I think, after the long Debate on this Bill on Tuesday, that the promoters of the Measure, and the right honourable Gentleman at the head of the Department affected by it, will not require any arguments from me to commend to them the Instruction which I have put down on the Paper. It is so plain, practical, and just, that I hope the promoters of the Bill and the right honourable Gentleman will see their way to accept it.

I oppose the Motion on the ground that a very strong Committee is to be appointed with a very wide reference, and practically all the subjects referred to in the Instruction can be dealt with by that Committee on the clauses of the Bill. I do not think it is at all necessary that the Committee should be instructed as to the course of procedure which they are going to take, and as a matter of principle, I must ask the House to refuse the Instruction.

Mr. Speaker, I hope the honourable Member will not press his Instruction. He is well aware that the Committee may consider these questions, if they think fit, without any Instruction at all. They have full power to consider this matter, and I think that to give the Committee an Instruction with regard to one particular point, and that a point in reference to which these two railway companies are doing more at the present time than any other railway company in the metropolis, would be casting a reflection on the action of those railway companies. The Instruction is not at all necessary.

Do I understand from the statement of the right honourable Gentleman the President of the Board of Trade that there will be no limitation on the kind of evidence which can be brought before the Committee? If so, I am perfecty willing to withdraw my Instruction.

The evidence will be regulated by the Rules of the House.

It is quite clear that anyone who has a locus standi under the Rules of the House will be able to give evidence before the Committee.

When I saw this Instruction on the Paper it struck me that the subjects mentioned were the very points which the Committee would inquire into. Under the circumstances, I think the honourabe Member for Walthamstow should be content with the assurance which has come from the other side, and withdraw the Instruction.

After the explanation that has been given, I beg to withdraw my Motion.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he can state whether the South Eastern Railway Company, previous to pulling down 96 houses, and closing 24 other houses, in the parish of Bermondsey and in the contiguous parishes, for the extension and widening of their railway, have provided to his satisfaction other and suitable homes in the immediate vicinity for the labouring classes so displaced; and, if so, whether he will state in what localities such accommodation has been provided, and will give the number of persons for whom accommodation has been found; whether, in view of the further contemplated extensions, widenings, and improvements already entered upon by the South Eastern Railway Company in that immediate district, and which will displace large numbers of the labouring classes, he will state whether, and, if so, in what locality, the company has already provided the requisite accommodation for their re-housing, as required by their Act, 60 and 61 Vic. c. 227; and, if such provision has not been already made, will he state the date by which the necessary accommodation will be provided, the locality in which the buildings will be situated, and the number of persons who will be provided for?

The liability of the railway company to re-house the persons of the labouring class displaced by their operations under the Act referred to is modified by a provision in the further Bill which the company promoted and which received the approval of Parliament last Session. This provision enables the company to submit, and the Secretary of State to approve, a scheme for the temporary re-housing of the persons displaced, pending the erection of new buildings for their permanent accommodation. Under this provision temporary accommodation has been provided for 542 persons in Blocks A, B, and L, of the Guinness Trust Buildings, lately erected in Snowsfields, Bermondsey, and further temporary accommodation is provided in Blocks C, D, and K, of the same buildings, which are in the vicinity of the scene of the widenings, while other persons have been removed at their own request to other dwellings. The blocks referred to contain accommodation for a larger number of persons than has been actually displaced. The question of the permanent re-housing of all these persons is now under the consideration of the Secretary of State, and as he is well aware of the great scarcity of artisans' dwellings in the neighbourhood in question, he will take care that the provision made by the company is adequate.

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether he is aware that the abstract of accounts and annual statistical reports of the Universities of Aberdeen, Glasgow, and St. Andrews made to the Secretary for Scotland, in accordance with the provisions of the Universities (Scotland) Act, 1889, contains a statement of the emoluments of the professors in the various faculties from endowments, fees, and other sources; whether the reports sent in by Lord Balfour of Burleigh, on behalf of the University of Edinburgh, do not contain this information; and, whether the Secretary for Scotland will communicate with the Lord Rector of Edinburgh University, with the view of having the returns from the University as full and complete as those of the other Universities?

I am informed by the Lord Rector of Edinburgh University that the annual statistical reports of that University from 1889 to 1893 comprised similar details in respect of the emoluments of professors to those contained in the reports of the other Universities, but when the University Commissioners' Financial Ordinance No. 27 came into operation fixing normal salaries for all the Chairs with the exception practically of the three Divinity Chairs, the University authorities considered that there was no longer the same necessity for reporting these details from year to year. But they have no objection to furnish them in future, and that will be done.

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate if he could state to the House what proportion of the salaries paid to the theological professors in the University of Edinburgh is defrayed from Parliamentary grant, endowments, and fees paid by students; and, from what funds are the salaries of the assistant professors and the additional examiners of divinity paid?

As regards the first portion of the honourable Member's Question, I Lave arranged to furnish him with a written explanatory statement, as the details are too long to trouble the House with. As regards the second portion, the reply is, that the salary of the University Assistant in Hebrew and of the University Assistant in Divinity is paid from the General University Fund.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether, having regard to the gradual decrease in the number of British seamen employed in the British mercantile marine, he will recommend to Her Majesty the appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire into the question.

No, Sir; I hardly think this is a matter for a Royal Commission. It seems to me it is rather a matter for shipowners themselves to inquire into. Should such an inquiry be instituted, the Government will give consideration to any suggestions which may result.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the man Trew, speaking at the Custom House, Belfast, on recent Sundays, inflamed the mind of the mob against certain churches in Belfast, and stated that as soon as they had finished with St. Clement's they would attack those also; and whether, as the same laws against intimidation and incitement to riot are in force in the North and South of Ireland, he will cause them to be enforced in Belfast as in the South?

The strongest words used by Mr. Trew in the direction suggested in the first paragraph were those spoken on the 8th January, when he said that—

"As soon as things are finally arranged at St. Clement's Church, we will tackle St. George's; we will carry on no tom-foolery outside the church; we will just walk in in a body and bring out everything that ought not to be there."

On the 22nd January, he used similar language about the same church, and also alluded to St. Peter's Church, and to the churches at Bushmills and Hillsboro'. It has hitherto been the practice of successive Governments in Ireland to abstain from prosecuting for incitements in connection with religious disputes, which, unfortunately, are by no means confined to the North of Ireland, and the Government do not consider it desirable to depart from this practice in the present instance. The law with respect to intimidation, and to incitements to riot, is the same all over Ireland, and the attitude of the Government in the present case has been identical with that observed in other parts of Ireland in other cases of a similar kind. The policy of the Government has been to stand neutral between the parties to such disputes, and the police only interfere so far as is necessary to preserve the public peace.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture if he can explain why the extensive imports of butter and eggs from foreign countries increased in the first two months of this year by 14 per cent, in the case of butter, and 36 per cent, in that of eggs; whether the Board have directed the attention of British farmers to the continued increase in the demand for Danish and other foreign butter; whether the methods adopted abroad to secure high standards of quality and packages of merchantable quantities are being adopted to any appreciable extent by agriculturists in this country; and whether there is a prospect of the native supplies of butter and eggs being so improved as to render unnecessary the present large importations from abroad?

I am not aware of the cause of increase to which the honourable Member refers, and, in any case, it would be dangerous to draw conclusions from the figures for two months only. Thus, taking the figures for the whole year 1898, there was a slight diminution in our imports of butter as compared with 1897, and the increase in the case of eggs was 2.8 per cent. only. The facts as to the imports of butter are constantly brought to the notice of British farmers in the "Journal of the Board of Agriculture" and elsewhere, and we have reason to believe that the educational facilities which have been provided in recent years have resulted in a considerable improvement of the methods of butter-making at home. But I cannot anticipate that we shall ever be self-supporting in the matter of butter or eggs or of any items of food supply in such enormous demand.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Great Eastern Railway Company require their firemen and engine drivers to pass an examination before engaging them, and that in each case this certificate is withheld from the man unless he is going on foreign service, and then only given to the office through which he has obtained foreign employment; and whether he can use his influence to secure that the certificate may be handed to and be the property of the man immediately he has earned it?

No, Sir, I cannot interfere in a matter of this description, which appears to involve the conditions upon which a railway company chooses to select its servants.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland if he is aware that the agent of the Marquess of Sligo has published notices that various townlands on his lordship's estate have been poisoned, with the result that dogs and poultry straying on the land are subject to destruction, and that the poison is conveyed by birds to the adjoining lands; is such action legal; and could he state in what way the owners of poisoned animals can recover compensation?

I understand that notices signed by Lord Sligo's agent have been posted up in conspicuous places in the locality referred to intimating that it is intended to lay down poison for the destruction of foxes and other vermin. Neither Lord Sligo nor his agent has in this done anything for which they can be called to account or interfered with by the Executive Government. Though the answer to this Question is obvious, I must respectfully decline to express any opinion on the respective rights of the owners of land and the owners of dogs or poultry which may trespass upon these lands under the circumstances mentioned in the question.

Are foxes correctly described as "vermin"?

Yes, Sir.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in view of the terms of the Treaty of 1856, and the fact that certain subjects of Her Majesty, recently tried upon a charge of introducing in the "Tourmaline" arms and ammunition into Morocco, were confined for 100 days before they were handed over to the British authorities at Tangier; whether any and what punishment has been meted out to Kaid Giluli and the other subjects of the Sultan who were responsible for their detention; whether he is aware that the application of Her Majesty's Vice-Consul for the custody of the prisoners was refused, and the prisoners lodged in a house in Mogador under a guard of Moorish soldiers; whether he is aware that, in sentencing the prisoners at Tangier, Chief Justice Gatty, said "I do not take into consideration the hardships you have suffered at the hands of the Moors, as that may form the basis of a claim for compensation against the Moorish Government"; and whether Her Majesty's Government, having regard to this judicial expression, have taken or mean to take any steps to obtain compensation from the Sultan?

Her Majesty's Government have had all the circumstances of this case before them, and, having given them careful consideration, have arrived at the conclusion that these persons who landed arms in the Sus country from the steam yacht "Tourmaline" were implicated in a deliberate attempt to raise a rebellion against the Sultan of Morocco. In these circumstances, they have decided to abstain from demanding pecuniary compensation from the Moorish Government on their behalf. The question of the action taken by Kaid Giluli in this matter is still under discussion between Her Majesty's Minister at Tangier and the Moorish Government.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Report for which he telegraphed four weeks ago to Lord Cromer of the destruction of the Mahdi's tomb and the mutilation of his dead body has been yet received; if it has been received when will it, in accordance with the promise of the Government, be printed and circulated among Members of the House of Commons; and, if the Report has not been received, what is the reason of the delay?

An Official Report was despatched from Cairo on the 13th inst. It will be communicated to the House in due course. There has been no undue delay, allowing for necessary communications between Lord Cromer and Lord Kitchener.

Shall we have the communications in extenso, or only selections from them?

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is prepared to give an undertaking that reasonable notice will be given of the day to be fixed for the Second Reading of the Loans Fund (Ireland) Bill?

I have no wish to spring the Second Reading of this Bill on honourable Members, but I cannot give an undertaking that it will not be proceeded with in the ordinary course on any day for which it may be set down.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Irish Local Government Board dissolved the Board of Guardians of the Clogher Union for their action in the appointment of a lady (Miss Magill) as a rate collector, and their refusal to annul that appointment; whether the Irish Local Government Board found fault with MissMagill's appointment on the sole ground that under the 152nd section of the Irish Grand Jury Act (6 and 7 Will. IV., c. 116) distress warrants cannot be issued to any other person than the rate collector, who must execute the decree in person, and that a woman is unfitted for the work; whether he is aware that it has been decided by a full court over which the Lord Chief Baron presided in 1888, in the case R. (Jones) v. Rony (23 I. L. T. R., p. 28), that the 152nd section of the Irish Grand Jury Act is inconsistent with the provisions of the Irish Petty Sessions Act, and repealed by that Act, which provides that the execution of the warrant is cast on the police and not on the rate collector; and whether the Local Government Board will sanction the appointment of Miss Magill to a poor rate collectorship in accordance with the practice in England, where several women are poor rate collectors?

The Board of Guardians of the Clogher Union was not dissolved for the reasons stated in the first paragraph, but because the Guardians refused to sign the warrants of Collector Cuthbertson. The inquiries in the other paragraphs of the question have already been answered by me in replying to previous questions on the same subject. I would particularly refer the honourable and learned Member to my replies of the 9th and 10th February last.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that on Sunday, 5th March last, Mr. Trew, speaking from the Custom House steps in Belfast, advised the people to persevere in the conduct for which Johnson was imprisoned, and said that if they did so for three months longer they would starve Mr. Peoples out of Belfast, and that four policemen, numbered 363, 732, 592, and 329 were listening to this language; and whether the Government propose to prosecute Mr. Trew for such language?

The facts are substantially as stated in the first paragraph. The reply to the second paragraph is the same as that already given to the first Question put to me by the honourable Member, namely, that it has not been the practice of successive Governments to prosecute for incitements of this kind.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Mr. Trew, on the 1st of January last, publicly declared that he would never stop till he had hounded out Mr. Peoples, and that "he hoped he would live to see him roasted alive," "that he deserved to be cut in pieces"; and why the police, who were present on the occasion, have taken no notice of such language publicly uttered? In putting this Question may I say that the language has been altered. No doubt it was un-Parliamentary, but it was necessary to show the point of the Question, namely, did Mr. Trew say he "would never rest until he had hounded Mr. Peoples to hell?" Did he use that horrible language?

The police were present at the meetings addressed by Mr. Trew on the 1st of January, and carefully noted the language used by him, but their notes contain no evidence that he made use of the words attributed to him, or of words to the effect quoted in the Question.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that last November the Lord Mayor of Belfast issued a proclamation against the holding of anti-ritualist demonstrations in the vicinity of St. Clement's Church, and that this proclamation was openly defied by some of the ringleaders, and the police made no attempt to put the proclamation in force: and whether, as meetings for the purpose of agitation are held almost nightly at the east end of St. Clement's Church, adequate measures will be taken to put an end to the present disturbances?

The honourable Member seems to be in error as to the nature of the Lord Mayor's proclamation, which did not prohibit any meeting, but merely recited certain instructions that the police had received, and which they afterwards carried out, and in addition exhorted law-abiding citizens to absent themselves from the locality on Sunday evenings, and to assist the authorities in the preservation of the peace. As to the second paragraph, crowds assembled in the neighbourhood of the church and obstructing the thoroughfare, are moved on by the police.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Chinese subjects are being enlisted in the British Service at Wei-hai- Wei; and, if so, whether such a proceeding is legal?

A battalion of Chinese is being enlisted at Wei-hai-Wei for the British service. As regards the legality of this step Her Majesty's Government are not aware of any legal objection to the voluntary enlistment of the subjects of a foreign Power.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland why no Sub-Commission has sat in Listowel for 15 months, seeing that there are over 150 cases waiting trial, and some of those cases are second term cases on estates which are in the Land Judge's Court.

I am informed by the Land Commissioners that it Was hot possible, having regard, to the claims of other districts, to arrange a sitting for the district referred to during the period mentioned. It is probable, however, that a list containing cases from the Union of Listowel will be issued before the end of next month, though no definite arrangements have as yet been made. The Commissioners have no information which would enable them to distinguish between cases situate upon estates in the Land Judge's Court and others not in that Court.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if his attention has been called to a desperate attempt made to wreck the 6.50 passenger train from Belfast to Bankbridge, at a point some yards from Lambeg Station, by placing a sleeper across the line; and have the police succeeded in finding any clue to the perpetrators of this crime?

I am informed that on the 5th instant the engine of the passenger train referred to came in contact with a sleeper placed on the rails, but that beyond slight injury to the protecting guards of the engine no damage was done to the train or the line. The police have not yet found a clue to the perpetrators of the crime.

I beg to ask the Civil Lord of the Admiralty whether any decision has been come to in regard to the negotiations between the Admiralty and the Auckland Harbour Board; and, if not, what is the reason of the delay?

No decision has yet been come to. The Secretary of the. Harbour Board has, however, made a definite proposal to the Admiralty on behalf of his Board, and this offer is now under consideration by the Admiralty and Treasury. I hope that a final decision may be given shortly.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he can say how many resident magistrates are at present serving who have been promoted from the Royal Irish Constabulary, and how many of that number are Roman Catholics;and whether such appointments are made by seniority or by selection?

The number of resident magistrates now serving who have been promoted from the rank of district inspector in the Constabulary is 26, of whom four were Roman Catholics. Such appointments are made by selection; but seniority has always been one element, though, of course, not the only element in making the selection since the present Government has held office. I cannot speak for the practice of my predecessors.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the statement made in the public Press to the effect that, under the name of the Railway Brigade, large numbers of artisans and labourers from Egypt have been compelled to construct the railway to Khartoum at a nominal rate of wages and are still employed on similar work; and whether, if the facts be as stated, steps will be taken by Her Majesty's Government to put an end to a system of forced labour, under cover of military service, which is now illegal?

We have heard nothing of the compulsory employment on the railway of artisans and labourers, The Soudan Railways, including that to Khartoum, were constructed primarily for military purposes, and, so far, entirely by military labour: the employees are soldiers.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will give the House more particular information, by means of a Treasury Minute or otherwise, previous to the Second Reading of the Telegraphs (Telephonic Communication) Bill, as to the precise intentions of the Government regarding conditions to be imposed upon municipalities in connection with licences to be granted to them.

I stated on Tuesday that probably the best method of giving the House the required information will be by a Treasury Minute.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that an ordinance has been published imposing on the islands of St. Kitts, Nevis, and Anguilla new taxes, including an income tax on all incomes from £75 to £150 per annum of two and a half per cent., and over £150 per annum of three per cent., also what is called a mercantile and huckster's licence, costing from £20 to 25s. per annum, without which no person can sell goods, wares, merchandise, provisions, or any other commodities, and a wheel tax on vehicles; and whether, considering the impoverishment of the Colony, an equilibrium between expenditure and revenue could be established by a reduction in the cost of the administration of the islands?

I am aware and have approved of the imposition of the taxes referred to, which I consider to be fair and reasonable; on the other hand, there has been considerable remission of taxation, which bore heavily upon the sugar industry. Every effort has been and will be made to reduce expenditure in these islands.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies under what circumstances the Administrator of the Colony has left St. Kitts; whether he will return to duty in the island; and, if not, whether the present opportunity will be utilised for reducing the cost of the administrative staff and so lightening the taxes upon the Colonists?

An Inquiry has been held by a Commission appointed by the Governor of the Leeward Islands into certain charges which have been made against the Administrator of St. Kitts-Nevis; at the close of the Inquiry the Administrator had leave of absence pending my decision in the matter. The Report of the Commission has been received, and is under consideration. At present it would be premature to say what changes, if any, can be made in the Administrative staff.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the complaint made at the meeting of the Clogher Board of Guardians, on the 4th March, by Mary M'Elmeel, that Rate-collector Cuthbertson never called or demanded rates from her until he appeared, accompanied by "grippers," and assaulted her, seized her cow, and charged her £2 12s. 9d. rates, and 5s. costs; what notice has been taken of the conduct of this rate collector; and will any compensation be granted to M'Elmeel?

It appears that the collector called on Mrs. M'Elmeel without notice, and demanded the rates due by her. As payment was not made, he succeeded, after meeting with some resistance, in seizing a cow and driving it away. The following day Mrs. M'Elmeel appears to have thought better of her refusal, and paid the rates and costs, getting back her cow. Her complaint to the Guardians on the subject was marked read. No notice will be taken of Collector Cuthbertson's action by the Local Government Board, as he appears to have acted strictly in accordance with the law, which in Ireland empowers a collector, on refusal of payment of rales, to distrain forthwith any goods found on the premises of the person in default, without serving any notice whatever. No compensation will be granted to Mrs. M'Elmeel, or to any other ratepayer, who incurs costs by withholding payment of rates. The Guardians have called attention to the unsatisfactory state of the collection in this district, and as the collection must be closed by the appointed day, Mr. Cuthbertson is acting properly in enforcing payment by seizure in all cases where the rates are refused.

Are not these distraints to be levied by the respectable members of the Royal Irish Constabulary, and not by "grippers"? What are "grippers"?

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury why nothing has been done to make the turnstile of Chapelizod Gate, Phoenix Park, more convenient for cyclists; and what has resulted from the Inquiry promised last year?

An attempt was made in the direction indicated by the honourable Member, but, as the park gate was left open and the deer escaped, it was necessary to discontinue it. No Inquiry was promised last year.

Surely, something could be done. The gate has never been unchained, and no attempt has been made to improve it.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Board of Inland Revenue intend further reducing the number of first-class officers at present in Dublin collection, and if they propose to replace any first-class officers in Excise warehouses in Dublin by assistants, considering the great hardship to officers caused by checking promotion, and reversing the previous policy of the Board?

The Board of Inland Revenue have no intention of replacing first-class officers employed in Excise warehouses in Dublin by assistants.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that owing to the want of adequate supervision in Excise warehouses in Dublin some years ago a great fraud was perpetrated, over 10,000 gallons of spirits being abstracted, and that lately there have been two cases in bonded warehouses in England of fraudulent abstractions of spirits: and, in view of those frauds, will he represent to the Board of Inland Revenue the inadvisability of reducing the number of first class officers at present in charge of Excise warehouses in Dublin?

I am aware that some considerable frauds of the nature described in the Question occurred in an Excise ware house in Dublin in 1888. The matter was fully dealt with at the time, and the staff was increased, and no fraud of this sort is known to have taken place since. The two cases in England to which I think the honourable Member alludes occurred not in Excise but in Customs warehouses. I do not see any necessity for making such representations to the Board of Inland Revenue as are suggested by the honourable Member.

On behalf of the honourable Member for the St. Patrick Division of Dublin, I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can state the exact amount paid to the French Belleville Company for each set of Belleville boilers placed in or ordered for the ships of Her Majesty's Navy, and also the total amount of royalty paid by the Admiralty or the contractors to the Admiralty to the French Belleville Company for Belleville boilers supplied to or ordered for Her Majesty's ships?

The total amount of the royalties paid to or to be paid to the Belleville Company is £146,690. I cannot state within the limits of an answer to a Question across the floor of the House the exact amount paid on each set of Belleville boilers.

Is the right honourable Gentleman aware that the money paid for these boilers far exceeds what it would cost to make ordinary boilers?

On behalf of the honourable Member for the St. Patrick Division of Dublin, I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether ho can state the number of railways actually constructed in the British, French, German, Belgian, Spanish, and Portuguese possessions in West Africa, and the places connected by these railways, and the mileage in each case, also the number of proposed railways for which surveys have been made, and the districts over which the surveys have been made; and, whether the railway lines actually constructed in West Africa belong to the State or private companies?

In Sierra Leone, a railway has been laid from Freetown to Songo Town, a distance of 32 miles, and is being continued to Rotofunki; from this place a survey is being made to Mano, the distance of which from Freetown is 97 miles. Surveys have also been made to Bumban and Sulymah. On the Gold Coast a railway is being laid from Skondi to Tarkwa, a distance of 40 miles; and a flying survey has been made from Tarkwa to Kumassi; surveys have also been made from Accra direct, and via Apam, to Insuain, and from Insuain to Kumassi; and another is being made from Accra to Kpong on the Volta River. The railway from Lagos to Ibadan, 120 miles, is in course of construction. The first section to Abeokuta, 64 miles, is expected to be opened for public traffic in May, and both construction and survey work are in progress on the Abeokuta-Ibadan section. The railways in the British West African Colonies belong to the State. I must refer the honourable Member to the Foreign Office as to railways in Foreign Possessions in West Africa.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he has any objection to grant a Return of the Amounts expended respectively on the Admiralty Pier at Holyhead, and on the Carlisle Pier, Kingstown, in connection with the last and present Holyhead and Kingstown mail contracts?

I will give the honourable Member the particulars now. The amounts expended, so far as it is possible to distinguish them, have been —upon the Admiralty Pier at Holyhead, £49,187, on the Carlisle Pier at Kingstown, £16,461. The annual expenditure on dredging Kingstown Harbour amounts in addition to £1,000 or £1,200.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to a resolution of the Government of India in the Finance and Commerce Department No. 2587, of 9th June last, under which certain firms have been selected as qualified to tender for Government contracts in articles of steel and iron; whether he will state what public benefit is obtained by limiting the competition to these firms, and upon what evidence of special qualification the selection has been made; whether he is aware that among these selected firms not a single native firm is included; and, will he explain how this exclusion of native enterprise is held to be in accordance with the Standing Orders of the Government of India, published in 1883, which direct that, unless prices or quality compel another course, the preference shall invariably be given to Indian over European manufactures?

The Resolution of the Government of India of the 9th June 1898, regarding the receipt of tenders in India for Government contracts for articles of steel and iron, was approved by me before its issue. It is a common practice for Government Departments to invite tenders only from firms as to whose competence and resources they have some reason to be satisfied; and the advantages of this course must, I think, be obvious. But in this case it is only for the present that the competition is limited to the firms specified, as it is expressly mentioned that the list is subject to revision from time to time. The Local Government were consulted as to the firms who were qualified to be placed on the list. I am unable to say whether any of the selected firms are composed wholly or partially of natives of India, but no racial disqualification of any kind has been imposed, and if there are native firms willing and competent to tender, there is nothing whatever to prevent them from being added to the list. The object of the Government is to purchase from producers direct, not to encourage middlemen. The policy of the Orders of 1883, in favour of the purchase of stores of local manufacturers when practicable, remains in full force, and has reference, not to any question of race distinctions, but to the capacity and location of the manufactories at which the required articles are produced.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture if he is aware of the great discontent that prevails in the agricultural parts of the West Riding of Yorkshire at the prolonged continuation of the Muzzling Order, the muzzle interfering with the work of the dog; and if he can now relax the Order, or say when the Order will be withdrawn?

I have no doubt that the owners of dogs both in the West Riding and the other districts in which Muzzling Orders still remain in force would welcome the withdrawal of the Orders, but, at the same time, there is, I think, a general opinion that, in view of the stage which our operations have reached, it will be better that they should remain in force so long as any appreciable risk exists of our having to re-impose them. I could not with safety indicate a date for the withdrawal of the Orders, but my honourable Friend may be sure that I shall be very glad to find myself able to announce the completion of the task which we have thought it our duty to undertake.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether offers have been entertained by the authorities from certain capitalists for purchase of State railways in India, in particular the Eastern Bengal Railway; can some statement be made by presentation to Parliament of correspondence or other documents that may serve to explain the principle on which such proposals proceed, or the object with which such transfer of State property and assets is considered expedient; also a statement of the terms offered by capitalists who propose such purchase; in framing such terms, will care be taken to include consideration for interest payments that have been drawn from current revenues of India from time to time, and which stand as debits to the various Indian railways: and, before any purchase or sale of Indian railway property has been agreed upon, will a report be called for from the auditor of the accounts of the Secretary of State in Council, stating his approval or disapproval of the disposal of such property, such report to be laid before Parliament previous to any definite sanction being given to such transaction?

I am not aware that any offer for the purchase of any State line in India has been entertained. Should any such offer be received, the terms of purchase to be entertained would only be arrived at after consideration of all the interests concerned, and would be fixed after consultation with the financial advisers of the Secretary of State; but among these the auditor is not included.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India how-far and in what direction during the last dozen years have the Indian Military authorities, in the methods of recruiting and organising their native armies, extended the policy of forming regiments or companies of special races, castes, or communities; and can any correspondence be presented, or other form of consecutive statement be made that will serve to explain to Parliament the objects of these sectional organisations and show what authorities have advised these changes in recruiting and in classifying the rank and file of the Indian armies; such statement to include copies of any dissents recorded or objections made either in the Council of the Governor-General or in that of the Secretary of State?

The whole of the Native Army in India is now organised either in class regiments or in class squadron and class company regiments, the general principles as regards the latter being that no class should consist of less than two troops or two companies, and that as a rule there should not be more than three classes in a regiment, and never more than four classes. The composition of each regiment is detailed in the Indian Army list. The change was recommended by the Government of India, with the concurrence of the Commander-in Chief and of the Governments of Madras and Bombay. One member of the Viceroy's Council dissented from the proposal to form class company regiments in Bombay, but did not record any written dissent. There were no dissents recorded in the Council of India. I do net think the subject is one upon which it would be advisable to publish the correspondence, though I could have a Memorandum prepared which, without entering into the reasons for the changes, would show the changes which have been made of late years.

On behalf of the honourable Member for West Clare, I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he could state how many civil bill decrees did Lord Leconfield's agent, Mr. Scott, obtain against his tenants at the last January sessions at Ennis and Kilrush; in how many cases are ejectment decrees running concurrently with civil bill decrees on this particular estate; and is there any means of preventing the costs of both decrees falling on poor tenants?

There were 11 ejectment decrees and 12 decrees for rent granted at Kilrush Sessions held in January last, and 15 ejectment decrees and 38 decrees for rent granted at Ennis Sessions in January last at the suit of Lord Leconfield. It does not appear that ejectment decrees are running concurrently with civil bill decrees, as none of the parties decreed in ejectments were decreed in civil bills for rent. There is no means, I believe, of preventing the granting of costs in ejectment and civil bill proceedings at the same Sessions if actions are brought, though it is a remedy rarely, I understand, availed of.

On behalf of the honourable Member for the Hawick Burghs, I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the case of the Reverend A. D. Paterson, M.A., minister of the Scotch Church in Madeira, who has been arrested, and against whom a criminal information has been laid for propagating doctrines contrary to the religion of the State; whether he is aware that the so-called evidence consists in hearsay and conjecture, the witnesses being unable to testify to any act or word on the part of Mr. Paterson insulting to the Roman Catholic religion; and that the religious service or teaching complained of is conducted in Mr. Paterson's own church and the school attached thereto, and the only fact proved against him beyond this is that ho has distributed copies of the New Testament; whether an exception to the proceedings has been taken, and an appeal to the authorities at Lisbon has been made; and whether Her Majesty's Government propose to take any steps or use any influence so as to prevent the conviction and banishment from the island of Mr. Paterson, and to protect the Protestant congregations in Madeira?

This matter is engaging the attention of Her Majesty's Government, who will take all necessary steps for the protection of British subjects in Madeira, but cannot, of course, interfere with judicial proceedings. Her Majesty's Minister at Lisbon has reported by telegraph that the appeal which Mr. Paterson has made from the decision of the court at Madeira to that of Second Instance in Lisbon has been granted. He thinks it doubtful whether the case will be proceeded with. Further details are promised, and their arrival must be awaited.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether it would be possible to procure a full and authentic report of the practical working of the State system of Old Age Pensions in New Zealand, in view of prospective legislation on the same subject in this country?

The New Zealand Act providing for Old Ago Pensions was passed on 1st November last, and the machinery for receiving claims was not completed till the 9th of December. Any Report on the working of the Act at this early stage would, therefore, be worthless.