asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been called to a series of decisions reported in The Club and Institute Journal of June 12th to have been recently given by the Rev. Henry Mills, the Chairman of the Board of Magistrates for the Kineton Petty Sessional Division of Warwickshire; whether it is true, as therein reported, that Mr. Mills had refused, on the 26th of May, to exercise his power under the Licensing Act of 1842 to grant an interim authority to the widow of a licensed victualler at Northend to carry on the business of her late husband until the transfer of the licence could be legally effected; and, whether he will communicate with Mr. Mills as to the conduct of the business of the Sessions, and the language which he is reported to have used on the Bench?

, in reply, said, the Secretary of State had no jurisdiction in the case of a magistrate acting as a Licensing Authority. That was altogether different from a case in which sentences were passed. It was, therefore, not a matter in which the Secretary of State could interfere.

asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether it is intended, in connection with the proposed fortifications, to destroy Calshot Castle, at the entrance of Southampton Water; and, if so, whether it would be possible to modify the plans, so that it might be spared?

There is no intention whatever of destroying Calshot Castle. Possibly the defence of Southampton Water may involve the erection of a new building; but, if so, care will be taken to make them harmonize with the ancient edifice.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether the Mail steamer from Oban to the Outer Hebrides calls regularly at Lochmaddy; and, if not, what is the cause of the delay in fulfilling the promise on this subject made three months ago by the Secretary for Scotland?

The contract for the mail service by steamer between Oban and the Outer Hebrides does not at present extend beyond Lochboisdale; and, therefore, the steamer does not call regularly at Lochmaddy. Tenders for an extension of the steamer service will, however, at once be invited, with a view, if possible, to such a call being made. The Post Office knows nothing of a promise made by the Secretary for Scotland in the matter; but I am making inquiry on the subject.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether an answer can now be given to the Memorial on behalf of the Parochial Boards of Skye, praying for interim relief by way of advance to these Boards?

An answer was sent to the Parochial Boards of Skye to-day, expressing the regret of the Treasury at their inability to accede to the Memorial.

asked the honourable Member for North West Staffordshire, Whether he is aware that, in consequence of the Guildford coach being lettered, it is not allowed to pass through Richmond Park, whereas cabs and hackney carriages are so permitted; and, whether he will use his influence to procure a remission of the prohibition referred to?

The Guildford coach is not permitted to go through Richmond Park, not on account of its being lettered, but because, by the published Rules for the Park, under the Parks Regulation Act, 1872, stage coaches as well as omnibuses and hearses are prohibited from entering. No such prohibition, however, extends to cabs and hackney carriages. I shall be happy to bring the matter under the notice of the First Commissioner, with a view to considering whether any relaxation would be practicable.

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether Her Majesty's Government have received that "further communication" (in reference to greater facilities for trade between the United States and the British West Indies) "from Washington, in reply to Lord Granville's Despatch to Sir L. West of February 12 1885," which Her Majesty's Government "were expecting" on March 11th; and, if so, whether he can inform the House as to the tenour of this communication, or give any further information as to the prospect of any progress being made in these negotiations for securing greater facilities of commercial intercourse between the British West Indies and the United States?

The answer of the United States Government, which has been received, is to the effect that the treatment of the question of the improvement of commercial relations between the United States and neighbouring States must be dealt with as a whole, and that partial and local attempts in that direction must therefore be held in abeyance, until their fitness as parts of a comprehensive adjustment can be considered, and that the United States Government were, therefore, unable to offer the explicit views which Her Majesty's Government requested, or to indicate the particular measures which might prove applicable to British Colonies. If the hon. Member desires to see the Correspondence on the subject, there will be no objection to laying it upon the Table; but it does not add much to the information already possessed by the House.

asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether he can state when the further Papers relating to Zululand (which were promised to be issued shortly after the Whitsuntide holidays) are to be presented, and whether they will be printed and circulated during the present Session; and, whether he can give any further information as to the proposed settlement of Zulu affairs?

My hon. Friend is not quite accurate when he states that I promised that these Papers should be issued shortly after the Whitsuntide holidays. All I did was to express a hope that they might then be produced. The negotiations between Sir Arthur Havelock, the Boers, and the Zulu Chiefs relating to Zululand are still pending, and are likely to be somewhat protracted. Under those circumstances, it would be premature, and might be detrimental to the public service, to give to my hon. Friend the information he asks for. For the same reason I cannot hold out to him any hope that the further Papers in question can be printed and circulated before the impending Dissolution.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether a Report has been received at the Home Office of the inquiry held last year by Mr. Cubitt Nichols, under the Artizans' Dwellings Act, with reference to the Brooke Market Site in Holborn; and, whether the Report will be published?

said, the Report had been received, and the hon. and gallant Gentleman could see it at the Home Office. It was not usual to publish these Reports.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, What action the Lord Chancellor of Ireland has decided on taking with reference to the conduct of Mr. Porter, J. P.?

I believe the Lord Chancellor has decided to suspend Mr. Porter from acting as a magistrate for a period of 12 months.

asked the Lord Advocate, Whether his attention has been called to a report in The Inverness Courier of the 15th instant, in which it is stated that the Chairman of the Dingwall School Board had, on his own responsibility, changed the day of meeting of the Board from the 7th to the 11th instant, although the former date had been unanimously agreed to at the previous meeting of the Board on the 15th May; whether the Chairman had a legal right to do so; and, whether the Clerk to the Board had a right to refuse to attend the meeting that had been unanimously agreed to be held on the 7th instant?

, in reply, said, that the rules for summoning meetings of school boards were governed by the standing orders of the board, and these were not subject to the review of the Department, and any dispute arising in regard to them could only be settled by a Court of Law. The same rule applied to the conduct of the Clerk of the Board.

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, What arrangements Her Majesty's Government have made with the Governments of the United States and the Dominion of Canada for the settlement of the recent fishery disputes?

Negotiations on the subject are now in progress, and are being conducted in a friendly spirit; but they have not yet reached such a stage as would enable Her Majesty's Government to make any definite statement on the matter.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty, The nature and object of the manœuvres in which the Reserve and Channel Squadrons are to be engaged during the coming autumnal cruising, and where the manœuvres are to be conducted; and, how many men of the Coast Guard and Naval Reserves are to be embodied; together with the number and description of torpedo craft that are to accompany the squadrons?

The Reserve Squadron which has assembled at Portland will proceed to Berehaven to carry out torpedo mining exercises, afterwards sailing for the Coast of Spain and returning to England about the end of July. The Channel Squadron will, during the present month, be engaged in the neighbourhood of Portland on exercises of the usual character, especially in connection with a flotilla of torpedo boats. At the beginning of next month the Squadron will proceed to Queenstown and Berehaven to carry out torpedo mining operations, and afterwards on a cruise terminating at Milford Haven about the middle of August. It is contemplated to employ the Squadron for a few days in connection with the Army in operations illustrative of the attack and defence of harbours. The number of Coastguardsmen embodied for the cruise is 1,647, and there are eight officers of the Naval Reserve. The Admiralty have not yet decided on the composition of the torpedo flotilla to accompany the Squadron.

asked, whether the Admiralty would consider the desirability of relying entirely upon the resources of the Fleet for the mining operations, without preconcerted assistance from the Dockyards?

, in reply, said, they would be very glad to give every consideration to that, and he had no doubt that that was the intention.

asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether Her Majesty's Government have arrived at any practical decision with regard to the establishment of emigration bureaux for the purpose of promoting, as promised early in the Session, a systematic system of State-directed emigration?

My hon. Friend is wrong in supposing that Her Majesty's Government have ever promised to promote a systematic scheme of State-directed emigration. What they did promise was, to establish one central office in London for the purpose of affording trustworthy information to persons desirous of emigrating to the Colonies. That promise they are, as I stated a week ago in answer to my noble Friend the Member for the Stratford-on-Avon Division of Warwickshire (Lord William Compton), now engaged in carrying out. Premises have been secured for an office in a central position, of which possession will be given from the 24th instant. The rooms are being fitted up, and it is hoped that in a very short time the active work of the office will be begun.

asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether the 43-ton gun which failed on board H.M.S. Collingwood, was originally intended to bear a service charge of 400 lbs. of gunpowder; whether its service charge was afterwards reduced to 295 lbs.; whether it failed under a charge of 222 lbs.; and, whether he will refer the following questions to the Committee appointed to inquire into its failure, and report the result to the House:—What was, under the conditions of failure, the calculated bursting strain in tons per square inch of this gun; what was, similarly, the strain with the charge employed; what would have been the strain with a charge of 400 lbs.; what was the principle of increasing twist applied in the rifling of this gun; is that principle generally employed in guns now constructed for Her Majesty's Service; was that principle employed in the guns that burst on the Thunderer, and on the Active, as well as on the Collingwood; is it not possible that the shot may have jammed in the rifling in all these cases, and thus have caused the failures; and, would it not be better to abandon the principle of increasing twist?

The gun referred to was not originally intended to bear a charge of 400 lbs. of gunpowder. Its service charge was determined on the introduction of cocoa powder to be 295 lbs., and it failed under a charge of 231¾ lbs.; having previously, as already stated in the House, been fired nine times with charges varying from 275 lbs. to 340 lbs. The remaining points in the hon. Member's Question are among those referred to the Special Committee which will report on the gun.

asked whether the Report would be published?

That I cannot say till I have seen it.

asked, whether it was true that Colonel Maitland, in reading a paper on the design of this gun, stated that it was designed for a charge of 400 lbs.?

I am not aware of that.

asked the Secretary of State for War, Is it a fact that the Officers called Quartermasters in the Commissariat and Ordnance Departments perform precisely similar duties to the other Officers in these Departments, but that they are ineligible for promotion to higher rank; and, are Quartermasters appointed to different duties after forty years of age; and, if not, is there any other class of Officers in Her Majesty's Service, who, while serving and performing similar duties to their brother Officers, are debarred from promotion for the last fifteen years of their service?

The hon. Member's Question is of an argumentative character, and will hardly admit of a reply in the ordinary compass allotted to an answer. I may, however, say that there is a difference in the responsibility thrown upon these quartermasters and on other departmental officers. The cases of these quartermasters and of other departmental officers do not admit of comparison. The former are usually appointed when no longer young, and the rank and pay given them are in great measure regarded as rewards for past service. Their age and other circumstances would, in many cases, unfit them for further advancement to posts for which younger officers are required.

asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether there has been received at the Colonial Office a petition or memorial from Mauritius complaining of the administration of Sir J. Pope Hennessy, the Governor, together with an address relating thereto, presented to the Governor, and signed by 6,500 persons; and, whether those documents, with any others relating to the same subject, will be laid before Parliament?

The Colonial Office has received a Petition or Memorial, such as that referred to by my hon. Friend; and if he will move for these documents, and any others relating to the same subject, I will consider whether they can be laid before Parliament.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, with reference to his statement that the case of the Civil Service Writers was under the consideration of the Treasury, Whether any decision has yet been arrived at with regard to it; and when it is likely to be settled?

The question of the Civil Service Writers has been referred to a Departmental Committee, who have under their consideration all the schemes which have been suggested with respect to this rather complicated question. I can assure the hon. Member that no time is being lost by that Committee in bringing the matter to a settlement.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether the Minutes in respect to the Lower Division Clerks and the Civil Service Writers will be issued before the Dissolution?

As regards the Civil Service writers, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I have just given to the hon. Member for East Donegal. The consideration of the case of the Lower Division clerks is more advanced, and I hope to lay proposals on the subject before the Chancellor of the Exchequer for his approval very shortly. When the scheme has received his sanction it will be embodied in a Minute; but there is no possibility of that being done before the Dissolution.

asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether it is true that 150 deaths or thereabouts have recently taken place amongst the troops at Assouan, and several hundreds invalided; and, whether it is absolutely necessary that the troops should remain there during the present hot season?

There has, I regret to say, been considerable mortality and sickness among the troops at Assouan and in the neighbourhood. I cannot, however, be certain that the figure quoted is correct. Sir Frederick Stephenson has been requested to remove to healthier positions as much of the force as can possibly be spared from Assouan; but the actual proportion which must be left there is a question entirely for the decision of that officer. Steps have already been taken to send all the young and sickly soldiers to Cyprus, where I hope their strength will be soon restored.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is the case that the perpetrators of the outrage on the Roman Catholic Bishop's residence at Sligo have been arrested, and confessed their guilt; if it is true that all these three men are Roman Catholics, and that no Protestant had any hand in the outrage; whether the same men afterwards took part in the riots and incited the mob to acts of violence; and, if he will communicate to the House the confession made by all or any of the persons arrested?

Two men, both of whom are Catholics, and one of whom is alleged to have been the ringleader in the riots at Sligo, have been arrested, and both state that they are guilty of having caused the injury to the wall of the Catholic Cathedral and the Bishop's Palace; and I understand, from a telegram which I have received to-day, that a third person has turned approver. Beyond that I have no information. As prosecutions are pending, I must refrain from expressing any opinion upon the case.

said, he wished to ask the right hon. Gentleman, Whether he is aware, with reference to this affair, that the Catholic clergy of Sligo have been exerting themselves, both in the streets on Saturday night and in their places of worship on Sunday, for the prevention of the continuance of the disorder; whether he is aware that a Catholic priest has met a large crowd of people outside the town of Sligo, and induced them to go back, and that cordial relations exist between the Catholic clergy of Sligo and their Protestant brethren?

, in reply, said, the Police Reports confirmed what his hon. Friend had stated as to the attitude of the Catholic clergy, and the cordial relations which existed between them and their Protestant brethren.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty, Whether arrangements can be made for the coastguard men now embarked for their summer cruise to return to their respective districts, for the purpose of recording their votes in time for the forthcoming Election, by shortening the duration of the cruise, or otherwise?

I regret that it will not be practicable to curtail the cruise of the Reserve Squadron in order that the Coastguardsmen shall be back for the General Election.

asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether his attention has been called to allegations which from time to time have been specifically brought under the notice of the Department, with regard to the discharge of certain workmen from their employment in the Laboratory at Woolwich, presumably in consequence of their participation in the electioneering proceedings of last year, or of their connection with a Labour Protection League established among the workmen at the Royal Arsenal; whether among the workmen so dismissed are several who have been conspicuously active as Liberal workers, who have been as long as 11, 16, and 18 years in the Government employ, while, contrary to usage, others are retained who have been taken on very recently; and, whether he will undertake that an impartial and searching investigation shall be made into the truth of the complaints, and that Government employés may be enabled to exercise their political franchises and to take part in the forthcoming Election free from the apprehension of their being prejudiced thereby?

Representations of the kind referred to have been from time to time made to the Surveyor General of the Ordnance and myself, and the subject is at the present moment engaging our serious attention. The authorities responsible for the discharge of the workmen warmly rupudiated the charge of having been biased by any considerations of the kind alleged, and stated that the men in question had not been discharged because they belonged to any Labour League, nor because of their political opinions; and the Superintendent of the Royal Laboratory has asked for an opportunity of putting me in possession of all the facts of the case. I propose to inquire into the subject at the first available opportunity; but, in the meantime, I must say that, notwithstanding what I hear is a prevalent local opinion to the contrary, I cannot believe that any workman has been prejudiced by his political opinions, or is less free to act independently in the interests of one political Party than of another. Should any instance occurring during the forthcoming contest be brought under my notice of anything said or done on the part of persons in authority at Woolwich or elsewhere, prejudicing workmen in the exercise of their political rights, I shall have to give the most serious consideration to cases of any such offence against the general spirit of the Public Service.

May I ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether any further communications have passed between this country and the French Government, respecting the hoisting of the French flag at the New Hebrides?

A telegram has been received to-day from Lord Lyons, stating that he saw M. De Freycinet this morning, who informed him that no intelligence had been received by the Government of the Republic of the hoisting of the French flag in the New Hebrides; but that the French Government had, nevertheless, yesterday telegraphed to the Governor of New Caledonia instructions that if the hoisting of the flag had taken place it should at once be discontinued. No intelligence confirming the other reports in the newspapers had been received by the French Government. M. De Freycinet promised to send details regarding the murders in the New Hebrides which had occasioned the expedition.

On the same subject I would ask, If the hon. Gentleman can now state who is the Acting Consul at New Caledonia who made the report; and, whether he will also say whether he still considers the matter one of great gravity, notwithstanding the positive and explicit assurances of the French Government?

Mr. Leopold Layard is Acting British Consul in New Caledonia, in the absence on leave of his father, Mr. Edgar Layard, Her Majesty's Consul. Mr. Leopold Layard has already had experience in acting for his father, and is unpaid Vice Consul. He is not prohibited from trading, although there is reason to believe that he does not do so.

asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, If he is able to tell the House on what day he expects the Dissolution to take place, and when the Writs will be issued?

I cannot go any further than the statement of the Prime Minister—that the Dissolution will take place at the end of next week; but the actual day cannot yet be stated. That depends, I believe, on transactions elsewhere than in the House of Commons. I beg leave to move, Sir, that, Committee of Supply being closed, the House at its rising do adjourn until Monday.

said he should like to know whether Her Majesty's Government thought there was any necessity for additional Revising Barristers in Ireland, seeing that in a great many counties there would be no contests and the Revising Barristers' work would be of a merely formal character. The appointment of one additional Revising Barrister in Ireland, under the circumstances, would be a scandal, yet, by the Bill, it was proposed to appoint 12.

said, that the Government were bound to provide for special emergencies, for there was no certainty of there being no contests in the Registration Courts, although a great number might not be anticipated. It was therefore necessary to make some provision. Last year 39 additional Revising Barristers were appointed in Ireland; but, on the present occasion, probably 12 at most would meet the emergency. That would be the outside number; but it might not be necessary to appoint so many. He was informed that unless some additional Barristers were appointed, it was doubtful whether the work could be done in time.

said, he was decidedly of opinion that, although nothing like so many additional Revising Barristers would be required as last year, there would still be necessity for some.

I do not intend to make a speech upon this subject again, and I do not intend to divide the Committee upon it; but, notwithstanding what has been said by the right hon. Gentleman the Chief Secretary for Ireland, I repeat, most emphatically, that no one need go further in regard to the last Election than the counties of Mayo, Kerry, and Cork, or indeed the whole of the South of Ireland, to know that there was practically an entire absence of opposition, and that à fortiori registration was unnecessary. The right hon. Gentleman intimates that the appointment of some 12 additional Revising Barristers is contemplated. I do not know whether I shall have a seat in the next Parliament, or not; but if I have, I shall certainly call attention to the manner in which the provisions of this Bill shall have been carried out, and the amount of work executed, which I need scarcely say I shall, in the meantime, narrowly watch. I believe the appointment of additional Revising Barristers to be a great scandal. I have no hesitation in saying again, that the appointment of only one additional Revising Barrister will be a great scandal. Prior to the extension of the franchise, there were many counties in Ireland which were capable of being contested by the two great political Parties; but in a largo majority of cases, since the extension of the franchise, there is nothing like effective or active opposition. Election contests are altogether dead, and, therefore, à fortiori, there is no necessity for registration. I believe that there are no grounds whatever for the introduction of this Bill, and the Chief Secretary for Ireland has certainly given none. I shall watch the matter most narrowly. No doubt, many barristers will apply for these appointments; and when it is known that there are to be 12 extra appointments, I have very little doubt that there will be at least 244 applications for them, notwithstanding the fact that the pay is by no means excessive. Speaking with considerable knowledge upon the matter, I think it is more than probable that many of the Revising Barristers appointed this year, will have nothing but mere formal work to do.

I did not say that 12 new appointments would absolutely be made, but that, in my opinion, 12 was the outside number. If there are 244 applications, all I can say is that about 240 of those who make them will probably find that they have been misled.