asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Is it a fact that a farmer, named Robert Barron, has carted across the playground of the National School at Roughfort, Country Antrim; whether the Commissioners of Education will endeavour to have the rights of the Board protected; and, what is the record, as regarding efficiency and general conduct, of the schoolmistress, Miss Gourley?

said, the Commissioners of National Education informed him that the national school alluded to was a non-vested one. They had, therefore, no control over the building or the premises. The school was well conducted, and the Inspector reported that the general efficiency of the classes was very fair.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether a vacancy at present exists in the office of Librarian of St. Patriot's Public Library, Dublin, commonly known as Marsh's Library; whether the will of the founder, Archbishop Marsh, contains the following provision:—

"That the Governors shall at all times elect the most able and eminent person they can hear of, or find either in Great Britain or Ireland or any foreign part; "

I have not yet been able to get a full answer to this Question, owing, I presume, to the absence of some of the Trustees. The telegram which I have received says that the office of Librarian of St. Patrick's Public Library is at present vacant. There is no such provision in the will of the founder, Archbishop Marsh, as is alleged in the Question. I will make further inquiry into the matter.

asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, If he is aware that in blocks of improved industrial dwellings, wherever two or more single room tenements are let together, the Commissioners of Inland Revenue require the payment of Inhabited House Duty, although the aggregate annual value of the tenements let together is below the limit of £20; whether such a practice is in accordance with the concession explained by the Secretary to the Treasury or the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on the 29th February, 1884, in the House of Commons, that such blocks of industrial dwellings were to be exempt from Duty—

"Provided only that the conditions were satisfied, that the block consisted of tenements each of which was under £20 value;"

The exemption from House Duty which the Inland Revenue is empowered to give in the case of tenements forming part of improved industrial dwellings is limited by two conditions—namely, (1) that the tenements should be under £20 in value; (2) that they should be structurally separate from the rest of the buildings. In the exceptional cases referred to by the hon. Gentleman the second of these conditions does not exist, inasmuch as the two rooms, though each by itself structurally separate, are not, when occupied together, so separate. The condition with respect to structural separation is, I think, in strict accordance with the promises of my right hon. Friend the Member for South Edinburgh (Mr. Childers) as Chancellor of the Exchequer, in the debate of February 29, 1884. At the same time, I am prepared to admit that the effect of the Rule about structural separation is, in the exceptional cases to which the hon. Gentleman's Question refers, somewhat anomalous; and I am prepared to consider whether that Rule cannot be modified in such a way as to meet these cases, and to provide for exemption from House Duty of all tenements under £20 in bonâ fide industrial dwellings.

asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether it is the intention of the Government to take any further steps in connection with Mr. Sutton's Report on the affairs of the Independent Mutual Brethren Friendly Society, either by way of legal proceedings or by way of further legislation with regard to Friendly Societies?

Mr. Sutton's Report, and other information which has been received since its publication, is now before the Director of Public Prosecutions, who is considering what action, if any, he should take on it. As regards the general question of the working of the Friendly Societies' Acts. I will give the subject my careful consideration during the Recess.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether an opportunity will be given to Parliament of expressing an opinion before Her Majesty is advised to assume Sovereignty in New Guinea, and to hand the control over the administration of the portion of New Guinea thus appropriated to the Government of Queensland, subject to certain reservations?

Her Majesty's Government have agreed that upon the passing of a Bill by the Queens-land Legislature, the terms of which will be found at pages 209 and 210 of the Appendix to the Colonial Conference, Her Majesty will be advised to assume Sovereignty over the present Protectorate. It is believed that the Bill will shortly be passed, but the date is not known. It is considered important, in the interest of the Natives, that there should be no delay in declaring Sovereignty after the Bill has passed. Although no special day can be given for a discussion upon this subject, there are, as the hon. Member knows, opportunities upon which he can raise the question before Parliament rises. No formal sanction of Parliament is required before Sovereignty is proclaimed; but a Tote will have to be taken in due course of time for the steam vessel and its maintenance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, with reference to the agreement for an additional joint Naval Force in Australasian waters, Whether the stipulation, that—

"This agreement shall be considered to become actually binding between the Imperial and the several Colonial Governments so soon as the Colonial Legislatures shall have passed special appropriations for the terms hereinafter mentioned,"

"Notwithstanding the establishment of this joint Naval Force, no reduction is to take place in the normal strength of Her Majesty's Naval Force employed on the Australian Station,"

It has been necessary to ascertain whether the Colonial Parliaments will make the proposed provision before taking further steps in this country. Her Majesty's Government will, of course, be bound to obtain Parliamentary sanction to the scheme, inasmuch as a Vote for the expenditure must be in due course submitted. After the very full public discussion and approval which the scheme of joint naval defence has received, it is clear that, although the House of Commons has the power of refusing to provide the contribution assigned to this country, the failure to do so would cause great surprise and dissatisfaction to the Colonies; and I must add that Her Majesty's Government are bound in good faith to uphold an arrangement which they consider of great importance. The stipulation as to not moving the vessels out of Australasian waters only applies to the new vessels; and the further stipulation relating to the maintenance of the existing strength of the normal Squadron was inserted for the purpose of insuring that the new vessels should be a bonâ fide addition to the strength of the Squadron, and that this addition should not be used as an argument for the reduction of the existing force. It appears from the Navy List that the present strength of Her Majesty's ships on the Station consists of the flag-ship, three corvettes, two gunboats, two schooners, and three surveying vessels.

gave Notice that he would take an early opportunity of calling attention to the way in which these sanctions were made by Colonial Parliaments without the British Parliament having an opportunity of expressing an opinion upon the subject.

asked the President of the Local Government Board, if an explanation of the term "allotment" is anywhere to be found; or, if not, whether he can now explain it?

I was rather astonished that the hon. Member should ask me what the meaning of the word "allotment" is, as I find he voted for a Resolution last year proposed by the hon. Member for the Bordesley Division of Birmingham (Mr. Jesse Collings), which expressed regret that the Queen's Speech did not contain any intimation of the intention of Her Majesty's Government to deal with the question of allotments. I have too high an opinion of the hon. Gentleman to think that he would vote for anything which he did not understand. But if any further elucidation is wanted of the meaning of the word "allotment," I have no doubt the hon. Member will obtain all the information he requires by referring to any good edition of Johnson's Dictionary.

I beg to explain that I come from Scotland, where the word is not known. Last year I took it on the faith of the hon. Member for the Bordesley Division of Birmingham. And now that there is an important Bill before the House, I hope the right hon. Gentleman will give some explanation of the nature of this word.

Johnson's Dictionary.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury Where information can be found, in the Finance Accounts or elsewhere, as to the amounts of the several classes of the Terminable Annuities subject to the Income Tax on capital and interest, and not subject thereto; also the annuities of the several classes held by the public, by the National Debt Commissioners, and by others; and, if the information is not available will he supply it?

Income Tax is only payable in respect of Terminable Annuities held by the public, not in respect of Terminable Annuities in the hands of the National Debt Commissioners. The Annuities held by the public at March 31, 1887, comprise Life Annuities, Annuities for terms of years, and Exchequer or Tontine Annuities, and amount to £1,082,780. The several amounts are stated in the Finance Accounts for 1886–7 at page 44. Income Tax is also paid on £1,200,000 a-year of the Chancery Fund Annuity, stated at page 45 of the Finance Accounts, £1,200,000 a-year being the interest on the £40,000,000 cancelled in exchange for the Annuity, and being paid over for distribution among the persons to whom the stock belonged.

asked the Postmaster General, Whether he is yet prepared to state his decision on the Memorial of the inhabitants of Smithborough, County Monaghan, for the establishment of a postal telegraph office; whether an efficient service could be obtained by a connection with the wire at present working between Clones and Newbliss with an ordinary instrument and with a considerable saving in the cost of working; and, whether the circumstance would affect the amount of guarantee required by the Department?

In reply to the hon. Member, I have to state that the further Report for which I called has now been received; and I regret to have to state that the decision communicated to the Memorialists in October, 1885—namely, that a guarantee of £30 a-year must be provided if a telegraph office were opened at Smithborough—still holds good. No saving whatever, but rather an increase of expense, would be caused if the office were served in the manner suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether, looking to the indebted and depressed condition of the Indian Ryot, he can state if any steps are being taken to carry out the practical experiment proposed by the Government of India in their Despatch, No. 658 R of 8th December, 1882, with a view to introducing into India the system of agricultural banks, which have proved so useful in Germany and elsewhere in providing the peasantry with capital at moderate rates, and in protecting them from the exactions of small usurers; and, whether he will lay upon the Table of the House the Correspondence relating to this question?

The proposals made in the letter referred to by the hon. Member were carefully considered in 1882 by the Secretary of State in Council, with the result that it was determined that they were not capable of practical application. I shall be prepared to lay the Papers on the Table.

asked the Lord Advocate, Under what authority, by Minute or otherwise, the Scotch Education Department decline to give their consent to an application to the Public Works Loan Commissioners for a building loan under Clause 45 of the Education (Scotland) Act of 1872, except on condition that the proposed buildings can be constructed at a less cost than £ 10 per scholar: whether it is a fact that formerly the amount of space required by the Department was eight feet square per scholar, and that that amount has recently been raised to 10 feet square; and, whether the same limit of building expenditure of £10 per scholar is still imposed on school boards, whilst the space to be provided for the scholars has been increased by 25 per cent?

The rule of the Education Department to refuse its consent to an application to the Public Works Loan Commissioners where the cost of building, exclusive of the cost of the site, exceeds £10 per scholar, was established under Treasury authority, partly as a safeguard against excessive and unnecessary expenditure, and partly because the funds at the disposal of the Commissioners were not unlimited. This limitation applies only to cases of loans from the Public Works Commissioners, and not to cases where it is proposed to raise the loan in the open market. The accommodation in schools built according to the model plans of the Department was formerly calculated at eight square feet per scholar, and could be provided for less than £10 per head; but when deviations from these plans were sanctioned several years ago, at the request of some of the principal school boards in Scotland, the shape and arrangements of the rooms built according to the new plans rendered it necessary to calculate the space at 10 square feet. The sum of £10 per scholar being amply sufficient to provide accommodation upon the 10 square feet basis, that limit is adhered to.

asked the Postmaster General, Whether, during the recent election for the Northwich Division of Cheshire, an agent of Lord Henry Grosvenor employed a Post Office clerk a Runcorn to deliver circulars to the electors; if this clerk, in turn, employed other servants of the Post Office to deliver circulars, for which all were paid at the rate of one halfpenny each; if it is true that nearly 500 out of the 3,000 circulars, issued by the agent of the Liberal candidate, were returned unde- livered by the Post Office officials at Runcorn; if when these circulars were submitted to the overseer, did he pronounce most of the addresses to be correct; and, what action will he take with respect to the conduct of this official?

The only officers of the Post Office at Runcorn who appear to have been concerned in the delivery of circulars during the I recent election were five postmen, who were employed for the purpose by a printer in the town, and did the work when off duty, and without the knowledge of the postmaster. They state, in explanation, that they did not know they were doing wrong, being off duty; but I do not approve of the proceeding, and have cautioned the men. Three hundred and fifty-nine circulars issued by the Liberal agent and 248 issued by the Conservative agent were returned undelivered on account of insufficient or incorrect address. I am assured that every possible effort was made to deliver them, many being sent out two or three times. Members experienced in electioneering well know that this is of frequent occurrence at elections on account of removals.

asked the Postmaster General, Whether his attention has been called to Correspondence that has passed between the General Post Office, Edinburgh, and Messrs. Ciceri, with regard to the non-delivery of a telegram handed in on the 4th of June at the Inverness Post Office, for despatch to that firm; whether the address "Ciceri, Edinburgh," had for years been accepted as sufficient by the Edinburgh Post Office, and letters and telegrams delivered accordingly; and, under what authority the Post Office declines to deliver telegrams adequately addressed for the purposes of identification, and demands, as a condition of delivery, either that the full street address shall be inserted in a telegram, or that any shorter address shall be registered?

My attention has been called to the Correspondence referred to by the hon. Member. The Regulations of the Department require that the address of a telegram shall be sufficiently full to permit of delivery being effected without difficulty, and without reference to Directories. The address "Ciceri, Edinburgh," does not fulfil these conditions, and has not been registered, consequently the message was properly treated as insufficiently addressed. As has been explained, in reply to previous Questions, it is obviously improper that the messages of persons using a full address should be delayed while search is being made in Directories, &c., in order to effect the delivery of messages in which the address has been for any reason curtailed.

asked the Postmaster General, Whether he can now state if definite arrangements have been made with the Belfast and County Down Railway to provide for the increased mail accommodation required for Newtownards and Downpatrick; and, if so, what additional services will be given?

asked, whether an arrangement would be made which would provide for sufficient time between the delivery of the day mail at Newtownards and the going out of the other day mail to permit of letters being answered on the same day?

I shall be glad to bear in mind the suggestion of my hon. and gallant Friend. In reply to the Question of the hon. Member for South Down, I beg to state that although practically an agreement has been arrived at with the Belfast and County Down Railway Company for improved mail train services, the exact details have not yet been finally adjusted. The new services cannot, however, come into operation until the 1st October next; but I shall have pleasure in acquainting my hon. and gallant Friend and the hon. Member with the exact details as soon as I am able to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, How many constables of the Metropolitan Police Force either are over 35 years of age or have had more than 10 years' service?

Exclusive of the Thames and Dockyard Divisions there are in the Force 4,227 constables who are over 35 years of age, or had more than 10 years' service.

asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether information has reached him that, on the 24th of July last, a large rick of turf, the property of James Fitzpatriek, of Trillick, near Longford, was destroyed by fire; whether, on the day the fire broke out, the Militia were engaged in musketry practice on the ground; whether, in reply to a Memorial addressed to Dublin Castle on the subject, Sir Redvers Buller admitted that the turf had been accidentally burned at the rifle range on the day the Militia were practising, and gave, as the only ground for the Irish Government not giving compensation, that the fire did not take place on either of the days the Constabulary were engaged in practising; whether, from this admission, and on other grounds, there is reason to believe that the accidental fire was due to the presence of the Militia; and, whether, under all the circumstances, the Government will take into consideration the question of making compensation to this poor man for the loss of his winter's fuel?

, in reply, said, the fire referred to did break out on the day on which the Militia were practising at the range. It broke out in several places, and could not in any way be affected by the presence of the Militia. There was not, under the circumstances, sufficient evidence that the Militia caused the fire, and he was unable to sanction compensation being given.

asked, if evidence was given that the Militia actually lighted two fires in proximity to the turf, and set fire to the bog, would the right hon. Gentleman reconsider the Question.

replied that if there was additional evidence he would reconsider the Question.

asked the Postmaster General, Whether his reply to the Petition of the second-class clerks employed at the Central Telegraph Office, presented in March, 1886, that the officers were for the time receiving less pay under the present classification than they might have received under the old system, applies to second-class only or to all classes equally; whether there are clerks who were promoted to the first-class last September whose service commenced in April, 1877; whether there are now waiting at the top of the second-class clerks whose service commenced in May, 1877, and in some cases earlier, and whose service now is longer than that of the first-class clerks referred to; whether there are clerks in the first-class who were not passed over for promotion, and who have longer service than some of the senior clerks; and, whether he will state what steps he proposes to take with regard to extending the senior class in the Central Telegraph Office, and in the London District, in order to meet future requirements?

In reply to the hon. Member. I have to state that my reply to the Petition applies only to a few officers on the second-class, and not to all classes equally. My answer to the second and third Questions is "yes." As to the fourth Question, there are first-class clerks, who wore not passed over in the recent promotion, whose continuous service in the Department is longer than the service of some of the senior clerks; but those senior clerks were promoted in the past for their superior acquirements. I am not prepared to state what decision I shall arrive at with respect to any addition to the number of senior clerks.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether Mr. O'Callaghan, a son of Colonel John O'Callaghan, of Bodyke, has notice at the Scariff Workhouse for several evictions; and, if so, whether, in view of the great expense incurred by the State in evicting his father's tenants, the Irish Government will make some inquiry into the merits of these evictions before supplying the necessary forces to carry them out?

said, he understood that notice had been given to the workhouse authorities of several evictions on the O'Callaghan estate; but no arrangement had yet been made for carrying out the duty, as negotiations for a settlement were pending.

said, the right hon. and gallant Gentleman had not answered that part of his Question which asked if the Irish Government would make inquiry into the merits of these evictions?

said, he had replied that negotiations were still pending; and, therefore, it was impossible that the evictions could take place.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention had been called to the case of Matthew J. Melvin and James King, who were sentenced respectively to five years' penal servitude at the Munster Winter Assizes of 1883, on a charge of being members of a criminal conspiracy in Mayo, and who, while awaiting trial, were kept in prison, and confined to their cells 22 hours daily, for 10 months, bail being refused in the meantime by the Queen's Bench, on the express understanding that, if convicted, a remission of sentence would be allowed equal to the time the accused were detained; if the then Chief Secretary (Sir George Trevelyan) answered in this House, in reply to a Question—

"That all such prisoners so kept back from trial, and not admitted to bail, would, in case of being convicted, be allowed a remission equal to the time so detained: "

These two convicts were in custody, awaiting trial, from June, 1883, until March, 1884. This fact was fully before the learned Judge when he passed sentence on them. There was no such understanding as that alluded to, nor is there any record of the then Chief Secretary having made the statement attributed to him. The case of these convicts has been already fully considered at various times in connection with Memorials put forward by them or on their behalf. The last Memorial was received towards the end of last month, which embodied all the allegations contained in this Question. The Lord Lieutenant has decided that the law must take its course.

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, When further Papers on the Finance of Egypt (in continuation of Egypt (No. 3), 1887) will be presented?

I hope that the Papers will be presented to Parliament in a few days.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, To state the names of the Assistant Commissioners appointed since the present Government came into Office; also the term for which they have been appointed; and the nature of their occupation for the 12 months preceding their appointment?

The following Assistant Commissioners of the Land Court have been appointed since the present Government came into Office:—M. J. Crean, John F. Bomford, Legal Commissioners; Robert Sproule, John Golding, Hugh K. Simpson, J. R. Haedech, M. P. Lynch, H. Charles Gregory, Colonel Davys, and John Wilson, Lay Commissioners. Each of these gentlemen holds office to the 22nd of August, 1888. There are no official records to afford a reply to the concluding portion of the Question?

asked the Lord Advocate, Whether the Governors of the State-Aided School on James Gillespie's Foundation, Edinburgh, by their Regulations for the discipline of the school, authorize pupil teachers and assistants to inflict corporal punishment on the children attending the school, without consulting the head master, and to exercise their own discretion as to the severity of the punishment, the age of the children to be punished, and the choice of inflicting the punishment either in presence of the class or in private without any witness; whether, if this is so, he will call the attention of the Scottish Education Department to the condition of matters; and, whether, if the facts be otherwise, he will state what are the Regulations of the Governors on the subject?

The discipline of the school is a matter for which the Governors are responsible, and I am not aware of the nature of their Regulations on the subject. The Scotch Education Department has no power to interfere between the managers of a State-aided school and the teachers, except where the requirements of the Code have been infringed. Any case of excessive punishment is a matter for the Criminal Authorities to investigate, if it is brought under their notice.

Might I ask the right hon. and learned Gentleman whether he has made any inquiry as to what the Rules are?

If any charge is made to the Criminal Authorities, of whom I am one, the matter will certainly be gone into.

asked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether his attention has been called to a letter, signed "William Young," published in The Echo, of the 10th instant, complaining of the treatment given to Mrs. Walton, of Appleby, for having refused to have her child vaccinated; whether Mrs. Walton was arrested under warrant on the 10th, and sent to Carlisle Gaol for 14 days; whether, as stated in the letter, Mrs. Walton was, when in gaol, subjected to the same treatment as felons; whether her rings (except her wedding ring) were taken from her fingers, herself stripped naked and put into a bath, and informed—

"That she must wear the prison garb, and be locked in a solitary cell, and that no friends would be allowed to visit her; "

Yes, Sir; I have seen the letter in question. I am informed by the Governor of the prison that Mrs. Walton was treated in the way prescribed by the Statutes and Prison Rules, and there was nothing exceptional in her treatment. She was searched by a female officer, the searching of prisoners being enjoined by Statute. She was not put in a bath. Her rings were taken from her, except the wedding ring. She was told she would have the ordinary diet of her class. She did not plead poverty, and she had a good dress on, three rings, a gold watch, and a cameo brooch. She was in prison for less than two hours, and was under no treatment further than being locked up in the reception cell. Every facility was given her to send for and see the friend who, she said, had her cheque book, and who afterwards paid the fine for her by cheque.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he will inquire into the circumstances under which a lunatic, named A. M. Somerville, of Ross, County Meath, who is a Ward of the Court of Chancery, has been evicted from the demesne of Ross, of which he held a fee farm grant; whether Mr. Somerville's property is managed by a receiver under the Court of Chancery; and, if so, why the rent has not been paid; whether any effort has been made to sell Somerville's interest in the property; whether the timber on the estate belongs to Somerville, and whether the receiver made any effort to soil the timber; and, what, provision, if any, has been made for the care of the lunatic?

I understand that the property of James Somerville, a person of unsound mind, has been under the care of a receiver appointed by the Lord Chancellor. It consisted of property in the County Roscommon, and Ross House, in the County Cavan. There was an annual deficit of about £103 on Ross House, which, up to May, 1880, was met by the receiver out of the proceeds of the Roscommon estate. The property was heavily incumbered; and there being a large arrear of interest, the incumbrancers obtained an order setting priorities, which had the effect of preventing the receiver from any longer meeting the deficit in the manner stated until the arrears of interest should be paid. The rent of Ross House therefore fell into arrear, and the lunatic and his family were evicted. An attempt was made to sell the timber; but it was found that its value would not pay the cost of felling and transportation. The Lord Chancellor directed Ross House and demesne to be sold by public auction. The lunatic interrupted the sale. The bids were withdrawn and the sales abandoned. Subsequent attempts to sell by private treaty were ineffectual. The lunatic is now living with his family in a house which has been taken for them in the neighbourhood. The rent of the house and an allowance of £150 a-year are paid by the receiver.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether a man, named Philip Quigley, was committed to Dundalk Gaol on the 20th of May last, and is still confined there; by whom, and upon what charge, and for what term was he so committed?

said, that Philip Quigley was committed to Dundalk Prison on the 23rd of May last. He was committed by the County Court Judge of Monaghan for contempt of Court.

asked, if the right hon. and gallant Gentleman could state what the contempt of Court was?

said, that was not in the Question; but he believed that it was for refusing to sign a document which he was ordered to sign by the Judge.

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether he is aware if the President of Venezuela left Caracas on the 9th instant for Paris viâ New York, with a view to re-opening negotiations as to the Boundary Question?

No information has reached the Foreign Office of the President having actually left Venezuela; but we have heard indirectly that he intended to do so. I am not at all aware of his purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether the Governor of British Guiana has sailed to resume his duties; and, whether he has received definite instructions as to the steps to be taken to protect the boundary up to the frontier now declared by the Government to be British territory?

The Governor is on his way back to the Colony. As Her Majesty's Government have no reason to anticipate any attempt on the part of Venezuela to encroach on the territory claimed by Great Britain, it was not thought necessary to give the Governor specific instructions as to the steps to be taken to protect the boundary.

asked the Postmaster General, Whether he will make arrangements by which Kinvara may derive the advantages of the accelerated mail service, in so far, at least, as to get a mid-day delivery of the letters sent on there by the morning mails, and reaching Ardrahan, five miles distant, at an early hour?

I beg to state that the question of effecting a mid-day delivery of letters at Kinvara must depend on the number of letters for delivery, and the expense to be incurred in delivering them. Returns are being prepared; and as soon as they are completed, and I have considered them, I will lose no time in arriving at a decision.

asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether his attention had been called to an account of a Primrose League gathering at Thirkleby Park, which appeared in The York Herald of Saturday 6th August, in which it is stated that the band of the Yorkshire Regiment, from York, was stationed on the ground; and, whether such account is accurate?

The band of the 3rd Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment played at a flower show at Thirkleby Park on the invitation of the Secretary to the Thirkleby Park and District Horticultural Society. Nothing was said in the invitation of any political intention in the meeting; and, so far as I can learn, it had no political significance whatever.

asked the Secretary of State for War, How many bandsmen there are in the Army at Home, the Militia, the Yeomanry, and the Volunteers; whether he is aware that a large proportion of them have been in the habit of looking to the private engagements, in hours not required for military duty, of the regimental band to which they belong, as a legitimate source of livelihood; whether he has any reason to believe that the discretion heretofore vested in Commanding Officers, as to giving or withholding consent, has been abused; and, if such is not the case, if any adequate cause has been shown for the disturbance of the practice of the past, or for prohibiting the voluntary attendance of military bands at the social gatherings of persons in political sympathy?

There are no Returns at the War Office from which the information sought could be given. I am aware that a large proportion of the bandsmen do look to private engagements as a means of increasing their income. I have no reason to believe that the discretion vested in Commanding Officers has been abused. There is no reason why these bands should not be engaged by people of any political opinion; but they must not attend political meetings in uniform.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If it is a fact that Ambrose M'Sweeney, of Carrickcannon House, Falcaragh, Donegal, from whom a gun was taken, was a boy under 12 years of age; and, if there was an understanding with the magistrate that the gun should be restored to the boy's father?

said, this boy was apparently over 13 years of age. There was no such understanding as that alluded to in the latter part of the Question.

asked, if the right hon. and gallant Gentleman was aware that this boy's father was in gaol at the time under the Coercion Act, and, therefore, could exercise no control over the boy's acts; and that the boy was arrested immediately outside the door, and that the case was dismissed with a caution on account of the boy's age. He could assure the right hon. and gallant Gentleman he was under 13 years of age.

said, he did not think the facts had been as suggested by the hon. Member. He had answered that he was not proceeded against under the Peace Preservation Act on account of his youth; but there; was no arrangement such as had been stated in the Question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether it is the fact that the Queen Regent of Amatongaland has petitioned Her Majesty to annex that country, in consequence of the encroachments of the Portuguese on her territory; and, whether it is the fact that the Portuguese are threatening to occupy any of her territory?

The Queen of Tongaland has more than once petitioned for British protection for annexation, and the question of the future relations to be established with her is still under consideration. In the meantime, a Treaty of friendship has been concluded with her, under which she binds herself not to enter into any Treaty with, or cede any territory to, any Foreign Power unless with the consent of Her Majesty's Government. The present proceedings of the Portuguese appear to be confined to the country north of the Maputa River and 26·30 degrees of south latitude, to which their claims were declared well founded by the award of the President of the French Republic, dated the 24th of July, 1875, in the Delagoa Bay arbitration. Portugal is debarred by that award from extending her dominion south of those limits.

asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether the lessee of the Cork Custom House is privileged to use a portion of the Government premises in his capacity of wholesale trader; whether, as warehouse keeper, he is entitled to inform himself of the names and addresses of the shippers and consignees of the goods bonded in his warehouse, and to use; this information as a trade competitor; whether he is aware that, in consequence, certain Cork wholesale merchants have ceased to use the Custom House, and now store their goods in the Excise Warehouse instead; and, whether, under these circumstances, on the next renewal of the lease, he will require the lessee to confine himself solely to his business of warehouse keeper?

The warehouse in question belongs to the Crown, and is leased to Mr. Foley as a warehouse for the warehousing of tobacco and goods under bond, and for such other lawful business as may be desired. He can, therefore, deal as a wholesale trader. There is nothing to prevent any warehouse-keeper from informing himself of the names and addresses of the shippers and consignees of the goods bonded in his warehouse, and if he thinks fit to use the information as a trade competitor. It is believed to be a fact that certain Cork wholesale merchants object to store their goods in this warehouse for this and other reasons. The lease expires on the 1st of October, 1903, but it may be determined at the cud of each third year of the term by either party; it would be contrary to custom to place any restrictions on the trading practices of a warehouse-keeper so long as they do not interfere with the Customs Regulations.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he will, in deference to the unanimous request of the National Teachers of Ireland, recommend the Commissioners to send the result of the examinations through the District Inspectors, as formerly, instead of the Managers, as at present?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me they have arranged that in all cases of promotion the usual notification shall be made to the Managers. In cases of failure the notification will be made to the Inspector only, to whom Managers and teachers, if they so desire, can apply for information and details. In the case of unclassed teachers who fail to pass the qualifying examination for the lowest class, and who cannot be retained in the service, the notification will necessarily be made to the Managers.

asked the Secretary to the Board of Trade, Whether the Government have ever inquired into any of the circumstances connected with the seizure of the Lady Godiva, on the 13th of May, and the arrest of the skipper Funnell, in the North Sea, in direct contravention of the North Seas Fisheries Convention, or under what authority Funnell was re-arrested, on the 16th of May, at Wilhelmshaven, after his release on the 14th, and on what charge, or why Funnell was detained in Flensburg Prison for six weeks, after being brought before and acquitted by Judicial Court at Flensburg, on the 30th of May, when he was promised his release in a few days, or on what charges he was afterwards brought before another Judicial Court, on the 21st of July, when he was again acquitted, and his gear ordered to be restored to him; and, what action the Board of Trade have taken during the last three months to call the attention of the German Government to the conduct of the Commander of the German cruiser, the Mayor of Wilhelmshaven, and other Local Authorities in this case, and to the prolonged confinement and harsh treatment of Funnell in prison, or to obtain any information with regard to the various judicial inquiries or trials, and the evidence and Judgments given in the Courts on the 13th of May, 30th of May, and 21st of July respectively?

also asked, Whether Her Majesty's Government have now received the "Judgment," in the Lady Godivacase; and, if not, whether they will at once urge the German Government to forward the same without further delay; whether the Board of Trade have received any further official communication relative to the facts of the German cruiser firing into, and running down, the Lady Godiva; and, what steps the Fishery Department have taken to inquire into the allegations made en behalf of the master and crew of the Lady Godiva?

As early as the 20th of May Her Majesty's Consul General at Hamburg made to the Foreign Office a Report in relation to the case of the fishing vessel Lady Godiva. In consequence of particulars afterwards communicated to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs by the right hon. Member (Mr. Heneage), the Consul General was directed to proceed to Wilhelmshaven and inquire into and report as fully as possible on the case, and also to watch the proceedings and afford the master such assistance as he properly could. Subsequently, the Foreign Office, on the suggestion of the Board of Trade, urged upon the German Government the propriety of expediting the trial of the master. In the interval the case had, however, been dealt with. Several Reports have been made to the Foreign Office by Consul General Dundas; but for their due consideration exact particulars of the judicial proceedings are needful. He has been instructed, at the request of the Board of Trade, to obtain and forward as soon as possible a full and reliable Report of the proceedings in the German Courts. Further action has, meanwhile, necessarily been deferred. The right hon. Member must, of course, be aware that any representations to a Foreign Government must be made exclusively through the Foreign Office. With regard to the question of the hon. Baronet, the Report of the proceedings in the German Courts with respect to the case of the fishing vessel Lady Godiva has not yet been received; but steps have been taken with a view of obtaining the Report as speedily as possible. The only further particulars which have reached the Board of Trade are statements forwarded by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Great Grimsby on the part of the master of this vessel; and this day the Foreign Office have sent a despatch from the Consul General at Hamburg, stating that the Public Prosecutor at Flensburg, being dissatisfied with the judgment of the Court, has appealed against it to Leipsic. As regards the concluding portion of the Question of the hon. Baronet, I would refer to the reply which I have just made to a similar inquiry by the right hon. Member for Great Grimsby.

asked, whether the Department had made an inquiry with regard to the sentence of the 13th of May, the release of Funnell, and why he was re-arrested; and why the man was detained for six weeks without any change of clothing, after being told that he would be immediately released?

Yes, Sir; Reports have been called for on all those subjects.

asked the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education, Whether his attention has been called to the difficulties experienced in some districts in enforcing penalties inflicted upon parents for not sending their children to school; and, whether he will issue a Circular to School Boards and School Attendance Committees, drawing their attention to the subject, and explaining the course of proceeding which should be adopted?

The attention of the Department has been very often directed to this subject; and it is one of those upon which it may be hoped that the Royal Commission will be able to make some useful suggestions. But it is not a matter upon which the Education Department can interfere.

asked the Secretary to the Board of Trade, Whether his attention has been called to the recommendation of the Council of the Mercantile Marino Service Association, that the International Regulations of Navigation should be so amended that distinctive signals, by long and short blasts on a steam whistle or fog horn, to indicate the course of vessels, shall be used in fogs as well as when another vessel is in sight, and to the finding of the Court of Inquiry in the case of the collision between the Britannic and the Celtic, that the present system of signals is not sufficiently distinctive; and, whether, having regard to the frequency of fog, especially in the North Atlantic, and the increasing number and speed of steam vessels, the Board of Trade will enter into communication with the United States and other Governments with the view of minimising the risk of collision in fog, by amendment of the International Regulations in the manner suggested by the Mercantile Marine Service Association?

The attention of the Board of Trade has been directed to the Report of the inquiry held in the case of the collision between the Britannic and Celtic, and also to the recommendations by the Mercantile Marine Service Association relative to the present system of signalling at sea during fogs, and the Board of Trade are carefully considering them. The second paragraph of the hon. Member's Question raises such important considerations that I am not at present prepared to give him a reply.

asked the First Commissioner of Works, Whether he will lay upon the Table of the House the Correspondence between the Government and Messrs. Leeming and Company which has resulted in the proposal in the Supplementary Estimates for a Vote of £8,500?

The proposal in the Supplementary Estimates to pay Messrs. Leeming £8,000 in full satisfaction of their claims has resulted from the Report of the Select Committee on the Admiralty and War Office Sites, which sat this year, and by a very large majority recommended that the scheme known as Messrs. Leeming's should be abandoned, and the additional sum of £500 will be asked for the preparation of plans for extending the existing Admiralty buildings, as also recommended by the Select Committee. Messrs. Leeming have acted with perfect propriety in the matter; and from the communications which have passed between them and my Department, I have no grounds for supposing that we shall have any difficulty in dealing with them. Under these circumstances, I see no reason for laying on the Table of the House the correspondence which has taken place; but I shall willingly show the letters to the right hon. Gentleman, should he wish to see them.

asked, If the Vote of £500 in the Estimates would commit the House to the plans referred to?

To that extent certainly it will.

added that he would endeavour to have the evidence taken before the Committee and the plans issued to Members before the Vote was taken.

asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether it is the case that, at the recent Government camp of Scottish Artillery Volunteers held at Barry, no officer attended, and only 66 non-commissioned officers and men belonging to corps situated in the West of Scotland, these corps comprising 47 batteries, with a total strength of 3,845 officers, non-commissioned officers, and men; and, if so, whether the Government will cause an inquiry to be made into the reasons for this anomaly before fixing the locale of the Government camp for next year?

I am afraid it is quite true that there was a very small attendance at the recent Artillery Volunteer camp at Barry but I am advised that there is no other site suitable and available for this camp. I would remind my hon. Friend that there is only one Artillery camp in England, and many Volunteers go a very long way to attend it.

asked, whether the right hon. Gentleman knew that Irvine had been proposed as a more suitable site?

said, he know it had been under consideration; and he would undertake, after what had been said by his hon. Friend, that before another year the matter would be further examined into.

asked the Secretary to the Board of Trade, Whether his attention has been called to the following telegram, published by the Central News Agency on the 16th instant:—

"This morning Midland engine running on wrong line collided with Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire goods train near Barnsley, tenders and number of trucks were smashed, and line blocked for some time; four men were injured, and one, the fireman of Midland engine, had to have his arm amputated;"

The Board of Trade have directed an inquiry to be made into this accident. I may add that the Midland Company inform the Board of Trade that the driver of this train has been in their service many years, and is the oldest driver at Barnsley. The Midland Company say that apparently the accident was caused by the signalman of the Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Company at Dodsworth pulling the wrong lever.

asked the right hon. Baronet the Member for the Western Division of Essex, as an Ecclesiastical Commissioner, Whether it is true that the Ecclesiastical Commissioners have applied to the Land Commissioners to direct the compulsory redemption of tithes in certain lands in the parish of Sawbridgnorth, Hertfordshire; whether the consequence of such action is that the owners of these lands are compelled to redeem at 25 times the amount of the apportioned tithe rent-charge; whether the present value of the £ 100 tithe rent-charge is £87 8s. 10d.; whether the proportion of the expenses payable in addition to the 25 years' redemption by the landowner does not in some cases practically raise the redemp- tion to as much as 37 years' purchase; and, whether, in any compulsory redemption of tithe, the Ecclesiastical Commissioners will take into consideration the advisability of adopting as a maximum a period of 20 years' purchase, as suggested by the Tithe Rent-Charge Bill of Her Majesty's Government?

My answer to the first Question of the hon. Member is, Yes. My answer to the second is also, Yes. But we are compelled to act so by Statute under the 5th section of the Commutation Act, 1878. The value of the £100 is as stated in the Question. We have, as Commissioners, no cognizance of the expenses, which are entirely governed by the action of the Land Commission; and as regards the last Question, should the Tithe Bill pass, we shall be prepared to act upon its provisions, and adopt the term of years sanctioned by it. I may say that I understand that the tithe redemptions in Sawbridgnorth, which are few in number, are on the point of completion.

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether Her Majesty's Government have received information that officers of the French Government of Senegal have appointed certain Chiefs to rule over the countries of Badiboo Saba and Sangally, which, are on the north bank of the British River Gambia, and which are under British influence; whether Her Majesty's Government are aware that the French officers have allotted territories to these Chiefs, and concluded Treaties with them; and, what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to put a stop to this interference with the rights and commerce of Great Britain?

The information received by the Colonial Office does not bear out the statements contained in my hon. Friend's Question. Disturbances have taken place at Badiboo and other places in the vicinity of the Gambia, and questions with regard to the respective interests of France and England have arisen. Her Majesty's Government are now in communication with the French. Government with a view to the conclusion of a satisfactory settlement of the outstanding differences and a maintenance of any British rights which may be involved.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether any provision or stipulation was made when the settlement of the New Guinea question was discussed at the late Conference for throwing Now Guinea (British) open to British trade; if, on the proclamation of Her Majesty's sovereignty, encouragement and protection will be given to pioneers willing to invest capital in promoting trade and in developing the natural resources of the country; has Her Majesty's Government received any proposals or applications from responsible persons desirous of promoting settlements in Now Guinea; and, have any feasible schemes for New Guinea development been submitted for the consideration of Her Majesty's Government by persons of local knowledge and well accredited from the Colonies, and with what result?

This subject was not discussed at the Colonial Conference. The extent to which pioneer settlers can be encouraged will depend upon local considerations, the principal of which is the necessity of protecting the Natives from undue interference with their lands. Her Majesty's Government have received, through the Special Commissioner for New Guinea and otherwise, proposals from persons acquainted with the country who desire to promote trade and settlement. It is not proposed to deal with these applications until Her Majesty's sovereignty has been proclaimed, when they will be referred to the Administrator of Now Guinea for careful consideration and report; and until then the Government cannot pronounce an opinion upon their feasibility.

asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether he has seen a report published by The Times of India (and reproduced in the London papers), of an interview with Maharajah Holkar of Indore on his return from England, in which His Highness is alleged to have stated, referring to his reception in England in connection with Her Majesty's Jubilee—

"The inferior officials were apparently unaware what was due to the dignity of the representatives of the Empire;"

Neither the Maharajah Holkar, the Thakore Sahib of Gondal, nor any other of the Indian Chiefs who attended Her Majesty's Jubilee ever made any complaint of the kind. On the contrary, as I stated a day or two ago, they thanked the Secretary of State in the most cordial terms for their reception.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, Whether Rear Admiral Fremantle had proper charts on board H.M.S. Agincourt during the recent Naval practice, to enable him to operate north of the Thames if he desired to do so; and, if so, to what latitude his charts extended?

The charts supplied to the Agincourt would have enabled Admiral Fremantle to operate in the North Sea as far as lat. 52° 10', 40 miles to the northward of the Tongue Lightship, at the entrance to the Thames, and as far eastward as the Coast of Holland.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether it is the practice for the police of Provincial towns, who are under the control of the Local Authorities, to watch disorderly houses; whether, before deciding upon the recent Order that the Metropolitan Police shall discontinue this practice, Sir Charles Warren consulted, or in any way communicated with, the Metropolitan Board of Works or the Vestries as being the Local Authorities of the Metropolis; and, if so, with which, and what was the nature of the communications; and, how long prior to the issue of Sir Charles Warren's Order the practice had prevailed of employing the Metropolitan Police to watch disorderly houses?

I am not aware whether it is the practice of the Provincial police to watch disorderly houses. Sir Charles Warren is away on leave; but I am informed by Colonel Pearson that, so far as he is aware, Sir Charles Warren did not communicate with the Local Authorities before the issue of the Order that the Metropolitan Police should discontinue the practice. The practice had prevailed for many years, certainly over 20 years.

asked the Secretary of State for War, In what manner the rejected or disused military clothing of the United Kingdom and the Channel Islands is now disposed of, and what amount it has produced during the last two years; whether, until recently, this contract was submitted for public competition; whether that system has been abolished; and, if so, when and why; and, whether, at a recent monthly sale of miscellaneous goods at Woolwich Arsenal, waterproof sheets, which had hitherto been included in such sale, were withdrawn, and a private contract for them was made without competition?

The time-expired clothing of the Army is disposed of by contract, and the sum realized annually is about £44,000. Public competition for this contract has not been abolished; but, as Mr. Brand, the then Surveyor General of the Ordnance, explained in 1885, only two tenders at all satisfactory were received, and the contract was given to the highest bidder. It will expire on the 31st of March next. Up till April last old waterproof sheets were included in the Woolwich auction sales but at that time an offer was received for these articles at a price in excess of the average sum realized at the sales. This offer was advantageous to the Department, and was accepted for such waterproof sheets as might be for disposal during one year from the 1st of May last. Perhaps I may take this opportunity of saying that a Circular was issued in June last reminding Commanding Officers that soldiers were entitled to retain such articles of time-expired clothing as might be necessary to save their new clothing, or for use on fatigue duty.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether the French lady arrested at Cowes for having had modelling clay in her trunk, mistaken for dynamite, has been discharged; how is it proposed to compensate her for the arrest and false imprisonment she endured; who is responsible for taking her into custody; whether, with a view to avoid incidents of this kind, detectives could be trained to distinguish dynamite from harmless substances; and, was there such a resemblance between the stuff seized in the trunk of this lady and any known explosive as to warrant her detention while scientific experiments were being made on the clay?

I see from the newspapers that the lady has been discharged; but until further inquiry is made I am unable to say whether it is a case for compensation. The Hampshire Constabulary are responsible for taking the lady into custody; and they acted on information received from Paris that a woman was to arrive at Cowes with a parcel of dynamite in her possession. To distinguish dynamite from harmless clayey substances requires the knowledge of an expert, which detectives generally cannot possess. I am unable to express any opinion as to the resemblance of the clay found in the lady's luggage to any explosive.

Will the right hon. Gentleman state what further inquiries he proposes to make? Can there be any question whether a lady who has been unjustly detained four days is or is not entitled to compensation?

Of course, I wish to obtain further information from the police.

Is it not established, by the discharge of the lady, that she was innocent? Do the Government mean to say that a foreign lady who has arrived in this country, having been falsely arrested, they do not intend at once to entertain the question of compensation?

As far as I can judge, there is no doubt at all that the lady was a harmless traveller; but the question of compensation depends upon whether the Police Authorities acted justifiably upon the information which they received.

wished to ask, what course would have been taken by the Foreign Office if this had occurred to one of our subjects in a foreign country?

Order, order!

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Was the request of the Irish Land Commissioners for information as to how a Bill should be construed in case it became law made by them on their own initiative or in response to an Executive communication; if the latter, what was the date of it and the terms; what was the date of the letter of the Land Commission; do the Government intend to follow the practice of Parliament in regard to the latter document, which necessitates the laying upon the Table of any official communication used in debate: and, is it the fact that two out of the three Land Commissioners go out of office nest year, and that their posts are in the gift of the Government of the day?

The Land Commission made no request for information as to how a Bill should be construed in case it became law. What was desired was that more specific guidance should be given to a Commission which was not required by the proposed clause to act as a Court of Law so much as a Court of Arbitration. Their request was not made in response to an Executive communication. Their letter was dated the 9th of August. There can be no objection to laying the letter on the Table of the House; though, as it was read in its entirety and is very short and simple in its terms, nothing would be gained by such a course. The statutory conditions of appointment are contained in the 41st section of the Land Act of 1881.

Might I ask the right hon. Gentleman, if the Land Commission has made any further communication on the subject of the Bill to the Government?

I have no further information to give the hon. and learned Member.

Are we to infer that the Government have made no communication to the Land Commission on the subject of the Bill?

I have no further information to give the hon. and learned Member.

May I ask the Attorney General, whether there is any precedent for Judges in Ireland applying to Her Majesty's Government for further guidance as to the construction of Statutes?

Of course I cannot answer such a Question.

gave Notice that he would move for copies of any Correspondence that had taken place between the Land Commission and the Government with regard to the present Irish Land Law Bill, and that he would move separately for a copy of the letter of the Land Commission which was read by the Chief Secretary a few days ago.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If his attention has been called to the cases of Jesse Stead, Thomas Bottomley, and Frederick Fawcett, who were summoned to appear before the West Riding Magistrates, sitting at Otley on the 29th of July, for non-compliance with an. order made on them requiring the defendants to have their children vaccinated; and, whether, if the statement is true as stated, that the magistrates refused to hear Mr. J. H. Farthing, who appeared on behalf of the defendants, he will take steps to see that justice may be done in their cases, and prevent, as far as possible, the infraction of the 11th section of the Vaccination Act, which provides that the defendant in any proceedings under the prescribed Act may appear by any member of his family, or any other person authorized by him on his behalf?

Yes, Sir; my attention has been, called to this case, and I have received a Report from the Justices upon it. I am informed that Mr. Farthing was fully heard on behalf of the defendants when the case first came before the Justices. On that occasion orders were made that the children should be vaccinated within a month. When, the summonses for non-compliance with these orders were heard on the 29th of July no medical certificate of unfitness, and no other evidence showing a reasonable excuse for non-compliance with the orders, was produced or given; and, under those circumstances, the Justices declined to hear Mr. Farthing again on the general subject of the objections to vaccination. There does not seem, therefore, to have been any material infraction of the 11th section of the Vaccination Act.

said, that if parents did not comply with an order they were summoned to show cause why they did not do so, and they were entitled to assign any reasonable ground of excuse for not having complied with the order, such as that a child was not in a fit condition to be Vaccinated. But it was not a reasonable ground of excuse that a parent had a conscientious objection to vaccination.

Have the magistrates a right to assume what will be the character of a defence to be offered by a defendant who has not complied with an order?

Clearly not.

Are the magistrates justified in refusing to hear a person appointed by defendants before they know the line he is going to take?

I have said nothing of the sort. On the contrary, I think they are bound to hear all that the Statute requires to be heard.

Will the right hon. Gentleman communicate with the magistrates to the effect that, as far as appearances go, they violate the law by refusing to hear Mr. Farthing.

asked the Secretary to the Board of Trade, Whether the officials having charge of the weights and measures in Birkenhead have made serious allegations as to the inefficient mode in which the standards were locally compared by the officer in charge of the Standards Department in October, 1885, and returned by him in an unsatisfactory condition, necessitating their being sent to a firm in London for rectification, after they had been passed and stamped by him?

No allegations as to the mode of comparison of local standards being inefficient have been made; but in 1885 the Inspector of Weights and Measures for Birkenhead represented that the standards had not been returned to him in a satisfactory condition. There is no instance of any local standard having been found to be in error, or to have required rectification, after having been passed by the Standards Department.

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, What is, or will be, the number of the Egyptian Army when the reductions now ordered are carried out; and, why the number is being reduced below what Sir Henry Drummond Wolff recommmended?

From the 1st of May last the Egyptian Army was reduced to a force of 9,393 men of all ranks. It will be seen from the Papers laid before Parliament (Egypt, No. 7, 1887, Nos. 46 and 54) that Sir Henry Drummond Wolff estimated the force required at from 8,000 to 10,000 men.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, Whether arrangements have been made with the Peninsular and Oriental Steamship Company for the retention of any of their vessels on the list of the Royal Naval Reserved Cruisers for the protection of commerce in the event of hostilities; and, if such a contract, has been made, will he state its general conditions, the names and leading particulars of the vessels which are to receive such a subvention, the amount of such subvention, and the names of any other vessels similar subventions secure to the service of the Admiralty?

Arrangements have been made with the Peninsular and Oriental Company under which, in consideration of an annual subvention of about £3,500, payable in respect of each of three of their new ships—namely, the Victoria, Britannia, and Oceana, of 6,300 tons each—that Company engage to hold these steamers at the disposition of the Admiralty for service as armed cruisers or transports whenever required. That Company also engage to hold in the same manner at our disposal and for the same purposes, but without further charge, seven of their other steamers—namely, Arcadia (new), Valetta, Masslia, Rome, Carthage, Ballarat, and Paramatta. All these vessels, representing over 48,000 tons of shipping, especially the four new ones, possess a high rate of speed, and have an unusually large coal endurance. In the event of the Company building further steamers which the Admiralty consider more suitable than those named in the agreement we retain the right of substitution. The prices for hire or purchase are specified in the agreement. The agreement is determinable at 12 months' notice on either side. The vessels are to have such fittings placed on board as will enable them to be pre- pared at the shortest notice in the event of contingencies.

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether it is the fact that, by Letters Patent of 23rd November, 1853, Her Majesty created the late Bishop of Natal a "body corporate," to be a "perpetual corporation," and to "have perpetual succession;" and, whether, seeing that the Archbishop of Canterbury has declined to apply for a mandate for the consecration of the Rev. Sir G. W. Cox, as Bishop of the vacant See, Her Majesty's Ministers will take such steps as may be necessary to fulfil the pledges given by the Crown to the members of the Church of England in South Africa?

The statement in the first paragraph of the Question as to the effect of the Letters Patent is correct. As to the second part of the Question, it was decided in 1884 that, having regard to the Report of the Committee of the Privy Council of the 24th of June, 1873, Her Majesty should not be advised to appoint by Letters Patent a successor to Bishop Colenso, and Her Majesty's present Advisers see no reason to depart from that decision.

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether the Government will take stops to have a Select Committee or Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the subject of proportionate reduction of family charges upon land?

I am sure the hon. and learned Gentleman will have anticipated the answer I am about to give, having regard to the very serious character of the Question. I am not able to enter into any engagement with him or with the House on the subject.

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether he is aware that the keepers in Windsor Forest constantly turn back foot passengers who are using the green rides and roads through the Forest; whether there are numerous looked gates between the Forest and the high roads, and between portions of the Forest not communicating with the Park, or any place where deer are kept; and, whether the keepers receive their authority and instructions from the Commissioner of Woods and Forests; and, if not, why not?

Her Majesty, in surrendering Windsor Park and the Forest as then existing, retained as her predecessors retained, the right of keeping deer and game and of appointing a Ranger, with the necessary staff. In order to prevent undue interference with the game or injury to the woods by persons using the Forest, and also in some cases to prevent the acquisition of rights of way, it may occasionally happen that persons are turned back. There is, however, but little restriction in the case of a considerable area of the Forest, which extends over about 14 square miles. In parts of the Forest adjoining the Park an outer deer fence is maintained to prevent deer from straying, and the gates in the outer fence are necessarily kept locked. The keepers are not under the control of the Commissioners of Woods, as they are appointed by Her Majesty and the Ranger.

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether he will consider the desirability of introducing next Session a Bill for the purpose of enabling a rehearing to be obtained in capital cases of felony where doubts arise after verdict and sentence?

, in reply, said, he was not able to enter into any engagement of the character referred to in the Question.

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, When it is intended to fill up the vacancies on the Royal Commission to inquire into the Civil Establishments, and the vacancy on the Royal Commission to inquire into the Elementary Education Acts in England and Wales?

The question as to the necessity of filling up any vacancies that may exist in the Civil Establishments Commission will be considered later. At present the Commission is not sitting. Two vacancies that recently occurred in the Commission on the Elementary Education Acts in England and Wales have been filled up—the Duke of Norfolk and Mr. Lyulph Stanley appointed.

asked the Parliamentary Under Secretary for Ireland, Whether he was aware that the evidence taken before the Select Committee on the Municipal Regulation (Constabulary, &c) (Belfast) Bill had not been circulated; and whether he would use his influence to have it placed in the hands of Members as soon as possible?

, in reply, said, he was not aware that it had not been circulated; but he would make inquiries on the subject.

asked the First Lord of the Treasury or the Chief Secretary for Ireland to include in the statement of Business some information as to the course the Government proposed to adopt in relation to the Distressed Unions (Ireland) Bill. The Government had Notice for three weeks that the Irish Members would oppose this Bill to the uttermost; and it was now desirable that they should have some definite answer as to what course they proposed to take with regard to it.

said, their view of the Bill, as the House was aware, was that it was one of great importance to meet an immediate crisis in a particular locality, and if the hon. Gentleman and his Friends below the Gangway took the responsibility of blocking it the Government could not help it; nut so long as there was a possibility of its being passed they would not remove it from the Paper.

wished to ask, if the Government intended or not to exert themselves to pass into law this Session their Bill for the better Government of Belfast?

That Bill is also blocked.

Does the right hon. Gentleman intend to allow this Bill to remain under the operation of the Blocking Rule?

I cannot help it. The Government could not help it; but so long as there was a possibility of its being passed they would not remove it from the Paper.

I entered into an engagement a few days ago with the right hon. Gentleman opposite to state to the House again the Bills which Her Majesty's Government think it necessary to persevere with, and those which they, with very great reluctance, feel compelled to drop. I think it may be well that I should refer to those which they consider it their duty to persevere with under all reasonable circumstances and conditions. The first Bill to which I refer is the Coal Mines Regulation Bill. It is with great regret that I have to remark that that Bill has not yet passed through Committee; but I have every hope that the appeal which I made to hon. Gentlemen who take an interest in that Bill will induce them to remove the new clauses on the Paper, so far as the Committee stage is concerned. The appeal has been seconded by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for South Edinburgh (Mr. Childers), and I believe it is one which has been received with great favour by the hon. Gentleman the Member for Morpeth (Mr. Burt). Under these circumstances, if these new clauses are removed from the Paper so far as the Committee stage is concerned, we can report the Bill to the House this evening; and I hope to arrange for the earliest possible day after progress has been made with Supply, which is absolutely required, for the consideration of the Report on that Bill. It is the strong desire of the Government to pass that Bill. The other Bill which the Government think it necessary to pursue with diligence is the Allotments Bill. We think that that Bill ought to pass into law before the Session is brought to a close. There are two or three comparatively minor measures which are of great administrative importance. There is the Local Government Boundaries Bill, in order to establish the Commission to set out the boundaries which will be included in any Local Government Bill next year, and which will greatly facilitate the progress of legislation next year for that purpose. I trust that the House will pass that Bill without any discussion or delay, for no political principle whatever is involved in it. Right hon. Gentlemen who have experience of the conduct of Public Business will, I am sure, confirm the expression of opinion I have given. There is one other small measure—a measure promoted by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary (Mr. Matthews)—with regard to the police of the Metropolis. That is to redeem and carry out an engagement made by the right hon. Gentleman the Home Secretary in the last Government. A great loss will be experienced to the Public Service unless that Bill is passed in the course of the present year. But it is one which, of course, could not be passed if it meets with any very serious opposition. The public interest will, however, be served largely if it is passed. There are three Scotch measures which we urgently desire to pass—the Lunacy Districts Bill, the Sheriff of Lanarkshire Bill, and the Secretary for Scotland Bill. I propose, as soon as Supply will enable me to make an arrangement for that purpose, to put down these Bills on a day on which Scotch Supply will be taken, so as to have another Scotch day. There are one or two other small matters to which I need not allude, and which are simply local and administrative. The first of the Bills which we are, with great regret, compelled to sacrifice is the Tithe Rent-Charge Bill, with which we part with very great regret, having regard to the serious condition of affairs in different parts of the country. We are responsible for the peace of the United Kingdom; and we are, therefore, at liberty, and we are bound to express regret that we are compelled by the state of Public Business, and by the great delay which has occurred in the conduct of Public Business, to part with a measure which we believe would have tended greatly to advance the best interests of the country. It has boon represented to me that a modification of that Bill might have been accepted by the House, or that a Bill for a short period might have been accepted. But after very careful consideration of the question from every point of view, I came to the conclusion that a Bill for one or two years, or even a Bill for the modification of the existing system of the collection of tithe rent-charge, would have met with greater opposition in this House than we could have encountered in the last days of August. Under these circumstances, we part with the Bill this year with very great regret. There is also another Bill which I am obliged to surrender, and which I do so on other grounds with great regret, and that is the Technical Education Bill. We hoped that that Bill would have been received almost unanimously by the House, but it has met with opposition, and we are threatened with prolonged discussion of the measure, and on the 18th of August I cannot encounter the difficulties which are likely to be thrown in the way if we persist in the carrying through of that Bill in the course of the present Session. It is, however, a measure which we should feel it our duty to introduce in the very earliest days of the next Session, and I hope that the consideration which will be given to the subject in the interval will enable us to meet any objections raised by my hon. Friends on this aide of the House, and by hon. Gentlemen on the other side, so as to produce a measure which will rapidly obtain the concurrence of the House without exciting any Party feeling of any kind whatever, for I should greatly deprecate any Party or sectional feeling on a question of this kind. Then there is another Bill which the Chancellor of the Exchequer has introduced, which we also feel that we must sacrifice. This is a Bill which I think does not merit the disapprobation with which it has been received from all quarters of the House. It was intended to facilitate the collection of public revenue, and to remedy evils which undoubtedly exist in that collection. But again, I say, on the 18th of August it is impossible for us to insist on passing a number of Bills into law when we have 116 Votes in Supply to obtain before this Session can be closed. I have every reason to believe that a more careful study of the provisions of this Bill will reconcile a great many hon. Gentlemen, and a great many gentlemen outside this House, to the provisions of this measure, which have occasioned alarm and consternation, not at all, in my judgment, warranted by the actual arrangements in the Bill itself. There are certain Consolidation Bills which I hoped, as improvements of the law, would have been accepted by the House without much consideration. There is the County Courts Act Consolidation Bill; but I am informed by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for East Wolverhampton (Mr. Henry H. Fowler) that that would meet with some opposition. Then the Sheriffs Consolidation Bill and the Coroners Bill must also be surrendered to the exigencies of the case. There is an Irish Bill which we must also sacrifice—the Royal Irish Constabulary Bill. [Home Rule cheers.] I am glad to say anything that will give satisfaction to any Party in the House; but it is no source of satisfaction to me that I am compelled to make this announcement under circumstances of great and unusual pressure. I do not think it is necessary for me to refer to other measures of minor importance which stand on the Order Paper, and which ought not to occupy more than a few minutes for consideration. One little measure, called the Charity Commission Officers Bill, is to carry out the Report of the Committee which sat last year and the year before, and to make economical arrangements with regard to the Charity Commission Office. I hope that the House will accept this Bill. It will bring about a great reduction in the public charge, and it will add greatly to the efficiency of an important Department of the Public Service. There is also the Superannuation Bill and the Appellate Jurisdiction Bill which have passed the House of Lords, which I hope will be accepted by the House. But we leave them on the Paper in the hope that the House will be able to deal with them. They are measures which are for the advantage of the country and for the Public Service, and they involve, as far as I can see, no Party questions whatever: And now I must refer to the course of Business. I undertook last week, in answer to an appeal made by the hon. Gentleman opposite, to put down the Diplomatic Vote for the first day after the Mines Bill had passed through Committee. The Mines Bill has, unfortunately, not passed through Committee, and I am not able to say at the present moment what will be the result of the appeal I have made to hon. Members on the subject. I think it would be very much to the convenience of the House to proceed with the Allotments Bill on Friday, and to take the Diplomatic Vote in Supply on the first occasion after the Allotments Bill has passed through Committee, and then I trust we may be able to proceed with Supply and make distinct progress with it. On this subject, I wish to state to the House that we have had 23 nights in Supply this year; the total number in 1885 was 23, and the total number in 1886—including two Sessions of Parliament—was 25. I think I have said enough by merely giving these figures to satisfy the House that the time has arrived when it is most essential, in the interests of the House and the country, that we should make reasonable progress with Supply, and that the Session should not be unduly prolonged.

I wish to say only a very few words with regard to the statement of the right hon. Gentleman. I believe the announcement of the right hon. Gentleman has made with reference to the principal Bills he desires to proceed with will receive the unanimous assent of the House. Everybody desires to see the Mines Bill and the Allotments Bill pass. I also think what the right hon. Gentleman has said with regard to the Boundary Commission Bill is reasonable, because an examination of the boundaries is au essential preliminary to the measure of local government reform we are promised next year. To the Police Bill also, no objection would be raised. As to the Scotch Bills, I do not feel very competent to express an opinion, but the Scotch Members may have something to say about them. The right hon. Gen- tleman said there was one Irish Bill he was going to drop; but there is another Irish Bill which we have heard a great deal about. I will not call it "Coercion Bill, No. 2," because the right hon. Gentleman objects to that term, but the Supplementary Coercion Bill. I should like to hear that there is a prospect of that Bill being among the dropped measures. With respect to the Revenue Bill, I am not one of those who share the prejudices, as I think them, which are held on the subject. But the right hon. Gentleman must remember that the difficulties with which this Bill is met are very much of his own making. Some years ago he led a violent opposition to a similar Bill; and if this Bill suffers, it will not be from the action of any hon. Member, but of the right hon. Gentleman himself. As to the arrangement proposed for the Allotments Bill, I think, as Members are here in considerable numbers, it would probably be the most convenient course that it should be taken to-morrow.

said, he wished to appeal to the First Lord of Treasury with regard to the Technical Schools (Scotland) Bill. The difficulties which he understood had arisen in connection with the English Bill did not apply to the Scotch Bill, which had been received with great favour. Now that it had received a second reading he would suggest that it might be allowed to remain on the Paper so as to give it a chance of passing. He believed the Committee stage would not occupy more than an hour.

asked the First Lord of the Treasury to take into consideration the advisability of appointing a Royal Commission to inquire into the question of the commutation and redemption of tithes during the Recess, with a view to legislation next Session?

asked, in what order Supply would be taken after the Diplomatic Vote?

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman would not take the English Votes in Supply now that the English Members were present and postpone the Irish Votes. He should like a definite intimation as to when the Irish Votes would be taken?

asked whether any indication could be given as to the time when the Indian Budget would come on?

inquired whether the right hon. Gentleman could not put down the Technical Schools (Scotland) Bill among the Scotch Bills which were to be taken?

asked whether the Allotments Bill would be the first order to-morrow?

asked on what day after to-morrow it was proposed to take the Allotments Bill?

asked, seeing that the School Board elections in Scotland took place early next year, whether the right hon. Gentleman could not take the Technical Schools (Scotland) Bill in place of the Secretary for Scotland Bill?

said, he understood the Allotments Bill would be taken to-morrow, but when would the Diplomatic and Consular Vote be taken? Nothing that had been said from the Front Opposition Bench favoured its postponement beyond to-morrow.

asked whether it was not time that the First Lord of the Treasury should introduce the Bill he had promised to provide the right hon. and gallant Member for the Isle of Thanet (Colonel King-Harman) with his salary?

hoped the right hon. Gentleman would reconsider his determination to sacrifice the Technical Instruction Bill as it had created great interest in manufacturing districts. The opposition to the measure came chiefly from the other side of the House among the right hon. Gentleman's own followers.

inquired whether if the Allotments Bill was to go forward the right hon. Gentleman could not introduce something of a corresponding nature for Scotland. He wished also to know whether the Government intended to adhere to the order in which the Votes were placed?

I have been asked as to the order of the Votes. I think it would be for the convenience of the House to proceed with the Votes generally in the order in which they stand on the Paper. I will endeavour to give the earliest possible intimation to hon. Members below the Gangway—if possible, 48 hours' Notice—as to the time when the Irish Votes will be taken. I have been challenged as to the Technical Education (Scotland) Bill. If it is the wish of hon. Members from Scotland that that Measure should remain on the Order Book, I certainly shall not remove it, but I must reserve to myself time for a little consideration as to whether it can be proceeded with. I will endeavour as far as possible to meet the wishes of hon. Members. I have been challenged, also, with regard to the Belfast Municicipal Regulation Bill. It is our strong desire to pass this Bill. It is a Government Bill, and it can be passed if time be not wasted. We will do our best, if hon. Gentlemen below the Gangway will help us. With regard to the Indian Budget, the hon. Gentleman will see that I cannot say when it will be taken until progress is made in Supply, and the Government is able to form some idea as to the course of Public Business. But progress in Supply has been so excessively slow that it is impossible to forecast when any particular measure which depends on Supply will be taken. The subject of the tithe commutation is engaging the serious consideration of the Government, but I cannot say more on that question, which involves very serious issues. As to the Bill authorizing the payment of salary to the Under Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant, we wished and intended not only to bring in that Bill this year, but to pass it; but I think it is now too late in the Session. We therefore intend to introduce it in the earliest days of next Session.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say [Cries of"Order!"]

It is only duo to the right hon. and gallant Gentleman who gives his time and his ability to the Public Service that he should be put into the position and recognized by Statute as Assistant Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant, and we shall certainly lose no time in taking the steps necessary for carrying out that arrangement. I think I have now answered all the Questions addressed to me.

There is one Question I should like to ask. We certainly understood that the position of the Parliamentary Under Secretary was to be formally brought under the notice of the House of Commons so that it should be discussed. The right hon. Gentleman pleads time as a reason for not bringing forward that measure, but I would like to ask him whether during the Recess the right hon. and gallant Member for the Isle of Thanet is going to perform executive duties in Ireland; because, to my mind, that opens a very grave Constitutional question. [Ministerial cries of "Oh, oh! and Order!"] If Gentlemen opposite put me to it I shall be obliged to move the adjournment of the House. [Laughter.] I am quite sure, in spite of the civil Laughter of Gentlemen opposite, that I am consulting the convenience of the House in the course which I am taking.

I am sorry to interrupt the right hon. Gentleman because I fully admit the importance of the question which he has raised, but if he will be so kind as to repeat his question to-morrow I shall be prepared to give a full answer, which I think will save the necessity of any further discussion upon the matter.

asked whether it was intended to complete the Civil Service Estimates before the remaining Votes for the Army and Navy were taken?

I must consider the exigencies of Supply. It may be necessary that certain Army and Navy Votes may have to be intervened in the Civil Service Votes, but it is the desire of the Government to go on with the Votes in the order in which they stand upon the Paper.

asked whether it was the intention of the Government to make the Bill providing for the salary of the Parliamentary Under Secretary for Ireland retrospective or not?

I thought the hon. Gentleman would have been aware that such legislation was never retrospective.

asked whether Scotch Business would be taken next week?

asked what would be the order of Business for tomorrow?

asked when the Law of Evidence Bill would be taken?

I hope that the Law of Evidence Bill will be generally accepted by the House, as I believe that it is a great improvement in the law, and almost all lawyers are of that opinion. With regard to the question of the hon. and learned Member behind me, I really hope that the Allotments Bill would be finished in one night. I am afraid that I am not in a position to say when the Scotch Votes and Bills will be taken, but I will give 24 hours' Notice of the intention of the Government to bring them on. As regards Supply I will endeavour to take the Diplomatic Vote on either Saturday or Monday, but I will see how Public Business proceeds to-morrow. I have fully considered the question of the hon. Member with regard to the Scotch Technical Education Bill, but I am afraid that I cannot undertake to proceed with that measure having regard to the period of the Session at which we have arrived.