesday evening would be taken into consideration?

The 17 valuers appointed to be attached to the Sub-Commissions, and whose services are to be discontinued, stand on a completely different footing from the valuers previously appointed to value—(1) for appeal purposes; (2) to determine fair rents out of Court; and (3) to assist the County Court Judges. And, with regard to the valuers employed under these three heads, there is no present intention of dispensing with them. With regard to the tenure of office, I would prefer answering the Question after consultation with the Land Commissioners; but the views expressed in the debate on Tuesday night will be considered.

asked what the right hon. Gentleman meant by the expression "present intention?" Was it intended to indicate that the employment of these gentlemen was precarious?

replied, that he had used the words without intending to convey any such impression.

gave Notice that next Session he would call attention to the continuance of valuers in the Superior Courts, when a similar course was not taken in the case of the Inferior Courts, where they were more wanted.

inquired as to whether it would not be necessary for the Sub-Commissioners to go over the land upon the valuers being dispensed with?

asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, If it be the fact that the electors of two constituencies in Malta have so insulted the Legislative Council that nearly all the Members have resigned, and the Council has practically ceased to exist; whether he will, before the election of a new Council, modify the electorate, by abolishing the language test, or in some way extending the franchise; and, what steps the Colonial Office are taking under the circumstances?

The facts in the first part of the Question are, roughly speaking, correct. Some months ago the Government of Malta was desired to propose to the Council an extension of the franchise; but now that the Council has virtually dissolved itself, it is an open question whether it would be best, as suggested, to have the election of a new Council under an extended franchise, enacted by Letters Patent.

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether British claims against Brazil are yet settled, or how long the Brazilian Government is to be allowed to evade these?

My hon. Friend must not forget that there are counter-claims. We are trying to come to an adjustment of the British claims, which are, at the present moment, undergoing careful scrutiny for that purpose.

asked whether it was not the fact that those counterclaims arose in connection with the liberation of slaves and the seizure of slave ships, and were such as the Government were not entitled to sanction?

I cannot answer that Question without Notice.

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether be will lay upon the Table of the House a Copy of Admiral Gore Jones's official Report of his visit to Madagascar last year?

said, the Question was one for his hon. Friend the Secretary to the Admiralty to answer.

said, the Admiralty had not considered the matter; but he did not think there would be any objection to consulting with the Admiralty, if necessary, with a view to the Report being laid on the Table.

asked, with reference to Madagascar, if it were true that a deputation from that Island would be received at the Foreign Office to-morrow; and, whether, if they had an audience of Her Majesty, they would be received with the usual ceremony?

said, the Question of the noble Lord was rather irregular. The deputation would be received to-morrow afternoon; but he had not heard that they had applied for an audience of Her Majesty.

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the matters in debate in the Chefu Convention have been settled, as has been asserted in some of the newspapers?

the answer to the hon. Member's Question is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If he has received from the Metropolitan Board of Works the Report of Captain Shaw upon the Theatres and other places of public entertainment; and, if so, whether he will lay them upon the Table of the House? He asked the Question yesterday in the absence of the Home Secretary; but the hon. Member (Mr. Hibbert), who replied to the Question, was unable to explain the motives for withholding the Report.

, in reply, said, that in regard to Papers of that kind it was more usual to state the reason for presenting them, rather than the reason for not doing so. He did not think there would be any advantage in laying this Report on the Table. It directed certain things to be done, in order to remove dangers which were believed to exist. It would be very unfair to lay a Report of the dangers to which theatres were exposed on the Table, without, at the same time, explaining what had been done in order to remove them.

said, it was well known that these Reports condemned specifically certain theatres, and if it were not known which theatres——

The hon. Member cannot debate the matter; he can only put a Question.

intimated that on Monday he would ask the Home Secretary to specify the places so condemned, in order that the public might know which were safe and which unsafe.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, with regard to the inquiry that the Lord Chancellor of Ireland had made into the case of Mr. Fitzmaurice Hussey, J.P., and his denial of having exacted fees from tenants in respect of the swearing of affidavits required by the Arrears Act, Whether the Lord Chancellor of Ireland, in view of such a serious charge, will rest satisfied with a mere denial by the person against whom the charge is made; or, whether he will receive and consider any affidavit which may be tendered in support of the charge against Mr. Fitzmaurice Hussey?

The Lord Chancellor invariably receives and considers any properly supported charge made against a mgistrate; and if an affidavit is submitted to him in support of the charge against Mr. Fitzmaurice Hussey it will, as a matter of course, have his consideration.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether a Government shorthand-writer was present during the proceedings of the public meeting held on Sunday last, at St. Mullin's, county Carlow; whether the Irish Government have been supplied with an official shorthand-writer's note of the speech delivered at the meeting in question by the honourable Member for Wexford; whether, considering that he did not know yesterday whether there was any official shorthand-writer's note of the speech in question in existence, he will now state upon what evidence he arrived at the decision communicated to the House with respect to the speech of the honourable Member for Wexford; whether it has been decided that in case a person who gives bail to be of the peace and of good behaviour, is found, during the existence of the recognisances in force, out of his usual place of abode after nightfall, his bails may be estreated; whether bails have been recently estreated in Ireland under the circumstances stated; and, whether, if bail were given by the honourable Member for Wexford and Mr. Michael Davitt, they would be held liable to have their securities estreated in case they were found absent after nightfall from their usual places of abode?

No Government shorthand writer was present at the meeting at St. Mullin's, County Carlow, on Sunday last. A constable was present who took notes; and the Government are of opinion that they are in possession of sufficient evidence taken on the spot to sustain the proceedings that have been directed. With regard to the remainder of the Question, it must depend entirely on the circumstances under which a person bound to good behaviour is found out after nightfall, whether or not a breach of the recognizance has taken place. There is no record in the Constabulary Office of any instance of bails having been estreated on the ground of a proceeding under the 11th section.

gave Notice that on Monday next he would ask the Attorney General for Ireland, what steps he intended to take to secure the good behaviour of Mr. Davitt and Mr. Healy in accordance with what had been said, by the Chief Secretary for Ireland on the 30th of November?

I wish to ask the right hon. and learned Gentleman under what Statute the proposed proceedings are to be taken against Mr. Healy and Mr. Davitt?

The hon. Gentleman will be informed of this when the proceedings are instituted.

I beg to say that, in view of the very extraordinary answer that has just been given by the right hon. and learned Gentleman to a most proper Question, I will repeat that Question on the next day upon which the House sits.

By that time I shall probably be able to say that the proceedings have been instituted.

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman unable to say now under what Statute it is intended to proceed?

I am, Sir. I have it under consideration. There are two Statutes.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether, amongst the "bad characters" whom the police have been directed to arrest in Dublin under the Curfew Clause, females who ply their calling in the streets for immoral purposes, and persons suspected of robbery and theft will be included?

The classes of persons who are within the scope of the section referred to are those who are abroad under circumstances giving rise to a reasonable suspicion of criminal intention, and that is a question of fact in each case. Persons suspected of robbery and theft would be included legally; but, generally speaking, it may be said that the action of the police will be governed by the supplementary Proclamation which I read yesterday. The new powers will not take the place of the ordinary powers of the law, but will be supplementary to them, for the purpose of dealing with persons connected with secret societies who endanger the lives of peaceful citizens.

asked Mr. Attorney General for Ireland, whether prostitution was not a criminal offence? He wished to ask whether the offence in question was not an offence for which persons could be imprisoned; and, whe- ther the police in many parts of the country were not directed to proceed against such persons?

It is not per se.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, To state the amount of interest actually remitted on the Loan to Anstruther Harbour, referred to in the note at page 122 of the Report of the Public Works Loan Commissioners; to state the intentions of the Treasury in regard to the arrears of interest on the Loan for Dunbar; and, what is to be done in regard to the arrears of capital on both harbours?

My hon. and gallant Friend not having given any Notice of this Question, I have been unable to procure the figures with the accuracy which he would desire. Neither am I prepared to state off-hand the intentions of the Treasury on a matter which is in no way urgent, and which has not been recently before them. Perhaps he will repeat his Question on Monday.

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the following modification in the rules of procedure on the trial of Arabi Pacha has been submitted to Her Majesty's representative in Egypt, and has mot with their approval, which were as follows:—

"Rule of Procedure agreed on by Borelli Bey, October 21st, in the name of the Egyptian Government, and on behalf of the Commission of Inquiry.

"The defence shall be free. Counsel may call any witness they deem expedient, whether already heard or not, and examine them. The President may declare the inquiry closed if the desire to prolong uselessly the case is manifest:

"Any of the accused may appoint foreign counsel."

"Rules of Procedure enacted by the Commission of Inquiry on November 12th.

"The whole case for the defence, comprising cross-examination and production of evidence, must under all circumstances be completed by the 25th December. Counsel can only examine witnesses through the President, who may stop any question he may think fit:

"The accused can only appoint counsel after the completion of the preliminary examination. The counsel for the defence must give up their documents to the Commission of Inquiry before it completes its labours?"

The answer to the Question on the Paper is in the negative. With reference to the further Questions put by the hon. Member, I may say that we have received no communication whatever from the Egyptian Government in the sense indicated by the Question; and, of course, we must act in anything we do on what we hear from the Egyptian Government.

But has the hon. Baronet received no communication from Lord Dufferin?

We have received various rumours, but, as I have said, no communication from the Egyptian Government. Of course, Lord Dufferin gives us information; but he cannot answer for the Egyptian Government.

Will the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs say whether, if Arabi is to be released, Parliament is to be afforded any facilities for the discussion of the question of his release, for that alters the whole matter?

That, I think, is a Question which should be directed to the Prime Minister.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If he can now state that the Messrs. Killeen, of Bally glass, county Mayo, two blind musicians, who are neither charged with nor suspected of any crime, shall not be prevented from following their occupation; whether the Government propose to take any notice of the local resident magistrate who illegally prohibited the opening of their school; and, whether he will lay upon the Table the Correspondence which has passed between the Lord Lieutenant and the Messrs. Killeen?

I have directed further inquiry to be made into this case, as I think that these men should not be prohibited from opening their school, so long as it is merely a school for dancing and is properly conducted.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, If he has caused special inquiries to be made with regard to the fall of the Ivy Bridge on the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway, on the 24th November, when seven men were killed; also of the Turiff Turnpike Road Bridge, on the Great Northern of Scotland Railway, on Monday the 27th November, when five passengers were killed and several injured; and, if the Board of Trade conduct any periodical surveying supervision over the condition of Railway bridges, carriages, and other rolling stock, similar to that exercised over passenger carrying shipping?

, in reply, said, the Board of Trade intended to investigate the fall of the bridge on the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway, Major Marindin, at the present moment, was engaged in a similar inquiry in regard to the Turiff turnpike road bridge. With regard to the latter portion of the Question, Parliament had not imposed upon the Board of Trade the duty of conducting any periodical surveying supervision over the condition of railway bridges, carriages, and other rolling stock. If it had, it would require an army of officials, and would undoubtedly tend to lessen the responsibility of Railway Companies, and therefore, in his opinion, increase the danger. At the same time, however, although the Board of Trade had no general power of supervision, he was always ready to order an inquiry, and report if circumstances were brought to his knowledge which led him to believe that any particular structure, bridge, or part of the permanent way was likely to be a source of danger to passengers.

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to send out a British General and Officers on full pay to take command of the Egyptian Army?

The Egyptian Government have applied to Her Majesty's Government for the services of some officers, and communications on the subject are now passing.

Will they still be subject to the Mutiny Act?

That is a question for the Legal Officers, or for the War Office.

Perhaps the Judge Advocate General will answer that.

Will the same course be adopted towards these officers as was adopted towards Hobart Pasha, who was obliged to leave the British Navy?

No, Sir; I think not; but the matter is under the consideration of the Government.

Can the hon. Baronet tell us in what way this differs from annexation?

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty, Whether the rumour is true that the rank of Honorary General of Marines is to be revived in favour of a Flag Officer; whether any emolument is to be attached to the office, if created; and, whether the Admiralty have considered the Order in Council of 1837, which abolished the appropriation of this rank to officers of the Navy, and the approval of that abolition by the Royal Commission of 1840?

Sir, it is proposed to appoint His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh to be honorary colonel of the Corps of Royal Marines. This is in no sense a revival of the former rank of honorary general, which was a paid sinecure office. The rank of honorary colonel is to be conferred on the Duke of Edinburgh, not as a flag officer, but as a Prince of the blood; the position will be purely honorary, with no emoluments and no duties in connection with the corps; and the Board of Admiralty have reason to believe that the compliment thus conferred will be highly appreciated by the officers and men of the Royal Marines.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty, Whether, to allay the feeling of mortification amongst the officers of the Royal Marines at their not being able to sit on Courts Martial on their own officers and men, and having no status whatever whilst serving under the Naval Discipline Act, he is prepared to hold out the hope that the same rights and privileges as are accorded to them under the Military Discipline Act will be granted to this gallant corps when serving under the Naval Discipline Act; and, if not, if he will give any reason why they should not be accorded?

Sir, I have nothing to add to the answer I gave yesterday to the same Question.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Why the Scariff Drainage Works, the Bill for which passed both Houses of Parliament, have not been carried into operation; if the Board of Works applied to the local magistrates to afford the necessary securities; and, what stops the Government purpose taking, consequent upon the refusal by the magistrates to afford such securities, to have these works carried out?

This Question having been put with short Notice, I can only say that neither my right hon. Friend nor I have any knowledge of the alleged facts; but I will inquire at once into the matter, and hope to be able to give a reply on Monday. I observe, how-ever, that the Scariff Drainage Board was constituted by an Act passed in 1880, and that a loan to it of nearly £33,000 was sanctioned in the autumn of that year.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty, If it is intended to repair Her Majesty s wooden yacht "Victoria and Albert;" if so, at what cost; if not, is it intended to build a new vessel; of what material and at what probable cost; and, if at one of the dockyards, or by public tender; further, to inquire the annual cost of maintaining the four vessels now held at the disposal of Her Majesty; and, whether he considers it necessary to maintain more than two yachts in Commission, seeing that Her Majesty seldom resorts to this mode of travelling?

The Victoria and Albert is under survey, and no decision has been arrived at regarding her repair. With regard to the cost of maintaining the Royal yachts, I cannot state it at present; but if my hon. Friend will move for a Return of it, it will be granted. In reply to his last Question, I have to say that, in the opinion of the Admiralty, the provision of vessels which has been sanctioned by successive Boards of Admiralty for the use of Her Majesty and the Royal Family is not excessive.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he will lay upon the Table of the House, a Copy of the Instructions given to the police with regard to the way in which they are to execute their duties under the recent proclamation of the city of Dublin; whether persons arrested under this proclamation will be taken at once before the magistrates, and their offences adjudicated upon; whether they will be left in the cells all night; and, if so, whether clean cells will be provided for them, and this class of prisoners kept apart from the other ordinary night charges?

The instructions given to the police as to carrying out the provisions of the 11th section of the Prevention of Crime Act are confidential and cannot be laid on the Table. The duty of a constable making an arrest in this case is to take the person forthwith before the nearest available Justice, who is to inquire into the circumstances of the case, and may either discharge the person at once, or, by committal or bail, secure his appearance before a summary Court, where the matter will be adjudicated upon. The persons so arrested will be dealt with in the ordinary way in which persons arrested in the Dublin Police District are dealt with. If they have to be detained the cells should certainly be clean; and I think it very reasonable that they should not be locked up with the other prisoners, if it can possibly be avoided.

, in reference to the statement of the right hon. Gentleman, that persons arrested in this way are to be treated like any other prisoner taken into custody in the Dublin police district, wished to ask whether that meant that the Court of Summary Jurisdiction should deal with their cases the next day in conformity with the ordinary practice in Dublin; or whether they could be detained in custody for seven days?

I gather from the telegram I have received from Dublin to-day that the meaning indicated by the hon. Gentleman in the first part of his Question is correct?

The right hon. Gentleman states that prisoners will be taken before the nearest available Justice. Does that include the Lord Mayor, who is a Justice of the City of Dublin?

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether the communications which passed between the Irish Executive and the Land Commission with respect to the appointment of Court Valuers were verbal or in writing; whether, in stating that the Court Valuers "were chosen by the Land Commission on their own responsibility, and that the Government did not interfere," he intended to convey the impression that the Land Commissioners were alike responsible for the policy of appointing, as well as the selection, of Court Valuers; and, whether he can inform the House by whom the advisability of appointing Court Valuers was first suggested, by the Irish Executive or the Land Commission?

The communications which passed between the Irish Executive and the Land Commission with respect to the appointment of official valuers were both verbal and in writing. I did not intend to convey that the Land Commissioners, who are solely responsible for the selection of the valuers, were responsible for the policy of appointing them. The policy of any such change in the administration of the Act, in my opinion, rests with the Government, who are bound, however, to consult carefully the opinion of the Land Commissioners. It is very difficult to say from whom the first suggestion of appointing valuers came; but, in the shape in which they were ultimately appointed, the recommendation came from the Land Commission.

Might I ask the right hon. Gentleman, whether it is a fact that the Land Commissioners were at first opposed to the appointments; but that they were ultimately overcome by the Government?

No, Sir. That certainly is not an accurate statement of the case.

asked Mr. Attorney General for Ireland, Whether Messrs. Devine and Poole, committed for trial on a charge of murder in Dublin, on Wednesday, had neither counsel nor attorney to defend them before the magistrate; and, whether they are without sufficient means adequately to fee counsel for their trial before the Commission next week; and, if so, will he engage that the reasonable fees of solicitor and counsel shall be paid?

Sir, these two persons do not appear to have been professionally represented, although Mr. Byrne, a solicitor, appeared for the other accused persons. I do not know whether or not they are without sufficient means adequately to fee counsel for their trial; but, in any case, the Attorney General for Ireland is absolutely without any authority whatever to direct payment of any fee to a prisoner's counsel or solicitor in any case; and, therefore, it is not in my power to give any engagement in the matter, unless I engage to pay the fees out of my own pocket.

asked the First Commissioner of Works, Whether it is the fact, as stated, that nine hundred tickets have been reserved for distinguished personages to witness the opening of the Now Law Courts; whether it is true that only two hundred and fifty of these tickets have been given to Members of both Houses of the Legislature; whether he will be kind enough to inform the House from what section of the community these other six hundred and fifty distinguished personages are drawn; and, upon what principle the selection was made?

I should have thought the hon. Member might have trusted me to perform this somewhat delicate and not very agreeable duty without too curious inquiry. As, however, he has questioned me about it, I will explain that I have endeavoured, as I believe the Bar would desire, to gather together the most distinguished men of all the various Professions and Bodies in the Metropolis. I find that, after accounting for the places allotted to the Bar, to the 150 Members of this House, and the 50 places to the Lords and their ladies, I have only 550 places at my disposal, and they have been allotted as follows:—To Foreign Ministers and Members of the Corps Diplomatique and their ladies, 50; to Her Majesty's Minister and ex-Ministers and their ladies, 60; to ex-Judges, Privy Councillors, and their ladies, 50; to distinguished Naval and Military officers and to the permanent Heads of the Civil Service, 160; to the Corporation of London, 80; to the Metropolitan Board, 17; to eminent men in Science, Literature, and Art, to the clergy, to distinguished engineers, architects, and actors, 150.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Will he lay upon the Table a Copy of the Government Shorthand Writers' Notes of the speeches of Mr. Davitt, Mr. Healy, and Mr. W. Redmond, in reference to which the Government propose to take action?

I cannot undertake to do this. The evidence on which the Government will proceed will be produced in due course in the Court of Law.

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether, in accordance with the Memorial presented to him, signed by fifty-nine Members representing Irish constituencies, asking him to consent to a Motion for an humble Address to Her Majesty praying for the appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire into the industrial resources of Ireland, he will recommend the appointment of such a Commission?

, in reply, said, the Prime Minister was in course of communication with the Cabinet on the subject.

asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether he is aware that there are throughout the East of England many farm-houses either unoccupied owing to the farm being unlet, or only so far occupied as to prevent them from falling into disrepair; and, whether he would be prepared to consider such cases with a view to an equitable mitigation of the incidence of the house tax on such tenements, having regard to the profitless condition into which both farms and houses in these cases have been unfortunately reduced?

, in reply, said, no doubt there were such cases. He was not prepared to introduce changes into the present law, which was sufficiently wide to cover such cases; but any special case of hardship should be submitted to the District Commissioners of Taxes, who would, no doubt, take it into their consideration.

gave Notice that on Monday he would ask the First Commissioner of Works, Whether, during the Recess, he would take the necessary measures to provide ample accommodation for the two Grand Committees which are to consist of not more than 80, and not less than 60, Members each, and also proper accommodation for Members of that House attending the said Committees not being Members of the same; also sufficient accommodation for the reporters and accommodation for counsel, solicitors, witnesses, and others in attendance; and also suitable accommodation for the general public?

said, he would reply now. He had inquired into the matter, and had made arrangements by which he believed that two rooms would be available for the purpose and suitable for the Grand Committees. [Cries of "Where?"]

said, that one of the two rooms of the Court of Appeal, which was given up by the House of Lords last year, would be used for the meetings of the Grand Committees, and another room would be formed by throwing a small Committee Room into a larger one.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office, Whether it is a fact that Colonel Shaw Hellier, in command of the 4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards, allowed his men, on the day of the Review, to be left without any sort of refreshment from the time they left Brighton until they returned?

Sir, the officers commanding corps attending the Review were instructed to make arrangements for providing their men with a meal, and the localities were specified. The Quartermaster General, on going-round by desire of His Royal Highness the Field Marshal Commanding-in-Chief, was informed by the officer commanding the 4th Dragoon Guards that his arrangements were made, and the contractor with whom he had contracted for a substantial meal would arrive in a few minutes. The contractor states that, owing to the stoppage of the traffic and the crowd at Westminster, he could not reach his station till after the troops had left. He has not been paid, and the men have been credited with the special allowance granted for the meal. This was the only case of failure in supplying the troops.

I beg to ask the noble Marquess the Secretary of State for India, Whether he will inform the House, in the absence of the Prime Minister, what is likely to happen in case all the Amendments on the New Rules are got through to-night—I mean, in the way of Prorogation, or anything of that kind?

In the happy contingency referred to by the noble Lord we should propose to adjourn till to-morrow. A formal Notice to that effect is not necessary. We shall not propose in any case the House should sit to-morrow for Business; but if the Rules are disposed of to-night, the House would sit to-morrow for the purpose of being prorogued.

Is it understood that, if the House should meet to-morrow for Prorogation, no other Business will be taken at all?

The House will meet, I believe, at the usual hour—4 o'clock—and, of course, Business could be proceeded with until the time of Prorogation arrives.

I wish to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland—although, perhaps, the Question should be addressed to the Secretary of State for War—Whether it is true that any application has been made to the Marines to volunteer for police duty in Ireland; and, if so, whether he can inform the House what class of police duties those Marines are to be employed upon; and, whether they will have the execution of the Curfew Clauses of the Prevention of Crime Act?

It is true that volunteers have been called from the Marines to assist the police in Ireland; but I cannot at present give any further information on the subject. Care will be taken to guard against any mistakes which might occur from want of local knowledge or experience. There are no people in Ireland on whom such mistakes would fall more severely than upon the Executive Government.

I wish to ask the Chief Secretary whether he can inform the House whether those Marines are to be employed on protection duty or as constables-in-aid of the civic force?

I must decline to give particulars, except so far as to say that arrangements will be made among the police and their new colleagues for the purpose of affording, as far as possible, assistance to the police in carrying out their duty, and that all the duty that can possibly be called protective duty shall be intrusted to the new force.

, who had on the Paper the following Notice of Motion:—

"Address for Copies of Correspondence between the Town Council of Devonport and the Home Secretary (Right honourable Mr. Bruce), in October 1871, concerning his (Mr. Bruce's) statements to his constituents in Renfrewshire as to the immoral condition of Devonport prior to the passing of the Contagious Diseases Acts, and the alleged moral improvements effected by those Acts; together with the Report of the Town Council on the subject adopted in February 1872, after a Committee of their body had examined the evidence on the subject produced before the Royal Commission; and, of the Report of the Devonport Town Council, adopted on the 12th day of October 1882, after a similar examination of the evidence of Inspector Anniss and Chief Constable Lynn before the late Select Committee of the House on the Contagious Diseases Acts,"

said, that on inquiry he had found that none of the Papers referred to were in the Home Office.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If he will, in the interests of members of friendly societies generally, state the precise grounds upon which the Director of Public Prosecutions based his inability to further intervene on behalf of the "Merlin" Lodge of Odd fellows, Risca, Monmouth, in their proceedings against their late se- cretary for withholding a certain balance of moneys alleged to be due to the said lodge?

, in reply, said, be bad been informed by the Director of Public Prosecutions that be had had a consultation on the subject with Mr. Poland, and they were of opinion that there were no sufficient materials for a prosecution.

asked Mr. Attorney General for Ireland, Whether he could give any information to the House as to how the vacancy which still existed on the Irish Bench would be filled up? The question was one of considerable interest to Ireland.

, in reply, said, he was unable to satisfy the inquiry of the hon. Gentleman, as the place was not in his gift; it was not a part of his patronage.

gave Notice that on Monday he should repeat the Question, in the hope that, in the meantime, the right hon. and learned Gentleman would seek some information on the subject.

said, that it was a Government question, and suggested that the Question should be put to the Chief Secretary for Ireland.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If the Report of the Boundary (Ireland) Commissioners has yet been published; if not, will the Government expedite its publication; and, when can honourable Members expect to have it circulated?

The Report referred to was published on the 4th of July last. The hon. Member can get a copy if be applies for it at the Office for the sale of Parliamentary Papers in the House.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether there was any truth in the telegram that had appeared to-day that another murder had been committed in County Kerry?

I think the hon. Member refers to an unhappy affair which occurred near Castleisland. I have a telegram which states that an agent was walking along a road accompanied by two policemen, when they were fired at, and one of the policemen was severely wounded in the neck. The other policeman fired at the assailant in the dark, and it is not known whether the shot took effect. The agent was not injured.

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman had got the permission of the Land Commissioners, which he understood had previously been refused, for the presentation of this letter to the House?

replied that he had not got their permission; but after the course he had taken for the purpose of explaining their conduct, he thought that permission need not be asked.

asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, If he had received a further telegram from Gibraltar, or if he had any information as to whether the ladies who accompanied General Maceo and his companions to Gibraltar were sent out of the territory by the police, or at their own request?

said, he had received a telegram, in which it was stated that Constable Solomon had deposed in evidence that the wife and sister of Maceo begged to be allow-ed to remain in Gibraltar; that Chief Inspector Blair did not know the relationship, and did not inquire who the women were.

asked if an opportunity would be afforded to-morrow for answering the Question he had put down for Monday?