asked the First Commissioner of Works, If his attention has been called to a Memorial presented by four assistants in the Furniture Department of the Office of Works dismissed in 1884; whether they have asked for an impartial inquiry to elicit all the facts of the case, not known at the time of the dismissal of MacGillivray and his three fellow clerks; and, whether, under these circumstances, he will reconsider the decision which was then arrived at to refuse all further inquiry?

The case of the four assistants in the Furniture Department of the Office of Works dismissed in 1884 was, I am informed, very carefully gone into at the time, and has been further considered by each of my Predecessors in Office, and I cannot hold out any hope that I can depart from their decisions; but I shall read through the Papers myself with a view to seeing whether any new facts have been adduced.

asked the First Commissioner of Works, Whether the seats promised to be put on the Thames frontage of Kew Gardens have been placed there; and, if not, when they will be; whether any further decision has been arrived at as to the opening of Queen's Gate for public use; and, if not, would he state the reason; whether it is proposed to remove the brick wall around the Gardens in Richmond Road; and, whether the authorities will permit smoking in the grounds of the Gardens?

Sir, I will see that any promises which have been made as to placing seats on the Thames frontage of Kew Gardens shall be carried out without delay. As to the opening of Queen's Gate—or more properly the Temperate House Gate—that suggestion has frequently been made to the Office of Works, and especially urgently and repeatedly by the hon. Baronet the Member for the Kingston Division of Surrey (Sir Whittaker Ellis); but we have never been able to admit that a sufficient case has been made out. If ever the Lichfield Road is extended to the station, a new gate at the end of that road and immediately opposite the station will, we believe, meet the wants of the public. As to removing the brick wall round Kew Gardens, I am informed that that could not be done without injury to the Gardens, and without exposing many of the valuable shrubs in them to the destructive effects of easterly winds and dust. As to the suggestion to permit smoking in the grounds, that question is new to me; but I shall inquire into it.

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether there is any objection to lay upon the Table the Correspondence between Her Majesty's Government and the French Government relating to the exclusion of M. Montdar from Navancore, and the alleged injustice of which M. Montdar complains of having received from the Government of India?

, in reply, said, this was a matter which really related to the Indian Department; but he was informed by that Department that they could not agree to presenting the Papers, because the matter was one of a personal character, and not of public importance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, If it is the intention of the Government to adhere to the 75th Regulation of the Colonial Office in making the appointment of Third Judge in Western Australia?

(who replied) said, that the Colonial Office was not aware of any proposal to the effect stated in the Question of the hon. Member.

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether any Extradition Treaty exists with Spain; and, if not, whether such a Treaty can be negotiated, so that criminals may not escape justice by going to a Foreign Country?

Yes, Sir; there is an Extradition Treaty with Spain, concluded on June 14, 1878, and still in force.

asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether it is the intention of the Government that the jubilee year of Her Majesty's accession to the Throne should be appropriately celebrated in some National manner, so as to give pleasure and satisfaction to all loyal subjects; and, if so, can he state whether the Government have considered the manner in which such celebration would most fitly take place; and, whether their attention has been drawn to the recent suggestion of the Prince of Wales as to the Colonial Exhibition?

Of course, it will be of great interest to the Government that the jubilee year of Her Majesty's Reign should be marked by appropriate celebrations; and, of course, the Government will consider the question, as far as it may lie within their province to do so. But all celebrations of this kind will probably possess greater value in proportion as they arise from the spontaneous action of the people.

asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether he could give the names of the gentlemen who would constitute the Royal Commission on Public Works in Ireland?

, in reply, said, it was not in the power of the Government at present to do so. The matter was one which required very careful consideration.

said, he wished to ask the Secretary for Scotland a Question of which he had given him private Notice.

My right hon. Friend is not here.

continuing, said, the Question was, Whether the attention of the right hon. Gentleman had been drawn to a paragraph in The St. James's Gazette on the 22nd September, headed "Scotch Evictions," in which a correspondent stated that an eviction took place during the preceding week on the Chisholm estate, Inverness-shire, the farmer and his wife being turned out on the roadside? The hon. Member then read the whole of the paragraph.

, rising to Order, asked the Speaker whether it was in Order to read to the House a long article from a newspaper?

said, it was not out of Order if the hon. Member was laying the foundation for an Answer; but it might be for the convenience of the House if the hon. Member would abridge the quotation.

I cannot shorten it, because I have finished. The remainder of my Question is to this effect—

said—

My Lords, and Gentlemen,

By virtue of Her Majesty's Commission, under the Great Seal, to us and other Lords directed, and now read, we do, in Her Majesty's Name and in obedience to Her Commands, prorogue this Parliament to Thursday the 11th day of November next, to be then here holden; and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Thursday the 11th day of November next.