asked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether, in view of the statement by the Select Committee on Harbour Accommodation, page 12, paragraph 17, that—

"Your Committee fully concurs in the principles laid down by Sir Thomas Farrer for the selection of harbours which may be aided by means of loans at a low rate of interest, viz.:—

(a.) That refuge and shelter should be considered more important than mere facilities to trade;

(b.) That fishery harbours, especially when belonging to, or promoted on behalf of, poor fishermen, should be very favourably considered;"

"That a competent officer should visit the several localities and report upon suitable sites and probable cost,"

With respect to the recommendations of the Crofters' Commission, I must refer the hon. Member to the Home Secretary, who, I think, has already replied to a similar Question on the subject. With respect to the recommendations of the Select Committee on Harbour Accommodation, there appear to be two different subjects contemplated by the hon. Member's Question. The principles laid down in Sir Thomas Farrer's evidence applied only to loans; whereas the recommendation by the Select Committee of the appointment of a small Commission contemplated grants of public money, and not loans. The question of how best to assist harbour works by a judicious system of loans is under the careful consideration of the Government, and I hope soon to be in a position to announce their decision in the matter; but the Government are not disposed to make any alteration in the policy of successive Governments, under which they have hitherto declined to make grants of public money for harbour construction, except in cases of imperial and national necessity.

asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether, taking into consideration the serious results arising from the presence of "coopers" or floating grog shops with the North Sea trawling fleets, and the largo amount of inferior tobacco and spirits they are accustomed to barter or sell, he will give permission that the crews of the deep sea fishing fleets in the North Sea should be allowed, through the medium of the five vessels belonging to the "Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen Society," to enjoy the same privileges with regard to duty-free tobacco as Foreign-bound sailors, with the view of putting a stop to dishonest bartering of their employers' property, drunkenness, and the prevention of smuggling?

I have consulted the Board of Customs on the subject of the hon. Member's Question. I am afraid that he hardly appreciates the full extent to which his suggestion would lead us. Although he only mentions tobacco as to be made duty-free, his Question points to a similar privilege for spirits; and the result of the concession would be that through the privilege granted to this Society duty-free spirits and tobacco would be allowed to be purchased by all fishing fleets, first in the North Sea, and in the end everywhere. Having granted it to one we could not refuse it to others. I cannot consent to so serious an inroad on the Revenue, for winch I see no justification. The abuses in the North Sea trawling fleets must be cured, I think, in other ways.

asked the Vice President of the Committee of Council, Whether teachers holding the degree of any University in the United Kingdom are qualified to earn results on the teaching of all science subjects on the syllabus of the Department of Science and Art, South Kensington, without undergoing examination for the Department's certificate; and, whether this rule applies alike to all science teachers in England, Scotland, and Ireland?

My answer to the first Question is, Yes; and this rule applies alike to England, Scotland, and Ireland.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether his attention has been called to the case of Mrs. Sophia Howe, of Ballycastle, county Mayo; whether he is aware that her late husband, who had served as National School teacher for twenty-two years, had applied for his retiring gratuity, but had died a week or two before the warrant had been made out; and, whether, seeing that Mrs. Howe is left a destitute widow, with seven children, nothing can be done by the Government to secure her the advantages of which she has thus been accidentally deprived?

This is one of those cases in which the teacher delayed in sending in his claim until his recovery was almost hopeless; and it has been frequently pointed out that to grant gratuities in such cases would turn the pension scheme into one of life assurance, thus throwing on the fund burdens which it has not been calculated to bear, as well as to defeat one object of the Pension Act by encouraging teachers to hold on to their schools when no longer able to discharge their duties efficiently.

asked the Postmaster General, Whether it is the case that the additional pay promised to all Civil Service men in the Post Office employ, after five, ten, and fifteen years' service as letter-carriers, is being withheld in many cases on the alleged ground of there being no vacancy on the list; whether he is aware that this is regarded by the men as a breach of faith on the part of the Post Office; and, whether he can hold out hopes of their claims being met without delay?

The hon. Baronet clearly refers to good conduct stripes. These stripes are strictly limited in number, and no sort of promise has at any time been made that they would be conferred on the completion of a given period of service. What has been promised is this, and it is strictly adhered to—that after five, 10, or 15 years' service a letter carrier, provided his conduct has been good, shall be deemed eligible for one, two, or three good conduct stripes, and that as vacancies occur his claims to the distinction shall be considered with those of others.

Will the right hon. Gentleman let that be known?

Certainly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether, considering the uneasiness in the Highlands, and the fear of regrettable incidents, if he cannot bring in a Bill, he will state the general lines on which the Government propose to legislate?

in reply, said, that such a course as that contemplated by the hon. Member was not feasible. There was no Parliamentary method of making known the contents of a Bill before its introduction.

asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether the attention of the War Office has been drawn to complaints of the condition of the American canned meat and biscuits supplied to the Army in Egypt; whether it is true that hundreds of tons of the canned meat have been found to be putrid when opened, and hundredweights of biscuits in a state of decomposition; whether the orders sent to America for canned moat have lately been increased to a total of several millions of pounds; and, whether there are not firms in this Country who are prepared to make contracts for fresh preserved moat, to be packed in this Country, on terms equally favourable to those which the American contractors are prepared to take, due allowance being made for the difference in cost of transport; and, if so, why orders which would give employment to large numbers of working people in this Country are sent abroad?

No Report has been received showing any such extensive loss of preserved meats as that referred to. The loss of preserved meats is estimated at 1 per cent. Very large orders have been given in America. The War Office is not aware of any contractors in this country capable of competing successfully with the American contractors for this supply. On a recent occasion an attempt was made to encourage English competition; but it did not prove successful; in fact, it proved a complete failure. As regards biscuits, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply on the 27th instant to the hon. Member for Glasgow.

On what ground does the hon. Member assert that no English firms are able to compete for this supply with the American firms?

I thought I stated the grounds in the answer I gave. I said that we obtained a certain quantity of preserved meat from an English contractor; but, on inspection, it turned out bad, and we had to cancel the contract.

Has the War Office issued any tenders to the large manufacturers of this country?

I cannot reply to that particular Question; but I may say that every inquiry has been made, and we believe that no English contractor can compete with the American trade.

May I ask whether the Department are acquainted with the Messrs. Moir, who were large contractors for many years?

Yes, Sir; we are well acquainted with the Messrs. Moir.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland recognise the Arts degrees of the Royal University, Ireland, or of any other University in the United Kingdom as a certificate of competency to teach and earn results payments in Classics, French, and the several scientific subjects included in the Board's extra branch programme; and, whether it is a fact that inspectors are liable to be called upon to examine for results in several extra branches which are not included in the programme of examination for the office of inspector?

The answer to the first paragraph of this Question is yes; but for those subjects only in which the teacher passed creditably. The Inspectors are liable to be called on as stated; but they may, as in England, claim the services of a substitute for any branch in which they do not feel themselves to be competent to examine.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is true that the services of two magistrates, Mr. Gibson and Mr. Walpole, have, owing to their having obtained Government appointments which take them else-where, been lost to the Borris in Ossory Petty Sessions district; whether it is true that, during the past year, on some occasions no Sessions were held in Borris in Ossory for want of magistrates; whether the administration of justice in Borris in Ossory Petty Sessions is practically in the hands of two relatives; whether a Memorial, signed by the Roman Catholic Ordinary of the diocese of Ossory, the clergy of the deanery in which Borris Petty Sessions are held, and by the people of the district, recommending two resident Catholic gentlemen for the Commission of the Peace, was forwarded to the lieutenant of the county, and, on his failing to comply with its prayer, was sent direct to the Lord Chancellor; and, whether the Lord Chancellor has refused to appoint these two gentlemen to the Commission of the Peace for no other reason than the absence of a recommendation from the Lieutenant of the county?

There is a very fair attendance of magistrates on the Borris-in-Ossory Bench, Petty Sessions having only failed there on two out of 26 occasions in the past year, and the business is stated to be very light. It is not true that the administration of justice there is in the hands of two relatives. There are one Protestant and one Catholic Justice residing in close vicinity. It is true the Lord Chancellor has declined to overrule the decision of Lord De Vesci with regard to the gentlemen named in the Memorial referred to; but he satisfied himself of the reasonableness of that decision beforehand.

asked whether it was a fact that the Catholic Resident Magistrate referred to signed the Memorial in favour of giving the Commission of the Peace to two Catholics on the ground that he was not able to attend the Sessions at the place; and what had become of the promise of the late Chief Secretary that if eligible men were selected the fact that the Lord Lieutenant of the county did not recommend them would not bind the Lord Chancellor?

Neither does it.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether the following cases have been submitted to the Irish Local Government Board; that in the Poor Law election for the division of Drumfin (Sligo Union) six votes were tendered and received in the name of Mr. Charles O'Hara of Annamore, although Mr. O'Hara is at present away from home, and his voting papers were not forthcoming when called for by the police, and were not delivered to the police, as is required by law; that objection has been taken to claims to dual occupation votes in the Tyholland division of the Monaghan Union, such claims being made by persons whose rents have been lowered by the Sub-Commission below the Government valuation of their holdings, and who submit that appeals lodged by the landlord do not affect their right to have the judicial rents regarded as the actual rents unless and until the judgment of the Sub-Commission be reversed; and, what is the decision of the Local Government Board in those cases?

No decision has yet been arrived at with regard to the first case referred to in this Question, which is under consideration. As regards the second case, the Local Government Board are advised that if the order of the Land Court fixing the rent was made before the statement of claim to vote was lodged, the voter is entitled to the additional votes, although no actual payment of the reduced rent has been made; and also that an appeal against the order of the Court fixing the rent does not affect the right of the claimant to vote in respect of the beneficial interest referred to.

asked the Vice President of the Committee of Council, Whether it is the intention of the Government to rearrange the School Board Divisions of London, which were originally formed to correspond as nearly as possible with the Metropolitan Parliamentary Boroughs, so as to adapt them to the new Metropolitan representation under the Redistribution of Seats Bill?

By Section 87 of the Elementary Education Act, 1870, the members of the London School Board must be elected by the 10 divisions specified in the 5th Schedule, the boundaries of which are defined by an order of the Education Department. It would be impossible to re-arrange the School Board divisions to correspond with the new Parliamentary divisions except by a special Act of Parliament; and if Members of the School Board were elected in the same number, and for the same area, as Members of Parliament, the cumulative vote would be inapplicable. As a Committee has just been appointed to inquire into the working of the cumulative vote, I think it would be better to defer the consideration of any important changes until that Committee has reported.

asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether any portion (over or about £280,000) of the movable assets of the captured Princes of Kirwee has been retained by the Indian Government as not being legal booty, and has not been divided as prize money, and has not been entered in the Parliamentary Re-turn, No. 213, of Session 1876, as the Order of this House, dated 23rd July 1874, calling for a Return of the whole movable estate of the captured princes, and of all their assets retained by the civil power, expressly requires; whether any further legal proceedings are being initiated for the purpose of eliciting from the India Office, in compliance with the strict and repeated Orders of the Legislature, a full and true account of all the movable estate of the captured chiefs which has been retained by the local government, and has not been distributed as prize of war; and, will any supplementary Return, accounting for all movable assets of the Kirwee Princes retained by the local government, whether officially recognised as booty or not, be presented to Parliament to satisfy the Order of the House?

I can only repeat what I said in May last, when replying to a similar Question of the right hon. and gallant Member for Wigtown (Sir John Hay). I then said that—

"The Papers presented to Parliament in 1876, in compliance with the Order of the House of July 23, 1873, gave a complete Return of the amount of all movable property of enemies or insurgents in the territories of Oude or Kirwee, or of the proceeds thereof, which passed into the possession of the authorities in India since the outbreak of the War in 1857, distinguishing the funds which have been distributed among the troops, and the funds which have been retained, or otherwise disposed of, by the local government. The promissory notes, representing the sum referred to by the hon. and gallant Member, never at any time passed into the possession of Government. They were, therefore, not included in the Return. Where any such notes were captured, as at Lucknow, they are shown in the Return. As, therefore, the Return was prepared in strict accordance with the Orders of the House, there is no ground for supplementing it. I may add, full information concerning these promissory notes was submitted to the House in an earlier Return, No. 298, dated July 5,1869."—(3 Hansard, [287] 1300.)

asked the Postmaster General, Whether he received a memorial from the sorters of the Holyhead and Kingstown mail packet in December last relative to the delay in remunerating them for the Sunday work done by them; what steps have been taken to carry out the provisions of the late Postmaster General with regard to the remuneration of those employés; and, why the scale of pay for extra Sunday work given to the sorters on the London and Holyhead line is not to extend to the sorters who do the remainder of that journey to Ireland?

The decision of the late Postmaster General was, that the sorters employed on board the Irish packets should not be specially remunerated for Sunday work, it being his opinion that, owing to the high trip allowance they receive, their present remuneration is ample. Against this decision they have appealed, and their appeal is under consideration; but I shall certainly not concede special remuneration for Sunday work without making some reduction in the trip allowance.

asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether, on Sunday the l0th instant, Colonel Duncombe, commanding the 1st Regiment of Life Guards, ordered a parade of the Regiment, and, after the parade, marched the Catholic soldiers, with the rest, into the Protestant church attached to the barracks (Regent's Park), and kept them there until the conclusion of the service; whether the Catholic soldiers of this Regiment are obliged, by the dietary arrangement in force, to eat flesh moat on Fridays; and, whether steps will be taken to secure that Catholic soldiers in the British Army shall not be obliged to violate the practices of their creed, or to attend any religious services but those of the Catholic Church?

On the date referred to the whole body of the 1st Life Guards was marched to the Church of England service in the riding school. Colonel Duncombe has explained that this was entirely through inadvertence; and he has expressed his regret that he forgot that the Roman Catholics were, contrary to custom, still in the ranks. Meat rations are issued to all soldiers. I cannot add anything on this subject to an answer I made to the hon. Member on the 22nd of May, 1883. I said—

"I am informed that by universal custom among Roman Catholics soldiers and sailors are dispensed from all obligations to fast or to abstain from flesh meat; and that this applies even in Catholic countries."

asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether steps will be taken, without delay, to cause it to be publicly notified what classes of the Reserve it is intended to call to the colours, in order to prevent unnecessary abandonment of civil labour, and the consequent breaking up of the men's homes; and, whether he will forthwith address, to the employers of Reserve men who are called up for service, and of Militia men belonging to battalions which are embodied, a request that they will, in the public interest, endeavour to take such men back into their employ when the present national emergency is at an end.

The earliest practicable announcement will be made of the classes, or portions of classes, of the Army or Militia Reserve which it is intended to call out under the Proclamation. As Parliament was about to adjourn for a short time, and also as Her Majesty was about to be absent for a time from the country, it was considered desirable that the Messages to Parliament and the Proclamation should not be delayed; but the requirements of the Military Authorities, especially in India, have not yet been fully ascertained. There will be no delay which can be avoided in giving notice to the Reserve men concerned. I do not think that there would be any use in issuing such a Circular to the employers of Reserve men as appears to be suggested by the right hon. and gallant Gentleman; but I trust that they will, in a spirit of patriotism, make such arrangements as may be possible, in order to prevent men called up in discharge of their duty permanently losing their employment. Instructions will be issued to general officers and officers commanding regimental districts to take all possible measures in communication with employers of labour for promoting this object.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether, in case any men in the Reserve were also employed in the Metropolitan Police, he would consider whether they should not be reinstated in their proper places in the event of their not being required?

said, he would take the matter into consideration.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty, Whether his attention has been called to a telegram from the Portsmouth Correspondent of The Times, (March 27th) headed "England and Russia," and referring to the armament of the Mercury; and, whether he will endeavour to prevent Dockyard Officials from giving information to the Press as to the armament of ships being fitted for active service, especially when, as in this case, it appears to be defective?

There is no evidence that information was improperly given by a Dockyard official to The Times Correspondent at Portsmouth. The Mercury's armament is complete as originally planned for the duties which properly belong to an armed despatch boat. The armament consists of 64-pounders, which are powerful ship-guns.

asked the Surveyor General of Ordnance, If he will lay upon the Table of the House the report on Machine Guns and Rifles from which he quoted on Friday in the House?

in reply, said, he did not think there would be any real advantage in presenting the Report; but if the hon. Member wished to improve his knowledge, and move for a Return, no objection would be made.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Why the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland have not yet paid the teachers of National Schools the gratuities due to them for instructing paid monitors for the year ended 30th June 1884, though the monitors were examined over six months ago; and, why the few old teachers entitled to good service salary have not yet been paid the amounts due to them for 1884?

I am informed that with the exception of a few cases in which, from one sufficient cause or another, delay has been unavoidable, the monitorial gratuities to teachers for the year ended on June 30, 1884, wore all paid in due course, and that of the 333 cases of good service salary only a few are outstanding which involve investigation and special consideration. These few will not be paid until the investigations have been decided.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If the Irish Local Government Board have withdrawn, or resolved to withdraw, their veto against the resolution of the North Dublin Board of Guardians, appointing the Hibernian Bank their treasurer?

This matter appeared to me to be one in which the points at issue, which were not quite clear, would be more probably brought to a settlement by a personal conference than by a continuance of the correspondence. The Local Government Board will accordingly arrange for such conference through their Inspectors; and though there may be a little delay in consequence of a recent change of Inspectors in the Dublin district, I trust a final decision will be come to before long.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is intended to remove the present Land Commission, consisting of Messrs. Reeves, Rice, and O'Brien from the Queen's County; and, if so, whether he will make careful and personal inquiries respecting the influences which are working for the change?

I have ascertained that there will be a change of Sub-Commissions in Queen's County next Circuit, consequent on a redistribution of the work throughout the whole country. All changes of districts are made solely with a view to the public interests.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether in eleven out of the twenty-two district lunatic asylums in Ireland the number of cases under treatment exceeds the limits of accommodation; whether the state of things in this respect is getting more and more serious; and, whether the Government propose to take any prompt steps to deal with the matter?

There has not been time to ascertain the exact present condition of affairs in each lunatic asylum in Ireland; but I believe there is no doubt that in some asylums the number of patients is in excess of the nominal accommodation, although, taking the country as a whole, there is more accommodation than is actually required. The Lord Lieutenant gives immediate and full attention to any representations made to him on this subject. Several asylums have already been extended, and extensions are being or are about to be effected in others; but it is to be observed that a serious question of local taxation and consequent local opposition arises in nearly every case, which needs most careful consideration.

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the attention of Her Majesty's Government has been called to the disturbances which have recently been reported from Albania and Macedonia, and to the dangers threatening the peace of European Turkey in that quarter; and, whether the Foreign Office have received any, and what, intelligence bearing on the subject?

Reports have been received at the Foreign Office that a feeling of dissatisfaction exists among the Albanians with the local Government, and that disturbances had taken place at Prisrend, which compelled the authorities at Salonica to send for reinforcements. Communication with Prisrend was at one time entirely cut off; but news has lately been received from there that a Turkish officer had arrived with troops. The outbreak is said to have been localized, and the foreign Consuls and Christian inhabitants have suffered no violence.

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether he is aware that the entire Correspondence with reference to the Declarations of the 21st of December 1884, and the Negotiations respecting the modus vivendi with the Spanish Government have been published in Madrid, together with the Confidential Correspondence of 1883 with reference to the Protocol of that year, none of which have appeared in the Blue Books; and, if so, whether Her Majesty's Government will present those Papers to Parliament without delay?

Yes, Sir; the Correspondence referred to will be presented to Parliament at an early date.

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the Director General of Customs in Paris has issued a Circular withdrawing some of the rights and privileges which have been enjoyed by the agents or consignees of ships entering French ports; if so, whether Her Majesty's Government, in the interest of shipping, have taken any diplomatic action upon such a retrograde proceeding on the part of the French Government; and, whether any, and what, progress has been made with the long pending negotiations to obtain a withdrawal or satisfactory modification of the oppressive monopoly conferred by authority of the State upon a limited number of ship brokers in most of the French ports?

Lord Lyons has again lately pressed the French Government for an answer to the representations made on behalf of Her Majesty's Government on the subject of ship brokerage in France. His Excellency's attention will be called to the Circular referred to by the hon. Member, who will be informed of the reply received.

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If the Government have received any information from Kassala since he made his last statement with reference to that place?

I have no information from Kassala to add to that which I have already communicated to the House.

asked whether Her Majesty's Ministers had any intention of endeavouring to relieve the garrison of Kassala?

I have already stated that Kassala does not come within the sphere of our military operations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If the Government will follow the precedent in the case of the Compensation for Disturbance Bill of 1880, and introduce a Suspension of Evictions (Scotland) Bill of their own?

No, Sir; we have no such intention.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty, If the completion of H.M.S. Camperdown is to be indefinitely postponed; and, if this delay in proceeding to complete an armour-clad is in consequence of any imperfection in her design?

In the ensuing financial year the number of men on the Camperdown will be reduced, not on account of any imperfection in the design, but for the purpose of completing certain ships in a more advanced stage of progress. The amount of construction proposed for the Camperdown in the Navy Estimates for 1885–6 will be carried out.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty, If the 180 steam launches and pinnaces fitted with Whitehead torpedoes, and the 170 launches fitted with the spar torpedoes, are in addition to the boats of that character belonging to Her Majesty's Ships; how many of them are available for the defence of our Home mercantile ports, and are to be stationed there; and, how many Whitehead torpedoes have been actually supplied for the 180 steam launches?

All launches and pinnaces are adapted for tiring Whitehead torpedoes, and are fitted, or could be fitted, for the purpose in a short time. We have about 250 launches and pinnaces. Eighty-five are appropriated to sea-going ships, of which a certain number must always be in harbour. The remaining boats would be available for the defence of the ports. We have upwards of 170 cutters fitted for the spar torpedoes. The cutters appropriated to sea-going ships are about two-thirds of the total number. All the sea-going ships on foreign stations are supplied with their proper establishment of torpedoes. This includes the supply for their boats. I must decline to give any information as to the means which have been prepared for the defence of the Home ports.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether the local authorities of Maghera, county Londonderry, applied for the fifty extra constables drafted into the town on the 17th of March; whether any demonstration was announced in the town for that day; whether the relations of the different sects in the district are other than friendly; whether any demonstrations or processions have taken place in Maghera on the 17th of March for several years; and, whether the ratepayers will be obliged to pay any of the expense incurred in bringing extra police into the town without any necessity?

The extra police force was sent into Maghera on the 17th instant on the requisition of the local magistrates. There have been demonstrations in Maghera on the 17th March for several years; but they had not been attended with disturbance. Recently, however, the relations between the different sects have not been friendly, and two serious cases of a Party character have occurred; and the magistrates had reason to believe that the presence of an extra police force was necessary. A moiety of the cost will fall upon the county at large.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether the latest Governmental printed publication of the tenement valuation of Ireland, sold in Government offices, dates back more than twenty years, and is sold at about 3s. 6d. per volume; and, whether he will order a publication of the present tenement valuation, and at a price to bring it within the range of average taxpayers?

The printed publication of the tenement valuation of Ireland dates back more than 20 years, and is sold at the price stated per volume. The valuation in force for public and local taxation and other purposes is in manuscript, and is amended annually, the total valuation of the land, however, remaining practically unaltered. I am not satisfied of the necessity to republish this work, which could only be done at heavy cost to the public.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, with regard to the undertaking given by the late Chief Secretary on the 22nd July 1884, in Debate on the Estimate for the Local Government (Ireland) Board, Whether that Board will insist upon their auditor's surcharge of an item of £40 in the accounts of the Corporation of Dublin for 1883, being the amount of expense incurred by the Civic officials of Dublin in attending in state with the Lord Mayor at the Irish Industrial Exhibition at Cork, in obedience to an order of the Municipal Council; and, whether this surcharge was made by the auditor on the ground that the expense in question could not be deemed to have been incurred for the public benefit of the inhabitants of Dublin?

It is quite true that the auditor made this surcharge on the grounds stated; and the Local Government Board, who have recently taken advice on the question, have been informed that the reasons stated by the auditor for the disallowance are legal. In these circumstances, the Board had no other course open to them than to make an order confirming the decision of the auditor.

Might I ask if the right hon. Gentleman is aware that the Dublin Corporation expended a sum of money for providing a banner for the London Exhibition; and whether this sum was surcharged?

I am not aware.

Might I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is not in his power, as President of the Local Government Board, to abstain from enforcing surcharges which may be technically legal, but which entail a hardship on individuals?

was understood to say that the matter rested with the auditor.

asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether Her Majesty's Government propose that Parliament should separate without receiving any explanations on the subject of the great military preparations now being made both in this Country and throughout Her Majesty's Indian Empire?

Before the noble Lord answers this Question, I beg to give Notice to the noble Lord, as I have already given it privately to the Prime Minister, who is not now present, that it is my intention tomorrow, on the Motion for the Adjournment over the holidays, to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he can give the House any information as to the present state of the negotiations respecting the frontier of Afghanistan? It may be convenient, as I cannot put the Question on the Paper, that I should give Notice of it in this form.

In reply to the Question of my hon. Friend I have to say that it has been repeatedly stated recently in this House that, in the opinion of Her Majesty's Government, it is not desirable, in the interests of the Public Service, to give at present full explanations respecting the questions which are the subject of negotiations between Her Majesty's Government and the Russian Government. I do not know if that will meet the Question of the right hon. Baronet opposite, if I say that the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs will, in reply to the hon. Member for Lincolnshire (Mr. E. Stanhope), give such information as is possible respecting the present aspect of these negotiations. They are proceeding, and the latest intelligence from St. Petersburg is of such a nature as to strengthen our hopes of arriving at a satisfactory result. As to the military preparations, respecting which the hon. Member for Kirkcaldy (Sir George Campbell) inquires, I can say no more than that, as the House is aware, we are under certain engagements, on certain conditions, to the Ameer of Afghanistan; and, looking to the distance which separates our Military Forces from the regions to which those engagements relate, we are of opinion that it is desirable to make some preparations which would enable us, if the occasion should arise, to fulfil those engagements.

asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether he can state what force has been ordered to concentrate in the Pishin Valley; who is to command the army there assembled; and, whether any reinforcements are being sent to Sir Peter Lumsden at Herat?

After the reply which, the Secretary of State for War has just given to the hon. Member for Kirkcaldy, I hope that the hon. Member for Eye will not press for an answer to the first paragraph of his Question. In reply to the second paragraph I may remark that, as Sir Peter Lumsden's Mission is diplomatic and not military, the question of reinforcements does not arise.

asked Mr. Solicitor General for Ireland, Whether, having regard to the increased duties and the difficulties in performing them within the limited period allowed by law, any extension of time will be granted to the clerks of the peace and clerks of unions for carrying out the work cast upon them in reference to the Registration of Voters during the present year; if the necessary precepts will or can be issued in anticipation of the Registration Bill becoming law and thereby follow the course adopted at the passing of the Ballot Act; and, whether any steps will be taken to insure at an early date the performance of the duties and the service of the notices required by section nine of "The Representation of the People Act, 1884?"

If necessary an extension of time will be granted; but I hope that the duties will be promptly taken up by these officers, and that an extension of time will not be necessary. Inquiries will be made as to the course adopted when the Ballot Act was passed. Steps are being taken to call the attention of the officers to the necessity of issuing notices under the 9th section early in April.

Has the hon. and learned Gentleman seen that in England and Scotland they have raised the number of officers? Will the same thing be carried out in Ireland?

was understood to reply in the affirmative.

asked Mr. Attorney General, Whether the Laws of England are generally applied at Gibraltar, and whether the Charter of 1830 provides that the Courts shall administer the Law as nearly as may be according to the practice of Westminster Hall; whether it is under the provisions of the general Law, as thus defined, or under some special statute or ordinance, that Zebehr Pasha is kept as a prisoner at Gibraltar without being brought to trial; whether the Attorney General of Gibraltar or the Law Officers of the Crown in England have been consulted as to the lawfulness of the detention of Zebehr Pasha by Her Majesty's Government?

I may answer the first paragraph of my hon. and learned Friend's Question substantially in the affirmative; but the application of the law of England in Gibraltar is now regulated by the Order of Council dated February 2, 1884, which declares that, except in matters provided for by local legislation, the law of England, as it existed in England on December 31, 1883, should be enforced in Gibraltar so far as it might be applicable to the circumstances thereof. But by virtue of the legislative power vested in the Governor of Gibraltar a special Ordinance has been enacted authorizing the detention in custody of Zebehr at Gibraltar, and by virtue of this Ordinance he is now detained in a house provided for that purpose. I must ask my hon. and learned Friend to relieve me from answering the last paragraph of the Question. It is both very unusual and inexpedient to dissect the responsibility borne by the different Departments of the Government in respect to any particular course of action which has been pursued.

asked if the Attorney General had any objection to lay a copy of the Ordinance in question on the Table of the House?

said, he must refer the hon. and learned Member to some other Department for an answer to that Question.

gave Notice to the Government that he would ask the Question to-morrow.

asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether it is a fact that the Militia Reserve consists of an actual twenty-five per cent. of the nominal strength, and includes a large number of non-commissioned officers not on the permanent staff; whether it is also a fact that, when the Reserve men are taken away, each battalion loses so many of its best men as to render it practically ineffective for months afterwards, if embodied; and, whether he will reconsider the determination of calling on the Militia Reserves?

The Militia Reserve, when full, comprises in numbers 30 per cent of the establishment of gunners in Artillery corps, and 25 per cent of the establishment of sappers or privates in Engineer or Infantry corps. It includes in ranks a large number of volunteer sergeants. The withdrawal of this body from the Militia reduces for the time, and until their places can be filled by recruiting, the efficiency of the Militia. The Militia Reserve is maintained at a considerable cost for the express purpose of being withdrawn for Army service when required.

asked the President of the Local Government Board, If he would lay upon the Table of the House the Report of the Commissioner appointed to inquire locally into the boundaries of the Parliamentary divisions of county Down?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether it is a fact that there are only two Roman Catholic chaplains at present attached to General Graham's army in the Soudan?

Yes, Sir; it is the fact, as I stated in my reply on the 5th instant to the hon. Member for Oxford University.

Is it a fact that one of the Roman Catholic chaplains was very nearly being killed within the last few days; and does the noble Lord consider that one Catholic chaplain is sufficient for the necessities of thousands of soldiers?

said, the matter had been considered, and the number of Roman Catholic chaplains had been thought sufficient.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty, Whether the Board is now disposed favourably to consider the case of the seamen Endersby and Quinn, with the view of remitting the remainder of the sentence of penal servitude they are now undergoing for breach of discipline?

A sentence of five years' penal servitude was passed in each of these cases, and the term of each has already been reduced by the Admiralty to three years. A further reduction may be effected by good conduct on the part of the prisoners. The offences of which the prisoners were found guilty were very serious; and, in the opinion of the Board of Admiralty, no further remission of the term of imprisonment beyond that mentioned can be granted.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is the custom of the police at Rosscrea to post themselves outside the house where Nationalist meetings are held; whether, on the 15th of February, a posse of police remained outside the hall of the Catholic Club, Rosscrea, and took down the names of persons who entered in order to attend a meeting convened for the purpose of establishing a branch of the Irish National League, and if a similar proceeding on the part of the police occurred on last Sunday; and, whether he will issue instructions restraining the police from continuing these proceedings?

I find that two constables attended as stated outside the meeting of the 15th February, which had been previously announced by placard. They were there in the ordinary discharge of their duty, and I do not think it necessary to issue any instructions to restrain them from performing it.

Might I ask whether it is the ordinary discharge of a constable's duty to take down the names of everyone going into a legal meeting; and whether the police discharge that ordinary duty in the case of the meetings of Orange Lodges?

The instructions given to them are to watch any meeting.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, On what grounds the magistrates at Ballyfarnon, county Roscommon, dismissed the summons for assault brought by Owen Patrick and Thady Lang against Patrick Lynch, on Friday the 27th instant?

I have no information on the subject of this Question, which only appeared on the Paper to-day.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, If it is a fact that the Board of Works, in the year 1880, called the attention of the Special Belief Sessions held at Letter kenny, for the barony of Kilmacrennan, county Donegal, to the fact that certain loans having been made to landlords in the parishes of Tullaghobegley, Raymunsterdoney, and Clondahorkey, with the object of limiting the public works in these districts, where agricultural or other employment was by these loans provided; whether he will state the amount of employment given under said loans during the period of distress in said districts, specifying the locality and nature of the works on which employment was given; and, whether he has any objection to giving, for the small parish of Clondahorkey, particulars as to (1) the amount of loans approved, (2) of loans passed by the Board of Works, and (3) nature of work done from 1st January 1880 to the present time?

The hon. Member has not allowed me time to obtain full information on the subject to which his Question refers. I have ascertained the figures for the barony of Kilma- crennan, those for the separate parishes not being distinguishable. In that area 30 loans were sanctioned under the Belief of Distress Acts amounting to £27,310. The total amount advanced has been £21,038, and the certified expenditure £21,807. Of the latter, £16,083 is described as for drainage only, and the rest is mainly for drainage combined with road making, fencing, and planting.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Will steps be taken to ensure the construction of the proposed breakwater at Grey-stones on the monolithic principle so strongly approved by the Select Committee on Piers and Harbours; and, will the Treasury provide that the works shall be placed under the supervision of the local engineer who designed and carried out the Harbour works at Wick-low so successfully?

With regard to this Question, I would like to ask the hon. Gentleman whether he will consider the advisability of making an investigation into Wieklow Harbour, which has been built in the way suggested?

asked whether Wicklow Harbour had not already been inspected and highly approved of?

The Question of the hon. Member (Mr. Corbet) only appeared on the Paper to-day; but I take note of the hon. Member's two recommendations, and will transmit them to Ireland.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty, Whether his attention has been called to the following report, which has appeared in the newspapers, of a depredation by a Belgian trawler on a vessel belonging to Hartlepool, and at present fishing from Lowestoft:—

"The lugger H. L. 333, Walter Cook, master, put into harbour on Tuesday morning, having been deliberately trawled into by the Belgian trawler O. T. 116, by which he had sustained a loss of twenty-two nets, warps, and bowls. The outrage took place about thirty-six miles north-east of Lowestoft, on Monday night, and unless the owner recovers his nets, of which there is but little probability, his spring voyage will be at an end. His loss is estimated at £50, at least;"

No Report has been received of a Belgian trawler having been seen fouling the nets of the lugger H. L. 333. The Mermaid and Eagle cruisers have been employed constantly on the fishery ground since the 14th of March?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether the evidence on which detective Henry Williams (in the Poole perjury case) was convicted of wilful and corrupt perjury at the Winchester Assizes, and sentenced to seven years' penal servitude, was exclusively that of persons pecuniarily or criminally implicated by Williams's evidence; whether the perjury, as alleged to have been proved by such evidence, was anything more than a discrepancy between the statements of Williams and the prosecuting witnesses, as to the length of time spent in a public house by a police superintendent, and as to the quantity of drink the said superintendent consumed; whether, having examined the report of the case, he is able to state that for such a crime, even if conclusively proved, a heavier sentence than three months' imprisonment has ever before been passed; and, whether, having declined to interfere with the sentence, he is willing to lay upon the Table of the House the documents on which he based his decision?

in reply, said, he had carefully examined, in consultation with the Judge, the evidence in the case referred to. He found no ground for interfering with the verdict of the jury, and did not see his way to lay Papers on the Table.

asked the Secretary of State for War, If he would direct that soldiers of the Reserve, who hold situations in large towns, should be permitted to report themselves to some regiment or depot in those towns, and where it can be effected be allowed to go through drill and instruction at times which might make it possible for them to retain their present employments?

The men of the Army Reserve who may be called out will be required for service with their regiments. It will not, therefore, be practicable for them to retain other employment during the time of their Army service.

asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether, in view of the fact that Lord Wolseley's Camel Corps is composed of picked men from the various corps d'élite of the Army, and that no further active operations on the Nile are contemplated for some months, he will consider the advisability of allowing these men to return to their respective regiments without delay?

It is not possible to foresee when active operations may have to be resumed; and, as the Camel Corps are especially fitted for the rapid reinforcement of any threatened portion of the line now occupied, I do not think it would at present be advisable to withdraw them.

I should like to know whether it is contemplated to reinforce the Camel Corps, and to fill the vacancies caused by death and disease?

We expect very shortly to receive from Lord Wolseley a fuller statement than has yet been received what reinforcements for the whole Army under his command may be required. No doubt the Camel Corps will be included.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If the Collector General of Rates for the city of Dublin has directed that the names of occupiers of tenements rated under £4 per annum shall not be returned for the Poor Law franchise, and, further, that he has decided, in regard to weekly and monthly tenants, to rate not occupiers but landlords in all cases where valuation is under £8 per annum; if the Law which enabled this latter practice to be carried on has not been repealed (see 12 and 13 Vic. c. 91, s. 63); and, if care will be taken that, in any such proceedings, nothing will be done to endanger the rights of occupiers to the Parliamentary franchise?

I am informed that the Collector General of Rates, acting under the advice of eminent counsel, has given the direction referred to. I also understand that steps are being taken to test the legality of his action in a Court of Law. A provision has been inserted in the Registration of Voters Bill, now waiting for second reading, to secure that the right to the Parliamentary franchise shall not be endangered by any decision which the Courts may give.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary, If he has yet received an answer from the Inspector General of Constabulary with regard to the case of Sergeant Delany of New town barry?

No, Sir; I have not yet received an answer.

I will put the Question down for to-morrow.

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, If it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to introduce, after the Easter Recess, the Purchase of Land (Ireland) Bill?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this Question for him. The question of the purchase of laud by tenants is, in our opinion, of considerable importance, and we showed this by the introduction last year of a Bill on the subject, explained by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. But, as the Prime Minister has said repeatedly, it is impossible to make known to the House what further legislation it is intended to propose on this or any other matter until further progress has been made with the Seats Bill.

I wish to give Notice that after the Recess, and when the Seats Bill has made further progress, I shall repeat this Question, and, if necessary, ask the attention of the House to it as a matter of urgent public importance.

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, If he can now hold out any hope of a day being fixed for the commencement of the work of the Afghan Frontier Commission, or if it is to be understood that, in accordance with the request of the Russian Government, the negotiations for the settlement of the Frontier are to take place in London?

The hon. Member asks if I can hold out any hope of a day being fixed for the commencement of the work of the Afghan Commission. An answer to the last communication of Her Majesty's Government has been sent by the Russian Government. We are not yet aware, however, of its exact contents, but it is understood that it contemplates an early meeting of the Commission, and looks forward to such a meeting as likely to allay the excitement on both sides. Having regard to what we believe to be the conciliatory character of the reply, Her Majesty's Government would strongly deprecate at the present moment the use of any language of a nature to cause irritation, and thereby to endanger the peaceful solution of present difficulties. I must be understood by these observations as in no manner to intend to reflect on the hon. Member opposite or those who act with him, as they have throughout shown the most extreme consideration for the position of Her Majesty's Government in this matter.

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether Her Majesty's Government still adhere to their views, expressed on the 3rd March, that Pul-i-Khisti, Ak-Rabat, and Zulfagar, are Afghan Territory; and, whether the Russian Forces are still in occupation of these positions, and the Russian Government have refused to give orders for their evacuation?

I must again decline to enter into any discussion of these topics with, the hon. Member. The Russians still occupy the places referred to.

In consequence of that answer I wish to give Notice that, unless the statement promised with respect to this matter is satisfactory, I shall call attention to it on the Motion for Adjournment for the Holidays.

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether the operations of General Graham have fulfilled the necessity to which he referred on the 23rd ult., as to securing the proper and safe retirement of the British Army on the Nile; and, if so, whether Her Majesty's Government will consider whether it is desirable to advise the issue of a proclamation by the Khedive, similar to that of January 26th 1884, which was withheld by General Gordon, which announced the restoration of the Soudan to independence, the evacuation of the provinces by Egyptian employés and troops with all their belongings; their separation from the Soudan "on the broad principles of peace," and which finally called upon-—

"All persons in arms to lay them down, and to endeavour by peaceable means to form independent Governments on our frontiers, and to do their best for their own prosperity, so that our intercourse may continue, and commerce be facilitated and civilisation be extended?"

In our opinion the operations of General Graham have certainly not yet proceeded so far as to fulfil the necessity referred to in the first part of the Question. In these circumstances the hon. Member will probably himself be of opinion that any answer to the second part of the Question would be entirely premature.

gave Notice that he would ask, If the Government would lay on the Library Table any Correspondence with the French Government on the subject of rice being contraband of war, and whether it was a fact that the French Government had claimed to treat as contraband of war the food of the people, irrespective of the fact whether or not that food was immediately intended for the support of warlike forces; and whether any Papers would be laid on the Table on the subject?

I will reply to the right hon. Gentleman at once. Two answers have already been given to Questions of this kind—first by myself, in reply to the hon. Member for Bedford (Mr. Magniac), and next by the Prime Minister, in reply to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Bradford (Mr. W. E. Forster), and which practically cover this Question. I shall obtain a copy of the French Yellow Book and place it in the Library. Papers on the subject are being prepared.

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether the attention of Her Majesty's Government has been directed to the report of Western Pacific Commission of October 16th 1883, in which the following passages occur:—

"The present arrangements for the control of British subjects, and the administration of justice among the Islands of the Western Pacific are highly unsatisfactory;"

"Any considerable delay in placing upon a more satisfactory footing the control over British subjects in the Western Pacific will be perilous, and in all probability attended with calamitous results;"

"I have made the most exact inquiries, and have arrived at the conclusion that the laws which have been enacted, and which are specially stringent for vessels from Fiji, are simply evaded, and that the labour traffic in New Britain and New Ireland is, with few exceptions, clean slave trading, as bad as any that was ever carried on in Africa;"

"The labour traffic is nothing else but slave trading. In it the captains of vessels not only buy persons from the chiefs for firearms, and even breech-loaders with ammunition, but they entice persons on board who come alongside in their canoes to trade and then detain them, or even simply kidnap the crew of a canoe met with on the high seas;"

Yes; Her Majesty's Government are aware of the statements to which the hon. and learned Member refers. An Anglo-German Commission, consisting of Dr. Krauel, the German Consul General in Sydney, and Mr. Thurston, the Colonial Secretary of Fiji, both of whom are now in London, is about to consider this question, and to make recommendations for joint or identical action by Great Britain and Germany for the control of the labour traffic. Her Majesty's ships will give all practicable assistance to the High Commissioner in supervising the labour traffic and preventing abuses in it, but cannot be permanently stationed at any particular places. Until the Anglo-German Commission has reported, it will not be possible to decide how far and in what manner effect can be given to the recommendations of the Western Pacific Commission.

asked the noble Lord the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether it was intended to lay on the Table any Papers respecting the Turkish special mission to this country?

said, he could not answer that Question without Notice.

Then, Sir, in that case I will give Notice that I will take an early opportunity of asking the Prime Minister whether it is the case that the Ottoman Ambassador Extraordinary, in reply to certain questions addressed to him by Lord Granville, stated that it would be difficult seriously to entertain a proposal which involved an appeal to "the one anti-human specimen of humanity" to co-operate in retarding "the saintly mission of the Divine Figure from the North?"

asked, Whether the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs had any information respecting the reported resignation of the French Ministry?

Up to the time I left the Foreign Office no official information had been received. I understand that a telegram has appeared in the evening papers to the effect stated by the hon. Member.

I wish to ask the noble Lord the Member for Flint, with regard to a statement made on Thursday last, and his reply to the hon. Baronet the Member for South Warwickshire (Sir Eardley Wilmot), how it is that the noble Lord has not yet given Notice of the Select Committee on Irish Industries, and whether the Select Committee will be nominated before the Recess?

I have been unable to complete the selection, but may be able to complete it tonight, and to place the Notice on the Paper for to-morrow.

If that is so, the appointment will be made to-morrow?

The appointment may possibly be made to-morrow. I may not be able to complete the selection to-night.

asked the Secretary of State for War, On what day the Government proposed that the House should take into consideration the Message from the Crown in regard to the Militia and the Army Reserve, and whether the noble Lord had any further explanation to give of the very unusual course pursued by the Government, by which the consideration of that Message, which was put down for that evening, had been postponed for an indefinite time?

said, that before the noble Lord answered that Question, he wished to ask whether it was proposed to embody any more regiments of Militia?

In reply to the hon. Member for Mid Lincolnshire (Mr. Chaplin), I may say that I do not think the hon. Gentleman was in the House when I stated, in reply to a Question from the right hon. and gallant Member for North Lancashire (Colonel Stanley), the circumstances under which the Proclamation had been issued somewhat before we were fully aware of the exact requirements of the Military Authorities. I would refer him to the answer that I gave to the right hon. and gallant Member. So far as Her Majesty's Government are concerned, we think that we shall probably be in a position to make a full statement as to the measures that are intended to be taken under the Proclamation on the day of the re-assembling of the House, on Thursday week; but as probably a good many Members will not have returned by that time, it would perhaps be more convenient to put down the further consideration of Her Majesty's Message until this day fortnight. The hon. Member for the Tower Hamlets (Mr. Ritchie) has asked whether it is intended to embody any more regiments of Militia. I think it would be more convenient to defer any answer to that Question until the general statement is made of the measures intended to be taken under the Proclamation.

who had the following Notice on the Paper:—

"To call attention to the increased expenditure on Heligoland, and to the fact that that island is of no mercantile or strategical value to Great Britain; and to move, That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty praying Her Majesty to endeavour to induce the German Government to take charge of the island,"

said, he had listened to the speech of the hon. and learned Member (Mr. Gorst) with some surprise, for there was a most extraordinary omission in that speech. The hon. and learned Member had spoken of the ardent desire of the Gorman people to have possession of Heligoland; but he had quite forgotten to refer to the feelings of the Heligolanders upon this point. It was certainly a strange proposal to hand over this Island to the Germans without ascertaining the views and wishes of the Islanders. If the hon. and learned Member had inquired into this point, he (Sir Henry Holland) was afraid the omission to state the result of his inquiry must have been intentional, for he was satisfied that there was no desire on the part of the people of Heligoland for the proposed annexation. They had prospered and thrived under English rule, and he was certain that they did not desire to come under German rule and German law, including conscription for military service. He was not prepared to sacrifice these people for the purpose of pleasing and conciliating the German people, however desirable it might be to do so. The hon. and learned Member had stated that from a strategical point of view Heligoland was no use to this country. He (Sir Henry Holland) was disposed to contradict this opinion, oven upon the hon. Member's own statement, as to the position of Heligoland; but he (Sir Henry Holland) had the honour of having served on a Royal Commission on Colonial Defences and the Protection of Trade; and although their proceedings and Report were strictly confidential, yet it would be no breach of that confidence to say that, at all events, some persons of experience entertained contrary views to that of the hon. and learned Member. In truth, the very statement of the hon. and learned Member that Germany ardently desired the possession of this Island, though he said this desire was only sentimental, might not unnaturally lead many to question whether there was not some other and deeper reason for that desire. Might it not be based on strategical reasons'? Might it not be that they looked upon the possession of this Island as more important than the hon. and learned Member would lead this House to believe? He (Sir Henry Holland) thought that Her Majesty would have no difficulty in "inducing the German Government to take charge of the Island;" but he protested against this endeavour being made against the wishes of the inhabitants, and from the knowledge he had obtained when in the Colonial Office, and from Reports of Governors, he was satisfied that the Heligolanders would be averse to any such change. What were we to gain by such a change? The goodwill of the German people, and relief from a very small subsidy. The hon. and learned Member had admitted that the subsidy was very small, and this of itself was a proof of the prosperity of the Island under our rule. Were we to throw over the Heligolanders for such a gain? As to the gradual deterioration of the Island from the sea, he believed that whatever it had been in the last century it was less now than it had been. Upon the whole, then, he hoped the House would not assent to the proposed scheme, which appeared to him most unwise and uncalled for.

said, he could not agree entirely with either of the speakers. The feeling of a large majority in Heligoland was in favour of being joined to Germany or Denmark. It was not easy, however, to ascertain Heligoland feeling, beeause the language they spoke was Frisian. Scarcely 20 people on the Island understood English. He had not had the advantage of the hon. and learned Member in reading up books on the subject. They had been told that there were 60 cows on the Island. He believed there was not one. Then they were told something about horses. There were no horses.

said, he did not say that.

said, there might have been cows on the Island at some period or other.

admitted that; but he disputed the hon. Member's figures as to the production of barley, and also the size of the Island. At present it was about one mile long and half-a-mile broad, and it was gradually getting less; therefore, there was something in the suggestion that if the Government acted at all they must act speedily. The Island was not, as stated, at the mouth of the Elbe. Again, if they were to give it to anyone they should give it to Denmark and not to Germany, as it originally belonged to Schleswig. Still, if in presenting' it to Germany the Germans would give up any claim which they asserted to the Northern part of New Guinea, then the good relations between the two countries might be preserved and strengthened without any loss or disadvantage to this country.

said, that before the Select Committee on Harbours, which sat and reported recently, evidence was given of the great importance of the Island of Heligoland to the British fishermen who went to the Dogger Bank and the German Ocean. If a proper graving dock were provided on the Island for the repair of the fishing fleet it would be a great advantage. Considering the importance of the Island to our fishermen, he thought it would be most unwise to surrender the Island for no other reason than to curry favour with the German nation.

said, the principle enunciated by the hon. and learned Member for Chatham (Mr. Gorst) was capable of very large, if not indefinite, extension, and should not be adopted without very mature consideration. That principle seemed to be simply that if other people very much desired a piece of territory which we possessed, we should give it up to them. In the present instance, the Island which was supposed to be the object of desire to the German people might not be of any great importance to us. But in another case, or at some other time, a foreign nation might desire something which it would be very inconvenient to part with He did not, therefore, think that we could accept the supposed wish of the German people for the acquisition of Heligoland as a reason for surrendering the Island to them. It must not be forgotten that our possession of this Island enabled us to import cargoes into Germany, during the wars of the Great Napoleon, much to the benefit of the German people; nor was it altogether impossible that it might enable us again to render the same assistance to Germany which it enabled us to render to her in past times. He did not think that any case had been made out for giving up the Island, and he thought we might as well consult our own feelings by keeping it as consult the feelings of the Germans by giving it up to them.

wished to boar testimony to the importance of Heligoland to the fishing interest of the East Coast. The fishermen of Grimsby would be very much astonished to learn of the proposal to put Heligoland in other than British hands. He would advocate the construction of a small harbour on the Island, which would be of the greatest use to the fishermen who went to the Dogger Bank to pursue their calling, and he hoped that, in the interests of fishermen in general, the House would reject the Motion.

said, he thought that it would be much better to leave this Island alone than to surrender it to any Foreign Power, more particularly as there did not appear to be any desire on the part of the inhabitants to be transferred to another nation.

said, that when the hon. and learned Member for Chatham (Mr. Gorst) had mentioned that this Island was formerly part of the Duchy of Schleswig, he was afraid that he was about to re-open the Schleswig-Holstein Question. The considerations raised in the Motion before the House were very numerous, and involved principles very dangerous in their application to the scattered Dependencies of the British Crown. He was inclined to think that some of the doctrines applicable to this case were capable of very dangerous extension and ought not to be lightly adopted. If they were to talk about giving up places because they were not ancient Possessions of the British Crown, they would embark upon a discussion of what were the ancient Possessions of the British Crown. Again, he could not conceive the case for giving up the modern Possessions of the Crown any stronger than that for giving up its ancient Possessions. On the other hand, the probability was that the arguments in favour of surrendering the ancient Possessions of the Crown were stronger than those in favour of surrendering modern acquisitions, and for this reason—that in all probability in the case of modern Possessions some part of the reason for the annexation still existed, while in the case of ancient Possessions the change of circumstances might have rendered the reason for their acquisition non-existent, and they might have become of no value. If the argument of contiguity to another country were applied, it would be necessary to consider it with reference to other Possessions of the British Crown—for instance, in the case of the Channel Islands. The Channel Islands were much nearer to France than Heligoland was to Germany. It was true that, from time to time, some learned German Professor wrote an article with the view of showing that Heligoland ought to belong to Germany; but he was not inclined to think that the same feeling existed for the acquisition of Heligoland by Germany as existed with regard to other parts of the Duchy of Schleswig-Holstein. With regard to the inhabitants, there was no evidence before the House of any wish on their part to be surrendered to Germany. Some years ago, he presented a Petition to the House from the inhabitants of Heligoland regarding certain grievances under which they laboured; but, speaking from memory, he was almost certain there was no reference in that Petition to any desire to be transferred to Germany. The Petition expressed the desire of the inhabitants for certain extensions of the form of government in a popular direction; it sought a restoration of certain privileges, and contained a strong expression of opinion on the part of the inhabitants against rabbits being allowed to undermine the Island. The surrender of this Island might raise very important questions as to whether Denmark was not more entitled to Heligoland than Germany. These people were not Germans. They were of Teutonic race only in the sense that all the inhabitants of Germany were Teutonic. They were of Frisian origin, and spoke a dialect of a Frisian character. Then there was another point, which was the importance of the Island in connection with the great industry of the North Sea Fisheries. He hardly thought that the importance of the question was properly appreciated in the House, but those at the Foreign Office were very sensible of it. It would be a serious thing, without very careful consideration, to interfere with the very extensive fishing industry of the East Coast of England. Besides, it would be impossible to hand over the Island to another Power except with the consent of Parliament. Unless at the termination of a war, when new arrangements might have to be made, the Possessions of the Crown could not be alienated by the act of the Executive. He would ask the House to consider what would happen if he or his hon. Friend the Under Secretary for the Colonies were to bring in a Bill for handing over Heligoland to Denmark or Germany. The Government would be denounced, they would be told that they were cowards, and that it would be a crowning of the edifice of their disgrace. He did not think that such a Bill would receive the support of the Party to which the hon. and learned Member for Chatham belonged. For these reasons, he thought the House would agree with him that we should do better to act on the old maxim, quieta non movere, and not adopt the proposal.

said, he was much astonished when he saw the Notice of Motion of his hon. and learned Friend, which appeared rather as a trap for Her Majesty's Government, and he congratulated them that they had escaped the snare. He was also very glad that the proposal had practically received no support in the House. Even if his hon. and learned Friend had proved his case, he should be sorry that the House should support any Motion for the surrender of one of Her Majesty's Possessions; and if the case had not been proved, as he thought it had not, it would be a bad thing if there were to be any doubtful voices in the matter. His hon. and learned Friend appeared to found his case on two points. In the first place, he said there was a very strong desire on the part of the German people to possess the Island. He had himself never been able to discover any trace of that desire. He admitted that there had been certain writings and speeches from Germans showing that Heligoland ought to belong to the German people; but he did not think that the German people attached any such importance to the matter as his hon. and learned Friend seemed to think. Then as to the other point, that the Island was of no use to us, it had been shown by the noble Lord and others who had taken part in the debate, that Heligoland was of great importance to our fisheries in the North Sea. His hon. Friend the Member for Midhurst (Sir Henry Holland) had been a Member of a very important Commission appointed to inquire into the defences of the country, and though his hon. Friend could not from the nature of the subject speak freely about it, yet he had said enough to show how valuable in certain circumstances the possession of Heligoland might be. As to the feelings of the people of Heligoland, when he was at the Colonial Office, so far from there being any desire on their part to sever themselves from the British Empire, they were exceedingly well pleased to be connected with England rather than with Germany. He did not know, considering the peculiar nature of the Island, and how rapidly it was diminishing, that it would be possible to do anything for it of the kind suggested by the hon. Member for Hythe (Sir Edward Watkin), without incurring more expense than would be repaid by any results that could be obtained; but he thought the Colonial Office might turn their attention to the subject, and perhaps, with the assistance of the Home Secretary, they might succeed in devising some Ground Game Act for Heligoland, which would at least have the effect of remedying the principal grievances felt by the inhabitants.