asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether any measures have been taken during the past few years to induce the feudatory Chiefs and Princes of India to reduce their armies from 350,000 men and 4,000 guns to a more reasonable number, so that a larger share of their revenues might thereby be diverted from expenses of military display to the internal development of their States; and, if so, whether the Government of India have been able to devise any means for utilizing the forces thus reduced towards the general defence of the Empire?

The Secretary of State has no official information on the subject; but is aware that the question of the utilization of the armaments and military resources of the Native States has engaged, and is engaging, the attention of the Government of India.

asked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether he is aware that the 120 persons summoned on the 25th of September last for local rates at Westminster were all summoned for rates due up to March, 1889, to meet local expenses up to that date, and that the demand note for the rates issued in April for rates made 28th March, 1888, state that it is—

"For rates for the 12 months commencing 26th March, 1838, and ending 25th March, 1889,"

"Payable in eight different parts, each part being payable at a separate time,"

I am informed that the 120 persons summoned on September 25 last for payment of the rates of the parish of St. Margaret and St. John, Westminster, were summoned for an instalment of one-half of the poor rate due on the preceding 24th of June, and for the general rates for the year ending March 25, 1889. It is not stated in any document issued by the Vestry that the rates are payable in eight parts at different times; but I am informed that last year 2,286 out of more than 8,000 ratepayers availed themselves, more or less, of the option of so doing. With respect to the poor rates, it was stated in the demand note that that rate might, if preferred, be paid in three instalments—one of 9½d. immediately, and two of 5d. at Michaelmas and Christmas respectively; but there was no similar statement as regards the general rates. I am informed that the rates collected in May, June, July, August, and September were required before they were received; and that on June 1, when £12,182 was due under the precept of the Metropolitan Board of Works, the amount collected towards that sum was £4,193, and on July 12, when the payment was made under pressure, it became necessary to overdraw the account to the amount of £4,226; and that the install- ment under the precept of the School Board for London due from the Vestry on June 24 was not paid, owing to the insufficient amount collected, until September 13; and that on September 29 (the summonses referred to in the Question were heard on September 25), when a further sum of £5,654 was due to the School Board for London, the amount in hand towards it was £729. I cannot promise any legislation on the subject. The Vestry is a Representative Body; and it seems to me that the matter is one for the consideration of the ratepayers.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he is aware that Carrakout River, which forms part of the boundary line between the Counties of Fermanagh and Monaghan, flows across a main public road connecting these counties at a point near Knockatallon, and when flooded causes a complete interruption of the public traffic, and becomes a very serious danger to public life itself; whether the inhabitants of the districts of both counties most interested have been for several years endeavouring to cause the proper authorities to construct a bridge at this point; whether he is aware that although the Road Session of County Fermanagh long ago decided to construct half of such a bridge, the County Monaghan Road Sessions have refused to do so, although repeatedly memorialized by the principal cesspayers and the general public in the districts most interested during the past two years, and as late as November last, when they were advised to do so by Mr. Carroll, County Surveyor, to co-operate to have a bridge built; whether he can state the grounds upon which they refused compliance with the wish of the cesspayers; and, whether the Government have power, and, if so, will they exercise it, to induce or compel the Road Session for the safety of the public life to construct their part of the proposed bridge?

said: As regards the circumstances connected with the river and the inconvenience caused by the want of a bridge, I believe that the facts are substantially as stated; but I am not aware that the danger is so serious as is suggested. As to the efforts which have been made to remedy the existing state of things, I am informed that a presentment for building the half of a bridge across the river was made at the proper Road Sessions in County Fermanagh in October, 1883, certified for at the Spring Assizes, 1884, and rejected at the Summer Assizes, 1884, in consequence of the want of co-operation on the part of the County Monaghan authorities, and that no application has since been made to the Fermanagh Grand Jury. I am also informed that a presentment for building one-half of the bridge came several times before the proper Road Sessions in the County Monaghan, and was either rejected there or by the Grand Jury at the Assizes; and that a similar presentment came before the last Road Sessions in Monaghan on the 30th November, and was unanimously rejected by the five Justices and five associated cesspayers present upon the ground of the expense. The Government have no power to compel the Road Sessions to construct part of the proposed bridge, or to interfere with their decisions. I may, however, add that (under the provisions of 4 & 5 Will. IV., c. 61) it is in the power of either the Fermanagh or the Monaghan Grand Jury to present a Memorial to the Lord Lieutenant praying that the powers of that Act may be put in force. The Lord Lieutenant thereupon may order an inquiry by the Board of Works, or other persons; and if such inquiry results in a representation in favour of the construction of the bridge he may direct the work to be executed, and the expense to be apportioned between the two counties. If this procedure be adopted, I have no doubt that any Memorial presented to the Lord Lieutenant will receive careful consideration.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether his attention has been called to the presentment of the Tyrone Grand Jury, at Lent Assizes, 1887, of a charge for £1,712 15s. 3d. for expenses in relation to the preparation of the Revised Register of Voters for the County of Tyrone for 1886–7, including the following items:—

"To Lewis M. Buchanan, Clerk of the Peace, for expenses incurred. (1.) Nathaniel Carson, as per contract and account furnished, £358 6s. 6d.; Samuel D. Montgomery, for the like, £354 9s. 2d.; Joseph Graham and Son, for the like, £300 6s.; A. J. Matthews, for the like, £4 10s.;—£1,017 11s. 8d., less credit, sale of registers, &c., £114 13s. 5d.—£902 18s. 3d. (2.) For hire of rooms in lieu of courts, as per accounts, £59 17s. (3.) For preparing, arranging, compiling, printing, and publishing the Registers of Parliamentary voters for the four Divisions of the county, £750;"

said: I am informed that the amounts are substantially as stated in the Question. But the figures for 1885–6 include the expenses under the Ballot and Polling Districts Act. The taxed costs of registration appeals amounted for the years 1885–6, 1886–7, and 1887–8 to £791 in addition. All these levies are borne solely by the county cess. As regards the Poor Law expenses, the boundaries of unions and counties not being conterminous, and the expenses being sanctioned by unions, time has not admitted of ascertaining the exact figures for the County Tyrone; but the expenses paid by the Guardians of the seven unions which are mainly situated in the county were in 1885–6, £312 13s. 7d.; in 1886–7, £865 13s.; in 1887–8, £863 16s. 2d. I have no information with respect to the paragraph 9. As regards the last paragraph, a comprehensive Return of the payments made by County Authorities in Ireland during each of the years 1884–5 and 1886 was laid before the House last Session (Parliamentary Paper No. 325, 1887). The Local Government Board could also give the expenditure in each union for those years, apportioning it approximately on the counties.

said, as it was desirable to check what was apparently a very gross expenditure—he would not say a job—namely, nearly £2,000 for the preparation of a Return of about 1,000 pages, or £2 per page, the hon. and learned Gentleman was not giving a Return such as he suggested. Let them see, for example, how much the County of Cork paid.

said, the Local Government Board could give approximately the expenditure in those years for the different counties.

asked, if the hon. and learned Gentleman would have any objection to giving a Return which would afford an opportunity of comparing and considering more closely this expenditure?

said, if the hon. Member moved for such a Return, he would see whether it might be granted, or how far it might be agreed to.

asked the Secretary of State for War. Whether he has received a Memorial from the inhabitants of Ballyshannon and neighbourhood, asking for the headquarters of the 5th Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers to be placed in Ballyshannon, which is the largest town in the County of Donegal, and possesses adequate barrack accommodation, whilst at Lifford recourse must be had to billeting; and, whether, having regard to these and other considerations of expediency and economy urged by the Petitioners, he will be able to accede to their request?

said: The Secretary of State for War was aware that there was superior barrack accommodation in Ballyshannon; but the question of the removal of the headquarters of a battalion must be considered from some other points of view besides that of barrack accommodation. He would, however, make further inquiries into the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been called to the case of Jane Street, of Rutland Street, Derby, a married woman with six children, who was sentenced at the Derby Town Hall, on the 20th of November, to one month's imprisonment for giving a wrong address in registering a recently born infant; whether there is evidence that her motive was a dread of the vaccination officer; whether the above was her only offence; and, whether, considering the needs of her young family, he can see his way to advise the remission of the remainder of her sentence?

I am informed by the Justices of Derby that Mrs. Street was sentenced to pay a fine of £1 and 23s. costs, or in default to be imprisoned for one month without hard labour. Her motive was to evade the provisions of the Vaccination Acts. Both she and her husband have for some time evaded those Acts. She was liable for her offence to a fine of £10, or, on indictment, to penal servitude for seven years. No application was made to the magistrates to direct payment by instalments or at a future date. The woman herself declared she would not pay the fine, but would go to prison, and used threatening language to the vaccination officer when she left the Court. Under these circumstances, the magistrates are opposed to any remission of the sentence, and I do not feel justified in advising any interference with their decision.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether the Irish Government has, after full consideration, decided that the claims of certain Professors of the Queen's Colleges in respect to loss of income brought about by the Royal University Act, and amounting in some cases to one-half the income of the Professors, are well founded; whether these claims have been under consideration for six years; and, whether any action will be taken by the Treasury in the direction of readjusting the incomes of these Professors, in accordance with the decision arrived at by the Irish Government?

I think the hon. Gentleman must be under some misconception. I am informed the Irish Government have not arrived at any such decision as is indicated in the Question; and, therefore, no action on the part of the Treasury is contemplated.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, Whether new Regulations have recently been introduced at the Admiralty with reference to the punctual attendance of its officials; whether such Regulations apply only to the Lower Division; and, whether, in consequence, it is the fact that Lower Division clerks have to sign their names and time of arrival and departure in an attendance book, which is removed soon after 10 o'clock, the Upper Division sign their names without stating the time either of arrival or of departure, such book not being removed, and the Upper Division clerks of the Secretary's Office sign no book whatever?

, in reply, said, no new Regulations had been introduced. Those at present in force were established in the year 1887–8, and they were very much as stated in the Question, though they varied in different Departments. As these Rules had been found to work extremely well, he did not think it necessary to make any alteration.

Does the noble Lord still intend to keep up the distinction between the Lower and Higher Division clerks?

said, he objected altogether to make such a Rule as the hon. Member wanted in the case of the Higher Division clerks. Some of these clerks had had to work 200 hours this year in excess of their ordinary time without pay; while the Lower Division clerks received remuneration for the extra work done by them. Although the Higher Division clerks were not so paid, when an exceptional demand was made on their time they gave it ungrudgingly.

asked, what check there was on the attendance of the Higher Division clerks at all?

said, the Head of every Department was responsible for seeing that those under him attended properly to their duties. There were in certain branches of the Admiralty at present certain redundant Higher Division clerks—that could not be helped; but he considered any alteration in the Rules, as proposed by his hon. Friend, would be detrimental to the transaction of Public Business.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, Whether the Admiralty telegraph wire, connecting St. Aldhelm's Head with the post office at Corfe Castle, will be available for summoning lifeboat, or other assistance, in case of wreck, or apprehended wreck; and, if so, whether arrangements can be made for keeping open the post office connection during stormy nights, thus obtaining its assistance in summoning either the Swanage or Kimeridge lifeboats during the whole night, as well as keeping up communication with Poole and Weymouth two hours later than under present arrangements?

The Admiralty are anxious to do all in their power to assist the hon. Member in his praiseworthy efforts to diminish the loss of life from shipwreck, and readily give permission for the use of their telegraph wire between St. Aldhelm's Head and Corfe Castle for this purpose; but, as the hon. Gentleman will understand, they have not the complete management of this telegraphic communication in their own hands. I am, however, informed by the Postmaster General that arrangements can be made for keeping open the necessary connection at Corfe Castle, provided that the small expenses involved are defrayed by the Lifeboat Institution. If this proposal meets the views of the institution, the Admiralty will give directions for the Coastguard to co-operate, as far as is compatible with the performance of their own duties, in any arrangement that may be proposed for carrying out this good object.

asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether he is aware that an announcement has appeared in the Australian papers to the effect that West Australia has received a Constitution, and is to become shortly a self-governing Colony; whether such announcement has any foundation in fact; and, whether, before granting the Constitution, he will take into consideration the immense disparity between the population and the area of West Australia, its population being only about forty thousand (40,000), whereas the area of its territory is close upon 1,000,000 square miles?

The announcement, which I had not seen, is, no doubt, founded upon the fact that a draft Bill for the introduction of responsible government has been approved by the Secretary of State, and has been under discussion in the Legislative Council of the Colony. The Bill, if it leaves the Council in a shape that can be accepted by Her Majesty's Government, cannot take effect without legislation in this country. Her Majesty's Government have not failed to consider the disproportion of population to the size of the Colony, and have made it a condition that they shall retain the control of the Crown Lands in the northern part of Western Australia.

asked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether his attention has been drawn to The Halifax Times of the 4th of October, 1888, containing a report of the proceedings of the Halifax Town Council, and to the charges then made in writing against certain gentlemen connected with the Town Council, namely—

"That they had been guilty of fraud and malpractices in connection with the Halifax Gasworks,"

Prior to the Notice of the Question of the hon. Member, my attention had not been called to the matter to which he refers. As regards the suggestion that the Local Government Board should direct an official inquiry, I can only say that the Board have no powers under which they could institute an inquiry into the conduct of particular members of a Town Council or their officers; and, assuming that there were such powers, I think, as a general rule, it would be inexpedient for the Board to undertake inquiries into charges of fraud. The hon. Member is probably aware that one of the persons alleged to be implicated is to be tried at the present Leeds Assizes.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, Whether he is aware that above 90 per cent of the shares of the Inman Steamship Company are owned by American citizens; and, whether, under these circumstances, the Company receives, or will receive, a subsidy for placing any of their boats on the Admiralty list of fast cruisers available for transport or military operations in case of war?

We were aware of the fact that, although, the Company was registered and had its headquarters in England, a large proportion of the shares are held by other than British subjects. The contract was drawn accordingly, and differs from those previously made with other Companies as regards period at which payment is made. The contract will be laid on the Table of the House.

asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether a vacancy has existed in the higher clerical staff of the Colonial Office for about a year; whether the work attached to the vacant post is of such a nature that it could be performed by an experienced Lower Division clerk; and, if not, whether it would be possible (as recommended by the Royal Commissioners on Civil Establishments) to re-arrange the work so as to allow of an experienced Lower Division clerk being employed on the less responsible portion?

This Question has been carefully considered by the Secretary of State, in communication with the Treasury, with the view of ascertaining whether any such scheme could be carried out; but, although he is of opinion that any increase of staff which may be rendered necessary hereafter by the increasing business of the Office may be met by an extension of the number of Lower Division clerks, he has satisfied himself that the present number of first-class clerks constitutes the minimum number, without which the business of the Office cannot be satisfactorily carried on. Advantage is, however, being taken of the vacancy to take over a clerk of the same grade from some other Department; and it will not be filled up from outside.

asked the Postmaster General, If there be any Rules for the guidance of the public regarding telegrams ex facie urgent, addressed to localities upwards of a mile from a telegraph station; whether, if the official taking in such telegram demands no extra payment for delivery, it is understood that the receiving office undertakes due delivery, getting payment of the extra charge from the receiver of the telegram; whether his attention has been called to the case of Miss Munro, who telegraphed on the 12th of October last from Perthshire to Ross-shire, eight miles from a station, in these terms to her sister—

"Come on at once, your brother is dead, will be buried to-morrow;"

The hon. Member will find the Rules relating to the delivery of telegrams at page 303 of The Post Office Guide, paragraphs 6 to 11. The case of Miss Munro has not been brought to my notice; but if the hon. Member will state where her telegram was handed in I shall be glad to have inquiry made, and let him know the result.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether an instrument of punishment, known as "hobbles," is still in use in English female prisons; and, if so, can he state what is the nature of the punishment; and, whether he can explain by whose authority, and under what circumstances, it can be applied to female prisoners?

Ankle straps are not used as a punishment. They have been authorized by the Secretary of State to prevent violent women from injuring themselves or others (see H. O. letter No. 90,229, dated the 21st February, 1870, and H. O., No. 86,973, 7th of September, 1880). The term "hobbles" is unknown in the Prison Department. If the hon. Member is referring to ankle-straps, these were authorized some years ago by the Secretary of State to be used by medical authority only, not as a punishment, but as a measure of restraint to prevent violent women from injuring themselves.

asked, whether, when the strait-jacket was put on the woman, her ankles were fastened to a block of wood, secured across the shoulders so that she could not move?

The Question on the Paper has nothing to do with strait-waistcoats. I have no information as to their being generally used in English prisons.

They are, and the public ought to know it.

Is it not against the Constitution that cruel or unusual punishments should be inflicted?

It is not a punishment at all. It is used under medical advice to prevent the woman injuring herself.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been called to a report in The Newcastle Daily Chronicle of December 6, 1888, to the following effect:—

"Three men were killed on Tuesday in Pellowel Level Colliery, near Whitecroft, Forest of Dean, by bad air;"

I am informed by the Inspector, in regard to the reported colliery accident in the Forest of Dean, that on the morning of the 4th instant, the ventilation being unsatisfactory, the workmen were ordered to leave the mine. A flow of water in the upcast shaft, caused by recent rains, appears to have caused stagnation in the air; and an additional boiler recently placed at the bottom of the shaft had interfered with the air current. The under manager, the fireman, and the engineman seem to have been anxious to get to the boilers in order that the pump might be kept at work. Their bodies were afterwards found about 700 yards from the mouth of the level, they having been apparently overpowered by the fumes. The inquest has been adjourned till Thursday, when, no doubt, further facts will be elicited. Precautions have been taken since the accident, and the ventilation is now satisfactory.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, What steps have been taken to give effect to that portion of the Report of this year's Select Committee of the House of Commons on Navy Estimates, in which the Committee

"Press on the Admiralty the necessity of further investigating, with the aid of outside opinion, the best means of distributing the protective armour to be given to our line-of-battle ships and cruisers in the future;"

I have taken steps to consult the opinion of experienced naval officers, who were unconnected with the Admiralty, upon this subject; and I will lay the result of the conclusions thus arrived at before, or simultaneously with, any proposals for new battle-ships.

asked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether complaints have reached him of the bad quality of the water supplied by the South-West Suburban Water Company, which carries on business outside the Metropolis, by virtue of a private Act of Parliament passed in 1883; and whether there is any power, either in the Local Government Board or in any Local Authority, to inspect the works of that Company, or in any way to take steps to insure the purity of the supply; and, if not, whether he will consider the propriety of conferring on extra-Metropolitan districts securities similar to those provided for the Metropolis by Section 4 of "The Metropolis Water Act, 1852," and Sections 35 and 36 of "The Metropolis Water Act, 1871?"

Two complaints have been received by the Local Government Board with reference to the quality of the water supplied by the South-West Suburban Water Company, who supply a very considerable area. The last of these complaints was made by the Staines Local Board in June last. The Local Board admitted that the Company's water was periodically analyzed on behalf of the Company by Professor Atfield, who certified it to be pure; and the Local Government Board have been furnished by the Company with those analyses, which, it appears, are taken monthly. The analysis for October last certifies that the sample taken is a most excellent sample of water for drinking, cooking, washing, and steam purposes generally, and for manufacturing operations. The Board have no control over Water Companies outside the Metropolis similar to that exercised by them under the Metropolis Water Acts. I am not aware that a Local Authority has power to claim the right of inspecting the works of this Company; but it is the duty of the Company, under the Waterworks Clauses Acts, to keep in their pipes a supply of pure and wholesome water; and I presume that a Company would be liable to indictment for failure to comply with this statutory requirement. I cannot give any undertaking that the Government will propose that they should appoint Water Examiners for the several Water Companies in England and Wales outside the Metropolis; but it may well be a question whether, when County Councils have been constituted, it may not be desirable that some such powers should be conferred on them.

asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether any steps have been taken by Her Majesty's Government to open negotiations with the Emperor of China respecting the prevention of Chinese immigration into the Australasian Colonies, with a view to concluding a Treaty which shall meet the legitimate demands of our Colonies on the one hand, and on the other shall secure the subjects of the Emperor of China from any danger of such unjust and arbitrary treatment as might tend to disturb the friendly relations between Great Britain and China?

said: Negotiations with the Government of China on this subject are being considered in a friendly spirit, with a view to an arrangement which will satisfy the objects referred to in my hon. Friend's Question.

asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, When the Return relating to Colonial Constitutions, ordered on the 9th of March to be printed, will be issued to Members?

Answers have yet to be received from six or seven Colonies, so that it is not probable that the Return can be completed and issued before the beginning of next year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been called to the following facts:—

"That on the 1st June last the Rev. W. G. Jolly, the minister of the Methodist Free Church, Spalding, attended at the Spalding Cemetery to conduct the funeral of Mr. J. Rose, at the request of the deceased's friends, in ground allocated by the Town Improvement Commissioners for the use of members of the Established Church, which ground is unconsecrated:

"That, notwithstanding the presence of the Rev. W. G. Jolly, who was in attendance to officiate, the service was conducted according to the rites of the Church of England by the Vicar of the Parish (the chaplain of the cemetery), or by his appointee, and the fees received by him;"

I have made inquiry into the facts of this case; and, as far as I can learn, the whole circumstance seems to have been due to a misunderstanding between the cemetery porter and the friends of the deceased. The porter assumed that, as the mother of the deceased had been buried in the adjoining piece of consecrated ground, it was the wish of the relatives that the son also should be be buried near her, and in the same manner. He accordingly gave the usual notice to the clergyman, not being aware that the minister of the Methodist Free Church wished to conduct the service. Under the circumstances, the Vicar did not intentionally exceed his rights; but I presume that, had he known the real facts of the case, other arrangements would have been made for the burial of the deceased. The question as to the person entitled to the fees, and as to the right of Nonconformist ministers, depends on the Regulations of the Spalding Commissioners, in whom this cemetery is vested by law, and is not for the Secretary of State. I must refer the hon. Gentleman to the Spalding Improvement Act, 1852, and to the Cemeteries Clauses Act, 1847.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been called to the case of Pierce Hargreaves, who, after being detained three months in prison, was tried at Manchester Assizes on Friday last, on a charge of causing the death of his wife, when, at the close of the evidence for the prosecution, the learned Judge—

"Confessed that he was at a loss to understand how the case ever came before him, the evidence being compatible with the statement of the prisoner, and of the woman before her death, that the affair was the result of an accident;"

I have been in communication with the learned Judge and the committing magistrates (Messrs. Howorth and Higson) on the case of Pierce Hargreaves. The prisoner was committed to take his trial for manslaughter on the verdict of the Coroner's Jury. He was afterwards committed by the magistrates, who heard additional evidence, and who refused bail as the charge was a serious one, and the prisoner had been already committed, without bail, by the Coroner. The prisoner's solicitor only addressed the magistrates on the question of bail. The Judge, however, after the evidence had been sifted and tested at the Assizes, came to the conclusion that the man was innocent, and thought it his duty to do what he could to rehabilitate his character. He does not say that the magistrates were not justified in the course they took. There is no need to take any further action in the matter.

asked Mr. Solicitor General for Ireland, If Boards of Guardians are bound to prosecute parties who refuse to return requisition forms properly filled up under the Franchise Acts; and, if so, how are they to be compelled to do so when they refuse; and, if they are not, whether it is competent for private individuals to prosecute?

I have examined the Acts of Parliament dealing with the matter referred to in the Question. I find in them no provisions rendering it compulsory on the Board of Guardians to prosecute in the class of cases to which he refers. At the same time, it is quite clear that it is competent for them to do so. As regards private prosecutions, I find no provisions in the statutes enabling private individuals to prosecute. At the same time, I must not be taken as stating that no such prosecutions would lie. The matter may come for decision before a Court of Law, and I ought not to attempt to prejudge the matter.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether the forces of the Crown have yet been applied for by, or on behalf of, the Messrs. Horatio Shirley and S. E. Shirley for the eviction of 45 families, representing 250 persons, their tenants in County Monaghan, for the non-payment of arrears of rent, which accumulated before the Land Court reduced the rentals of these estates by the average amount of 43 per cent; and, whether the Government will give the forces necessary for the eviction of these tenants?

said, that no application had been received by the Government in connection with the proposed evictions. He might, however, observe that the facts did not appear to be accurately stated in the Question.

In what respect are they inaccurate?

said, it was not the fact that the tenants in question were to be evicted only for arrears of the old rent. Several of the cases were for arrears of the old rent; 11 for arrears of judicial rent; and 27 for arrears of both combined.

asked whether the bulk of the arrears did not consist of arrears of old rent?

said, he was unable to say.

said, it was not exactly accurate that the average of rent reductions on these estates was 43 per cent.; but it was not very far off it.

asked the Postmaster General, If he can give the House any further information as to the new arrangements for telegraphy to the Continent, and the rates to be charged; whether it is true that it is proposed still to charge 2d. per word to France and Belgium, of which at least 1d. is for cable transit across the Channel; whether any existing cables and plant are to be taken over from the Company which has hitherto had the monopoly; and, if so, whether they are to be taken at the present material value, and the future transit is not to be burdened by any capital payment in the way of direct or indirect compensation to the old Company for loss of the monopoly; and, if he will inquire whether, at the modern cost of manufacture, a paying cable could be laid across the Channel at a less rate than 1d. per word?

In reply to the hon. Member I have to say that, when the Post Office undertakes the working of the cables to the Continent, the charge per word to Belgium will not at first be altered; but the charge to France, which is now 2½d., will be reduced to 2d. No particular proportion of the charge has been assigned to the cable transit. I am not in a position to give any information as to the acquisition of the plant of the Submarine Telegraph Company, as no agreement on the subject has been arrived at. No pains will be spared by the Department to ascertain the necessary cost of services such as this.

asked the Secretary of State for War, If it is proposed to add to the quarters at Hythe, by way of providing accommodation for a larger number of officers and men under instruction in musketry; if he will state the principle adopted in the Service as to the selection of both officers and men, and how many men of all ranks are annually trained there; whether the military canal can be utilized for any purposes of instruction; and, if he can state if this canal has ever of late years been surveyed with a view to coast defence, as intended in its original construction?

said: The question of increasing the accommodation at the School of Musketry is under consideration; but it can only be carried out if funds should be available after providing for more urgent services. The object of the school is to train officers and non-commissioned officers who shall act as Instructors in Musketry in regiments of the Regular and Auxi- liary Forces. Vacancies are allotted to those corps most in need of instructors; 280 officers and 580 non-commissioned officers are trained at Hythe yearly. The Royal Military Canal can be used for pontooning or other military exercise. The question of utilizing the Canal as a means of defence has not been lost sight of, and it is held to be still of considerable military value.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If he is aware that, owing to the failure of the fishing industry at Arklow this winter, there is great distress amongst the working classes there; and, whether he will take any steps to have relief works set on foot to tide over the crisis by giving employment to the labouring population?

said, the Government was making inquiries on the subject; but he was not yet in a position to make a statement in regard to the matter.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If he can state whether his attention has been called to the fact that Father Kennedy, R.C.C., Meelin, County Cork, was arrested on Friday morning at an early hour whilst dressing, and that Head Constable Connolly of King-williamstown, and a large party of police, broke in the windows of his house and arrested him in his bed-room; is he aware that Father Kennedy, and other accused parties from Meelin, attended a fortnight ago at Newmarket Courthouse to surrender themselves, as bound under recognizances, but no magistrate attended; and, can he state why a Resident Magistrate did not attend on the said appointed day?

also asked, If the right hon. Gentleman will state the circumstances of the arrest of Father Kennedy at Meelin yesterday?

said: The Rev. M. B. Kennedy was arrested at 10 minutes before 9 o'clock on the morning named. Before entering the house the police had demanded admittance by knocking for 20 minutes; but, although they saw people moving about inside the house, no reply was made. The Head Constable and one other constable then entered through one of the windows. They waited while Mr. Kennedy was dressing, and then arrested him. I am informed that it is not the fact that he attended at Newmarket Court-house a fortnight ago to surrender himself; neither did the other parties who were convicted with him. As a matter of fact, on the 23rd of November a Resident Magistrate was on duty at Newmarket all day.

Is it not a fact that the police began to knock at the house at half-past 7, and because the maids of the house were not up that they broke through the window and arrested Father Kennedy in the act of dressing?

No, Sir; the information I have received is directly opposed to such statements. The police knocked for 20 minutes before 10 minutes to 9, and afterwards they waited while the priest was dressing.

Is it not a fact that on last Friday fortnight Father Kennedy, and several others accused, went to the Newmarket Court-house and were ready to surrender themselves; but the Resident Magistrate, who ought to have been present, was not there?

No, Sir. Major Hutchinson, the Resident Magistrate, was on duty there all that day.

Will the hon. and learned Gentleman contradict his statement in the public Press?

Order, order!

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether his attention has been called to the following provision in the conveyance of the holdings on the Salters' Estate contained in the case of tenants in arrear:—

"And the said vendors do hereby release to the purchaser all arrears of rent due by the purchaser to the vendors out of said holding up to the date of these presents, but without prejudice to the rights of the said vendors in respect of any promissory note or other security which they may have received for such arrears;"

said: The Land Commissioners report that it is the case that the release was qualified by a proviso of the nature indicated in respect of certain promissory notes passed by some of the tenants for portions of the rent due, on the sale of the Salters' Estate, of which the Commissioners appear to have been aware. The legal point referred to will probably come before the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice at the hearing of the four test cases from the estate which, it was mentioned the other day in reply to a Question put by the hon. Member, are now entered in that Court. It would, therefore, be improper for me to express any opinion on the subject. As regards the last paragraph, the present Rules of the Commissioners render it impossible that such an arrangement could now be made.

asked whether the present Land Purchase Bill would have any effect on such a transaction?

said, that, under the existing Rules, no such arrangement could be made.

asked Mr. Solicitor General for Ireland, Whether, since the Court of Exchequer in Ireland decided that 3⅛ per cent was the interest legally payable by tenants to the landlords for interest on purchase money, under Lord Ashbourne's Act, during the interval between the agreement to buy and its being sanctioned by the Purchase Commissioners, the Government intend to support a proposal to increase the rate of interest to 4 per cent.; and, is there any Rule requiring the tenants to be protected by the advice of an independent solicitor, or is it the general practice that the landlord's solicitor acts for both the tenant, who is buying, and the landlord, who is selling out?

I am making inquiries on the subject of the decision to which the hon. and learned Gentleman refers. He will see that it would be premature for me to make a statement as to the course which the Government will be prepared to take with reference to the Lords' Amendment. There is no such rule as that referred to in the Question. In many cases the same solicitor acts for both parties; but I cannot state that any general practice exists in this matter.

Are we likely to have the information before the Lords' Amendment comes on to-night?

Before the matter is discussed I hope to have the information.

asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether Somkeli has been fined for taking part in the late disturbances in Zululand, and what was the amount, in cattle, of the fine; whether, since he was fined, he has again been tried and convicted by the Special Court for the same offence; and, whether the sentence on Somkeli will be suspended until Her Majesty's pleasure has been determined?

Somkeli has not been fined. One of the magistrates, without proper authority, ordered Somkeli's tribe to pay a fine of cattle; but the Chiefs clearly understood that this was a tribal fine, and that they would have to stand their trial separately. The magistrate's proceedings were quashed by the Governor. Some cattle had been received an account of the fine on Somkeli's tribe; but information has not been received as to what arrangement has been made in respect of them. The answer to the last paragraph of the Question is in the affirmative.

asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether the ex-King Dinizulu and his uncle Undabuko will be liberated on bail till the Court meets next year?

It is not possible to liberate these prisoners on bail; but they will be treated with all due consideration, and have all proper freedom of communication with their counsel and friends.

At what time will the Court meet?

In about seven weeks.

asked Mr. Solicitor General for Ireland, Whether Mr. John O'Connor, shopkeeper, residing at Gneevagulla, was arrested by Mr. Sergeant Murphy; whether he was taken to the police barrack at Killarney, and searched, his boots having been taken off; whether he was subsequently released; whether Sergeant Murphy had a warrant empowering him to make the arrest; what offence against the law was Mr. O'Connor charged with; whether, owing to the arrest, Mr. O'Connor lost his train, and was put to other inconvenience; and, whether the Government will compensate Mr. O'Connor for the inconvenience which he suffered?

The reply to the inquiries in the first three paragraphs is in the affirmative; to the fourth paragraph in the negative. Mr. John O'Connor was arrested by the policeman on the ground that he saw him engaged in an act done in pursuance of a criminal conspiracy. As regards the remaining portion of the Question, I have to state that he was immediately brought before a magistrate and discharged. The police, who were then going on patrol duty in the direction in which he lived, drove him to his own house. No unnecessary inconvenience was caused, and the Government are unable to adopt the course suggested.

asked, what illegal act was Mr. O'Connor engaged in?

said, he was alleged by the policeman who arrested him to be engaged in an act done in pursuance of a criminal conspiracy—namely, the Plan of Campaign.

asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether he is aware that a telegram was received on December 7, by several Members of this House, from Mr. Alfred Dyer, editor of The Bombay Guardian, in which he alleges that an European magistrate at Patna yesterday ordered a Christian girl, whom he holds to be under 14 years of age, to be taken from the charge of Miss Abraham, Church Missionary Zenana Mission, and handed over to an immoral man, to whom her mother had sold her; whether he has telegraphed for further particulars; what reply he has received; and, what action will be taken?

The Secretary of State has received the following information from the Government of India in reference to the alleged case of withdrawal of a girl from the custody of the Church Missionary Zenana Mission:—

"Quinn, magistrate of Patna District, reports that girl alleged to be under 14 years of age left reputed husband's house in October last. Application made to magistrate of district under Section 551, Criminal Procedure Act X. of 1882, to restore girl to her mother. Orders issued under section to show cause why girl should not be restored. Inquiry made about it shows that girl's marriage has been proved and Court's orders issued for the restoration of the girl to her husband and mother. Bengal High Court, on application, pending inquiry, has refused to interfere with district magistrate's proceedings. Affair apparently dispute between the missionaries and natural guardians for possession of native child. The Government of Bengal has called for record of district magistrate's proceedings."

"Section 551. Upon complaint made to a Presidency Magistrate or District Magistrate on oath of the abduction or unlawful detention of a woman, or of a female child under the age of 14 years, for any unlawful purpose, he may make an order for the immediate restoration of such woman to her liberty, or of such female child to her husband, parent, guardian, or other person having the lawful charge of such child, and may compel compliance with such order, using such force as may he necessary."

asked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether he can now say what steps he proposes to take in reference to the insanitary condition of the Cradley District?

There have been several inspections of the Cradley District by Inspectors of the Local Government Board. The district was inspected by Dr. Parsons so recently as October last, prior to the issue of Mr. Burnett's Report. His personal observation fully confirms the statements of Mr. Burnett as to the sanitary condition of Cradley. The Board, some two years since, issued an order imposing on the Sanitary Authority the duty of providing for the removal of the contents of privies and ash-pits; and they learn that there has been some improvement, in so far as large accumulations of refuse are less frequent than was formerly the case. Dr. Parsons had an interview with the Sanitary Authority on the 9th of last month, and impressed upon them the importance of the adoption of an improved construction of privies. He also urged them to obtain the urban powers which would enable them to deal more satisfactorily with some of the existing conditions. If the Board were to receive a formal complaint under Section 299 of the Public Health Act, that the Sanitary Authority had made default in their duty in providing their district with sewers, the Board would have certain powers of intervention; but, in the absence of any such complaint, they cannot do more than they have repeatedly done—that is, urge the Sanitary Authority to discharge the duties which have been intrusted to them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been called to the fact that at Needham Market in Suffolk, on the 6th instant, the Local Magistrates sent to gaol two members of the Salvation Army, and that the prisoners were marched handcuffed through the streets as if they were felons; whether the prisoners were committed on a charge of obstructing a thoroughfare; whether they were sentenced on the evidence of a Police Inspector named Page, who swore that "one individual, Miss London, was obstructed by them;" whether he is aware that the said Miss London, who was never called as a witness by the police, wrote under date November 9 to The Suffolk Chronicle, in reference to this deposition—

"Justice demands that I should give to this statement an absolute denial.… I was not obstructed;"

also asked, If the right hon. Gentleman's attention has been drawn to the fact that members of the Salvation Army have been handcuffed and taken through the streets at Market Needham for declining to give up preaching; and, whether he will order them to be released?

, in reply, said, that as soon as his attention was called to the statement referred to be at once applied to those gentlemen for information on the subject. That information had not reached him as yet; but if the prisoners were handcuffed without due cause, he should certainly express his disapproval.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether any, and, if so, how many, criminal prisoners iu England and Wales were released, during the year ended 31st March last, before the expiration of their respective terms of imprisonment or penal servitude, on the ground of their physical or mental condition?

, in reply, said, the numbers were five convicts and 75 local prisoners.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, What is the reason an alteration has been made in the time of the payment of sums due to county contractors in Kerry; and, whether there is any objection to revert to the former system of making the payments in November, in place of the following February?

said: The Secretary to the Grand Jury of the County of Kerry states that county presentments are only payable twice in each year, at the Spring and Summer Assizes; and that it has never been the practice to pay them at any other period. He also says that contractors' salaries have to be approved of at Presentment Sessions held in May and November; but that the Grand Jury at the ensuing Assizes may refuse payment of such a presentment in the case of the contractor's default. It was the practice, however, he states, for the Secretary to the Grand Jury to issue unsigned cheques to those road contractors whose applications had been approved of at the Presentment Sessions, and for the contractors to get such cheques signed by the treasurer, when the presentments for the amounts had been passed by the Grand Jury. The present Secretary, Mr. Fitzgerald, acting on legal advice, has discontinued this practice, and no longer issues unsigned cheques.

asked, Whether the present Secretary had not held the office for 14 years; and why it was that this year he refused to make the usual payments in May and November?

said, the Secretary acted on legal advice.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, Whether it is a fact that out of 429 surgical cases in Haslar Hospital, 276 are cases of venereal disease; and, if he can state whether this proportion shows an increase of cases of venereal disease in that Hospital since the suspension of the Contagious Diseases Acts?

There are at present 392 surgical cases under treatment at Haslar Hospital, of which 239 are venereal. The proportion of venereal diseases to other surgical cases has increased since the suspension of the Contagious Diseases Acts, as the following percentages show;—For the four years prior to the suspension of the Acts—1879, 44·09; 1880, 41·31; 1881, 41·84; 1882,42·2. For the four years subsequent to the suspension of the Acts—1884, 60·96; 1885, 55·17; 1886, 53·58; 1887, 56·56.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether, in the case of John and Daniel Scannell, John Cahill, and Humphrey Moynihan, who were arrested on November 21, and taken before Mr. M'Dermott, R.M., at Rathmore, County Kerry, there was a warrant issued for the arrest of all or any of them, or if there was a summons issued against any of them; under what circumstances they were arrested; and, if it is intended to proceed against them; and on what charge?

said, he was informed that there was a warrant in these cases; but he had no detailed information as to facts.

asked the Postmaster General, Whether he is now in a position to state when he can reply to the further Petition of the Male Staff (Established) of the Central Post Office, which was forwarded to him in January last?

The Petition to which the hon. Member refers prayed that a previous one to which an unfavourable reply had been given should be reconsidered. It is, I think, detrimental to the interests of the Service that, when a Petition has been fully considered and an answer given, a fresh Memorial should be immediately presented in the form of a rejoinder. I am not in a position to hold out hopes of any change in the status of the Memorialists, which would largely increase the expenditure of the Department; but the subject shall receive further consideration.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, In what manner (whether by examination, nomination, length of service, or any other method) appointments are made to the positions in the Royal Irish Constabulary of County Inspectors, District Inspectors of first, second, and third class, Head Constables, Sergeants, and Sergeants (acting); and, whether there are any minimum or maximum limits of age in each of these ranks, and, in that case, what are they?

asked the hon. Gentleman to postpone his Question, as the information had not yet been received from the Irish Office.

asked, whether he was to understand that there was no information in the Irish Office with regard to this matter?

The hon. Gentleman is to undertand that, on this Question appearing, a Report was called for at once; but, as it has not yet been received, I am not in a position to answer the Question.

asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, When the Bill for the distribution of the Probate Duty in Scotland and Ireland, which was part of the Budget arrangements of the year, will be introduced?

, in reply, said, the Bill would be circulated at once; but he could not fix a day for the second reading.

asked the Lord Advocate, Whether the Secretary for Scotland has yet considered the recommendation of the Scotch Fishery Board with regard to passing a by-law affecting trawling in the Aberdeen Bay and Aberdeenshire Coast; and, if so, what decision has been arrived at?

The Secretary for Scotland has considered the recommendation of the Fishery Board regarding this by-law, and has approved of their taking the ordinary course of advertising it in terms of the statute; and at the expiration of the statutory period of one month the by-law will be submitted for confirmation.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether it is true that the firm of Messrs. Macrae, Curtice, and Co. have obtained the contract for Parliamentary Printing; and, whether he can communicate the terms of the contract to the House?

I am not at present in a position to make any statement beyond what I have already made—that the contract will be laid upon the Table when it is completed.

May I ask the hon. Gentleman if his attention has been called to a paragraph which has gone the round of the Press, containing an extract from a Report issued by Macrae, Curtice and Co., announcing that they have secured the contract, and that what has been hitherto known as Hansard will, in future, be known as Macrae, Curtice and Co.'s volume, or something of that sort? I should also like to know how it is that a private firm can issue a circular of this kind, and is able to convey information to the public before it is communicated to the House itself?

My attention has not been called to the paragraph to which the hon. and learned Member refers; but assuming, as of course I do, that the statement of the hon. and learned Member is correct, it would make no difference whatever in my position; because, as I have already stated to the House, I do not feel myself called upon to make any statement until the contract is completed and I am in a position to lay it on the Table of the House. I think the House will see that it would be extremely improper for me to give detailed particulars of any contract which has not been signed and completed.

If the hon. Gentleman will refer to a paper published on Saturday last, called The Liberal and Radical, he will find the Circular there referred to.

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If he can give any information with regard to the alleged intention of the Russian Government to despatch a large Religious Mission to Abyssinia under the control of a military officer?

No, Sir; we have received no such information.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether Mr. Beauchamp, the Crown Solicitor for County Limerick, and Mr. George Bolton, the Crown Solicitor for County Tipperary, or either of these gentlemen, have recently been in London; and, whether, before or during their presence in London, they have been assisting the Solicitor to The Times newspaper in relation to the inquiry now going on before the Special Commission?

said: Mr. Beauchamp (who is not Crown Solicitor for Limerick, but Registrar to the County Court Judge), and Mr. Bolton, Crown Solicitor for Tipperary, I am informed, have been recently in London, and have been assisting the Solicitor for The Times newspaper in relation to the inquiry now going on before the Special Commission. Mr. Beauchamp is not a Government officer, and the Executive have no control over his actions. Mr. Bolton is not prohibited from professional practice in this matter under the Rule which governs the private employment of Crown Solicitors.

asked, Whether Mr. Beauchamp's salary as Registrar to the Country Court Judge of Tipperary was paid out of the Votes of Parliament?

It is true he holds that position; but he is in no way under the control of the Executive Government.

asked Mr. Solicitor General for Ireland, If the Crown, before prosecuting in the case of the Belfast insurance frauds, called for a Report from the Insurance Companies; if this Report implicated some persons not prosecuted by the Crown; whether one of them still holds an insurance policy without the consent of the person insured, and against his public protest; and, whether the Report can be seen and referred to by Members.

The Attorney General for Ireland, who had the conduct of the prosecution, got Reports from the Insurance Company as well as from the Sessional Crown Solicitor in reference to the Belfast insurance frauds. Every person implicated by those Reports against whom there was, in the opinion of the Attorney General, sufficient evidence to establish a criminal offence was prosecuted by the Crown, and also two persons named Press and Matthews, against whom the Counsel for the Insurance Company had advised that there was not sufficient evidence. These reports, however, the Crown cannot undertake to produce, as such a course would be without precedent, and contrary to the public interest. The Attorney General states, as regards paragraph 3, that the person referred to holds a policy on the life of Mr. Finlay M'Cance, which the latter complained in open Court was effected without his knowledge or consent. There was not, in the opinion of the Attorney General, evidence to sustain a criminal charge in this case; but the Company will have their legal remedy if the policy was obtained by fraud.

This is a grave matter; and I therefore give Notice that on the Vote for Law Charges, I will call attention to the fact that Mr. James Henderson, Town Councillor and proprietor of a Conservative organ, The Belfast News Letter, is grossly implicated in these frauds, and yet the Government have not prosecuted him.

asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether, as higher prices were paid to Messrs. Wilkinson, with the intention that the bayonets made under their contract should be manufactured in this country, the contract contained any penalty or other provision to secure that result, and to prevent the wholesale importation from Germany of bayonets in a state of complete or almost complete manufacture?

There is no such penalty in the contract; nor have I any ground for supposing that the undertaking to make the sword bayonets in London from Firth steel has been violated. Assuming for the moment that it has been, then it would be in my power to set aside the contract, and not to pay for the articles.

asked, whether it was not the case that he had undertaken to produce the workman who had seen these bayonets arrive from Germany and had them unpacked before his eyes?

said, his hon. Friend would be surprised if he heard the explanation of that matter.

asked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether he has been advised that by Section 54, subsection 5, of "The Local Government Act, 1888," the Board is empowered, upon its own initiative, before the appointed day, to make an order altering the boundary of any Electoral Division of a county, or the number of Electoral Divisions in a county; and, if so, whether he will exercise this power in certain cases, in order to redress some of the inequalities committed by Quarter Sessions in constituting Electoral Divisions?

Section 54 of the Local Government Act contains provisions as to alterations of counties, boroughs, and certain other areas; and there is a clause which enables the Local Government Board to make an Order in pursuance of that section without any application by the Council of a county or borough. I am not prepared to state that the clause referred to does not admit of a construction which would allow of the Board's issuing an Order with regard to the boundaries of Electoral Divisions; but it was clearly understood, in the discussion on the Bill, that there was to be no appeal to the Board as regard the decisions of the Courts of Quarter Sessions in respect of Electoral Divisions. I cannot undertake to review the decisions of the Courts of Quarter Sessions in this matter.

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether he will now fix a day for the moving the Resolution on Perpetual Pensions, which stands on the Order Book?

I can only express my regret that the present state of Business makes it difficult for me to fix a day for the discussion on perpetual pensions; but I hope the hon. Member will be satisfied with an assurance that no further action will be taken with regard to these pensions until the House shall have had an opportunity of discussing the Treasury Minute of July 20 last.

asked, whether, under the pledge of the right hon. Gentleman, an early day would be given him next Session for the discussion of the question.

Undoubtedly I am bound to this extent, that until the Motion of the hon. Member has been discussed, no action will be taken by the Treasury on the Minute laid on the Table.

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether he will consent to the presentation to the House of Commons of a Return showing what persons have been admitted to the Public Service, for employment in either of the Departments of the State in London, during the last five years, under circumstances which will entitle them to additional amounts of pension hereafter on account of the special qualifications which they possess for the duties entrusted to them, such Return to state their present salaries, and the extent of their claims to additional pensions?

The list of the Offices for which a special addition is made in calculating pensions in respect of professional qualifications is given in the Appendix of the Second Report of the Royal Commission on Civil Establishments, and the Govern- ment cannot undertake to furnish any further information.

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, What progress has been made with the preparation of the Returns relating to Joint Stock Companies ordered to be wound up in the year 1887, and for which an Address was agreed to by the House of Commons on the 18th of June last, on the Motion of the right hon. Member for West Birmingham, and when the same will be laid upon the Table of the House?

The Returns will, I hope, be laid on the Table to-day.

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether his attention has been called to the remarks made by Mr. Justice Manisty on December 5, with regard to the serious state of public business in the Law Courts owing to the present scarcity of Judges; and, whether, since two Judges have been removed from the Judicial Bench, by unusual employment on a Royal Commission, whose inquiry seems likely to last for a period impossible to define, Her Majesty's Government intend to take any steps to remedy what the learned Judge describes as the present serious tension?

It is hoped material relief will be obtained during Circuit time if, by the proposed legislation as to Quarter Sessions, the Judges are not withdrawn for an undue time from London to try numerous cases which might be disposed of at Sessions, and so not overload the Assize Lists. With regard to the special circumstances of the withdrawal of two Judges from the ordinary business of the Queen's Bench, it is, of course, not practicable to meet that temporary difficulty except by temporary expedients; and if the Lord Chancellor, on the representation of the Lord Chief Justice of England and the Judges of the Queen's Bench, thought it necessary, no doubt Commissioners would have to be appointed during the Assizes.

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, in regard to a suggested extension of South Kensington Museum, If he will consider whether the usefulness of the Museum could be better promoted by circulating the exhibits in the provinces after they had been a given time at South Kensington, under guarantee and on the application of Local Authorities where suitable buildings have been provided?

If the hon. Member will refer to Sections 56–58 of the Directory of the Science and Art Department, he will see the conditions under which objects are now put in circulation to local Museums. During 1887, 28,363 objects were so circulated, showing an increase of 2,200 as compared with the previous year.

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether the Government intend to propose a Vote towards defraying the expenses of the Special Commission now sitting at the Royal Courts of Justice; and, in that case, when will it be proposed?

I must refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on this subject on the 12th ultimo, to which I have nothing to add. No Vote will be taken this Session.

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, When it is proposed to consider the Employers' Liability for Injuries to Workmen Bill?

I propose to consider, between this and Friday, what course it will be necessary to take with reference to this Bill, and I will then state it to the House.

Will it be taken this week?

No, Sir; not this week.

, who had the following Question on the Paper: To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he will communicate to the House the latest information in his possession with respect to the condition of Mr. Thomas Moroney; whether he will lay upon the Table copies of any Reports on the subject by the medical officer of Kilmainham Prison, or any medical man who has been specially deputed to investigate; whether the Executive intend to take the initiative, either by communication with Judge Boyd, or otherwise, with a view to the release of Mr. Moroney; and, whether the prison records are available for the purpose of an application for such release? observed that the Chief Secretary, knowing that this Question was to be asked, was not present, and the Solicitor General for Ireland was not also in the House. He would, therefore, ask the first Lord of the Treasury if he would arrange that some Minister should give an answer to the Question?

said, it should be replied to before the Questions were disposed of. The Solicitor General for Ireland had just gone out to get his notes.

, in reply, said, he did not know that he could do anything more than repeat the answer he had the honour of giving to the House on Saturday. What he then stated was that materials should be supplied to any gentleman who wished to bring the case before Judge Boyd. He was asked by the hon. Member for Northampton (Mr. Bradlaugh) if he would supply him with the information in possession of the Government if he desired to bring the case before Judge Boyd, and he replied in the affirmative. He had already communicated with that hon. Member, telling him that certain Papers were awaiting him at the Irish Office. He did not think it would be desirable to lay the Papers on the Table of the House, as they might be of a confidential character; but the necessary information could be furnished to hon. Members desiring it.

I have to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether Dr. O'Carroll, of the Irish Prisons Board, has reported that Mr. Moroney is on the border between excitement and insanity; whether Dr. Norman, the Medical Superintendent of the Richmond Lunatic Asylum, has made a Report of a more grave character; whether the Visiting Justices of the prison, at two successive meetings, have passed Resolutions calling on the Government to release Mr. Moroney; and whether, under these circumstances, the Executive will either release Mr. Moroney themselves, or move the Judge to release him?

said, the hon. Member was aware, from repeated statements made in the House, that it was not in the power of the Executive to release Moroney. [Mr. T. M. HEALY: Shocking.] The Executive had made the frankest and fullest offer to hon. Gentlemen opposite, and had repeated publicly in that house what Judge Boyd in his judicial capacity had stated, that Moroney, or any other person appearing on his behalf, might have the whole case of his health judicially investigated. Under these circumstances, it was quite clear that those hon. Gentlemen who believed Moroney ought to be released on the ground of ill-health, had only to appear before the Judge and that question would be tried.

I must press the right hon. Gentleman to say whether the Reports of the official medical gentlemen which I have cited are in the possession of the Government, and, whether they consider themselves justified in allowing the man to drift into insanity without making a motion themselves?

said, he could not answer any questions with regard to particular sentences alluded to in Medical Reports. His recollection of the Reports was that there was not an absolute agreement between the medical gentlemen concerned, but the case was one for the Judge, and the Judge alone; and he was not going in his place in the House of Commons to give his estimate of the varying opinions of the three doctors who had examined Moroney. Every opportunity, however, would be given to those who desired that a judicial investigation should take place into his health.

asked, if the learned Judge had the Medical Reports which had been mentioned placed before him; and whether, although it was stated distinctly in the debates on this Question on that day week that the Government had no power in the case of illness, they had now come to the conclusion that under no circumstances had they that power!

said, the Government had not that power, but it rested with the Judge. He believed, with regard to the first part of the Question, that Judge Boyd had had the Reports referred to laid before him.

asked, did he correctly understand the right hon. Gentleman to say that the Executive Government had no power themselves to move the Judge in this shocking matter; and, if that be correct, how it was that the Home Secretary was able to move Judge Giffard in a recent case?

asked, whether there was anything to hinder the right hon. Gentleman or the Attorney General for Ireland making the application under the terms mentioned by Judge Boyd.

said, he could not answer that Question off-hand; but he noticed a great change in the opinion of hon. Gentlemen who were burning with anxiety a few days ago to move in the matter themselves, but who, now that they were offered every facility for doing so, appeared not to be desirous of availing themselves of that offer.

asked the First Commissioner of Works, Whether the apparatus which had been mentioned on a previous occasion for filtering the foggy atmosphere outside the House had been in operation during that afternoon?

We have not neglected so favourable an opportunity as that which has been afforded to-day of making the experiment; and I think it has been a partial, though not a complete, success. The fact is, the House was quite clear in the earlier part of the day of fog; but when the House assembled Members coming down brought the fog with them. However, we are going to test the experiment further; and I hope it may be more successful on another occasion.

I beg, Sir, to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether the Government have any information as to the statements made in the public prints to-day, or at least in one of them, to the effect that a certain place on the East Coast of Africa has been utterly ruined and destroyed, which two months ago was the most prosperous town on the East Coast; and, whether the further statement, that the only persons who have suffered by these operations so far are the Sultan of Zanzibar and the British Indians?

Information has reached Her Majesty's Government as to the occurrences to which the right hon. Gentleman refers, but it is of the most sparse character; and I think that, on the whole, it would be desirable and satisfactory that the right hon. Gentleman should repeat his Question to-morrow.

May I put another Question to the Secretary of State for War—a Question on an African subject? It is, whether a telegram in one of the journals to-day is true, that a fresh demand for reinforcements has been made by telegraph yesterday from Suakin to the authorities in London?

I received the following telegram from General Dormer yesterday, dated Cairo, December 9:—

"Grenfell fully understands and telegraphs his opinion of confidence. But in face of repeated offers of reinforcements thinks he may not be justified in continuing to refuse them. Therefore, an Egyptian steamer will be ready, leaving Suez about the 12th of December. I propose to (?) send her back to Suakin with squadron 20th Hussars and 300 men Welsh Regiment."

Can the right Gentleman tell us when the repeated offers of reinforcements were made, and what was their nature?

I have already told the House that we ourselves originally offered to add British troops to the force that General Grenfell was about to take to Suakin. Since that time we have pressed upon General Grenfell the immense importance of telling us frankly and fully whether he is completely satisfied as to the forces at his disposal; and we have always led him and others to believe that whatever reinforcements they asked for would be sent.

asked, Whether it was a fact that a large force of constabulary and military were on the march with the intention of clearing a whole townland in the County of Donegal; and, whether he had directed investigation to be made into the position of those unhappy people before he granted the forces of the Crown?

I believe there are evictions pending in that district; but I cannot answer, without Notice, the Question of the hon. Gentleman.

said, he was not sure that the evidence taken before this Committee would be printed before Thursday; but if it was printed on Thursday he proposed to consider the Report on that day.

Will the consideration of the Privilege Report be taken as the first Order on Thursday?

I apprehend that if it is put down on Thursday it must be taken as the first Order. However, I will communicate with the right hon. Gentleman opposite before that day.

said: It is too late to introduce this Session a Supplementary Estimate in respect to the sums promised as compensation to Brannaghan and Murphy; but a Vote will be taken next Session. Meanwhile, should there be any necessity for immediate payment, the amount would be advanced from the Civil Contingencies Fund.

wished to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, with reference to certain items on the Paper for to-night, Whether it was proposed to proceed with the Universities (Scotland) Bill and the adjourned debate on the appointment of a Select Committee to inquire into the question of Crofter Emigration; he also wished to know what course the Government proposed to take with regard to the Liquor Traffic Local Veto (Scotland) Bill and the Crofters' Holdings (Scotland) Act (1886) Amendment Bill?

, in reply, said, it was not intended, so far as the Government was concerned, to proceed with the Universities (Scotland) Bill and the appointment of the Select Committee on Crofter Emigration. The Government had no control over the other two Bills mentioned by the hon. Member; but he hoped the Crofters' Holdings Amendment Bill might be considered when Supply was closed.

said, that if there was a strong desire on the part of hon. Members below the Gangway that the Divisional Magistrates (Ireland) Bill should not be taken that evening or this Session, the Government must acquiesce.

said, the right hon. Gentleman had told them that the Scottish Estimates would be taken to-morrow. Were they to understand that they would be taken whether the Irish Estimates were finished or not?

replied, certainly. The arrangements announced for each day this week were made definitely, and would be adhered to whatever might happen in the previous day's Business.

asked, If the Scottish Estimates would be taken in the order in which they were printed?

said, he could not answer that Question without some little Notice.