asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether there is on the list of books sold by the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland to the teachers and pupils of their schools a work entitled "Easy Lessons in English Grammar, by Lionel Edwardes;" whether Lionel Edwardes is a real or an assumed name; and, whether the junior secretary to the Board, John E. Sheridan, Esq., has had any share in the preparation or publication of the book in question?

Sir, the work referred to is on the list of books sanctioned, but not published, by the Commissioners of National Education. The author is Mr. Sheridan, one of the Secretaries to the Board, who published the book under an assumed name, lest there should be any appearance of his superiors having been influenced in favour of the book by the fact of his official connection with the Department. So closely was the incognito preserved during the last six years that the authorship of the book was not known by those in authority in the Department until the notice of this Question appeared on the Paper.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is the fact that Jasper Robert Joly, of 38, Rathmines Road, Dublin, in the leases granted to his tenants has reserved rents sixty per cent. and over in excess of the rents actually paid, this excess being in the nature of a penalty; whether the said J. R. Joly, when joining with Noon and several others of his tenants in making applications under the Arrears Act, applied for and was paid the penalties in addition to the ordinary rent; and, if so, what is the amount paid to him in respect thereof; and, whether the Act contains any provision for the payment of penalties to landlords; and, if not, what steps will be taken for their recovery?

, in reply, said, he had received a telegram from the Land Commissioners, stating that they had disposed of the case on the evidence adduced before them, and that they had no knowledge of the circumstances mentioned in the Question?

said, he was ready to place the documents on the matter in the hands of the right hon. Gentleman.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, "Whether the police at Kilmoree, county Mayo, recently received information that a girl named Bridget Raftrey had been dead for two days previous at a place called Arbour; whether they found her lying naked on the floor of a but, having apparently perished of want; whether the relieving officer of the district was previously made aware of the girl's condition, and, although passing the house, never called until after her death; and, if he will inquire into the conduct of the relieving officer, and obtain a report on the case?

Sir, the girl referred to was a servant, who, while living alone in the house of her employer—he being in England and his wife ill of fever in hospital—was attacked with fever. The police found her lying on the floor as stated. They at first believed her to be dead, and so informed the relieving officer. The people of the village would not go near her, fearing infection; but the police acted with great humanity, and did what they could for her. As soon as they discovered that she was not dead, but in a state of coma, they sent word to the relieving officer, who lived seven miles off. Whether, after this, there was any culpable delay on the part of the relieving officer, or in the provision of a nurse, is, I think, a matter calling for further inquiry, which I have directed to be at once made.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether the recent appointment of the police surgeon at Waterford was made on the recommendation of the county inspector for Waterford; whether that officer, when recommending the gentleman who at present holds the appointment, was aware of the rule that such appointments are given to dispensary medical officers, unless there is good reason to the contrary; whether he was also aware that one of the medical officers of Waterford Dispensary is assistant surgeon to the Leper Hospital, in which all constabulary cases, other than fever cases, are treated; whether he informed the Inspector General of the reasons on account of which he was unable to recommend either of the Water-ford Dispensary medical officers; and, if so, whether there is any objection to state those reasons to the House; and, how long the county inspector for Water-ford has been stationed there?

Sir, as I have already stated in reply to a former Question, the rule under which these appointments are given to dispensary doctors is not an invariable one; and it has not heretofore been observed in Waterford and some other large towns. Dr. Connolly's appointment was made on the recommendation of the county inspector, who has been stationed at Waterford for 11 months. He was quite aware of the connection of one of the dispensary doctors with the Leper Hospital. It is not a fact, however, that all constabulary cases, other than fever cases, are treated in that institution. Very few are, as most cases are treated in barracks, if slight, or sent to St. Stephen's Hospital, Dublin, if serious. It does not appear to have been a question of being unable to recommend the dispensary doctors; but of what appointment would be for the greatest advantage to the constabulary. The county inspector thought it best to have the men all under the care of one surgeon, especially as he held the appointment of physician to the fever hospital, where so many of the men are from time to time treated.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is the fact that P. Fallon, tenant of Captain Pierce, of Box-borough, county Galway, who was evicted in October 1881, has been sent to prison ten times for trespassing since that date; whether, some three months ago, the landlord and the bailiffs tore down Fallon's house; whether, on a shed being erected on the site of the tumbled house, the landlord came and set fire to it, burning the clothing of the children, and destroying a considerable amount of potatoes; whether, on the shed being re-erected, the landlord served Fallon with no less than eight summonses, and had him again imprisoned; whether Fallon is at present undergoing punishment; whether, about a fortnight ago, the Police arrested Fallon's wife, and brought her before a magistrate, who was playing lawn tennis with the landlord at the time, and had her sent to prison, where she since remains; whether he can say for what offence Mrs. Fallon was conveyed to gaol; whether the magistrate could legally hold a Court under the circumstances described; whether Mrs. Fallon's five children, all of whom are of tender years, are now living in the shed, separated from their father and mother, and wanting clothes and food; whether Fallon offered the landlord the rent in Court without effect; and, whether, as the evicted people decline to go into the workhouse, and have no other home but the shed in question, he can give instructions to the Police to abstain from further prosecuting them; if not, can he suggest any refuge for such evicted families?

Sir, the facts appear to be stated with substantial accuracy. Fallon was evicted in September, 1880—not 1881, as stated—the period of redemption expired, and he did not redeem; but ho, and subsequently his wife, appears since to have acted with persistent illegality in asserting a right which he does not possess. I have nothing before me to show that either the landlord or the magistrate acted illegally. If any wrong has been done, the Courts are open. Fallon appears to have money, as he offered the rent to the landlord. The attention of the relieving officer has been drawn to the children.

The right hon. Gentleman has not stated that the magistrate was playing lawn tennis with the landlord who took possession at the time he sent this woman to gaol. I would like to know whether he thinks that is a proper way to hold a Court?

I stated that the woman was sent to prison for having acted with persistent illegality, and I am informed that the decision of the magistrate was not illegal.

I would like to ask the Attorney General for Ireland, whether it is usual for persons in Ireland to be brought before magistrates who are engaged in amusing themselves in playing lawn tennis with the prosecutors in the case?

Of course, I cannot state whether it is usual or not. All I can say is, that it is lawful for a magistrate to commit outside Petty Sessions Court.

I beg to give Notice that I will ask the Chief Secretary, on Monday, whether he will call the attention of the Lord Chancellor to this method of holding a Court; and, whether the Lord Chancellor considers it decent for the committing magistrate to be engaged at the time in playing lawn tennis with the prosecuting landlord?

asked, whether it was not necessary that two magistrates should have been present when this woman was committed?

was understood to say that it was not.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he is aware that great inconvenience is caused by the refusal of the Sub-Commissioners to hold a Land Court in Derrygonnelly, county Fermanagh, as the tenant farmers have to travel ten to sixteen miles on foot with their witnesses to Enniskillen; whether, on the 23rd April, when a court was about to be held there, the landlord's solicitors objected, alleging that fever prevailed; whether a subsequent application was made on the 16th July, and refused; whether as the area of the Derrygonnelly Petty Sessions District is over 43,000 acres, with a population of about 6,000, and the town possesses a courthouse and hotel accommodation, a Commission can in future sit in that place; and, whether it is the fact that, in places of no larger size in Fermanagh, such as Irvinestown, Beleek, and Lisnaskea, Commission Courts are held?

Sir, the Chairman of the Sub-Commission writes as follows:—

"The Assistant Commissioners did not refuse to hold a Land Court at Derrygonnelly. On the contrary, I stated that we were anxious to comply with the application of the tenants, and willing to attend there on any day convenient to the parties. It was then urged by several solicitors, acting, as I understood, on behalf of landlords and tenants, that fever prevailed. A letter from the district medical officer to the same effect was produced in Court, and the professional gentlemen engaged in the cases declined to incur the risk of attending at Derrygonnelly with their clients and witnesses. Under these circumstances, and in order to save the tenants inconvenience and expense, we fixed a day for the hearing of cases from the Derrygonnnelly district, and they were disposed of on the day appointed. No subsequent application was made on the 16th of July, or on any other day."

Sittings of the Sub-Commission had been held, as stated in the Question, at Irvinestown, Beleek, and Lisnaskea.

asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether he can state approximately the extent of land in British India which has been re-assessed since the expiry of the last thirty years' settlement; whether the general result of the re-assessment has been greatly to increase the Government demand as compared with the demand under the former settlement; and, if so, what is the average percentage of increase; whether there was enacted in the Bombay Presidency in 1879 a new Land Revenue Code, with much more stringent provisions against tenants than the Code of 1827 formerly in force; whether it is the case that a tenant can now be taxed in excess of the amount of his fixed assessment on any improvements he may make which are of the nature of availing of any natural advantage, and whether this proviso subjects him to a largely increased land tax on any fields which he may irrigate by water from a well dug entirely at his own cost; whether the Code of 1879 contains a provision enabling the British Revenue Authorities not only to sell up a defaulting cultivator in order to obtain payment of arrears, but to confiscate the holding, with all its produce, for a similar purpose, irrespective of how much its value may exceed the amount of the said arrears; and, if such provision exists, can he state the number of instances in which it has been enforced; and, whether he will lay upon the Table copies of the Code of 1879, and of the former one which it superseded?

Sir, the extent of land in British India which has been re-assessed since the expiration of the last 30 years' settlement is approximately 135,000 square miles. The average percentage increase of assessment effected by the revisions is about—in the North-West Provinces, 14 per cent; in the Punjaub, 7 per cent; and in Bombay, 32 per cent. Some explanation of these enhancements may be necessary. In Upper India—that is, the North-West Provinces and the Punjaub—the assessment is a proportion of the rental value of the estate. Under the expired settlements this proportion was two-thirds. Under the revised settlements it is half of the rental value. But the rental has increased so much that the lower proportion now yields more revenue than the higher proportion yielded formerly. There are three reasons for this increase—extension of cultivation, rise of prices, and improvements, such as canals made by Government. In the Bombay Dec-can, where the landowners hold direct from Government, the original settlement, made about 1840, reduced the old Native assessments nearly 50 per cent. or from about 1 rupee to about 8 annas an acre. The latter assessment was then equal to about 15 per cent of the value of the produce. The revised assessment is equal to about 12 per cent. so that the real incidence of the new settlement is lighter than that of the original settlement when introduced. Bombay Act 5 of 1879 consolidated and amended the Land Revenue Law in force at that time. The greater part of the Code of 1827 relating to land had already been repealed. Act 5 did not enact more stringent provisions against tenants; the cultivators of Bombay are not tenants, but proprietors under Government, and their legal position has been greatly improved since 1827. A Bombay landholder cannot be taxed on his own improvements, nor, if he digs a well, can his assessment be increased on that account, either during the currency, or on the expiration of the settlement. The case is contained in Sections 106–107 of Act 5. By Section 153 of Act 5, land, the revenue of which is in arrear, is liable to forfeiture and sale to realize the amount of arrear. Should the proceeds exceed the arrear the balance is credited to the defaulter. There is no objection to present a copy of the Bombay Revenue Code, 1879; but I cannot lay on the Table the law which is superseded, as it is contained in, I think, 19 separate enactments.

asked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether his attention has been called to the exhalations which often proceed from the ventilators of the sewers in the roadway of the streets of London, some being in the immediate neighbourhood of the Houses of Parliament; whether he will call upon the local authority to mitigate this evil, especially during the summer and autumn months; and, whether he will cause inquiry to be made as to the possibility of carrying such ventilation above the street level by means of shafts, so as to avoid poisoning the air to the danger of foot passengers and the inhabitants generally?

, in reply, said, that it was the duty of the local authority, generally speaking, to attend to the ventilation of sewers, and in London that authority was the Vestries and District Boards; but the sewers themselves were under the control of the Metropolitan Board of Works. With regard to the other inquiry as to the formation of ventilating shafts, the matter had been repeatedly considered by the authorities; but scientific opinions were rather opposed to the scheme. There was a great danger lest, in altering the system of ordinary traps, sewer gas should escape into dwelling-houses, and so cause a more serious danger than that which now existed. Under these circumstances, no system of shaft ventilation had yet been devised.

Has the attention of the Local Government Board been directed to the experiments with ventilating shafts at Ryde, Isle of Wight? I understand the authorities there are much in favour of it.

I will make inquiries into the subject.

Does the right hon. Gentleman say that scientists are opposed to the system of pipes running above the heights of the houses that is adopted in a great many houses?

No; but I am not aware that the system of shafts is recommended for the ventilation of sewers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, What steps, if any, Her Majesty's Government have taken, or propose to take, to prevent any further progress being made during the Recess in the construction of the proposed Channel Tunnel by the promoters of that scheme?

Sir, in the course of the legal proceedings instituted against the Company in August, 1882, they undertook not to work the boring machine, except with the written permission of the Board of Trade. That undertaking still exists, and I propose to satisfy myself from time to time it is strictly observed.

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the attention of Her Majesty's Government has been called to a paragraph in the "Standard" of 13th August, in the following words:—"

Sir, the persons in prison at Suez are the family of Hassan Abu Mershid, who, as stated in the Correspondence laid before Parliament, was one of the principals in the murder of Professor Palmer and his party. They are detained as hostages. Her Majesty's Government are in communication with Sir Edward Malet on the subject.

Would the noble Lord state whether, in this case of so- called murder Professor Palmer was not acting the part of a spy?

That Question has no reference at all to the Question on the Paper.

I give Notice that I shall ask the Question on Monday.

asked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether any circular has recently been issued to town councils or other local authorities, calling attention to the provisions of the Artizans' and Labourers' Dwellings Improvement Acts, and urging the destruction, when necessary, of unsanitary dwellings; whether he can inform the House generally of the replies received to this circular; and, whether he will lay the circular itself upon the Table of the House?

, in reply, said, that the Local Government Board, on the 21st of July last, addressed a letter to the urban sanitary authorities calling attention to the Acts mentioned, but had not received any communication from local authorities showing that it was their intention to destroy unsanitary dwellings. He was quite willing to lay a copy of the Circular upon the Table.

asked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether his attention has been called to the cases of five children now suffering severely at Deptford from syphilis communicated by vaccination from one other child; and, whether a public inquiry into these and any other cases in the neighbourhood will be directed?

The Local Government Board have already caused inquiry to be made in this matter. The Board are informed that there is not the smallest reason for saying that these children had syphilis. The facts are that four, not five, children vaccinated with 17 others, from one vaccinifer, got more or less of a common skin disease, known as eczema, afterwards. Each of the four children lived in the state of squalor that most favours the production of eczema. The other 17 children remained well. There appears to the Board to be no ground for any further inquiry.

Do I understand that a public inquiry into these cases is refused?

They have been inquired into by an Inspector. I am not aware that there is any reason to doubt the professional opinion.

There is the fact that the public officer of the Board of Guardians certifies that it is syphilis?

It would be better that Notice should be given of any further Question.

asked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether he is aware of the deaths of two children in Shoreditch, as their parents allege, from vaccination, viz. Charles James Kerridge, aged five months, vaccinated June 27th, became ill with eruptions over his body, and died July 13th; and Florence Edith Howden, vaccinated on 15th April, became ill in a few days with sores and abscesses, from which she never recovered, but died on July 13th; and, whether he will direct a thorough inquiry into these cases?

Sir, the Board have caused inquiry to be made as to the cases of the two children referred to. Both children died of diarrhœa, and the one ease had nothing whatever to do with the other. The mother of the child Kerridge, the Board are informed, has no idea of attributing the death to vaccination. The child had no eruption. The child Howden was weakly at the customary time of vaccination, and the vaccination was deferred until the child was eight months old. It had some eruption afterwards; but there were no abscesses. Its death was caused by diarrhœa three months later. The medical practitioner who attended it is reported to have said that the lymph had to do with the child's subsequent illness; but he denies that he said anything of the kind. He had a great deal of diarrhœa in his practice at the time. Inquiry was made as to others vaccinated from the same vaccinifers, and no irregularities could be heard of.

asked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether, in view of the sad casualties alleged to have attended vaccination, he has considered the appeal to him of J. A. Petvin, of the Axbridge Union, again summoned in respect of the non-vaccination of a child born in 1879, in respect of which he was three times summoned in 1882, twice convicted in full penalties and paid three sets of costs; and, whether he will advise the guardians that such repeated persecutions are opposed to the views of the Board expressed in its letter to the Evesham Guardians?

A copy of the Evesham letter has been sent to the Guardians of the Axbridge Union.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, How much, out of the last money granted for Bunnatroohan Pier and Harbour (£980 for deepening the harbour and providing a boat slip) has been expended—1st. On actual labour; 2nd, On superintendence by clerk of works and overseer; 3rd. On materials; when this work was commenced, and when it is expected to be completed; if, before it is transferred to the county, it will be ascertained by the Board of Works that the paving is not likely to be torn up again by the first heavy sea, as on a former occasion; if the county surveyor's report on the stability of the work will be obtained before the county is saddled with it; and, if it be a fact that the boat slip is perfectly useless, and that the fishermen are worse off than ever for a convenient place to haul up their boats, it being nearly practically impossible for boats to be hauled by the slip recently made; and, if any steps will be taken to have it improved?

Sir, this work will have cost £1,074, of which £680 goes in labour, £219 in superintendence, and £213 in materials. It was commenced in July, 1881, and will be finished this autumn, the slowness of the progress being due to the fact that the work to be done lies below high water mark. The decision to construct this boat-slip was made and the design for it settled by the Joint Fishery Piers Committee, and the work has been carried out in a most substantial manner. There appears to be no reason for doubting the correctness of the Committee's judgment, or for having a further and unprecedented survey made before it is dealt with, as directed by the Fishery Piers Act.

asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether the Secretary of State for India intends to direct an inquiry into the grievances of the India Medical Service with a view to meet some of the expectations with which candidates were induced to enter it, and to restore some contentment to its ranks?

Sir, I have several times explained the cause of there being a temporary excess of medical officers who do not hold the substantive appointments which command the higher rates of pay—the grievance to which I understand the right hon. and learned Member refers—and I have, at the same time, explained how the difficulty is being met. It is not probable that any inquiry could add to the Secretary of State's information on the subject; and it is not proposed to make any change in the existing system by which officers succeed to substantive medical charges in India.

I give Notice that early next Session I shall call attention to the subject unless a remedy be applied in the meantime.

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether he can lay upon the Table copies of any Correspondence between Her Majesty's Government and Foreign Governments relative to the removal of Rustem Pasha from the Governorship of the Lebanon and the appointment of his successor?

Sir, there will be no objection to lay the Correspondence before Parliament.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If his attention has been called to the decision of the County Court Judge at Limerick on July 3rd last, in the case of the man Sheehan, sentenced on April 13th 1883 to two months' imprisonment at the instance of a person named M'Grath, in which he reversed the sentence passed by the two special resident magistrates, Messrs. Evanson and Irwan; if the original conviction was obtained on the evidence of M'Grath and his employer, a Mr. Millane, and, after a careful sifting of their evidence, has been reversed by the County Court Judge; whether any prosecution for perjury is to be instituted against M'Grath and his accomplices; and, whether any money has been given to them by the Crown for their original testimony in the case, and if he would name the parties to whom such payments were made?

Sir, I do not think this is a matter calling for notice on the part of the Executive. The case was decided by the magistrates on the evidence before them. At the hearing of the appeal some additional witnesses were produced for the defence. The evidence was conflicting, and the County Court Judge gave the accused the benefit of the doubt; but he did not impute perjury to any witness for the Crown. No money was given to the witnesses for their evidence.

asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether he will inquire if the Indian Government have any information regarding the presence of a Russian agent in Afghanistan, his friendly reception by the Governor of Kabul, and his alleged interview with the Amir; whether he still adheres to his statement that an annual subsidy of £120,000 has been granted to the Amir without any of the conditions to secure British influence and control upon which previous Amirs have been subsidised; and, what supplies of arms and ammunition have been given to the Amir Abdurrahman since 1880?

Sir, the Indian Government have received information regarding the presence of a Russian merchant, a Mahomedan by religion, in Afghanistan, who had an interview with the Ameer. No importance is attached to the incident by the Government. The hon. Member for Eye is mistaken in thinking that I stated that the subsidy of 12 lakhs had been granted—

"Without any of the conditions to secure British influence and control upon which previous Ameers had been subsidized."

When Abdurrahman was recognized by us as Ameer of Afghanistan in 1880 an understanding was entered into that he should follow the advice of the British Government in regard to his external relations. The Ameer has so far acted in conformity with that understanding; and, in order to strengthen his position, the Government of India have decided to give him one lakh of rupees a-month. The gifts of arms to the Ameer up to 1882 are described in Return No. 18 of 1882. Since then the Ameer has received 1,500 muzzle-loading rifles, 1,000 carbines, 8,274 cartridges for ordnance, 1,778 shells, 3,604 shot, and 996,189 small-arm cartridges.

said, there was a strange contradiction between the answer which the hon. Gentleman had given to him on Monday on the same subject and that he had now given to the hon. Member for Eye. The House was now given to understand that the Ameer had agreed to render some service in consideration of his subsidy; but what he wished to know was, whether the engagement to that effect had been reduced to writing, and embodied in a Treaty, or whether it was merely a verbal understanding?

Sir, the answer I have given to-day is altogether consistent with the answer I gave the other day. There is no reiteration of the understanding which has been entered into with the Ameer; it was entered into in 1880, and it covers all subsequent transactions.

Was the understanding evidenced by any written document?

No, Sir; it was entered into between our Agent and the Ameer himself.

Is it a verbal understanding, or one of a more solemn nature?

Is it in writing?

Will the hon. Member kindly give Notice of the Question?

Was the Secretary of State for India consulted in this matter before the Viceroy agreed to give this allowance; and will Papers be produced?

Are we to understand that there is no written Treaty or document in existence which binds the Ameer to the conditions the hon. Gentleman has just referred to?

Notice had better be given of a Question.

Is the allowance a permanent one, or is it given for a length of time?

I have already stated it is given from month to month.

Can the hon. Gentleman answer my Question now, whether Papers will be produced?

No, Sir.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If his attention has been called to a decision made by Mr. Justice O'Hagan, at the Land Commission Court, Dublin, on January 19th, 1883, as follows:—

"Mr. Hugh O'Doherty said he appeared on behalf of a number of poor tenants in Donegal and Leitrim, whose rents had been judicially fixed, but who had appealed from the decision of the Sub-Commissioners. The appeals were very far down on the list, and the tenants had absolutely refused to pay the judicial rents, and wanted to know from the Court what rent they should pay;

"Mr. Justice O'Hagan.—They must pay the old rent;

"Mr. O'Doherty.—The cases are very far down on the list;

"Mr. Justice O'Hagan.—They must take their turn;"

if any subsequent decision has been given nullifying that of Mr. Justice O'Hagan; and, if he is aware that the landlords throughout Ireland continue to demand the old rents?

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If he can explain the apparent discrepancy between the ruling of Mr. Justice O'Hagan, on the 19th of January last—

"Land Commission Court,

"Dublin, Friday, January 19, 1883.

"Mr. Hugh O'Doherty said he appeared on behalf of a number of poor tenants in Donegal and Leitrim whose rents had been judicially fixed, but who had appealed from the decision of the Sub-Commissioners. The appeals were very far down on the list, and the tenants had absolutely refused to pay the judicial rents, and wanted to know from the Court what rent they should pay;

"Mr. Justice O'Hagan.—They must pay the old rent;

"Mr. O'Doherty.—The cases are very far down on the list;

"Mr. Justice O'Hagan.—They must take their turn;"

and the statement made by himself that the judicial rent only could be recovered?

Mr. Justice O'Hagan states distinctly that he never made such a statement as is attributed to him in the report quoted from. The Land Commissioners have in very numerous cases stated, in reply to inquiries, both to landlords and tenants, that, in their opinion, the rent fixed by a Sub-Commission is in force until varied on rehearing.

said, he thought the right hon. Gentleman had not caught the point of the Questions. Supposing the old rent to be £12, and that the Sub-Commissioners reduced it to £7, but that it was raised, on appeal, to £10, what rent was the tenant entitled to pay, the judicial rent or the old rent, in the interval of appeal?

asked the Chief Secretary, in connection with this subject, whether he was aware that landlords continue to demand the old rents, that this judgment of Mr. Justice O'Hagan had been passing current through the country as good, and that the old rents were extracted, though illegal?

Mr. Justice O'Hagan is not responsible for the blunders in newspapers; but I am glad to have had this public opportunity of putting the public mind at rest on this question.

Will the right hon. Gentleman state to Mr. Justice O'Hagan that it would greatly convenience the public if some definite statement were made by the Land Commissioners as to whether it is the old rents or the new rents that are to be paid pending the hearing of appeals?

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is the fact that Constable O'Rourke, Ballintogher, Sligo, attempted to intimidate the supporters of the National candidate for the existing vacancy in the Parliamentary representation of the county, by having at the public meeting in Sligo town, on Sunday last, called aside a young man named James Cawley, Ballymote, seizing him by the shoulder, and asking his name and business, and "what brought him there;" whether the constable noted Mr. Cawley's replies in writing, and also took the names of all bandsmen at the meeting; whether O'Rourke has been censured before for his officiousness; and, if the Government approve O'Rourke's conduct? He would also ask the right hon. Gentleman, whether he has seen the report in the newspapers, that the proposer and seconder of the National candidate at Sligo, with their assenters, were hustled out of the Grand Jury room by the police; and, if he has seen the report, whether he has put any question to the police on the subject?

, in reply, said, that he regretted to say he had not seen the report. With regard to the first Question, according to the Report he had received, Constable O'Rourke was not in Sligo at all on the day named. While on duty at Ballintogher, he saw a post car with several passengers stop at a public-house. It being Sunday, he went to them to ascertain if they were bonâ fide travellers. He did not seize anyone by the shoulders; he did not ask anyone his name. He (Mr. Trevelyan) was informed that O'Rourke was an excellent policeman, and it was not the case that he had been censured for officiousness.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether two of the Sub-Commissioners appointed for the counties Roscommon, Sligo, and Leitrim, namely, Messrs. Morrison and Henston, did on the 11th July last in proceeding to visit the farm of Mr. John Waiters, who had an application for the fixing of a fair rent heard at the sitting of their Sub-Commission in Carrick-on-Shannon, drive to the farm in the trap of the landlord, Mr. C. C. B. Whyte, D.L., Hatly Manor, in company with Mr. Whyte and his bailiff; whether in the decisions delivered at Mohill subsequently the Sub-Commissioners fixed the judicial rent in this case at the old rent; and, whether a competent valuer swore that the old rent was a rack rent?

I am informed, Sir, that it is the case that Messrs. Morrison and Henston drove to the farm of Mr. John Watters, as stated, in Mr. Whyte's trap, and that they did so to save time, their own car having been sent to a point nearly a mile off. The Sub-Commission deemed it just, on the evidence adduced, to leave the rent unchanged. It had been paid for 27 years before. With regard to this, the Chairman of the Sub-Commission—who is not one of the gentlemen named in the Question—telegraphs to me as follows:—

"I took a prominent part in fixing the rent, and share responsibility with my colleagues. I consider any other judgment would have been grossly unjust."

Will the right hon. Gentleman inform me whether the tenant had any means of avoiding paying this rent for 27 years; and also whether he approves of the conduct of the Sub-Commissioners in using the cars of landlords when going to fix rents; and whether it is not possible, in case their own car breaks down, for them to supply themselves with the car of some third party?

said, there were about 100 Sub-Commissioners employed, and he was afraid he could not answer such a Question off-hand.

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If the Foreign Office has among its records any information relative to the systems for providing pensions for State servants existing in various Foreign Countries; if not, will it be convenient to collect such information, and lay it upon the Table of the House?

Sir, the Foreign Office does not possess the information for which my hon. Friend asks; but I shall be glad to communicate with him privately on the subject, and, if possible, the particulars which he requires shall be obtained.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether any steps are being taken for the prosecution of the persons who arranged and carried out the dog fight which took place near Blackburn on Sunday week, the details of which have appeared in most of the public journals?

Sir, the hon. Member will observe that in order to a prosecution it is necessary that there should be an offence and an offender; and, with reference to this particular Question, in order to proceedings being taken, it is necessary that there should be a dog fight. It is true, as the hon. Member says, that details have appeared in the public journals; but, as I have before observed to this House, these heartrending incidents are of a romantic character. They are really works of fiction, and a dog fight is a favourite subject. I have inquired into the case, and here is the telegraphic answer I received—

"Referring to your letter of the 15th, a dog fight near Blackburn was reported in the local newspapers on the 8th instant; but a careful police inquiry, in conjunction with the officer of the Royal Humane Society, does not confirm the report. I believe no such fight occurred."

Several Questions in this House would be saved, and a waste of good sympathy avoided, if people would assume, when they read these stories, that they were not true.

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman apply the same rule to information about Ireland published in the English newspapers?

Especially with regard to Irish outrages?

I beg to ask the right hon. and learned Gentleman, whether, in reference to the Irish Members, he does not act on information coming from American newspapers, which may be also fiction?

I also wish to ask him, whether he assumes that every story of Irish crime in the English newspapers is not true?

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether, when the offer was made to Sir H. Parkes to be promoted to the office of Her Majesty's Minister in China, he was informed before accepting it that the salary of the office was to be reduced, or whether he was so informed only after he had accepted it?

Sir Harry Parkes was so informed before he accepted the appointment.

Was a similar notification given to Sir John Lumley?

That does not arise out of the Question on the Paper, I think.

Then I give Notice of the Question for Monday.

asked the Secretary of State for War, If the "Memorandum with reference to the proposed Tunnel between England and France," stated to be under date of 3rd March 1875, now printed and circulated, was the foundation of the Letter from the War Office to the Treasury (published in the Blue Book on the Channel Tunnel), dated 13th March 1875; whether there are no other Documents, Letters, or Minutes relating to the Memorandum dated 3rd March 1875; and, if he will deposit in the Library, for the inspection of Members, the original Draft (with the official corrections) of the Letter from the War Office to the Treasury (signed by Colonel Stanley) of the 13th March 1875?

Sir, the Memorandum of March 3 and the draft of the letter of March 13, 1875, were written at the same time; but one can scarcely be said to have been the foundation of the other. There are Minutes having reference to the Memorandum and Letter; but they, with the draft, are confidential documents, which cannot be laid before Parliament.

asked the Vice President of the Council, Whether he is aware that great dissatisfaction was felt and expressed at the hours of polling, ten till five, fixed at the election of a School Board at Sutton on 9th March; and, whether, since these are the only hours which the returning officer could have fixed under the Order in Council of 3rd October 1873, and the fixing of these hours practically resulted in disfranchising a large portion of the ratepayers, who, being engaged in business in London, have to leave Sutton before ten and do not return until after five, any steps can be taken to obviate the recurrence of this state of things?

The school board election at Sutton was regulated by the same Order, which has been in operation for more than 10 years, and to which no substantial objection has been made. The hours of polling are fixed at the discretion of the Returning Officer, the only restriction being that the poll must be open for seven hours between 8 A.M. and 8 P.M. It is not, therefore, correct to say that the poll must be between 10 and 5, or that the Order in Council was the cause of the inconvenience complained of.

asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether it is the case that Officers of British Line Regiments get their captaincies and majorities in about nine and sixteen years respectively, while Officers of the Indian Staff Corps do not attain to those ranks until twelve and twenty years; and, whether, as Indian Officers have to serve under very trying conditions as to climate and other circumstances, he is prepared to recommend that they shall be placed on terms of equality, in regard to promotion, with British Officers?

, in reply, said the conditions of the service of officers of the Indian Staff Corps, and of officers of British Line Regiments, differed in so many important particulars that it was impossible to apply the same rule to both classes. It was true that the Indian officers had to serve a longer time in order to attain their captaincies and majorities than the British Line officers; but, on the other hand, the former were, in respect to compulsory retirement and other matters, placed at a distinct advantage over the latter.

asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether the Egyptian War Medal has been already distributed to all the British troops entitled to it, and when it will be distributed to the Indian troops who served with them; whether it is the case that the authorities in India concerned in this matter are still engaged in settling differences as to the pattern of the paper on which the Medal Rolls are to be submitted; and, whether, inasmuch as the Afghan Medal for the campaign of 1879–80 was only distributed to Indian troops this year, he will take steps to see that the Egyptian Medal is distributed to them without unnecessary delay?

Sir, the preparation of medal rolls requires great care, and is necessarily a work of time. Those for Egypt have been nearly all received, and the medals have either been already despatched, or are under immediate despatch. There is no reason to suppose that there will be any delay in their distribution.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If the establishment of Constabulary credited to the Queen's County has been below the proper establishment by 4 in January 1882; 7 in February; 8 in March, April, May, and June; 12 in July; 10 in August; 8 in September, October, and November; and 9 in December; and a sum of £1,055 17s. 6d. has been charged to that county at large for extra Constabulary, besides a sum of £20 3s. 7d. on account of additional Constabulary in districts proclaimed under the 18th section of "The Prevention of Crime (Ireland) Act, 1882;" and, whether he will take steps to see that the amount which represents the vacancies shall be re-credited to the county?

Sir, the number of men of the Parliamentary quota of Constabulary for Queen's County actually serving at the time stated was less by the numbers mentioned than the full number authorized to be employed as the ordinary force of the county. It is obvious that the effective strength of any trained and disciplined force must always be less than the full authorized number of such force by the number in training at the depôt to supply the waste to which every force is subject. It is, therefore, not correct to describe the force of a county as below the proper establishment when the full number authorized to be enrolled for such county is not effective. Recognizing these facts, provision has been made by Section 14 of 29 & 30 Vict., c. 103, that when, as in the case of Queen's County, an extra force is employed, the vacancies shall be apportioned rateably between the Parliamentary quota and the extra force, and the proportion of vacancies proper to the latter deducted when making the charge against the county. This provision has been fully acted on in preparing the charge of £10,055 payable by the Queen's County; and the necessary information showing that this has been done was duly forwarded to the Secretary of the Grand Jury for the information of the ratepayers at Presentment Sessions. Any further allowance in respect of the vacancies proper to that portion of the force for which no charge is made would be illegal.

asked, whether it was not a fact that by reason of these vacancies there would be a saving in the Constabulary to the Imperial Exchequer, while there would be an extra charge for police to the Queen's County?

asked, if the force of men in training at the depot was divided pro rata amongst all the counties?

The story is an old one—familiar, I think, to a good many Members of the House—that the force divided rateably between the ordinary and the extraordinary force, and the part allotted to the extraordinary force, is deducted from the sum which the county has to pay.

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer my Question?

If the men were not at depôt, but were always permanently in the county, the number of extra police employed would be so much less; but that is not a system authorized by law.

I will ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is the fact, honestly and straightforwardly speaking, that these vacancies are caused by men being in the depôt, and are not absolute vacancies in the force?

was understood to ask whether it did not happen that under the system as explained by the right hon. Gentleman two or three counties had to pay for the same numbers?

said, he would answer the Question if Notice were given. He should be unwilling to answer it without Notice, because the number at the depôt was sometimes larger and sometimes smaller than the regulation.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If the establishment of Constabulary credited to the county of Galway has been below the actual establishment of the county by 46 men in January 1882; 47 men in February; 47 men in March; 42 men in April; 42 men in May; 51 men in June; 55 men in July; 48 men in August; and 34 men in September; if £14,783 has been charged to that county for extra Constabulary in 1882; and, would he take steps to see that the two or three thousand pounds which have been charged to the county by a system of accounts in which credit has not been given for the full Constabulary establishment, would be re-credited to the treasurer of the county?

Sir, I have fully explained this matter in answer to the hon. Member for the Queen's County (Mr. Arthur O'Connor). The charge upon the county of Galway for extra police has been made strictly in accordance with the Acts of Parliament; and the necessary details in support of the charge have been forwarded to the local authorities for the information of the ratepayers.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is true that, in the month of June, information was conveyed to police of Augha West, in the county of Leitrim, that the son of a bailiff in that district, who was under police protection, had, on two successive days, visited several of the townlands in the district, dressed in policeman's uniform, and made inquiries at various houses as to the payment of their dog tax; whether he arrested, or pretended to arrest, an old man named Quinn for being an offender against the Crimes Act; whether it is true that he visited on the occasion the house of a man named Keernan and made inquiries there as to their opinion of the bailiff, M'Goohan (his own father); and, what action have the police taken with regard thereto? He would also ask, whether it is a fact that this man has received £150 compensation under the Crimes Act; and, whether the people of the townland where he resides will have to pay that money?

asked for Notice of the last two Questions. With regard to the preceding Questions, the alleged circumstances were said to have occurred on June 11; but no information was given to the police till the 31st July, and then the information was anonymous. The police had since made inquiries, with the result that a case would be brought before the magistrates at Petty Sessions.

asked the First Commissioner of Works, Whether it has been decided to construct a bridge across the ornamental water at Clarence Gate, Regent's Park, so as to obtain direct access into the centre of the Park from that point; and, if so, whether he will allow an elevation of the bridge to be placed in the Library of the House, so that Members may form a judgment before the contract is signed?

Sir, no provision has been made in this year's Estimates for the construction of a bridge as indicated by the hon. Member; and, consequently, the work cannot be undertaken during the present year. The subject, however, will be considered when the Estimates for next year are in preparation.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether Mr. Plunkett, special resident magistrate, has addressed the following letter, dated 30th July, to the Reverend Father Ahern, P.P., Killavullen:—

"Dear Sir,—I have received your letter. I hope that the necessary amount may he raised in order that Hallissey may he in a position to emigrate, as I understand he is anxious to do so. If this is done I shall recommend His Excellency to remove the proclamation and thus relieve the parish of the Police Tax. But, as long as the authorities consider that protection is necessary for him, the police will remain at the expense of the parish. Should you he able to get the necessary amount in a few days, I will use my influence to have as much as possible arrears, for which warrants will shortly issue, struck off, but this will not be able to he done after warrants issue;"

whether the letter refers to a proposal that the ratepayers should raise a sum of £50 to induce Hallissey, for whose protection the extra police are maintained, to leave the country; whether the following paragraph, in a letter addressed to Mr. George C. Foott, J.P., dated "Chief Secretary's Office, Dublin Castle, 7th August," and signed "Samuel Lee Anderson," refers to the same proposal:—

"I am to add that His Excellency understands that arrangements are now in progress by which the necessity for the protection of Hallissey will cease, and on learning that such arrangements have been brought to a satisfactory conclusion, His Excellency will direct the withdrawal of the additional police;"

whether Samuel Leo Anderson is an official of the Chief Secretary's office; and, if not, in what capacity does he sign the communication; under what statute a resident magistrate is empowered to make an offer of the nature referred to; and, whether this proceeding has the approval of the Government?

Sir, as Captain Plunkett has been on leave for the past few days and moving about, I have been unable to communicate directly with him, or ascertain whether his letter is correctly quoted from in the Question; but, assuming it to be so, I think it must be quite clear to anyone reading the letter that it referred to a matter which was already before the Rev. Mr. Ahern, and did not contain any original proposal or offer. Captain Plunkett thinks that Hallissey is still in danger, and that the police are required for his protection; and I see nothing in the nature of a threat or intimidation in his letting the people know that he will use his influence to have the police removed in the event of their carrying out the idea which has been started in the parish of securing the emigration of Hallissey. The hon. Member must bear in mind that I do not pledge myself that the original communication was made by Captain Plunkett. With regard to Mr. Anderson, he is temporarily employed in the Chief Secretary's Office assisting Mr. Jenkinson, for whom, and in whose absence, he signed the letter quoted from by his Excellency's desire. The procedure has the approval of the Government.

said, the right hon. Gentleman had not told them under what Statute a Resident Magistrate was empowered to make an offer of the nature referred to in the Question.

It is not a question of Statute. Here is a man who is receiving police protection under the idea that his life is in danger; and the Resident Magistrate, in communication with the parish priest who is interested in the matter, states that if the man is got out of the country it is probable the police will be removed.

That is a threat to the people if the money is not raised. I want to know on what principle of law or justice the right hon. Gentleman allows young men in Loughrea to be threatened with arrest if they raise a subscription to defend a man whom the law presumes to be innocent——

The hon. Gentleman is entering into debatable matter.

Not at all.

The hon. Member is entering into debatable matter, and he cannot do so in the form of a Question.

I rise to Order. I distinctly heard the hon. Gentleman the Member for Monaghan (Mr. Healy) say to his hon. Friend on the other side of him—"Go on, Sir."

No; I did not.

Yes; you did.

If I said anything of the kind, I will stick to it; but I beg to say that if that remark was used on these Benches, I did not hear it, and I did not make it.

I beg to give Notice that I will take the first opportunity of asking why pains and penalties are being inflicted on men in Ireland for doing a certain thing, while Resident Magistrates are at perfect liberty to do it?

I would ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is not evident that a species of blackmail is being permitted by the Government in this matter? ["Order, order!"]

After the notice taken of the previous Question, the Question now put is highly irregular.

Then I beg to give Notice that I will raise the question on the Estimates.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he will give a Return showing the number of persons who, under the Union Officers' Superannuation Bill, will become entitled to pensions, and showing the amount which will become chargeable on the rates immediately; the rate of annual increase and the estimated maximum of the charge on the rates after a lapse of ten years?

Sir, I have just received the following telegram:—

"There are more than 5,000 Union and medical officers employed in Ireland at present, and it would he impossible, without making inquiries respecting their ages, service, state of health, and the wishes of the senior officers on the subject of retirement to prepare even an approximate Return of those who will he entitled to receive pensions within the next 10 years. For the same reason it would be impossible to form an estimate which could be presented as a Return of the amount which will become chargeable on the rates to meet the payment for superannuation allowances."

The existing Act authorizing Union officers to be granted pensions has been in force since 1865, and the Act authorizing medical officers to be granted pensions since 1869, and during that time the charge for pensions has grown to £14,999, which is about ¼d. in the pound on the valuation of the rateable property in Ireland. It is not thought probable that the expense under the new Bill will much, if at all, exceed the present expenditure under the existing Acts.

In view of the fact that the Government cannot lay on the Table of the House correct information on this matter, would the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of postponing the Superannuation Bill until they can give precise information?

asked the Postmaster General, Whether the Government contemplates associating with the Parcels Post any system of registration or insurance of parcels?

In reply to my hon. Friend, I may state that the Government have had under their consideration the question of whether or not it would be desirable for the Post Office to undertake the registration or insurance of parcels; but it has been thought better to postpone coming to a decision on the subject until we have had more experience of the working of the Parcel Post.

asked the Postmaster General, Whether he can now see his way towards carrying out the reform in the inland postage of samples, in accordance with the practice prevailing in other countries which are comprised in the Postal Union? The hon. Gentleman also inquired, whether the right hon. Gentleman's attention had been called to the fact, as alleged in the newspapers, that under the present system, if a person bought 1,000 Belgian postage stamps, and then sent his parcels over to Belgium to be sent from there to this country, he gained 40s. per 1,000 by the operation?

Sir, I am fully sensible of the anomaly to which I believe my hon. Friend refers, that a sample can be sent from a foreign country, such as France or Belgium, to England at a lower postage than that at which a packet of the same weight can be sent from one part of England to another. The question of a sample post cannot, however, be considered apart from an international parcel post. The arrangements for this are now being carefully considered, and I can assure my hon. Friend that the question to which he refers shall not be lost sight of.

asked the President of the Local Government Board, Whe- ther his attention has been directed to the fact that the Zoological Gardens drain into the Regent's Canal, that the present state of the Canal is a danger to the public health; and, whether he proposes to take any steps to remedy the evil?

said, the Question stated as a fact that the present condition of the Regent's Canal was dangerous to the public health. If the Canal was in such a condition, he was not aware of any reason why the local authority should not proceed against the Company under the ordinary Act for the removal of nuisances.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty, Whether there is any reason why the per-centage of promotion to the rank of chief gunners should not be the same as that of other warrant officers, viz. four per cent. in lieu of two per cent.; and, whether the Admiralty will consider the expediency of increasing the number of chief gunners, chief boatswains, and chief carpenters, considering that the rank of "chief" is virtually the highest which seamen and petty officers of the Navy can attain?

Sir, I cannot find that the figures quoted by the hon. Member as representing the proportion of the higher to the lower rank of warrant officers are at all accurate. But without going into that question, I may say that the Admiralty have had for some time under their consideration the expediency of some re-adjustment of the numbers in the higher rank in certain classes, without any increase of chief warrant officers as a whole. No decision has yet been arrived at.

asked the Under Secretary of State for India, When he proposes to make his promised statement giving, in a summary form, the views of the Local Governments in India upon the Criminal Jurisdiction Bill?

Sir, I am unable to make any statement on the subject to-day; but I hope to be able to do so on Monday, if the hon. Member will repeat the Question then.

asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether it is true that all the remaining proposals of the Government of India and of the Simla Army Commission on the subject of the reduction of Military expenditure in India have been rejected by the Secretary of State; and, if he will now lay upon the Table Papers giving a complete explanation of these proposals?

Sir, I do not quite understand what the hon. Member for Mid Lincolnshire means by "all the remaining proposals;" but the recommendations of the Government of India for the re-organization of the Indian Army in four Army Corps, which has not been adopted, in the opinion of the Secretary of State, would involve additional, rather than decreased cost. The ulimate saving from the remaining proposals was estimated by the Government of India to amount to 43 lakhs of rupees. Of these, the Secretary of State has already sanctioned reductions amounting to 21¾ lakhs. Reductions amounting to nine lakhs were disallowed by the Secretary of State, as they would have required very important changes in the organization of the British Army. With regard to the remaining charges in the staff and other establishments, the Government of India have been invited to make any further recommendations they may consider practicable, consistent with the continuance of the Presidential Armies, it being considered that the desired reductions may be effected under the pre-sent organization. The Correspondence is not complete; but Papers will be presented when it is concluded.

asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether his attention has been called to a paragraph in the "Globe" of 14th August, stating it was the intention of the Military authorities to close the ranges at Wormwood Scrubbs; and, whether there is any truth in the statement?

Sir, firing at the butts at Wormwood Scrubbs, as now arranged, has been found to involve danger to inhabitants of the district. Therefore, pending a full inquiry, the firing of the Household Cavalry has been discontinued, and that of the Volunteers strictly limited to first-class shots.

asked the Secretary of State for War, Under what authority, prerogative or statutory, the following Regulations were framed and issued:—

"Regulations for the Medical Department.

"623. Every recruit, without exception, will he vaccinated on joining the head quarters or depot of the corps to which he belongs, unless the operation is certified to have been already successfully performed subsequently to his enlistment.

"624. The Medical History Sheet of every soldier will furnish information whether he has been re-vaccinated, and Medical Officers will re-vaccinate those cases where no such record exists;"

and, if under statutory authority, under what statute; if of prerogative as conferred by the Crown on his appointment to office, under what words in his patent of appointment, or in any other instrument, he exercises the power?

Sir, the Secretary of State for War is responsible to the Crown and to Parliament for the efficiency of the Army, and has always been held to have authority to issue such Regulations as are necessary for securing that object, including, of course, its maintenance in health. The 14th paragraph of the 14th section of the Queen's Regulations and Orders for the Army, issued under the sanction of Her Majesty, lays down that—

"Medical officers doing duty with troops will in all medical and sanitary duties be guided by the Army Medical Regulations,"

which contain the paragraphs quoted, and thus I conceive gives to the Medical Regulations the same authority as the Queen's Regulations themselves.

asked whether he was to understand from the noble Lord that he claimed for himself to exercise the power, which the Crown did not possess, to submit individuals to a surgical operation against their will?

I know there is no statutable authority for vaccination.

As I believe the Secretary of State for War has acted ultra vires, I beg to give Notice that I shall oppose on the Estimates any charge in connection with vaccination in the Army.

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the report in Wednesday's "Standard" is correct that an English merchant and his three servants have been arrested by the French at Tamatave, and are now imprisoned on board a French Man-of-War; how many British subjects are now imprisoned at Madagascar; and, what steps are being taken by Her Majesty's Government for their immediate release?

Sir, no information has reached Her Majesty's Government respecting the arrest mentioned in the Standard; but inquiry is being made. So far as Her Majesty's Government are aware, Mr. Shaw is the only British subject now detained by the French naval authorities. The late Consul Pakenham's Secretary, who was arrested, has been released. The arrest of Mr. Shaw is the subject of Correspondence with the French Government; but I cannot, at present, make any further statement.

Is the offence stated for which Mr. Shaw is confined?

A Question was asked on that subject the other day, and the answer was in the negative.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty, Whether he will lay the Despatches received from Madagascar, on Tuesday the 7th August, without delay upon the Table of the House; and, whether he will inform the House what British ships of war are now at Madagascar and the Mauritius?

Sir, the despatches in question refer to matters which are rather for the consideration of Her Majesty's Government than of the Admiralty; and I believe the hon. Member has already been informed, on the part of the Government, that these despatches cannot be made public. With regard to the second Question, I can only say, as on previous occasions, that it is not for the public interest that the information asked for should be given.

wanted to know how long this humiliating silence was to be maintained? [Cries of "Order!"] He would like to ask why it was not for the public service that the names of the ships at Madagascar should be given? ["Order!"]

The hon. Member is now asking for an opinion, which is not regular.

asked whether he should be in Order if he asked whether the hon. Gentleman could give his reasons why the information could not be given?

The hon. Gentleman the Secretary to the Admiralty has already stated on his responsibility that the information could not be given.

asked whether the hon. Gentleman meant that the Despatches could not be produced at all, or could not be produced at the present time?

said, that, what he meant to state was that at present no assurance could be given as to the time or extent of their production.

asked the Postmaster General, Whether he could see his way to relaxing the new Regulations, under which rural letter carriers are prohibited from carrying small parcels (not sent by post), the easy transmission of which has been a great convenience to the poorer classes; and, whether his attention has been called to the heavy loads of Post parcels which have to be carried by foot messengers from Railway Stations to Post Offices, in consequence of the promised hand trucks not having been received?

I think, Sir, it will be admitted that it would not be expedient to allow rural letter carriers to carry small parcels, which would directly compete with those they are employed to carry for the Post Office. I am aware that there are many complaints that the poor in rural districts may be subjected to inconvenience if the letter carriers are not allowed to carry for them, as they were allowed to do before the introduction of the Parcel Post, small packets of medicine. The question is now being carefully considered, and I shall be very glad if I can see my way to make an exception in the case of small packets of medicine. With regard to the second part of the hon. Member's Question, I can assure him that if he will inform me of any case in which foot messengers have been overburdened in consequence of the absence of hand trucks the matter shall be immediately attended to.

asked the Postmaster General, When he expects the sixpenny telegram system will be started?

Sir, I can assure my hon. Friend that we are very anxious to bring the reduced charge for telegrams into operation as soon as practicable. If, however, adequate preparations were not made to meet the increase of business which it is anticipated will result from the minimum charge being reduced to 6d. the wires would got blocked; and, consequently, there would be great delay and serious inconvenience to the public. I may mention, as showing the preparations required, that it is estimated that about 15,000 miles of new wire will be needed. In the Treasury Minute recently laid on the Table, the 1st of October next year was fixed as the date for the introduction of the reduced tariff. [Several hon. MEMBERS: Next year!] There are 15,000 miles of telegraph wire to lay.

asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether all the British troops have been withdrawn from the Pisheen Valley, and what is the distance of the farthest British outpost from Candahar?

asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether the station of Tull-Chotiali, in South-Eastern Afghanistan, has not been found very unhealthy; whether sickness and other privations endured by the Native Regiments stationed there, as also in the outposts in the Pisheen Valley, has caused much dissatisfaction amongst the Native troops; can any prospect be held out of these Afghan stations being abandoned; and, can the Medical Returns from all the transpontine stations, including Quetta, up to some very recent date, be laid upon the Table?

Sir, there are no English troops in the Pisheen Valley; but there are two detachments of Native troops at the outposts of Gulistan and Khush-dil-Khan-ka-Killa. The former post is about 105 miles from Candahar; the latter about 110. In answer to the hon. Member for Southwark (Mr. Thorold Rogers), I have to say that no Report has been received of any special sickness at Tull-Chotiali. The latest Returns, of the 1st of June last, show that of the garrison of 520 men present, 22 were sick. There is no reason to suppose there is any dissatisfaction among the small detachments in the Pisheen Valley, or any cause for dissatisfaction. There is no intention of withdrawing those troops from these outposts. The latest complete Sanitary Returns of the Army in India are for 1881. The latest monthly Return for June, 1883, shows that of the 3,429 European troops in the trans-Indus stations, there were 221 sick, and of the 15,329 Native troops, there were 491 sick on the 1st of that month.

asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, If he will lay upon the Table an Act, recently passed in the Canadian Parliament, respecting the sale of intoxicating liquors and the issue of licences there for?

said, that as soon as the Act was received from Canada it would be given to the House.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Whether a Memorial, signed by 100 Collectors of Customs, sent into the Treasury so long ago as November 1880, is still unanswered; and, if so, what is the cause of the delay?

Sir, the Memorial was acknowledged at the time; but since then there have been such alterations in the organization of the Service as to make it inapplicable to the present situation. The case of each collectorate has been, and is being considered separately.

, who had the following Question on the Paper:—

"To ask the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether it has been definitely decided that the Maharajah Dhuleep Singh is to visit India this autumn, and for what object; and, if so, whether he is to be allowed to visit the Punjab, Scinde, or any portion of the north-west provinces; and, whether there is any truth in the report that treasonable letters have been seized in the Punjab, or elsewere, regarding the contemplated visit of the Maharajah?"

said: I have to thank the Prime Minister for his courtesy in sending me a letter with reference to this Question. I hope the right hon. Gentleman will allow me a short time to consider whether I should not put this Question in some shape, and whether it might not be for the best interests of India that it should be answered.

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether an arrangement can be made to utilise our present medical organisation in Egypt to obtain the fullest knowledge of the disease itself, its originating centres, modes of distribution, and general controlling causes, attention being specially directed to detecting the minute organisms in which cholera, equally with other zymotic diseases, are believed to originate, that the information thus obtained be condensed into one Report, printed, if need be, illustrated, and distributed to the Members of the House?

Dr. Hunter has instructions to report on the whole subject of the cholera outbreak, and his Reports will be presented to Parliament.

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether, considering the great labour bestowed by the Grand Committee on Law upon the Criminal Appeal Bill, he will give Saturday next for the Consideration of the Report?

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman seriously thought that the Bill referred to could be properly discussed at that period of the Session in the absence of the Lord Chief Justice and other Law Officers?

The Question of the right hon. Gentleman (Sir R. Assheton Cross) really amounts to an inquiry whether the Government intend to submit the Criminal Appeal Bill to the judgment of the House. We consider it our duty to do so. In answer to the hon. Baronet, I have to state that I cannot absolutely foresee the time when we shall be able to bring it on. With reference to the remaining Business, what we propose to do is this. There remains very little to be done with the Scotch Local Government Bill; and I presume we may, therefore, finish it tonight after Supply. To-morrow, at 2 o'clock, we propose to take Committee on the Tramways (Ireland) Bill, and afterwards the Report of the Scotch Local Government Bill and the Report of the Parliamentary Registration (Ireland) Bill. If Supply is not finished tonight we propose to proceed with it tomorrow at the Evening Sitting; and I hope we may anticipate, from the kindness shown by hon. Members last week, that those who have Motions anterior to Supply will allow us to go at once into Committee. On Saturday we will take Supply, and afterwards the final stages of other Bills not likely to lead to debate; and I hope afterwards to ask the judgment of the House on the Court of Criminal Appeal Bill. On Monday, if we have the opportunity, my hon. Friend the Secretary of State will bring in the Indian Budget, and on Tuesday it is proposed to consider the Lords' Amendments on the Agricultural Holdings (England) Bill, as I presume it will be returned from the other House by that time, and we shall likewise take the Medical Act Amendment Bill.

said, he hoped it was not intended to sit on Saturday to a late hour.

said, it was not. He assumed that the Business to be proceeded with on Saturday at the beginning would not take much time.

asked whether, considering the strong opposition to the Crown Lands Bill, it would be proceeded with?

said, he was not cognizant of any great opposition to this Bill.

begged to repeat his Question, whether it was intended to proceed with the Contempts of Court Bill.

said, he was under the impression that there was a disposition on the part of the House to accept that Bill. If so, it would certainly be proceeded with.

said, if it was intended to proceed with Government Business at 9 o'clock to-morrow, he should be wanting in frankness if he did not state that it was his intention, unless he saw good reason to the contrary, to bring forward the case of the Barrow drainage on that occasion.

said, he would remind the Prime Minister that both he and the noble Lord the Secretary of State for War had promised that the Army Estimates would be brought on at a reasonable hour. It would be impossible to discuss those Estimates adequately at 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning. He trusted, therefore, that as there were some Votes on which he wished to make a few remarks, the right hon. Gentleman would remember the pledge that had been given on behalf of the Government.

said, the Medical Vote of the Army had been postponed on more than one occasion on the distinct ground that it contained contentious matter, and in order that it might be discussed fully.

said, the only undertaking he could give at this stage of the Session was that such Votes as had been mentioned would not be taken at the extremely late hour alluded to by the hon. and gallant Baronet opposite (Sir Walter B. Barttelot).

said, that Vote 12 in the Navy Estimates involved the consideration of a very contentious subject, and he hoped it would be brought on at an hour when it could be fully debated.

said, he could only repeat what he had said respecting the Army Votes. He could not give any information at present as to the time at which the Navy Estimates would be taken.

asked, whether any Business would be taken on Saturday after the Criminal Appeal Bill?

said, that would be the last of the subjects brought forward by the Government.

asked, whether it was proposed to proceed any further with the Stolen Goods Bill and the Medical Act Amendment Bill?

Yes.

When?

asked, whether it would be possible to take the Medical Act Amendment Bill at an early date, as there were numerous deputations awaiting it in London from all parts of the Kingdom?

said, that he had made the best arrangement according to the time at his disposal, and could not possibly name an earlier day for its consideration.

Of course, the right hon. Gentleman, as usual, after the disposal of the Government Business on Saturday, will move the adjournment.

Yes, Sir.

inquired, whether it was proposed to proceed any further with the Summary Jurisdiction Bill this Session? It involved the consideration of 155 different subjects.

replied, that despite its length the Bill was very formal in character, had been considered for the last two or three years; there was no opposition to it, and he saw no reason why it should not be proceeded with.

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether, seeing the lateness of the Session, and the shortness of the notice of reduced interest on Friendly Society deposits proposed in Clause 17 of the Revenue and Friendly Societies Bill, he will advise the withdrawal of that Clause from the Bill?

, in reply, said, that, under Parliamentary compulsion, he very much regretted that the Government must desist from pressing that clause of the Bill.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is true that a man named Connor, a caretaker on the estate of Mr. Roland Wynne, at Glenheigh, county Kerry, was shot on Monday night; whether the authorities have received information that his life is in danger; and, whether he has been refused police protection?