asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If it is true that Sergeant Corbett, of Stradbally, is in the habit of firing shots out of the barrack door and on the barrack premises, killing birds and crows, the barrack being beside the public street, or if it is a breach of the regulations to have a gun other than the one served out to him; and, whether the sergeant has an excise licence?

The District Inspector reports that Sergeant Corbett is not in the habit of firing shots as stated. But on the morning of the 3rd of July he fired two shots with a borrowed fowling piece, at the back of the barrack premises, for the purpose of frightening away birds which were injuring crops in the garden. He was more than 60 feet from the public street at the time. The sergeant has not an Excise licence, nor was one required, as he had the gun within the curtilage of the barrack.

asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether he will cause inquiry to be made into the complaints of certain tenants in the district of Malabar that they are being evicted from their holdings for giving evidence before the Special Commissioner, Mr. Logan, against their landlords; and, whether affairs in that province are not in a most critical state?

The Government of Madras deputed, in 1881, a Special Commissioner to inquire into the Land Question in Malabar, which, from the complexity of the tenures, the density of the population, and the keen competition for land, is a difficult one. They are now considering Mr. Logan's Report; and, pending a decision, they have appealed to the loyalty and good sense of all classes to disturb as little as possible the existing state of the relations between all parties interested in the soil.

asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether attention will be paid to the increasing number of complaints of ryots at the vexatious nature of the recent legislation in Madras, Act 5, of 1882, Forests; and, whether it is true that section 56 declares that all wood timber, produce, &c., &c., shall be presumed to be Government's, and that, in consequence, such enormous powers are placed in the hands of low paid officials, that most serious discontent is spreading over the Madras Presidency?

Act 5 of 1882 did not come into force until the 1st of January, 1883, and no Report on its working has yet reached this country. Neither have any complaints been received, so far as is known, of the vexatious nature of its clauses. Section 56 provides that when a question arises under the Act whether forest produce is the property of Government, such produce shall be presumed to be the property of the Government till the contrary is proved. The powers reserved to the District Forest Officers are, in many instances, not capable of being delegated to subordinates; and, in any case, there is no reason to suppose that "enormous powers are placed in the hands of lowpaid officials," or that serious discontent has arisen therefrom.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If he is aware that there were twelve contested divisions at the late election of Poor Law Guardians for the Carlow Union; were the Nationalist Guardians defeated in eight of them; were the elections of three of these eight set aside, on the ground that the returning officer (Mr. E. L. Jameson), who is also clerk of the Union and sub-sheriff of the county, received informal claims to vote, and allowed votes thereon to the Conservative candidates; is it a fact that in the other five divisions investigations have been made and numerous similar informal and improper claims discovered as having been received by the same returning officer, and votes improperly allowed by him on said claims for the Conservative candidates; if these matters were brought before the Local Government Board by resolutions and statements of the Carlow Board of Guardians, and by petitions of the defeated candidates several weeks ago, and has any answer since been given by the Board, and what is the cause of the delay; will the defective claims be permitted to be amended before the new elections; if the said Local Government Board, in the case of the Rathanna Division of the above Union, received two resolutions of the Guardians calling for a sworn investigation on numerous grounds; did the Board disallow eight votes recorded for the Conservative candidate (his majority being nine), but refuse to grant the sworn investigation, although the Guardians by resolutions objected to over 20 more votes that were counted for the successful candidate; did the Guardians of the Carlow Union, by resolution of the 26th of June, call on the Local Government Board to discontinue Mr. Jameson as such returning officer, as they had no confidence in him; did the people of the county of Carlow (in public meeting assembled) protest against the conduct of Mr. Jameson, and have copies of such resolutions been sent to the Local Government Board, and has the Board taken any, and what, steps in the matter; and, will the Board continue Mr. Jameson as clerk of the Carlow Union, he being sub-sheriff of the county?

The Local Government Board inform me that 12 elections were contested in the Carlow Union; but they have no record of the politics of the candidates. The returns in three districts were set aside, on the ground that the persons returned did not obtain a majority of valid votes—some votes having been allowed in respect of informal claims. Statements of objections to the validity of elections have also been received with regard to several other districts; and the Local Government Board, having obtained the explanation of the Returning Officer, have communicated with the Guardians, and await any further observations they may wish to offer. It is competent to have the defective statements of claim amended, so that they will contain all the particulars required, and thus be available at subsequent elections. In the Rathanna Division, which is named in the Question, the Board disallowed eight votes which were given on invalid claims; but the disallowance of these votes does not affect the result of the election. The Local Government Board have communicated to the Guardians their views respecting each of the other cases to which objection was raised, and have stated that from the information then before them they were not prepared to accede to the request for a sworn inquiry. The Board have received applications for the discontinuance of Mr. Jameson as Returning Officer; and have informed the applicants that they do not feel called upon to comply with that proposal. There is nothing to show partiality towards any particular candidate on the part of the Returning Officer; and the errors he committed were made apparently in ignorance of the law. They have been pointed out to him, and he has been warned that he will be held strictly responsible for the proper discharge of his duties.

May I ask if that is the first occasion on which there was a complaint against this Returning Officer?

I am not ready to state at this moment.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether the so-called "soft" foundation, for 20 feet in front of Teelin Pier, county Donegal, is not the same or nearly the same nature as that upon which the pier has been built; whether the 20 feet which has been cut off from the most important part of the pier-head was not part of the work contracted for with the contractor, and paid for as if same had been duly executed; whether the nature of the foundations, upon which the Board of Works were going to erect so important and expensive a structure, were correctly ascertained in the first instance, and not when too late; whether a strong representation has been forwarded to the Lord Lieutenant by or on behalf of the Grand Jury of the County of Donegal, at this Assizes, protesting against the mismanagement and waste, by the Board of Works, upon numerous fishery piers around that county, and complaining of the ruinous state of some of the very newest piers on the Coast, and calling for an investigation; and, whether the supervision of these important works at Teelin was left to a young and inexperienced man, son of a clerk in the office of the Board of Works, and whether his name and previous qualifications will be given?

It is not the fact that the completed part of Teelin Pier rests on a soft foundation, nearly the same as that which had to be abandoned, as the former is built on rock or other hard material. The 20 feet length cut off was originally contracted for; but as it appeared that the contractor was entitled to extra payment for unforeseen work, no deduction was made from the total amount paid him. No doubt, it was unfortunate that the existence of this soft bed was not discovered at first; but it should be remembered that the arrangements for this pier were not made by the Board of Works, but by the special Relief Committee of 1880, and so were probably more hurried than they would otherwise have been. The county surveyor of Donegal has complained of the condition of four piers in that county, though nothing has yet reached the Lord Lieutenant on the subject, and a special inquiry will be made into the matter; but I must observe that it is the duty of the Grand Jury to maintain these piers, and the Board of Works have nothing to do with it. The Clerk of the Works at Teelin was named Latimer; he is a regularly trained engineer and member of the Irish Institute of Civil Engineers, besides which he had three years' practical experience before he was employed by the Board. I am told he is the son of a clerk in the Board of Works.

suggested that the Treasury should order an altogether independent inquiry into the matter.

said, that he could not catch what the hon. Gentleman the Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Courtney) had just said; but he would ask if the Government would kindly send some gentlemen from England who would be competent to find out whether the Board of Works had done the work satisfactorily or not?

said, he was not prepared to take that step; but he would take care that a full inquiry was made.

said, he would renew this subject on the Vote.

asked the Postmaster General, Whether, in reference to the grave irregularities in certain Post Offices in South Uist, recently brought to his notice, and made the subject of Question in this House, it is the fact that William Mearns, Sub-Postmaster of Loch Boisdale Pier, one of the persons implicated, was formerly a domestic in the service of the proprietors of South Uist; and, whether, in view of the Report (page 65) of the Crofters' Commissioners—

"In the remoter parts of the Highlands and Islands it is considered specially desirable that, in the nomination of Postmasters and telegraphic officials, persons be selected who are altogether independent of local or political authority or influence,"

he will take care, in future appointments in these localities, that discrimination be exercised on the lines indicated in the Report?

in reply, said, he was not aware whether the Sub-Postmaster to whom his hon. Friend referred was formerly in the service of the proprietors of South Uist. He was appointed on the recommendation of the surveyor that he was the most suitable person in the locality. He thought there would be great difficulty in carrying out the suggestion of the Crofters' Commission; because if no one in the locality could be appointed to these offices, it would be necessary largely to increase the salary of the offices, in order to induce persons to come from a distance to hold them. Moreover, he thought it would hardly be just to act on the principle that no one in the locality was fit to be trusted with the charge of a Post Office. He might add that in The Post Office Circular of that week a special notice had been issued to Postmasters and Sub-Postmasters in Scotland which would, he hoped, prevent any further irregularities of the kind alluded to.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is a fact that Mr. Bell, the Court Valuer to the County Court Judge for Cavan and Leitrim, gave a report as to the value of land in Nedd, near Killeshandra, county Cavan, also in Annagh, Curraghaboy, Corglass, and Dumbrick townlands, parish of Carrigallen, county Leitrim, without having gone on the farms; and, if so, will he appoint a more careful valuer?

:Mr. Bell emphatically denies that he gave reports of such valuations without visiting the lands.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether his attention has been called to the action of the Monaglen Grand Jury in granting £50 compensation to Messrs. Tenison and Porter for alleged malicious injury to horses, although the presentment had been rejected as bogus by the cesspayers, and the police, according to The Belfast Morning News of 10th instant, made the following depositions, showing that the injuries had been deliberately inflicted on the animals by the Emergency men, Nelson and Weir, paid by the landlords to take care of them:—

"Sergeant M'Donnell stated that he was stationed at Carrickmacross, and no complaint had been made to him by either Nelson or Weir up to the 7th January. He had gone to every person who could throw any light on the subject, and, up to the present time, he had never met a man who could corroborate the statements made by Nelson and Weir. He had deposed, at the Presentment Sessions at Carrickmacross, that he believed this outrage had been committed by the wife of Nelson, and he still held that opinion. Mrs. Nelson seemed to be the prime mover in the whole matter:

"Constable Farrell corroborated, and added that he believed the statements of Nelson and Weir to be a fabrication, and their statements were conflicting. He was further of opinion that there was collusion between Nelson and Weir with regard to the stabbing of these horses:

"Sergeant Timothy Kerry corroborated;"

will the Government assist the ratepayers to get the presentment traversed before the Assize Judge; and, can he hold out any hope that the Law will be so amended as to place the taxes of the people beyond the control of irresponsible magistrates?

:This outrage was not considered by the police to be of an agrarian character, and it was not recorded as such; but that circumstance did not preclude the owners of the horses from a right to seek compensation for the injury to the horses, which there can be no doubt was inflicted, whether by the person in charge of them or not. The opinion of the police as to their suspicions on that point is accurately quoted in the Question; but no conclusive evidence could be obtained. It is true that the claim for compensation was thrown out by the Presentment Sessions; but the Grand Jury, after a long inquiry, found that the injury was malicious, and made a Presentment for compensation. This has already been traversed at the Assizes; but the Judge stated that the ratepayers who opposed "had no case, as malice was clearly proved," and he fiated the presentment.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether holders of mineral leases under the Commissioners of Woods and Forests, more especially in the counties of Cardigan and Merioneth, are required to pay higher rents and royalties than those asked by the adjoining landowners; whether clauses are inserted in the leases from the Commissioners of Woods and Forests not known of in any private mineral leases; whether, in some cases, the lessees have been threatened with forfeiture of their leases for not working the mines, although their doing so, in the face of the present price of minerals, would entail a serious loss, and although all rents have been paid up; whether he would grant, as an unopposed Return, a statement of the number of acres belonging to the Crown in the counties of Cardigan and Merioneth, and how many acres of the same are at present let under mineral leases; and, whether he is aware that the conditions imposed by the Commissioners of Woods and Forests in these two counties are such as to practically prohibit searches for minerals therein?

I have no reason to think that Crown mining leases are more onerous in respect of royalty or other conditions than those given by other Welsh landowners. The only special provision in the former, known as "the one-fourth clause," is now no longer inserted. In no recent case has forfeiture been threatened because the mines were not worked. I will obtain for the hon. Member the acreages for which he asks; but I do not think there would be any use in laying them before Parliament. I have seen no evidence to show that the terms required by the Crown injure mining enterprize; on the contrary, the Commissioners of Woods are especially anxious to develop their mining properties in every proper manner.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If application has been made to the Government on behalf of inhabitants of Westminster who have suffered by the explosions caused by the criminal acts of persons known to the police, but who have not yet been apprehended; and, if it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to make any compensation for the losses and sufferings resulting from those acts?

I have received various applications on this subject, and I need not say that Her Majesty's Government have the greatest possible sympathy with the persons who have suffered by the explosions; but it is necessary to consider on what principle compensation could be awarded to them. Many people, unfortunately, suffer every day from crimes of violence, such as burglary, highway robbery, and arson, in which property of value is destroyed and injured; and the State never makes any compensation in these cases, nor would it be expedient or safe to do so. I have not been able to discover any distinction between these ordinary crimes and the crimes referred to in the Question; and, therefore, I have not felt myself justified in applying to the Treasury on the subject.

asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether, in view of the willingness of the Science and Art Department to hand over the reliquary of St. Lachteen to the Royal Irish Academy, where similar objects of interest are collected, he would be willing to recoup the Science and Art Department in Dublin the sum of £450 paid for the reliquary out of their annual grant?

:No, Sir; the reliquary will go to the Royal Irish Academy, and a Vote will be asked for.

asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether it is the case that the working of the Rajpootana State Line of Railway is about to be made over to the Bombay and Baroda Railway; and, if so, whether, in addition to other precautions for the benefit of the public, the Government have reserved a complete control over the rates charged, and have not, as in the case of the East Indian Line, handed the Railway over to a private Company, with certain prescribed maximum rates, which the Government has no power to vary or decrease from time to time in the interest of the public without the consent of the Company?

The working of the Rajpootana Railway is about to be made over to the Bombay and Baroda Company; and the Government has reserved the power of fixing and varying from time to time both maximum and minimum rates.

asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether the Treasury Minute of 16th June, as to the payment of the Circuit expenses of the Judges and their suites, is to be treated as temporary only, so that, if the Order in Council is amended and the Chancery Judges and the Admiralty Judge are hereafter required to go on Circuit, it will be competent for the Crown to require them to do so without increase of salary?

said, he wished to add the further Question, whether the Judges had the right to roam about the country abusing Her Majesty's Government?

I cannot answer the second Question. The Treasury Minute provides that, if the ordinary Circuit business of the country is performed by the Judges of the Queen's Bench Division, the Judges who go on Circuit will be allowed £7 10 s. a-day during their absence from London, and per contra one of their two clerks will, as vacancies occur, be discontinued. This is part of, and dependent upon, the arrangements as to Circuit business which have been agreed to by the Judges generally; and if these arrangements should fail in their object of relieving, as far as possible, the Court of Appeal, and the Probate and Admiralty and Chancery Divisions, they would be open to reconsideration. While stating this as a matter of right, I must not be understood as having arrived at any conclusion with respect to the best arrangements for the discharge of Circuit business.

In reply to Mr. HEALY,

said, that the salaries of the Judges were fixed by the law, and the expenses did not form any part of their salaries; therefore, their expenses must be submitted as Votes in Supply.

asked the Secretary of State for War, How many officers obtained direct commissions in the Royal Artillery between 1852 and 1857; how many of those officers are still in the service; was the average age of those officers three or four years higher than that of officers who did not obtain direct commissions; had some of those officers been recently superseded by a large number of Indian Majors, gazetted in May last to the Royal Artillery; and, is it intended to now compulsorily retire some of those officers who so entered the service at the aforesaid age, and thus deprive them of the advantages which were within their contemplation when they entered the service at the invitation of the Government?

Direct commissions in the Royal Artillery were obtained between 1852 and 1857 by 46 officers, of whom 14 are still serving in the Corps. Their average age exceeded the average age of those otherwise appointed to the Corps during the same period by three-and-a-quarter years. In May last, in consequence of vacancies among the lieutenant-colonels of the Indian cadres, Indian majors junior not only to some of these direct commission majors, but also to those commissioned at the same time from the Royal Military Academy, were promoted to be lieutenant-colonels in their own cadres. It is expected that three majors who entered by direct competition will be compulsorily retired during the next three months on attaining the age of 50 years. The promotion of the majors in the Indian cadres has had no bearing on the compulsory retirement of the other officers referred to in the Question.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, What proportion of the funds voted for the Royal University is spent, first, on rewards for the Students; second, for the payment of Fellows and Examiners; third, on the Sustentation Fund of the Senators; do the Senators of the Royal University, in addition to their travelling expenses, usually allowed to members of public Boards, also get Sustentation money; is this a usual practice; on what scale is the Sustentation allowance to the Senators calculated; do they send in their hotel bills to the secretaries of the Royal University; is the benefit of the Sustentation Fund extended to the families of the Senators; do the Senators draw any Sustentation money when under no expense; and, will he consent to grant a Return of the names of the Senators who have availed of the Sustentation Fund, with the amount drawn in each instance?

in reply, said, the accounts of the Royal University, which were annually certified by the Auditor General and presented to Parliament, would afford the hon. Member the first portion of the information he required. It was in Paper No. 289. The expenses and allowances to Senators comprised their actual travelling expenses, together with one guinea for each night necessarily spent away from home on the business of the University. No payment whatever was made to members who could attend without travelling for the purpose. All members of the Senate necessarily away from home were entitled to the subsistence allowance, although they did not all claim it. They were not required to send their hotel bills to the secretary. There was no ground for suggesting that any expenses or allowances were paid for in respect of any member's or Senator's families. He was not prepared to consent to such a Return as the hon. Member suggested. It would be regarded as invidious and of an inquisitorial character, and it might imply that those Senators who asked to be paid the allowance did so improperly. Similar Returns in regard to the Commissioners of National Education were recently objected to on the same ground.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is true that Mrs. Craig, who was head teacher of the Sligo Model Schools, was obliged to resign her situation, owing to ill-health, after fourteen years' meritorious service, and was granted by the Commissioners of Education the sum of—78, to which she was entitled; whether Mrs. Craig died before the cheque was drawn, and if it is true that the authorities have refused to give the money, or any portion of it, to her aged mother; and, whether he will consider whether the whole or, at any rate, a portion of the money fairly earned by Mrs. Craig may not be given to the mother, who nursed her in her illness, and who is in straitened circumstances?

Mrs. Craig held the appointment stated, and resigned on the ground of ill-health. She signed a claim for gratuity on the 1st of December, and after the usual investigations the Treasury approved the award; but it subsequently transpired that in the meantime Mrs. Craig had died, and no payment under the award could legally be made to her representatives.

asked, whether, having regard to the repeated delays in these matters on the part of the Treasury, the right hon. Gentleman would make such representations as would expedite the grants?

said, he would get a list of cases and see how long the delays were. This class of applications ought to be dealt with promptly.

asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether there are now six battalions of Infantry, forming the Dublin Garrison, having a paper effective strength of 3,859 of all ranks, according to the latest Returns, and whether this is not in excess of the usual number; if he will state what number of this total are available for garrison duty; and, why it has been found necessary to supplement this large force by additional detachments of other Regiments from the Curragh to assist in furnishing the duties?

The garrison of Dublin consists nominally of about 3,600 of all ranks, which is not in excess of the usual number; but about 450 are on detachment duty. It is the practice at this time of the year to detach two companies per battalion for musketry and special drill; and after deducting these, the necessary duty men, and the sick, there scarcely remains enough privates, considering the heavy garrison duties, to allow the men four nights in bed. When, from time to time, the strength has fallen too low for this purpose, detachments from the Curragh have been made available.

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether, considering the great stress laid by Her Majesty's Government on the experiment of autonomous institutions in Egypt formally instituted last year, he is yet able to lay upon the Table any Reports on their working, and to explain the circumstances of the difference between Mr. Clifford Lloyd and the Legislative Council in connection with the proposed Municipality Bill; if he will state generally whether the provisions of the Decree of 1st May 1883 have been complied with; whether the Legislative Council have met on the dates appointed by Article 26; whether they have been consulted regarding every Law and every Decree regulating the public administrations, as required by Article 18; whether, in accordance with the same Article, the reasons have been communicated to them for any decisions contrary to their advice; whether the Budget has been submitted to and discussed by them in accordance with Article 22; and, whether, in accordance with Article 35, the General Assembly has been consulted regarding all loans raised, and will be consulted on any fresh loans which may be raised?

As I have already informed the House, Sir Evelyn Baring, on his return to Egypt, will forward to Her Majesty's Government a Report on the working of the autonomous institutions, which will be laid before Parliament. I am not aware of any differences between Mr. Clifford Lloyd and the Legislative Council on the subject of the Municipality Bill. The provisions of the Decree of May 1, 1883, appear to have been complied with. I am unable to say whether the Legislative Council have always met on the days appointed. I understand that they have been consulted respecting Administrative Laws and Decrees; but I cannot say whether, in case of dissent from their views, the reasons have been communicated to them. Owing to the uncertainty of the finances, the Budget has not as yet been submitted, and Decrees have from time to time been issued postponing the date of its presentation. One of these Decrees is given at page 57 of "Egypt," No. 12, 1884. No loan having been raised, it has not been necessary to consult the Assembly.

:May I ask if the noble Lord can tell us if the Legislative Council is still in existence; and whether it will meet to-morrow, the 1st of August, under Article 26?

:The Legislative Council is still in existence; and if my hon. Friend will refer to a very interesting letter by Mr. Sheldon Amos in The Times of to-day, he will find some information in regard to it.

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether he will call for Reports from the Secretaries of the different Embassies as to the working of the Lunacy Laws on the Continent, and in the United States, and especially as to the following points:—Whether there are private as well as public asylums; what are the checks against improper admission or detention of persons in an asylum; what supervision and inspection, if any, is exercised by any public and recognized authority; and, the nature and powers of such authority; and, whether he will present such Reports to Parliament?

:I think my hon. Friend will find most of the information he asks for in a collected form in a work privately printed in Philadelphia by Dr. Harrison, Legislation on Insanity, which I shall be happy to show him; but any further information he may require will be at once procured.

said, what he wished to do was to get the information placed in the hands of Members of the House before the Session of next year.

asked the Vice President of the Committee of Council, Whether it is a fact that, owing to the very easy compliance with the Fourth Standard, the number of children under fourteen years, who never return to school, is largely increasing; whether he will make any change in the Code to insure longer attendance and more extended knowledge; whether, in view of this extremely early abandonment of ordinary schools, he will take any steps to provide night schools for the classes affected; and, whether the Education Department will purchase, for the use of industrial exhibitions in the United Kingdom, the exhibits of technical teaching and its results in Foreign Countries, and now on view at the International Health Exhibition?

It is true that children pass the Fourth Standard at an earlier age than heretofore, owing to better attendance and better teaching. The Standard of exemption, however, cannot be raised by the Code, which merely deals with the curriculum, and has nothing whatever to do with the Standard prescribed by the bye-laws, the raising of which without the consent of the Local Authorities can only be effected by legislation. Very considerable changes have been made in the new Code with a view to the encouragement of night schools. The purchase of some of the most desirable exhibits is at present under the consideration of the Science and Art Department.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is the fact that, while three Catholic magistrates of the district of Kilmacthomas, county Waterford, have died within the last seven or eight years, only one gentleman, a non-Catholic and a land agent, has been appointed to the magistracy in that district during that time; whether it is the fact that there is not at present a single justice resident in Kilmacthomas Petty Sessions district; whether the Kilmacthomas Board of Guardians, in April last, forwarded a Memorial to the Lord Chancellor, setting forth these facts, and asking him to appoint Dr. Walsh, of Kilmacthomas, and Mr. Brian Finn, of Carigmorna; whether a similar Memorial was forwarded by the priests of the parish; and, whether the Lord Chancellor has received these Memorials; and, if so, whether he intends to act upon them?

:The Lord Chancellor informs me that, in consequence of a want of magistrates in the Kilmacthomas district, he appointed two gentlemen to the Commission of the Peace last month, on the recommendation of the Lord Lieutenant of the county. One of them is a Roman Catholic and a farmer; the other is believed to be a Dissenting Protestant—neither of them is a land agent. They will be immediately available for the Kilmacthomas Bench. The Memorials on behalf of the two gentlemen named in the Question have been received; and the Lord Chancellor is at present in correspondence with the Lord Lieutenant of the county on the subject.

:Can the right hon. Gentleman give the names of the two magistrates who have been appointed?

:No, Sir. The names are not given in the Minute of the Lord Chancellor.

asked the First Commissioner of Works, Whether, having regard to the important effects which the proposed works on the west side of Westminster Hall will have on the architectural character of the group of buildings of which the Hall forms part, and to the insufficiency of the opportunities which have been given for consideration of the designs, he will postpone till next Session submitting an estimate for the works, and will agree to the appointment of a Select Committee to consider the question of the best mode of dealing with the west side of the Hall?

When I laid Mr. Pearson's plans before the House, about three weeks ago, I stated that if I found that there was likely to be serious opposition to them on behalf of Members, I would refer the subject to a Select Committee. Since then I have been in communication with a large number of Members in all parts of the House, and I find that there is a general concurrence of opinion favourable to these plans. There are some few exceptions, but that must be expected to any scheme; the general verdict, however, is certainly favourable. Under these circumstances, I do not think it necessary to refer the question to a Committee, and I shall ask for a Vote during the present Session to commence the work during the Autumn. This is the more necessary, as the walls of the Hall were much injured during the past Winter, and I am unwilling to expose them to the injury of another Winter. There is, however, one part of the work which cannot be commenced at present—namely, the raising of the towers at the north end of the Hall. The Vote I shall ask for will not include any money for this purpose. This part of the work will stand over, and hon. Members who object to it will have an opportunity of raising the question next year.

asked the right hon. Gentleman whether he was aware that all the architectural journals had written strongly in disapproval of the designs; and whether he had not received from the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings a very urgent request to postpone the matter until next year, in order that the public, as well as the Members of the House, might have an opportunity of considering it?

said, he was aware that two of the architectural papers had commented unfavourably on the designs; but he had observed that they commented unfavourably upon anything he proposed. So far as he had observed, papers of that kind were nothing if they were not critical. The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings had pressed him to postpone the question; but he did not understand that they were unfavourable to the scheme; they only criticized some of the points. He should consult the architect as to details, and later on he should be able to tell the House whether any modifications were thought desirable.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether, in face of the statement of facts relative to the case of the Consolation contained in the letter of the Directors of the Clyde Steam and Sailing Shipowners' Association, dated July 26, and addressed to him, he still adheres to his declaration publicly made that—

"The case of the Consolation was one in which no lives were lost; that the vessel was insured for £17,000; that her original cost was £17,000; that she was ten years old, and valued at £11,500?"

I have not seen the statement in the letter referred to in the noble Lord's Question; but I have been in correspondence with the owners of the Consolation, and I very readily accepted the statement from them to the effect that the sum I stated as the original cost of the vessel was considerably understated. This, however, does not affect the other statements in my speech upon which my argument was founded. It is the fact that that vessel was insured for £17,000, and she was valued by my orders by those independent valuers. The highest of these valuations was the sum I quoted—namely, £11,000, and I have since applied to the valuers, Messrs. Bayley and Ridley, and they adhere to their original valuation. I ought to add, although I do not think this is a matter of complaint against me, that when I referred to this case I was under the impression that no lives had been lost in connection with this ship, and I thought it fair to the owners to state that; but I have since learnt that, unfortunately, two sailors were drowned when the ship was lost.

Had the valuers seen the vessel?

No; they could not, as she was lost. They valued it, after it was lost, in the usual way in which such valuations are made.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether, as compared with the charge of £34,677 for Bankruptcy last year, the following represents the total charge this year, viz:—

The charge of £34,677 in the Estimates for 1883–4 was the charge for bankruptcy in the Supreme Court only. In addition, the sum of £40,000 was charged for Registrars in Bankruptcy in County Courts, making a total of £74,677. The charge for bankruptcy in the Estimates for 1884–5 consists not only of the sum of £78,000 on the Board of Trade Vote, but also of the sum of £14,000 for Registrars, &c., in the Supreme Court; £36,000 for Registrars in County Courts, and minor charges for rents, furniture, &c., amounting to about £5,000. This gives a total of £133,000. The additional income is estimated by the Board of Trade at £76,300. As to the third Question, I must refer my hon. Friend to the Treasury. With regard to the last Question, I may say there are very few abolitions under the new Act of 1883; and at present the greater part of the increased work has been performed by old officers. All the changes made will be fully detailed in the next Report on Bankruptcy.

:Is the increased charge in consequence of the expenses of the Act?

:I do not anticipate any increased charge at all.

asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether it is the case that certain regiments of Cavalry have been added to the Indian Forces in connection with the frontier exploits in the district of Quetta?

I do not understand what my hon. Friend means when he speaks of frontier exploits in the district of Quetta; but there has been no increase in the Indian Cavalry.

asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether Sir William Brampton Gurdon, K.C.B., who is an accepted candidate for the representation of West Norfolk, is still a first-class clerk in the Treasury, in receipt of a salary of £1,000 a-year?

I have to say that Sir William Brampton Gurdon is a principal clerk in the Treasury, receiving £1,000 a-year. I have received from him no intimation that he intends to become a candidate for a seat in Parliament.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether he is aware that, notwithstanding his promise to direct that the Acts passed this Session shall be issued as they are passed to those Members who require them, no orders to that effect have been given at the Vote Office; and, whether he will at once inquire into the cause of the failure to carry out his promise?

I have no control over this matter, which rests with the authorities of the House. But, on inquiry at the Vote Office, I learn that no application for loose copies of the statutes has been made there. They will, however, be supplied to any hon. Members who require them and give Notice to that effect.

asked the Postmaster General, If the mail train under the new service from Dublin to Cork could not, without slackening speed, slip a carriage containing passengers and mails for Waterford at Maryborough; and, if so, whether, considering the desire of the people of Kilkenny and Waterford that this should be done, and the willingness of the Waterford and Central Ireland Railway Company to send a special train to meet the mail at Maryborough, he will, in the contract about to be entered into between the Post Office and the Great Western Railway Company, make an arrangement for the slipping of a carriage at Maryborough?

So far as I have been able to ascertain, no postal advantage would be likely to result from sending the Kilkenny and Waterford mails by way of Maryborough. If the Great Southern and Western Company wish to slip a carriage at Maryborough for the convenience of passengers, I certainly should offer no opposition, provided the mail train was not delayed.

No; but will the right hon. Gentleman, in the interest of the public, require it to be done by the contract he is about entering into with the Company?

If there are no postal advantages, I do not think I could. I do not know what my legal powers are; but if, for the convenience of passengers, the Company would like to do it, I would not offer opposition, unless it would interfere with the Postal Service.

asked the First Commissioner of Works, Whether he would have any objection to place in one of the rooms of the Library of the House of Commons, or in some other room set apart for the purpose, a small number of "Remington Perfected Type-Writers," for the convenience of the Members of the House?

said, he could not recommend what the hon. Member proposed.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether the Guardians of the Mullingar Union agreed to delegate their duties, as a Sanitary Authority of that town, to the Town Commissioners as a Sub-Committee; whether the Local Government Board refused to agree to this arrangement; and, whether, having regard to the necessity for prompt action on the part of the Sanitary Authorities, owing to the danger of a spread of cholera, the Local Government Board will reconsider their decision?

in reply, said, it was the case that the Guardians of the Mullingar Union, being the Rural Sanitary Authority, desired to appoint a Sanitary Committee for Mullingar; and the Local Government Board were obliged to point out to them that they could not legally carry out such an arrangement, as the power to appoint Committees under the 5th section of the Public Health Act was limited to Urban Sanitary Authorities. The danger of a spread of cholera would not enable the Local Government Board to authorize the appointment of such a Committee by the Board of Guardians.

asked the Postmaster General, Whether any step has yet been taken to remedy the complaints of sorters in connection with mail trains, or to give additional remuneration to letter carriers in connection with the increased duty under the parcel post?

:In reply to a Question put to me a few months ago by the hon. Member for Mallow, I stated that in the matter of Sunday duty arrangements were being made to place the Irish mail sorters, as far as possible, on an equality with those employed in England. Assuming that to be the matter to which the hon. Member refers in the first part of his Question, I beg to state that to those arrangements effect is now being given. In reply to the second part of the Question, there is no intention of entering upon another general revision of letter-carriers' wages, which was completed only two years ago; but where information reaches me of the need of revision in any particular case, the circumstances are carefully considered.

asked the Postmaster General, Whether it is a fact that the rural postman has to carry the mails between Portumna and Power's Cross, county Galway, a distance of twelve Irish miles, for six days of the week; whether, in order to accomplish this task, the postman has to leave at six in the morning; and, whether the remuneration given for this work is eight shillings per week?

The facts appear to be substantially as stated in the Question of the hon. Member, the distance mentioned being, of course, understood to be the total distance travelled by the postman there and back. The postman does not hold a regular appointment, but is one employed by the local Postmaster, who receives an allowance to provide for the performance of the duty. I will, however, make further inquiry, with a view to revising the allowance if necessary.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is the fact that the Land Commissioners have, in the case of the Glebe Lands of Drumcree, county Armagh, reduced, by 18 per cent., rents proved to have been unchanged since 1827, and, subject to which, tenants were proved to have, even so lately as 1880, given £12 10 s. per acre for the tenantright; whether said lands were purchased from the Church Commissioners by the present owner, Mr. Law; whether the rental furnished by them showed the old rents; and whether the valuation made by the Commissioners' valuator, Mr. M. O'Brien, to give the tenants the benefit of the clause in the Church Act in their favour, placed nearly twenty-four years' purchase on said rents, and thus represented them as moderate rents; and, whether the Government are prepared, out of the Irish Church surplus, which got the benefit of the price produced by the Commissioners' representations, to refund Mr. Law the proportion of the purchase money so obtained from him by such representations?

in reply, said, that the Land Commission reported that in the case referred to the rents were reduced, on the whole, by a little more than 18 per cent. Evidence was given that the rents were not changed since 1837; that in some cases a considerable sum was paid for tenant-right; and that Mr. Law paid 30 years' purchase for the land at the old rents, that being the just value, according to Mr. O'Brien's valuation. No evidence as to value was given by the landlord at the rehearing of the appeal, and the Commissioners came to a conclusion on the whole evidence laid before them. He could not hold out any hope that he would make the representations to the Treasury suggested in the last paragraph of the Question.

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether any more Papers, in continuation of "Switzerland, No. 1, 1884," manifestly incomplete, will be laid upon the Table; and, what information he can supply respecting the recent renewal of outrages, and of religious persecutions on British subjects and others, of a most serious description in the town of Bienne, on which occasion a house occupied by British subjects was attacked with the utmost violence and completely gutted; the local police being overpowered by the mob, so that it was deemed necessary by the Cantonal authorities, at the instance of the Federal Government, to call out the Military?

Further Papers will be prepared and laid. The Cantonal authorities of Neuchatel, Vaud, and Berne recently agreed that private meetings of Salvationists were to be allowed in those Cantons under certain conditions. The Salvationists commenced to hold private meetings in a building at Bienne, which they had hired for the purpose; a mob attacked the building, and serious disorder ensued. The Council of State of the Canton of Berne have, in consequence, and in order to keep the peace and preserve public order, prohibited the holding of Salvationist meetings in Bienne and its neighbourhood.

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the right of preemption of certain territory on the Congo, occupied by the International Association, has been obtained by the French Government; and, whether this right had been previously offered to Her Majesty's Government?

From an agreement between the French Prime Minister and the President of the Belgian Association, which has appeared in the public Press, it would appear that the right of preemption, to which the hon. Baronet refers, has been obtained by the French Government; but Her Majesty's Government have no official cognizance of this agreement. This right had not previously been offered to Her Majesty's Government.

asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether he has received any information as to the conduct of a high Colonial official, in consequence of which he was placed in irons on board the Royal Mail Steamer Don, which left Barbadoes on the 30th of May of the present year; and, whether any steps will be taken in consequence?

:We have received a newspaper containing an anonymous statement of that sort; but we have given no credence to it. We do not think it necessary to take any steps at present.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that what he calls an anonymous statement is a leading article in the newspaper which charges this official with crime? Will the Under Secretary make any inquiries from the authorities of the steamship Don, on board which such crimes are said to have taken place? If the Under Secretary cannot answer now I will postpone the Question.

I can answer now. We believe the charges to have no foundation; and until we have something more substantial to go upon we cannot make any inquiries.

Will the Government require this official to bring an action for libel against the newspaper which charges him with crime?

I cannot answer that Question without Notice.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether his attention has been called to the following letter addressed to tenants in Kerry who have purchased Glebelands:

"Irish Land Commission,

"Church Property Department.

"You are hereby informed that, unless the amount claimed in the inclosed receivable form is paid within the time specified therein, the Commissioners will direct their solicitors to take legal proceedings to recover the amount due without any further notice.

"By Order,

"———, Secretary."

Whether this notice only allowed a month after date for the payment of the instalment, though in every other year since the purchase of their farms they were not called upon until the end of September to pay the instalment falling due on July 1st; and, whether it is true that, in the lands adjoining these farms in Kerry, the Sub-Commissioners have fixed judicial rents at 25 per cent under the amount of such annual instalment?

:I find, on inquiry from the Land Commissioners, that the receivable orders, issued to persons owing one instalment, due on 1st of July, allow in all cases three months (to the 30th of September) for payment. If two or more instalments are due one month only is given, and in such cases the notice referred to in the Question accompanies the receivable order. These regulations have been in force for 14 years, and legal proceedings are not taken unless it is found impossible to recover the instalments in any other way. With regard to the last paragraph of the Question, it appeared that there are about 38 persons scattered throughout different parts of the county of Kerry whose holdings were purchased from the Church Temporalities Commissioners—the purchase moneys being still outstanding on mortgage; and, unless further particulars be given, it is impossible to say what reductions, if any, have been made in the rents of tenants whose farms adjoin the properties of these persons.

asked the Postmaster General, Whether he will consider the necessity of accelerating the arrival of the English and other mails in Galway; whether such an ac- celeration could not be carried out by the starting at eight o'clock from the Broadstone Terminus of the train that now leaves at nine, by the reduction of the number of stoppages, and by the increase of the speed from 24 to 34 miles an hour; and, whether the Chairman of the Midland Great Western Railway Company has not declared his readiness to supply an accelerated mail service in the case the Post Office offer sufficiently remunerative terms?

In reply to the hon. Member, I beg to say that an acceleration of the mails to Galway (such as that suggested in the Question) is quite feasible, but would involve the running of an additional train, and is, largely, a question of expense. I am in correspondence with the Midland Great Western Railway, and will come to a decision on the subject as quickly as possible.

Am I right in saying that for mail services, while the Great Southern and Western Railway Company receives £70 a-mile, and the Great Northern £90, the Midland Company receives only £40 a-mile?

It is impossible to draw any comparison between the mail service to Cork, which carries all the American mails, and the mail service to Galway and Sligo, which is comparatively light. The Companies are also paid in proportion to the pace of the trains.

Is there any essential difference between the Great Northern Railway Company in this matter and the Midland Company; and has the right hon. Gentleman, in his communications with the Midland Company, offered them any improvement whatever on the present terms?

The Great Northern Company is going to start from Dublin at an earlier hour, and will arrive at Belfast earlier than now. The whole subject of the acceleration of the mails throughout Ireland generally is now being considered. It is a very complicated subject; but I am pushing it on as quickly as possible.

Has the right hon. Gentleman offered any improvement in the terms to the Midland Company?

I find it rather difficult to answer that Question without notice. I have so many offers made to carry them in mind; but if the hon. Member will write to me I shall be happy to give him information.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If he will state the reason for remitting any portion of the sentence on a boy named Frank Stockwell, sentenced by Baron Pollock, at Reading, to a month's imprisonment, without hard labour, for setting fire to hay ricks?

As soon as I was aware that a child of seven years old had been imprisoned for a month, I wrote to the learned Judge, a most humane man, on the subject, and he said, in reply—"I shall feel very much pleased if you can do better for him than I could." Subsequently, I wrote to the Governor and the Chaplain of the prison to report to me specially upon the case. The Chaplain's Report has been received. He says—

"According to the Prison Rules, the boy was allowed one hour's school with other juveniles, if any; but there were none in the prison when Stockwell arrived. Subsequently, a boy of 14 years of age was sentenced to a month's imprisonment, so that the present class of juveniles consisted of two. But for the one hour's instruction the child has the rest of 24 hours in solitary confinement, except for most casual interruption. I am very decidedly of opinion that this is not morally healthy for the child. I gather from my own observation, and from the 'schoolmaster, that Stockwell is not sharp, but rather idle, and without any show of application, and, if, anything, dull, and even apparently sullen, which, I take it, means that he feels strange in a strange place. He is not quick of speech, and also seems as if he knew what it was to be in fear of a scolding. I find nothing artful or vicious about him, I have studied him much, owing to the bad opinion held of him by the Vicar of the parish. I have talked to him quietly, and he has admitted he was sorry for what he did, and that he would be a better boy. I am quite sure the boy lighted the hay-rick to see how it would burn, but never dreamt of the probable consequence, and ran away frightened. I have a very strong opinion of the unsuitability of the prison for such a child, and I should greatly rejoice if it were thought better to give the boy a second birching and discharge him. Such a case as this is for home treatment."

Before this communication was received the child had been in prison—practically in solitary confinement—for nearly three weeks; and I do not think that anybody in this House will condemn my conduct when I decided that the best thing to do was to discharge the child. I wish those who pass sentences of this kind would remember what solitary confinement is as applied to a child of tender years. It is a most terrible—I think improper—punishment. I have known a case in which a child suffered so dreadfully from solitary confinement that the warder took him into his own house—a breach of prison discipline—which I had not the heart to condemn.

asked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether the Guardians of the Poland Street Workhouse of the Westminster Union have unanmously decided to suspend Mr. W. J. D. Bliss from the office of master of that workhouse; whether the Local Government Board have confirmed, or propose to confirm, that suspension; and, how soon their decision will be made known?

It is true that the Guardians of the Westminster Union unanimously suspended Mr. Bliss from the office of Master of the Poland Street Workhouse. We have since communicated with Mr. Bliss and the Guardians on the subject; and on the 26th of this month we received from the Guardians their reply to the explanation which had been furnished by Mr. Bliss. That letter is now under our consideration, and we will very shortly inform the Guardians of our decision.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, If he is aware that it is the practice of Mr. Turner, surveyor of taxes at Tralee, and other surveyors in Ireland, to increase, year after year, the assessment for income tax on traders under Schedule D, without assigning any reason for so doing until appealed against, at very considerable trouble and expense to the trader; and, whether, when the assessment is once fixed, it can be so arbitrarily increased by those officers?

This Question only appeared on the Paper to day. Assessments under Schedule D are only fixed for one year, and it is the duty of the surveyors to increase them if they appear to be insufficient, ample opportunity of appeal against such increase being given by law. If the hon. Member will communicate to me the particulars of any case of apparently arbitrary assessment at Tralee it shall be at once inquired into.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether he can say if some one of the architectural plans for the Science and Art Museum, Dublin, will be adopted before the Prorogation of Parliament?

I hope it may be possible to decide this matter before the House rises; but I can give no promise, as the decision depends, in part at least, on the result of certain valuations now being made.

Seeing the great delay there is in getting a building up in Dublin, and seeing the promptness with which the First Commissioner of Works is going to proceed with the works at Westminster Hall, I would ask him whether he would not take the Irish Museum into his hands also?

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether he has noticed the following statement, in a Despatch from Mr. Clifford Lloyd to Mr. Egerton, dated 11th May 1884:—

"In the early days of September 1883 a serious robbery had been committed in the Province of Garbieh. The mudir accordingly arrested about seventy persons of the locality, including many sheiks and other respectable persons. They were all put in prison, and tortured in the most barbarous manner. They were thumbscrewed, tied up to beams by their feet and by their fingers, and were kourbashed to such an extent that two unfortunate men were said to have died under the operation. It was with great difficulty that I succeeded in getting an English Officer, attached to the Ministry of the Interior, sent down to assist the mudir in the inquiry he was making. The result of this inquiry proved that there was no evidence of any description against any of the accused, but that many of them had been forced, under torture by the mudir's subordinates, to sign prepared confessions, implicating themselves and other prisoners in the robbery. I have but to add that it was only by calling for the support of our Government that I was able to obtain the removal of this mudir, who was immediately promoted to be Governor General of Eastern Soudan;"

whether, in the original Despatch, the name of this mudir was suppressed; and, if not, why it is in the published Document; and, whether he can give the House some assurance that this official is no longer employed by the Egyptian Government either as a governor or as a mudir, or in any other capacity?

before this Question was answered, said, he would like to ask the noble Lord whether he was aware that there was no essential difference between the conduct of the Mudir and Mr. Clifford Lloyd's own conduct in Ireland?

Order, order! That is not a proper Question to be asked.

The name of the Mudir referred to is not given in the original despatch; but the evidence shows him to have been Hussein Wasif Pasha, who, as I have already informed the House, is no longer in the employment of the Egyptian Government.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Is he aware that Mr. Chance wholly denies the allegations of the policeman who arrested him, and declared that, on seeing Alice Carroll, he at once told her he was solicitor for Mr. O'Brien, M.P., and that he wanted her evidence about Bolton, and that he denies the statement about being sent by Mallon; and, will the Government grant an inquiry, sworn or otherwise, into the arrest, or rely solely on the policeman's version of the matter?

This Question, the hon. Member knows, only appeared this morning; but I think I have an adequate answer to it. There are two ways in which a person in the position of a constable acting wrongly may be dealt with. He may be dealt with criminally, if the case comes within the law; or he may be dealt with by the Head of the Department by way of punishment or dismissal. In the present case, I am advised that the constable cannot be proceeded against criminally, and the other branch of the case is to be dealt with by the Chief Commissioner. Assuming that the con- stable was told by the Carrolls what he says he was told, I see no reason for holding that he acted otherwise than he ought. He had a most responsible duty to discharge, and I think he acted as he was in duty bound to act. If the arrest was unwarranted, and if Mr. Chance feels aggrieved, as I hear he does, he may take an action against the constable for unwarranted arrest, and so elicit the facts on oath.

If he takes such an action, will the Government defend him and pay his damages?

[No reply.]

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether he has been informed of the resolutions of the Irish Catholic Hierarchy, against the confiscation of the Propaganda property in Italy; and, whether any communications, in reference to the Propaganda property, have been addressed by the British Government to the Government of Italy since questions on the subject were asked in this House three months ago?

I have not any particular cognizance of the resolutions to which the hon. Member refers; but I am aware that the Roman Catholic Hierarchy consider themselves and their Church materially aggrieved. That is the substantial part of the Question. With respect to the latter part of it, I have to say that the British Ambassador in Rome was directed, some time back, to make any representations to the Government of Italy which he could make with propriety and which might appear to be useful. He was also instructed to have some regard to what was done by the Representatives of the other Powers. The Ambassador has not seen any such opportunity; and I am informed that no Power has been in a position to make representations to the Italian Government on the subject.

May I ask whether the United States Congress did not pass Resolutions on the subject, and has not the Ambassador of the United States taken action, if no other Power has?

I am really not aware what Resolutions the United States Congress passed; but if they did pass such a Resolution, it would not in any degree modify the statement I have made, which was with regard to representations of the Powers to the Italian Government.

I beg to give Notice that on the Diplomatic Vote the hon. Member for the City of Cork (Mr. Parnell) will call further attention to this subject.

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether he will now state to the House the nature of the financial proposals made by Her Majesty's Ministers to the Conference in order to pay the costs of the bombardment of Alexandria and the evacuation of the Soudan, and restore equilibrium to the Egyptian Budget?

The hon. Member has on this occasion done what he has done on some other occasions—he compels me to repeat an answer which I have given him formerly, and in regard to which I have no option. It would be a breach of understanding and a breach of faith with the Conference, independently of anything else, if any communication with regard to the proceedings within it were made during the time that Conference has its sitting. But I may take the opportunity which the Question of the hon. Gentleman affords me to say with much regret, and to my own disappointment and to that of the House, that the Conference which met to-day was informed by the French Ambassador that he was not in possession of sufficient instructions, and that he had to request a further adjournment until Saturday. To that request, under the circumstances, there could be but one answer; and perhaps I may say this—though I have no doubt it is a disappointment to the House to receive the intelligence—yet those who have paid attention to what has been passing in France within the last few days will be prepared for it—it will be seen that the French Cabinet has been placed in a peculiar position with regard to domestic concerns.

In consequence of that answer I am obliged to ask the right hon. Gentleman what course he proposes to take with a view of giving the House an opportunity, before the Prorogation, of pronouncing an opinion on the proceedings of the Conference?

I am afraid, Sir, it would be premature if I were to endeavour to explain precisely the course of the proceedings we should adopt until the Conference shall arrive at a decision. We shall not lose a moment after that; but I am in the confident hope that the House will not be put to any practical inconvenience. We shall not lose a moment in telling the House both what the Conference has done, and likewise what we intend to do, with a view to redeeming the pledge which I gave the right hon. Gentleman.

Is the right hon. Gentleman in a position to say whether it is probable that he will have to submit a proposal to the House upon which its judgment will have to be taken?

No, Sir; I think it would not be advantageous to state what is probable or what is improbable, for it would probably be the cause of further disappointment.

With regard to the statement of the right hon. Gentleman, that the reason for declining to answer my Question as to the financial proposals was that it would be a breach of faith with the Conference, I beg to ask him whether it is not the fact that out of the four main heads of the proposals now before the Powers, three—namely, that with regard to the evacuation by the British troops; that of the extra powers proposed to be given to the Debt Commissioners; and that with regard to the neutralization of Egypt and the Canal—have already been before this House; and whether he will explain what reasons exist for considering that the communication of the financial proposals to the House would be a greater breach of faith than the communication of the other proposals?

The other proposals are not before the Conference. The financial proposals are.

I would ask the Prime Minister whether the House is to understand that the statement made by him, I think on the 23rd of June, that the proposals of the Government would be laid before the Powers, has not been carried out?

Certainly they have been communicated to the Powers; but they have not been brought before the Conference, because the Conference is limited to the object which was described in the invitation.

I should like to know whether any Papers will be laid on the Table at the same time as the right hon. Gentleman makes his Statement; because it would be perfectly impossible for the House to gain even a slight notion of the case from the statements of the right hon. Gentleman, however clear they may be. The right hon. Gentleman said the other day that by far the most important part of these negotiations had taken place in the Commission; and I think the right hon. Gentleman used the expression—"The chief labour with respect to this business has been performed by the Commission." Of course, the Papers with respect to the Commission are now ready. At any rate, they might be presented at a few days' notice; and I hope, therefore, the Foreign Office will be prepared with them at a very short Notice.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say that after the meeting on Saturday—that is to say, on Monday—he will be in a position to make a statement?

All I can say is, that I hope it, and I expect it. I cannot go beyond that. With reference to what I said of the Commission, I did not say that the most important part of the labours was performed by the Commission—I think I said it was the most laborious, requiring time, and a great deal of hard work. I quite agree with the right hon. Gentleman that any statement would be inadequate to the object in view that did not deal with the operations of the Commission. I cannot undertake to say what Papers will be presented; but, undoubtedly, Papers giving what Her Majesty's Government may think a full view of the case will be in readiness, and will be presented at once.

Sir, I do not see the Home Secretary in his place; but, as I see the hon. Gentleman the Under Secretary of State for the Home Department, perhaps he will be able to answer my Question. It is, Whether he has observed in the public Press to-day that the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Westminster lost his watch at a Conservative meeting last night; and, whether the Home Secretary will do his best to induce the police to take measures to prevent such an occurrence taking place again?

I did not suppose the hon. Gentleman the Member for Northampton would have thought it necessary to bring any question affecting myself personally before the House. If I had had any complaint to make against the police, or any application to make to the Government, I should have made it myself. But I wish to say that the circumstance to which the hon. Gentleman alludes did not occur at the meeting, but outside the meeting, where the hon. Gentleman's friends objected to my entering the meeting.

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, If the Government have come to any decision as to the future employment of Mr. Clifford Lloyd?

I must appeal to the hon. Member to postpone this Question until Monday. I have only seen it this morning, and Lord Spencer is not in town.

, in whose name the following Notice of Motion stood on the Paper:—

"That, for the remainder of the Session, the Standing Order of the 27th November, 1882, relating to Notices on going into Committee of Supply on Monday and Thursday, be extended to Friday and Saturday,"

said: I wish to postpone my Motion until tomorrow, in order that we may acquaint ourselves more fully with the desire of the House upon the subject.

I wish to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he can say when the Diplomatic Vote will be taken; and, whether he will undertake that when it is taken it will be with Notice? It would be an immense convenience to a number of hon. Members if he could do so.

I am afraid that until I am able to make the communication to the House about the Conference, on which the course of Business will somewhat depend, it would be idle to give any undertaking about the date of taking the Diplomatic Vote.

I cannot see what connection there is between the Conference and the Diplomatic Vote.

The Conference may lead to a statement, and a statement to a debate; for a Notice of Motion might be given asking the Government for the redemption of the pledge they have already made, and that might render it necessary to interrupt the course of Business.

The Prime Minister will not take the Diplomatic Vote without Notice?

No, Sir.

I wish to ask the President of the Local Government Board, Whether his attention has been called to the horrible smells in the "Aye" Lobby of this House today, and to the danger that must accrue to the Party there from?

The matter has nothing whatever to do with me. I understood, however, that the First Commissioner of Works had appointed a Committee to inquire into the subject, and I have not yet seen the Report of that Committee.

Perhaps I may be allowed to say, as Chairman of that Committee, that the Committee sat on two occasions and took evidence; but were not able to trace the cause of the nuisance. They have, however, requested further assistance to be given them in the Recess in order to trace the origin of these smells.

I may say that, although I have not seen the Report of the Committee, I have already instructed the Local Government Board to place Inspectors at the service of the Committee.

In the absence of the hon. and learned Member for Stafford (Mr. M'Laren), I beg to ask the Lord Advocate, Whether he intends to proceed further this Session with the Burgh Police and Health (Scotland) Bill?

Having regard to what passed in the discussion on Tuesday night, we could not hope, in the short period of this Session which remains, to pass this Bill through both Houses of Parliament; and, therefore, we are reluctantly obliged to abandon the intention of proceeding further with it now. [Mr. WARTON: Hear, hear!]

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether it is true that the friendly tribes near Agig on the Red Sea have been massacred by Osman Digna's followers; and, whether Major Kitchener has gone to Dongola?

No, Sir; it is not true that the friendly tribes have been massacred. Major Kitchener has gone to Dongola in order to open communications with the Kababish Arabs. If the hon. Member will refer to "Egypt, No. 25, 1884," page 113, he will find Papers on the subject.

asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether he can inform the House what the answer was which was given to a Memorial or Letter forwarded by Mr. Rungiah Naider Garu in reference to the appointment of Messrs. Tarrant and Thornhill to offices in the Revenue Settlement Department, which offices the writer of the Memorial is said to contend are by the terms of the Royal Proclamation confined to Indian Natives; and, whether it is the case that the noble Lord, the former Secretary of State for India, desired that such infractions of the Proclamation should be pointed out to him?

On the 9th of June I informed the hon. Member for Cavan County (Mr. Biggar) that Mr. Garu's letter had been returned to him for submission through the Government of Madras, in accordance with fixed rules. The Secretary of State in Council has disallowed the appointments of Messrs. Tarrant and Thornhill, which were made by the Madras Government, subject to the sanction of the Secretary of State. Natives of India have no exclusive right to such appointments in the Revenue Settlement Department, nor is there any Royal Proclamation to that effect.