I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether there could be laid before Parliament the Agreement of the 11th August last between France and the Congo State, under which M. Listard, as Commissary of the Republic, is now organising the government of territories lying to the west of the district leased by Great Britain to the Sovereign of the Congo State and retained by him, and in the immediate neighbourhood of the district also leased by Great Britain to him at the same time, and renounced by him in an agreement with France?

The Agreement referred to is dated August 16, 1894, not 1895, as the Question implies, ft is to found on page 1002, Volume IL, of "The Map of Africa by Treaty," of which there is a copy in the House of Commons Library.

I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works whether, with a view to afford more room to riders of horses, he will consider what steps could be taken to restore to them the privilege which some years ago they possessed of riding on a prolongation of Rotten Row to the westward; and, whether he would consider if he could make arrangements whereby the ride in Rotten Row might be prolonged into and round Kensington Gardens?

I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works whether, in view of the difficulty experienced by pedestrians in crossing Rotten Row in the season, owing to its crowded state by riders, he will consider the possibility of extending the ride into Kensington Gardens, in order to relieve the Row and so give more accommodation to foot passengers?

I have carefully considered the suggestions contained in the Questions of my hon. Friends the Members for Lynn Regis and Bath. The proposal, besides involving a very large expenditure, would not, I think, command such general approval as would warrant interference with the present uses of Kensington Gardens. I regret, therefore, that I cannot entertain the suggestions.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to the under officering of Madras infantry regiments, and whether he is aware that it has gone to such an extent that lately, for a brigade parade, the commanding officer had only available three officers for two regiments; whether he will cause inquiries to be made into the cause of the constant depletion of Madras regiments by transfer of officers, and its effects on the efficiency and morale of the corps, and the best way of providing a remedy; and, whether any representations have been made to the Indian Government by commanding officers on this subject; and what, if any, explanations have been offered or steps taken in the matter?

I have heard nothing of the statements to which my hon. Friend's Question relates, but I will inquire of the Government of India.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board—(1) whether he can state the hours of the day during and between which the restricted supply now given by the East London Water Company is furnished in the various portions of the district supplied by the Company; (2) whether he is aware that during the limited time for which such restricted supply is furnished the pressure of the water is so small that a sufficient supply for sanitary purposes cannot be obtained; (3) whether he is aware that the cisterns and other fittings in the district of the Company are only adapted to a constant supply, and that the storage capacity of the cisterns is so small that practically no supply of water is available for sanitary purposes during a large part of the time for which the water is turned off; and (4) whether, having regard to the occurrence of these insanitary conditions due to deficient water supply in two successive years, the Local Government Board is prepared to recommend any means for preventing the recurrence of such conditions?

I am informed by the East London Company that the hours of turning on the water vary in the different streets throughout the district, but that in each street the water is supplied at the same time from day to day. The general rule is that the water is turned on as nearly as possible, for three hours in the morning and again for three hours later in the day. In some cases there are additional times of service. With respect to the second question, it is stated by the Company that the pressure at the works is higher than it has ever been before, and that the automatic diagrams of pressure traced at various points show a good and sufficient force. Further, that if any deficient pressure exists it can only occur where there is great waste in any particular street, and this must be due to the fact that all the taps, or the majority of them are left running at one time. No complaints, it is stated, have been made to the Company in this matter. With respect to the third question, a very large proportion of the dwellings in the district supplied by the Company have no proper storage cisterns, and where there are no such cisterns it is the case that there is no supply of water available for sanitary purposes during a large portion of the time when the water is turned off except waste water and such supply as may be provided by storage. The best recommendation I think that I can make to prevent a recurrence of this calamity is the speedy completion of the additional works which were contemplated by the Company in 1893, but which were arrested at that time by the action of Parliament.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board, whether he is aware that the customers of the East London Water Company who pay for the water they consume, as registered by meter, have had and still have an abundant supply whereas those who pay by rate and it impossible to obtain sufficient for ordinary domestic purposes; and whether he can take any steps in the matter?

I am informed by the East London Water Works Company that there is no foundation for the suggestion in the Question of my hon. Friend. The Company state that the meter supplies from the "service mains" are treated precisely in the same way as the supply upon fixed rates, and are subject to the same restrictions as to hours of supply. Both meter services and any others on the leading or fire mains, which are constantly charged, have necessarily an uninterrupted service.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board, whether he is aware that there is no improvement in the supply of water to the inhabitants of East London by the East London Water Company, that illness is becoming rife in the poorer districts, and that proper Hushing of the sewers is urgently needed; and, whether he can state why the East London Company does not obtain a supply of water from the New River Company?

In reply to a telegram addressed to the Company after seeing the hon. Member's Question this morning, I am informed that no restrictions have been placed upon the vestries as regards the supply of water for the flushing of the sewers, that as regards the New River no answer has yet been received to the second application of the East London Company, and that they have no knowledge of any increased sickness due to the restricted supply of water. I may add that I have no information to that effect either.

asked whether it was not a fact that the company were prepared to fix additional standpipes whenever and wherever required by the local authorities?

The company have signified their perfect readiness to do so wherever required.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether the attention of Lord Lansdowne and the Commander-in-Chief has been directed to the complaints made of the ammunition supplied to the National Rifle Association at Bisley, and what steps have been taken to ascertain if they are well founded, and, in such case, on what officer or officers the responsibility rests to prevent like defective cartridges being sent to Her Majesty's Forces abroad for use against the Queen's enemies?

This Question has already been brought before us. Reports of defective ammunition at Bisley have been received, and samples are now being examined. The matter will be fully investigated.

Will a Court of Inquiry be appointed?

I think not. It is the business of the Inspector General of Ordnance to investigate all questions connected with ammunition, and this matter will come before him.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland—(1) whether the seven sergeants and three acting sergeants of constabulary, who in 1892 were drafted into the Belfast force, have been since promoted to be sergeants and attached permanently to the strength of the city force, although the Inspector General assured the City Commissioner that the appointment of those 10 sergeants would in no way interfere with the ordinary promotion of senior men in Belfast; (2) where are those ten sergeants now doing duty; and (3), has the Inspector General invited constables to volunteer from the Belfast force for service in county Mayo, promising that the promotion of those who volunteered would be favourably considered?

In April, 1893, not 1892, 50 men were drafted into Belfast as a reserve force, and of these seven were sergeants and three acting sergeants. Two of the acting sergeants were subsequently withdrawn and replaced by constables. In May 1894, the free or permanent force of the city was increased by 100 men, and the reserve force of 50 men was absorbed into the permanent force. Consequent on this increase the aggregate strength of sergeants and acting sergeants was raised by nine, and a number of promotions were made accordingly, the men promoted being all senior constables with lengthened previous service in Belfast, and not men only recently drafted into Belfast. The men referred to in the second paragraph are still serving in Belfast with the exception of the two acting sergeants who, I have stated, were withdrawn. Application having been made to the Inspector General for some senior constables for service in Mayo, he offered to transfer any good senior men of that rank who wished for the change, but only one constable of the Belfast force has volunteered in response to the offer.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, with reference to the fire which took place near Mount Pleasant Station in the parcel post van of the 7.30 p.m. mail train from Dublin to Belfast about a month ago, whether he is aware that some of the young men who assisted in saving mails were badly burned; and, whether, considering the skill, fearlessness, and activity shown by the engine driver and these young men, to whose efforts the safety of the mails on that occasion was due, he will, in the interest of the public service, consider the desirability of making some compensation to them?

The Postmaster General is not aware that any person who assisted in saving the mails on this occasion was himself burned, but the railway company have represented that the clothes of one of the men were damaged. There is no reason to think that the Post Office is in any way responsible for the fire, but the Postmaster General is considering whether he should not make some gratuity to the persons who assisted in saving the mails.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Post- master General, whether he is aware that large numbers of poor persons, such as cultivators of gardens and allotments, having fruit, dairy produce, or other articles to dispose of, are debarred from using the pattern or sample post because they do not come within the definition of traders; and, whether he will consider the expediency of so amending the regulations on the subject, that the benefit of the pattern or sample post may be extended to such persons?

The Postmaster General is not aware that the persons referred to by the hon. Member are prevented on the ground of not being traders from using the pattern or sample post. As a matter of fact the sample post is open to persons engaged in any kind of business, whether agricultural or commercial, but being a sample post it is, of course, intended solely for bonâ fide patterns and samples, and cannot by the nature of the case be used for the execution of orders, which is the apparent object of the Question. The limit of weight is 8 ozs., which does not admit of much agricultural produce being sent. The Postmaster General is not prepared to modify the regulations on the subject of the sample post.

I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education, with regard to the dismissal of the mistress of the Bonder's End St. Matthew's School, (1) if, in view of the report of Her Majesty's Inspector that alterations in the registers had he considered been made to justify a statement against the mistress, he proposes to take steps to discover the real offender; and (2) if he can see his way to do anything to prevent the dismissal of the mistress in question, and thus to vindicate her character against an allegation of fraudulent registration which, in the words of Her Majesty's Inspector's Report, cannot be sustained against her?

On further examination of the register, the Inspector has withdrawn the statement referred to in the first paragraph of the Question. He has been directed to forward the registers to the Education Department, where they will be inspected. A further Report will be sent to the Managers after the inspection of the registers. The Committee of Council have no power to prevent the dismissal of the mistress in question.

I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that in shooting with the Lee-Metford rifle (magazine attached) the cartridges usually jam in blank firing, and occasionally in ball practice, rendering the rifle useless; and whether he would consider the possibility of modifying the magazine and breech action to obviate this danger?

No complaints of ball cartridge jamming have been received since the present spring was introduced, more than four years ago. Blank cartridge is not intended to be passed through the magazine of the Lee-Metford Rifle, as the absence of the bullet renders the cartridge an imperfect fit.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to the fact, as stated by the Sanitary Commissioner to the Government of India in his Report for 1894, that 3,062 men are constantly ineffective from venereal disease, and how on an emergency the Government would propose to replace them in the ranks?

I have observed with regret the reported increase in the average number of European troops disabled at one time from venereal disease. I am not aware of any means by which they could be replaced on an emergency.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether the Home authorities have put pressure on the Government of Madras to raise the jurisdiction of the City Civil Court from Rs.2,500 to Rs.5,000; whether he is aware that the Madras Government state that this extension of jurisdiction is open to objections, and that the High Court was itself equally divided in opinion on the merits of the question; whether he is also aware that the chamber of commerce, and other commercial and legal opinion, is opposed to the change; and, if so, whether the said authorities purpose still to urge the change?

It is true that, after full consideration of the views expressed by the Government of Madras and by the chambers of commerce, I requested the Government of Madras, in a Dispatch dated 19th March 1896, to take an opportunity of raising the jurisdiction of the City Court to Rs.5,000, unless they saw any strong reason to the contrary. To this Dispatch I have as yet received no reply.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs—(1) what was the cost of the s.s. Ivy to the Niger Coast Protectorate; (2) whether he can state the estimate of her upkeep for the current year; (3) whether it is the case that she cannot cross the bar of the Qua I be river, and, except during the rainy season, she cannot navigate the Niger or Cross rivers; (4) whether her bottom is only wood sheathed in copper, from which fact she is likely to suffer by the least grounding, causing exposure of her timbers to the action of worms; and, (5) whether there is any place on the West Coast of Africa where such injuries if caused could be attended to?

The total cost of the Ivy, everything included, was £54,000. The estimate of up-keep, for the current year insurance, repairs, coals, officers and crew included is £8,500. The statements in the third and fourth paragraphs are substantially correct, but the ship was built for the sea, and not for the river work of the Protectorate; and the copper sheathing was specially designed for the work that she has to do. The last paragraph could better be answered by the Admiralty than by the Foreign Office.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland—(1) is he aware that a presentment for the making of 755 perches of a new road at Cavancreevy, between Ballybay and Middletown, promoted and supported by a large number of farmers, was rejected at the Road Sessions held at Castleblayney on 11th May last, the cost to be £160; and that a presentment to repair the existing road where it leads through the townlands of Alkil, Drum-muck, Drumnahinsion, Groves Lower and Groves Upper, was also rejected, the cost to be £60; (2) is he aware that this road is dangerous and impassable in winter, and that it is impossible to get produce out to market over it till the late spring; and, (3) whether, seeing that the presentments in both these cases were signed by two justices of the peace, two medical doctors, one of whom is medical officer of the Monaghan Union and two clergymen, the Catholic Parish Priest and the Protestant Rector, he will use his authority to see that this road is repaired?

The facts appear to be stated with substantial accuracy, so I am informed, though I have no information regarding the statements in the second paragraph. With regard to the request at the end of the Question, the hon. Member must doubtless be aware that there is no power or authority resident in me to interfere in this matter, as the construction or repair of roads is vested by law in the Local Authorities. I may, however, point out that where two successive Presentment Sessions have refused to approve an application for a public work it is competent to the persons who made application for such work, under Section 18 of the Grand Jury Act of 1836, to present a Memorial to the Judge of Assize who is empowered to refer the matter to an ordinary jury, and, should their finding be favourable, to direct the Grand Jury to consider the presentment.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland—(1) whether his attention has been called to the complaints of the fishermen in Lough Foyle as to the injury done by the dredge-boat of the Derry Port and Harbour Board to the oyster-beds in the Lough by depositing mud inside the Lough; (2) whether the Fishery Board, acting on a memorial of the fishermen, recently held an Inquiry into the matter, at which it was proved that one valuable oyster-bed had been entirely destroyed and another partially so in the manner mentioned, and also that the mud could be deposited outside the Lough at comparitively slight extra expense; (3) what the result of the Inquiry was, and, (4) whether, failing action by the Fishery Board, any action will be taken by the Government to save this valuable local industry from destruction?

The facts are generally as stated in the first and second paragraph, except that in regard to the discharge of mud it was proved at the Inquiry, on behalf of the Derry Port and Harbour Commissioners, that their system was adopted on the advice of eminent engineers who had specially considered this question. Were the dredger to discharge the mud at the next available point the additional time occupied by her voyages would be so great as to necessitate the purchase of a second dredger at a cost of £20,000. Under these circumstances, and having regard to the smallness of the oyster fishing industry affected, the value of which is less than £100 a year, the inspectors of fisheries declined to interfere with the navigation of this important port.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether it is the intention of the military authorities in Ireland to discontinue the use of the Birr military barracks as a headquarters of a regiment, meaning a loss to the locality of an expenditure there of nearly £40,000 a year; whether he is aware that these barracks are about the largest in Ireland, and were originally built to hold two full regiments; that the situation is excellent, and the health record above the average; that Birr is a first class recruiting district, and possesses within two miles a range suit-for the new rifle, and moreover it is only 65 miles from the Curragh Camp by rail and 50 by road; and, whether, in view of these circumstances, he will be prepared to advise that the military authorities should make no change in the existing arrangements?

The removal of the headquarters of a battalion from Birr was decided in 1890 as a measure conducing to the concentration and efficiency of the Army; and the Secretary of State, while regretting any local inconvenience which may be occasioned, cannot hold out any hope of the decision being changed.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that a Newry magistrate, Mr. Todd, issued a licence to a Newry man to sell intoxicating drinks, on 14th July, at Scarva, near Banbridge, county Down, on the occasion of the usual demonstration there, and that, although the promoters of the meeting were anxious to prevent the sale of such drink, and the police warned the holder of such licence not to sell, he persisted in doing so; and, whether a prosecution will be instituted against the drink seller and the conduct of the magistrate referred to the consideration of the Lord Chancellor?

The action of the magistrate was irregular in signing a consent for a licence to sell at a place outside the Pettty Sessions district in which he usually acted, but as there is no proof that the publican acted in bad faith a prosecution cannot, on the authority of an English case, be sustained. The attention of the Lord Chancellor will be directed to the action of the magistrate.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any reason to suppose that the ammunition used by the warriors of the Matabele has been supplied to them by British subjects or by subjects of any Foreign Power; if not, by whom it was supplied; and whether any person supplying arms or ammunition to the enemy would be liable to summary execution, as in the case of Mr. Stokes?

Inquiries are being made on the spot as to how the rebels have obtained their supplies of arms and ammunition, but no information has yet reached me which would be worth communicating to the House. If any person is shown to have supplied them with arms and ammunition since they broke into rebellion, he will be dealt according to the facts and the law applicable to his case.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can say if the description of the killing of the M'Limo is substantially true; and, if so, in order to avoid provoking reprisals, he will use his influence so that in the future restraint shall be exercised to prevent such incidents. The description to which I refer was in the Daily Graphic of yesterday?

I did not know before to what description the hon. Member alluded. The newspaper descriptions which I have seen tally generally with the official report, which is not of a character to lead me to think that there is any ground for my interference. I may add that there is still some uncertainty as to whether this gentleman has been killed. [Laughter.]

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury if he could state to the House how much of the £500 allotted during 1895–6 under Clause 4 of the Civil Service Estimates, Vote 2, Subhead F 9, was spent; and, how much of the £400 allotted under the same Vote for 1896–7 has been already expended?

£433 5s. 2d. £398 17s. 10d. has been actually spent, and liabilities to a further amount of about.£100 have been incurred?

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether there is a vacancy for the County Court Judgeship of County Down, and if so, whether the appointment has been given, or is intended to be given, to Mr. Walter Craig, who was a Parliamentary candidate for County Down at the last General Election, and who is now the selected Unionist candidate for the same constituency for the next Parliamentary Election?

I have received no notification of a vacancy in the office of County Court Judge for Down.

I beg to ask the Attorney General for Ireland whether he is aware that the matter of the Grand Jury of the county Kilkenny having given away a printing contract for seven years without having advertised for tenders, was brought before the last Judge of Assize, Mr. Justice Johnston, by counsel on behalf of certain cesspayers, and that his Lordship decided that he could not allow the case to be gone into because the contract was fiated by the Lord Chief Justice at the previous Spring Assizes; whether he will inquire if the Lord Chief Justice was fully informed of the illegal way the contract was made, without advertising for tenders, by the Kilkenny County Grand Jury, before he fiated the presentment; and, whether there is any remedy by which the county cesspayers can undo the arrangement which binds them for seven years to pay for a contract at prices which they believe unjust, fixed without their knowledge or consent, and without the economic safeguard of public advertisement for public tender?

The printing contract for the county Kilkenny was made by the Grand Jury at the Spring Assizes, 1896, for the sum of £300 per annum for seven years, it being the lowest of two tenders put in. The amount is practically the same as that contracted for for many years back. The effect of advertising over the whole of Ireland on a previous occasion failed to bring in tenders as low as this. The presentments were fiated in open Court in the usual public manner, and it was open to any cesspayer then to object and traverse the presentment, but no objection having been made, the Lord Chief Justice fiated the presentment. The whole of the facts were laid before Mr. Justice Johnston at the Summer Assizes, 1896, and he refused to hear the traverse, stating that he was very doubtful if an appeal to the Queen's Bench would be successful. On the 13th April last, the hon. Member was informed, in reply to a question put by him on that date, that there was some doubt, owing to a decision delivered many years ago, whether Grand Juries are bound to advertise for tenders for printing. They are undoubtedly bound to do so in the case of all other contracts. I have several times stated to the House, in reply to the questions of hon. Members that the Government have no control over or responsibility for the action of the Grand Jury in such matters.

On behalf of the hon. Member for South Down (MR. MCCAETAN), I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the inquest on the body of Elizabeth Monaghan, who died in the lunatic department of Belfast Workhouse on the 18th inst.; whether he is aware that the father of the deceased proved at the inquest that in 1891, when the child was only ten years old, being of sound mind but subject to epileptic fits, she was on the line of a relieving officer sent to the workhouse, and as an epileptic she was sent to the lunatic department; that there were no signs of insanity for two years after her admission to the lunatic department, and then her mind gave way; that the workhouse doctor swore there was no notice that she was insane, and that it was possible for lunatics who were not epileptic to get into the room where this girl was; and that the verdict of the jury condemned the practice of sending a simple epileptic into the lunatic ward, and held that such treatment contributed to her death; and whether he will have full inquiry made into this ease, and also into the treatment of epileptics generally in workhouses in Ireland?

I have received reports in reference to the inquest on the body of this girl, but as they do not afford a perfectly clear account of the system of treatment pursued of patients suffering from epilepsy in the Belfast Workhouse, I have considered it desirable to make some further inquiries into the matter, and when the result of these further inquiries is before me I will consider the question of investigating the treatment of epileptics generally in Workhouses in Ireland.

On behalf of the hon. Member for West Waterford (Mr. J. J. SHEE), I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland—(1) who is responsible for the assigning of lay Assistant Commissioners to hear applications to fix fair rents under the Laud Law (Ireland) Acts; (2) by what rules such applications are assigned for hearing by the lay Assistant Commissioners; (3) whether, in respect of applications heard during the months of September, October, November, and December 1895, two lay Assistant Commissioners named Messrs. W. Walpole and C. R. Butler had assigned for hearing by them with a legal Assistant Commissioner a larger number of cases than any other two lay Assistant Commissioners, and whether the aggregate of the old rents dealt with by them was,£3,092 15s. 3d, and the reduction on same amounted to 19·49 per cent; (4) whether during the same period the aggregates of the old rents dealt with by the other sets of lay Assistant Commissioners were respectively,£2,037 3s. 1d., £1,913 7s., £1,571 12s. 7d., £7980s. f. d., and £599 14s. 7d., on which the reductions made were respectively 22·43 per cent., 22·79 per cent., 26·53 per cent., 22·93 per cent., and 31·1 per cent.; (5) is there any explanation of the difference between the percentage of reduction made by the several sets of lay Assistant Commissioners; and (6) whether the same state of facts applies to the months of January and February this year in respect of the cases heard during these months?

As to the first two paragraphs, the system followed is explained in the appendix to the Report of the Select Committee on Land Acts. The figures quoted in the third and fourth paragraphs appear to be taken from the Parliamentary Return of judicial rents fixed in the period mentioned, but the inference attempted to be drawn in the third paragraph is not correct, inasmuch as that Return merely contains particulars of cases in which the decisions of the Sub-Commissioners were notified to the Land Commission and does not show the number of cases actually referred to the Sub-Commissioners in the same period. As a matter of fact a larger number of cases were sent in this period to other Sub-Commissioners than to those named in the third paragraph. It is not the fact, as implied in the fourth paragraph, that the Assistant Commissioners named therein fixed the judicial rents in question at a higher aggregate amount than any other set of Assistant Commissioners employed during the same period. As to the last two paragraphs, the rents referred to were fixed by the Assistant Commissioners after having heard the evidence that was offered to them by the parties, and after inspecting the holdings. Their orders were made in a judicial capacity, and if the parties were dissatisfied an appeal lay to the Land Commission.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the operation of the revised Regulations for preventing collisions at sea, referred to in the notice published in the London Gazette of 14th July 1896, will be delayed until it has been ascertained that the principal foreign maritime nations are prepared to adopt similar Regulations, so as to avoid the confusion and danger which would result from ships of different nationalities approaching one another in such manner as to avoid risk of collision not being bound by the same regulations.

The principal foreign maritime nations agreed to the Regulations in question before Rule 15, dealing with fog signals, was modified in order to meet the views of the English shipowners. I have no reason whatever for supposing that they will refuse to agree to those modifications, or to put in force the Rules on the 1st July 1897, when they will become operative in this country.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade—(1) whether he will lay on the Table of the House the terms of the draft Order in Council relative to the regulations for preventing collisions at sea, which the London Gazette of 14th July announces, will be submitted to Her Majesty in Council after forty days from the 14th July; (2) whether this draft Order has been submitted to and approved by the Admiralty; (3) whether the new Regulations to be imposed by the draft Order have been submitted to the Governments of any foreign countries; and, if so, which of such Governments have approved and which have disapproved of them; (4) whether he has received a copy of the protest against the proposed new Rules signed by the representatives at New York of the great steamship lines, including the Cunard, the White Star, and the North German Lloyd lines; and (5) whether he proposes to afford to shipowners and ship's officers in general or this House any opportunity of expressing an opinion on the proposed new Regulations before they are imposed on the mercantile marine by Order in Council?

I will consult the noble Duke the Lord President of the Council with regard to the first paragraph of the hon. Member's Question. As at present advised, I see no objection to laying on the Table the Regulations in question, which will be embodied in the Order in Council to be submitted to Her Majesty. These Regulations have received the concurrence of the Admiralty. They were agreed to by foreign Governments with the exception of the amendment to Article XV., in respect to which we have no reason to believe that there will be any disagreement with the material concessions which have been made to British shipowners. The answer to the fourth paragraph is in the negative, and, as regards the fifth, the fullest opportunity has been given to shipowners and ships' officers for expressing their opinion on the Regulations, and Article XV. is now framed in order to meet as far as possible the views expressed by those persons.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the German Government or the Norwegian Government have agreed to these regulations?

The question was not put to foreign Governments in the first instance, but to the United States by England. We have now communicated the regulations to all foreign Governments, Germany included, and we have no reason to doubt they will agree.

Then, as a matter of fact, only the United States have agreed to adopt them?

Yes.

And no other Government?

Before communicating with other Governments, we considered it necessary to obtain the assent of the United States. It was necessary that these Rules should be settled, and the United States Government required to pass a law through Congress to give effect to them. After having obtained their assent, we communicated with foreign Governments.

I will only ask further whether this House will be allowed an opportunity of discussing these Rules?

No, Sir, I believe it is not usual, and there will be no opportunity of doing so, so far as I know.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to a Report of the Special Commission on the Relative Strengths of Diphtheria Antitoxic Serums, published in The Lancet of July 18th, 1896, in which it is shown that the antitoxic serums now in the market in this country vary greatly in strength; whether he is aware that the Government in Germany have instituted a State laboratory, of which Professor Ehrlich is now the head, for the express purpose of testing the antitoxins produced by manufacturers and certifying the strength of serum contained in each bottle, which is then sent out bearing the Government stamp and seal; and, whether, with regard to the conclusions of The Lancet Commissioners, he is prepared to take steps similar to those already taken in Germany to insure that the strength of the antitoxic serums employed in this country shall be maintained at a uniform standard?

I am aware that, according to the Report referred to, the antitoxic serums sold in this country vary much in strength, and the statement in the Question as to the action taken in Germany is, I believe, correct. The powers vested in the Local Government Board have reference to prevention of disease in connection with sanitary administration and not the cure of disease, and they, therefore, are not empowered to control the sale of any remedy for the treatment of disease. It appears to me that there would be a considerable difficulty in the Government undertaking to control the purity or strength of one particular remedy, as suggested. The Sale of Food and Drugs Acts are intended to provide a remedy for the sale of drugs to the prejudice of the purchaser.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will get for the House statistics as to rates of wages paid and hours worked in the cotton, woollen, and iron (engineering and machine making) trades in France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Russia, and Japan?

I shall have much pleasure in obtaining the latest information on the subject from the countries named. The reports which Her Majesty's representatives will be instructed to make will be laid on the Table when received.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India if he will get for the House statistics as to the rates of wages paid and hours worked in the cotton trade in Bombay and Madras?

Wages in India are usually paid by the piece, and vary according to the season of the year. The fullest information that I possess on this subject, and as to the hours of labour (which is limited by law), is contained in the Factory Reports for Bombay and Madras, copies of which I shall be happy to supply to my hon. Friend, if he wishes it.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the character of the offences for which Dr. Jameson and his companions were convicted, he will consider the advisability of having them treated in prison as misdemeanants of the first class, so that they may be allowed the same privileges as to wearing their own clothes, dietary, literature, and visits, as was granted to Colonel Rhodes and other prisoners convicted of similar offences when imprisoned in Pretoria by the Government of the Transvaal Republic?

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, having regard to the character of the offence of which Dr. Jameson and his coadjutors have been convicted, and the absence of any criminal motive in the proceedings that led to their conviction, he will order that during the period of their detention they be treated as political prisoners?

Under the Prison Act of 1865, it is the sentencing Court alone which has power to order that a person convicted of misdemeanour, and not sentenced to hard labour, should be treated as a first-class misdemeanant. In this case the Court decided to make no such order, and the prisoners are being treated in the ordinary way by law. The Secretary of State has no legal power whatever to alter the definite direction of the Court. Whether such an alteration of the conditions of imprisonment ought in this ease to be effected by the exercise of the Royal prerogative is a matter on which I am not in a position to make a statement at present.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the fact, that as I am informed, gentlemen bearing Her Majesty's commission automatically forfeited their commission unless intervention did take place. [Cries of"Order"!]

That does not arise out of the question on the Paper.

asked whether President Kruger did not treat his prisoners as first-class misdemeanants?

was understood to say that he did not know.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether Her Majesty's Government intend to take any steps for the purpose of bringing to justice persons who have prepared or furthered the recent raid of Dr. Jameson, without risking their own lives?

I must refer my hon. and learned Friend to the answer I gave in reference to this matter early in the Session, and to which I have on other occasions adhered. I must decline to give any information as to any proceedings which I propose to direct, or as to persons against whom any proceedings may be taken.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether in striking the average of time on duty for convict prison warders at nine hours and 15 minutes per day, the 365 days of the year were included; whether clerks and other employés, whose hours are shorter than ordinary prison warders, were also included in the calculation which worked out the average of nine hours and 15 minutes; if so, whether he has any objection to give the average of hours per day and week, including Sundays, during which convict prison warders in uniform are kept on duty, omitting clerks and other higher grade officials not in uniform?

I think some mistake must have been made by the on. Member. The information I gave him in my two previous answers on this subject was that the daily average all the year round worked out at 9 hours 5 minutes, and that the maximum number of hours worked in any one week was 65 hours 40 minutes, which gives a daily average for that week of (about) 9 hours 23 minutes. In making this calculation, the hours of discipline officers alone were reckoned; those of clerks and other employés were not included.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War, in view of the fact that the contractor for the supply of meat to the troops at Enniskillen was prosecuted at the Enniskillen Petty Sessions, and fined in the sum of ten pounds sterling, for having a quantity of unsound meat on his premises on the 14th instant, and which had been rejected on the morning of that day by the Military authorities as unsound and unfit for human food, will he state whether the meat supplied to the troops there is Foreign meat, and will he state on how many occasions has the moat been rejected by the Military authorities at Enniskillen since the contract was taken over by the present contractor, and on what dates; and what steps, if any, the Government purpose taking to secure that the troops in future will be supplied with sound and wholesome food?

With the short notice given by the hon. Member, I have been able to obtain only a telegraphic report, which is as follows;—

"All meat rejected 14th July. Contractor allowed to replace whole. Contractor fined £10 by Civil authority for tainted meat seized same day on his private premises. The meat is American, slaughtered at Birkenhead. Four rejections altogether—14th June, 29th June, 6th July, 14th July; all under contract held by present contractor."

Will that meat be English meat?

I have frequently explained that there is no restriction as to the place of origin.

I shall call attention to the subject.

Is this system to be allowed to continue in Enniskillen of importing American meat, when Irish meat is available?

I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, seeing that Government has now made provision in the Supplementary Estimates for the larger Foe Grant duo to Scotland during the financial year 1895–6, they will, as in the case of Ireland, make further provision to remedy the injustice sustained by Scotland during the preceding three years under the late Government?

This matter is now under the consideration of the Treasury and the Scottish Education Department. Of course, Scotland must be treated on the same basis as Ireland, with regard to the Fee Grant in the three years preceding 1895–6.

I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works if arrangements could be made during the Recess and before the next Session of Parliament for a smoking room to be available for Members both of the House of Lords and House of Commons?

The general question of the smoking room accommodation in the House has been receiving my careful consideration, and I regret to say that I have been unable to find any further space in that portion of the building allotted to the House of Commons. Of course, if there is a disposition on the part of the House of Lords, as suggested by my hon. Friend, to meet us with the offer of further accommodation, the difficulty might be solved. [Cheers.] Perhaps my hon. Friend will speak to me on the matter.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider whether smoking should not be allowed in the map room! ["No."]

I have already considered that question, and there is a very general objection to it. ["Hear, hear!"]

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India when the explanatory memorandum by the State on the East India Accounts and Estimates will be distributed to Members, and whether there is any reason for the delay this year in the distribution?

The memorandum is now ready, the last figures having been received from India by the mail just arrived. The delay in preparation is due to pressure of the work in the Financial Department owing to the mass of information required by the Royal Commission on Indian expenditure.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade, with regard to printing the evidence of the Drummond Castle Inquiry, whether, as the larger portion of the cost has been already incurred by the transcribing of the notes, and in view of the importance of the evidence, he will consent that the Report of the Inquiry shall be printed.

The Report, which is a very full one, will be printed in the usual course. It deals so clearly and comprehensively with the various points of interest involved that I do not consider it would be of any advantage to incur the expense of publishing the evidence, which I may say would be a very unusual course.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade—(1) whether the Great Northern Railway Company still refuse to open the Mount-joy railway station, which was formerly carried on by the previous Company; (2) whether any complaints have been made about the serving of the level crossing at night; (3) and, whether there-establishment of the station has been repeatedly requested by the people of the district?

The reply to the first and third paragraphs of the hon. Member's Question is in the affirmative. I know of no complaints about the serving of the level crossing at night. As the hon. Member has already been informed the Board of Trade have no power in the matter. The remedy provided by the law is an appeal to the Bail way Commissioners.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will lay upon the Table of the House correspondence relating to the massacre and persecution of Armenians, which have taken place subsequent to the events described in the last published Reports of Vice Consul Fitzmaurice; whether he can state if the recommendations of Vice Consul Fitzmaurice, arising out of the Biredjik Commission, have been fully carried out: and, whether, in view of the terrible destitution of the Armenians in the disturbed districts, he can give the House any reassuring information as to the steps which are being taken to prevent further outbreaks and to improve the position of the sufferers?

I have already informed the House that in due course further Papers will be laid. Orders have been sent by the Porte to the Turkish Commission at Biredjik that all whodesire torevert to Christianity should be allowed to do so, and that the security of their property, honour, and lives should be guaranteed. Mr. Fitzmaurice has reported that a number of Armenian households have already taken advantage of this permission, and that he expected the return of other Armenians who had fled, and the speedy reversion to Christianity of the neighbouring villages. The Armenian Church, which had been turned into a mosque, had been restored; priests had been brought back and, as recommended by him, a battalion of regulars was on its way to Biredjik from Aleppo to replace the reserves. Her Majesty's Embassy do not cease to bring to the notice of the Porte any special information that reaches them from localities where distress exists, or where further outbreaks may be apprehended, and they have reason to believe that these representations are not without effect.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland—(1) will he explain why the proprietor tenants on the Lennard estate, Clones, county Monaghan, who purchased their holdings under the Ashbourne Act, and obtained a certified copy of the vesting Order, which Order contained a map of the holding to which it applied, have, since the passing of the Local Registration of Titles Bill, been compelled to lodge the certified copy of the vesting Order with the Registrar of Titles, receiving in lieu thereof a land certificate without any map whatever; (2) is he aware that this has caused great inconvenience to those tenants in cases of disputed right of way or in litigation where maps can only be produced by going to the expense of having new ones made, or compelling the registration authorities to produce the vesting Order by subpoena; (3) whether in the cases of all purchases since the passing of the Act of 1891 the vesting Order and certified copy which are given to the purchaser contain a certificate in the margin that the title has been registered under the Local Registration of Titles Act, and no land certificate is issued; and (4) will he cause the old vesting Orders referred to, with a certificate endorsed thereon, to be returned to the tenants?

On registration, the land certificate supersedes the vesting Order as the evidence of title, and consequently the copy vesting Order held by the tenant is called in, and a copy land certificate is issued in lieu thereof by the Irish Land Commission, who retain the original. The inconvenience caused is hardly what the second paragraph would suggest, owing to the fact that the registered holdings are marked on the maps retained in the local offices as well as on those in the central office, and can be inspected there, or, if necessary, produced in Court by the registering authority. The vesting Order and certified copy referred to in the third paragraph are, in fact, the land certificate and copy land certificate. In cases in which vesting Orders are executed since the passing of the Act, the duplicate of the vesting Order is issued as a land certificate pursuant to Rule 36 of the General Rules made under the Local Registration of Titles Act. As regards the last paragraph, it would not be desirable to issue two certificates to the owner, as would be the case should a copy land certificate, and a copy vesting Order certified in the way suggested, be issued.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state under what statutory or other authority the Board of Trade have allowed the expenses incurred by the Irish Board of Lights in defending Harrison's case, in which they were condemned in damages and costs; and whether the Board of Trade have had submitted to them any full account of such expenses?

The Board of Trade are advised that the costs incurred by the Commissioners of Irish Lights in defending Harrison's case are properly payable, under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, out of the Mercantile Marine Fund, as expenses incurred by the General Lighthouse Authority. The Board of Trade have sanctioned the payment of part of these expenses, but they have not yet received details of the final account.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General—(1) whether he is considering the question of introducing an agricultural parcel post, at special low rates (as recommended for many years past by the hon. Member for Canterbury), for the carriage of British flowers, fruit, vegetables, poultry, and dairy produce, with a view to give to British cultivators some portion of the forty millions sterling annually paid by British consumers for similar produce from abroad; (2) whether one grave difficulty in the way is the existence of an arrangement made some years ago, whereby 55 per cent. of the postage on parcels is paid to the railway companies for bare carriage, while the Post Office receives only 45 per cent. for doing all the work of collection, sorting, and distribution; and, if so, how long such an arrangement has to run; and (3) whether the further objections caused by the difficulty of distinguishing between Foreign and British produce and between agricultural produce and other articles might be met by requiring every agriculturist sending his produce by the agricultural parcel post to append a statement (somewhat on the lines of that required for the pattern and sample post) stating that the contents are British agricultural produce of his own growing?

The carriage of parcels of agricultural and daily produce by post at special rates has been advocated for many years past from many quarters, though it is doubtful how far it would benefit the agricultural districts themselves. It is quite true, as the hon. Member states, that the Act of Parliament which directs that 55 per cent. of the postage on parcels should be paid to the railway companies is a factor in the problem of considerable importance. The arrangement made by the Act expires in 1904. There is no condition that a statement should be appended stating that the contents are British (as the hon. Member supposes in the last paragraph of his question) in the sample or pattern post, and so there is no experience to show how far it would be practical in the case of the proposed agricultural parcel post.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies—(1) what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to expedite the conveyance of food supplies to Rhodesia; (2) what progress is being made with the railway line from Mafeking to Buluwayo; and (3) whether Her Majesty's Government will hold fresh military forces in readiness at the termini of the railway lines approaching Rhodesia, so that they can be sent forward as soon as the supplies are increased?

The officials of the British South Africa Company and the Imperial military authorities in South Africa are straining every nerve to increase the foodstuffs in the country. I may mention that I am making inquiries as to the possibility of employing camels for transport, but without much hope that such a step will be found feasible. The rails of the Mafeking-Gaberones line had reached the 53-mile 40-chain peg on June 20. I understand that the progress since then has been at a rapid rate. In reply to the third paragraph of the question, I have to say that it is a question for the discretion of the local military authorities how many troops should be kept at the terminus of the Mafeking line in readiness to be pushed forward and bow many should be kept at the Cape.

I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education, with reference to the recent circular issued by the Science and Art Department, why the Department is only willing to pay a grant in aid on 20 attendances in one elementary art subject and on 30 attendances altogether in two or more subjects, when many more than these attendances may and will be made during a session by students in art schools, and whether in science classes grant is payable on 60 attendances in one subject and on 120 attendances altogether in two or more subjects; and whether the form in question will apply to schools where arrangements for the ensuing session had already been made before the receipt of it on 3rd July?

The limit to the number of attendances for which the attendance grant can be paid is intended to prevent the grants under the new system from too largely exceeding those under the old. It has been ascertained that there are not many pupils taking the elementary work in art schools who make more than 20 attendances in a session. The attendance grant to science classes is paid on the basis mentioned in the question; but these classes do not get the grants for work executed in the school during the session, which forms a large part of the grant to art schools. In order to avoid the difficulties indicated in the last paragraph of the question, the Committee of Council have decided to give all schools the option of remaining under the old rules for another year.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that the tin miners in the Straits Settlements are demanding a reduction of the royalty payable to the State; and whether, in view of the great depression in the Cornish mining industry, which would be increased thereby, he will consider the advisability of refusing this demand?

I have no information such as that indicated in the hon. Member's Question. If such a demand is made, the decision on it ought prima facie to be decided in accordance with the interests of the Native Protected States concerned.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War if the bonus proposed by the Government and voted by Parliament to enable Volunteer corps to adjust their financial positions has yet been paid; and if, in allocating it, care will be taken not to penalise regiments whose officers have made pecuniary sacrifices for the good of their corps, or whose affairs have been so economically administered as not to show the debts which some regiments have incurred, in the hope that they would one day or other be paid by a compassionate State or a public spirited individual?

The issues are being made in all cases in which the finances of the corps are in a fairly satisfactory condition. In the case of those corps whose accounts show a deficiency unprovided for, arrangements are required, before the extra capitation is paid, which shall secure the deficiency being met within a reasonable period and shall prevent its recurrence.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in view of the fact that at present there is but one arbitrator to carry out arbitration inquiries under the Lands Clauses, Labourers and other Irish Acts, and that it is physically impossible for him to do all the work, he will consider the advisability of appointing additional arbitrators to facilitate proceedings, especially under the new Labourers' Act?

It is not a fact that there is but one arbitrator appointed to hold inquiries referred to in the Question. There are two. Delays have occasionally occurred in arbitration proceedings, but these delays have rarely been attributable to the inability of these gentlemen to find sufficient time, and have generally been caused by the prescribed procedure, which is not expeditious, or by defective information placed before the arbitrator by local authorities. The Labourers Bill now before Parliament proposes, by way of simplifying procedure under the Labourers Acts, to apply the procedure under the Housing of Working Classes Act instead of that under the Lands Clauses Act. One of the effects of this will be that the arbitrator will be appointed by the Local Government Board.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the dangerous condition of the canal harbour at Longford and the advice given to the Midland Great Western Railway Company to rail it in, which they say legal advice compels them not to do, will he consent to the introduction of a short Bill in next Session to authorise the construction of protective palings at such places?

I am not prepared to make any statement as to the legislation of next Session, but if the hon Member introduces such a Bill as he suggests I will give it careful consideration.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General whether any, and if so what, steps have been taken to improve the mid-day mail service between Clones and Cavan and Clones and Belturbet, as promised by him on 5th June?

The hon. Member is under a misapprehension in supposing that any promise was made in the answer given on the 5th June to improve the Clones, Cavan and Belturbet mid-day mail service. On the contrary, it was stated that the existing arrangement of trains did not admit of a better day mail service and that the establishment of special trains would not be justified.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether and how far the recommendations of the Merionethshire Mines Committee have been adopted and put into operation?

A large and important part of the recommendations of this Committee has reference to improved methods of working, the adoption of which is voluntary on the part of the owners, and to such matters as the health, food, clothing, houses, etc., of the workmen. How far these recommendations have been carried out I cannot say, but by distributing the Report and having it translated into Welsh, the Home Office has done all it can to bring these matters to the knowledge of the persons concerned, and the inspectors have constantly pressed them upon the mine owners. Of the other recommendations some require legislation and must wait until time can be found to amend the Metalliferous Mines Acts; but others can be carried out by means of special rules, and the chief inspector is now endeavouring to secure their adoption.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the danger of injury being done to existing electric lighting undertakings if electric railways should be constructed under the Light Railways Bill, unless the regulations now prescribed by the Board of Trade with regard to electric traction be amended so as to include precautions to prevent the currents of existing electric lighting undertakings being affected by the currents of electric railways; and whether he is prepared to amend these regulations?

It will be the duty of the Board of Trade to see that there are inserted in the Order authorising a light railway proposed to be worked electrically such provisions to secure public safety and the interests of electric lighting or other undertakings as they may deem advisable. If it is necessary to amend the existing regulations they can be amended in the Order.

I beg to ask the Attorney General if the Lord Chancellor contemplates issuing an Order in Council for the abolition of civic business at all future assizes in the borough of Stafford; if he can state what are the exact terms of such proposed Order; and to request that such Order may not be promulgated until the local authorities and the county council have had an opportunity of expressing their protests against any such change.

I venture to refer my hon. Friend to my answer to the previous questions on this subject. The Lord Chancellor has assured me that no Orders will be made without affording the localities interested an opportunity of expressing their views upon the matter.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether the Commission has yet been appointed to inquire into the incidence of local taxation; and, if not, if he will give an assurance that it will be appointed before the close of the present Session.

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. The constitution of the Commission is far advanced. I have no doubt that it will be completed before the end of the Session, and that I shall shortly be able to make the announcement of its appointment.

Can the First Lord of the Treasury give us any further information as to the course of public business, especially in regard to Supply?

On Friday we propose to take the Votes for the Home Office and other administrative offices. The Army and Scotch Votes will be taken next week. There will be a Saturday sitting, I am afraid. I will state what Bills will be taken on Saturday to-morrow.