I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will cause a table to be added to the Appendix of the Navy Estimates next year, showing the sums provided for each branch of the Naval Service, viz., executive, engineers, other branches, and Royal Marine Force, so as to furnish information for the Navy corresponding to that given for the Army in Appendix 21, Army Estimates.

I understand that the statement attached to the Army Estimates, to which the hon, and gallant Gentleman refers, is designed to show the total cost of each arm of the Service, and is practically a redistribution of the Army Estimates. In the case of the Army it is practicable to prepare such a statement without much difficulty, as the Estimates mainly provide for the maintenance of a certain force of officers and men, and are not complicated by the introduction of estimated expenditure of manufacturing establishments. In the case of the Navy Estimates, the preparation of a similar statement would be attended with great difficulties, and would entail considerable clerical labour and additional expense, disproportionate to the value of the information when obtained.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty what steps have been taken for the purpose of ascertaining the cause of the accident to the machinery of the torpedo catcher "Bullfinch"; whether the relatives of the men who lost their lives, as well as those injured in a similar breakdown off Sunderland, are to be compensated by the Admiralty; and will he also state whether in future trial trips are to be accompanied by medical officers.

An investigation as to the cause of the accident is being made by the coroner for the purpose of the usual public inquiry. The matter is also being investigated by the Admiralty Staff. The Admiralty will take care that the men belonging to the Service who were injured, and also the dependent relatives of those in the Service who have lost their lives, shall receive compensation; but I am not yet in a position to state from what source the compensation will be paid. In the accident on board the "Lee," at Sunderland, no men belonging to the service were injured. I prefer not to answer the last question until after the inquest has been held.

And how about the men in the employment of the contractors?

I presume they will be compensated by their employers.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it is proposed to establish an effective coaling station in connection with the Calliope Dock at Auckland, New Zealand; and whether he is aware that the Governor of New Zealand recently referred to the difficulty experienced in promptly coaling Her Majesty's ship "Tauranga" at Auckland.

It is proposed to do what is necessary for the purpose of providing an efficient dock at Auckland, but I do not wish, in connection with this subject, to use language which may cause disillusionment afterwards.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that 1 ton 2 cwt. 3 qr. 22 lb. of live shells were, on the 10th of May, delivered to Mr. Thomas Roberts, of Aber, Bangor, for cartage by his teams from the station to the Aber Battery, with a carrier's note describing them as ordinary stores; and that, in consequence, the filled shells were handed to farm labourers to be carted to the battery without any warning as to the dangerous nature of the goods and the necessity for great care in handling the same; whether the goods had been delivered to the railway company with a similar untrue description; and who is responsible for an error involving so much risk to the public.

I have no information at present in regard to this matter. Reference has been made to the General Officer Commanding the District, and he has been instructed to telegraph the results of his inquiry

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether the Essex Regiment has recently been permitted to wear a badge representing the French eagle captured by them at Salamanca, on their mess dress; whether the regiment has applied for leave to wear the badge on their uniform generally; and for what reason permission has been given in one case and withheld in the other.

It has not been thought desirable, after so long an interval of time, that a badge for Salamanca should be added to the honours of the regiment, but there appeared to be no objection to meeting the wishes of the officers by allowing them to wear it in mess dress, which is not a parade uniform.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the Devonshire Regiment has recently been allowed to wear badges for Blenheim, Oudenarde, and Malplaquet, battles which took place some 200 years ago?

I am not aware of that. The hon. and gallant Member, however, is probably aware that two other regiments bear the eagle, but they alone were concerned, whereas, in the case of the Essex Regiment, a cavalry regiment was also largely instrumental in securing the trophy.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether certain men of the 1st (Pembrokeshire) Volunteer Battalion, the Welsh Regiment, have lately been guilty of insubordination; whether the men in question were under military law at the time of the alleged occurrence; and what action is being taken with regard to the matter.

It is entirely denied by the Officer Commanding at the review that there was any insubordination. The men were not under military law, and no action is called for. The statement in the Press appears to have been greatly exaggerated. A few more men paraded than were expected. Luncheons ran short, and there was a little not unnatural grumbling.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War why Barking, Stratford, and Walthamstow (parts of Essex) are incorporated with the Woolwich recruiting district, when the Essex Regiment is at present 850 men below its establishment.

It is found more convenient and economical to include these places in the Woolwich recruiting area. The Woolwich recruiting officer, however, enlists for the Essex Regiment, and obtained last year seventy-eight recruits for it. The Line battalions are forty-three short of establishment; the Militia battalions, 682 short.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether, with reference to the recent attempted research into the ages given by recruits, they were given to understand that, failing accurate verification of their ages according to their statement, they would not be accepted for enlistment; and whether, in view of the evils of the existing system, the Government will attempt the experiment of only accepting recruits whose ages can stand verification.

The answer to both paragraphs of the hon. Member's question is in the negative.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether liability to punishment under Sections 33 and 97, Army Act, of youths under seventeen years of age who claim their discharge, or under Section 34 of persons under military law who are concerned in enlisting boys under the regulation age of eighteen, is ever enforced; whether he is aware that boys under seventeen, and therefore entitled to immediate discharge, who have often been persuaded to enlist by undue influence of the recruiter, are deterred from claiming that discharge from having fear of severe punishment hold out before them should they confess to having given a wrong age; and if, under such circumstances, liability to punishment as far as this offence is concerned could be withdrawn.

The punishment to which they are liable is not enforced at present, and there is no evidence to show that boys are deterred from claiming discharge owing to fear of this punishment. It is not intended to alter the Act of Parliament as suggested.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the unreliability of the stated ages of British soldiers, and that in a recent experiment as to verification of their ages accurate information could only be obtained in about 50 per cent. of cases; whether, in view of the increasing prevalence of enteric fever in India, as well as to the prevalence of other terrible diseases among our troops in India, he will take steps, on behalf of the Indian Government, that the regulations as to the age of twenty, under which no British soldier is supposed to be sent to India, shall be strictly observed; and whether he will in future require that every British soldier accepted for service in India by the Indian Government shall produce conclusive proof, by birth certificate or otherwise, that he is of the actual age stated on his attestation papers, and thus diminish the excess of fatality existing at present from the exposure of immature men to the ravages of those diseases.

Every care is taken to observe the rule that no soldier less than twenty years old shall be sent to India. No soldier is allowed to embark unless, after medical examination, he is declared fit to serve in that country.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War with reference to the case mentioned in the 1898 Report on Military Prisons of a prisoner, only twenty-two years of age, but who had enlisted nine times and deserted no less than six times, he being first accepted for enlistment when fifteen years of age, whether the dates of his enlistments and desertions could be given; and whether, in view of the fact that the desertions from the Army during 1898 amounted to 4,107, whilst the percentage of sentences by courts martial shows no reduction, and that of minor punishments is the highest recorded since 1888, the Government would be prepared only to accept persons for enlistment who can satisfactorily account for themselves, or to adopt a system of identification as recommended by the Inspector-General of Military Prisons in his Report.

It has not yet been possible to obtain the information sought. The statement referred to was taken from the man's own confession. In regard to the second paragraph, the suggested system was given a trial for three years, and found to cause excessive labour and expense. Every effort is made to exclude men of bad character.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been directed to the treatment accorded to Mohamid Didi, Prime Minister of the Sultan of Male, on the occasion of his recent visit to Colombo; will he explain why Didi and his party were treated as prisoners on their return journey to Male on board the "Marathon," and were any charges made against Mohamid Didi or any of his suite; and, if so, will he state what they were; will he also explain why the private secretary to the Sultan, Dadabhoy Nusserwanjee, was ordered to report himself at Colombo, and conveyed there from Male as a prisoner, and on reaching Colombo he was allowed to go free, no allegation of any kind being made against him; and whether he will cause an inquiry to be made into the treatment to which Mohamid Didi and Dadabhoy Nusserwanjee have been subjected by the representative of Her Majesty's Government in Ceylon, and will order some reparation to be made to these gentlemen.

I have received no information on the subject, and have asked for a Report from the Governor of Ceylon.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has observed that, in connection with the recent deportation of Bai Bureh and other native chiefs to Accra, Sir David Chalmers, Her Majesty's Special Commissioner to Sierra Leone, has reported that the but tax, together with the measures used for its enforcement, were the moving causes of the insurrection; and that repugnance to the tax was much aggravated by the methods by which it was endeavoured to be brought into operation, not merely by the acts of the native policemen, but in the whole scheme adopted by the Colonial authorities; and if, in view of this strong expression of opinion by Her Majesty's Commissioner, lenient treatment will be accorded to the deported native chiefs.

The Report of the Royal Commissioner contains the statements referred to, but it will be seen from my despatch to the Acting-Governor that I am unable to fully endorse all these statements. Independently, however, of this, I am disposed to secure the most lenient treatment to all the chiefs concerned, so far as is consistent with the peace and security of the colony, and I propose to instruct Sir F. Cardew to reconsider their cases on his return, and, if he can possibly do so without danger to the colony, to allow them after a short interval to return to their districts.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the deportation of Bai Bureh from Sierra Leone to Accra is the result of a trial before a jury in Freetown, or the act of the Governor of the colony; does the deportation involve imprisonment in Accra; and if he can say whether Bai Burehwas a peaceable chief, and well-disposed towards the Government of the colony before the imposition of the but tax.

Bai Bureh has been deported by the order of the Governor under an Ordinance. He will be detained under surveillance at Accra as a political prisoner. Bai Bureh has always been a turbulent chief—constantly engaged in native wars and slave-raiding expeditions; he has been in collision with the Government of Sierra Leone when it intervened to put a stop to these wars, and again when he took part in raiding French territory. On that occasion an unsuccessful attempt was made to arrest him, and he was eventually compelled to surrender fifty guns. On the other hand, he had previously, in 1892, rendered some assistance to the Government in an expedition undertaken by them. Except on that one occasion, he cannot be said to have been well-disposed to the Government.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the non-company members of the Rhodesian Parliament strongly opposed the Customs Ordinance, and have resigned in consequence of their protest being overruled by the majority representing the Chartered Company; whether complaints have been made to Sir Alfred Milner in relation to the matter; whether Her Majesty's Government have received information that the Buluwayo Chamber of Commerce has decided to contest the legality of the Ordinance, and that the Salisbury merchants have decided to refuse to sign the declaration forms required by the Ordinance; and whether Her Majesty's Government will redress the grievances of the Rhodesian settlers.

(1) The elected members of the Legislative Council of Southern Rhodesia voted against the Customs Ordinance. I have no information as to their having resigned. (2) Sir A. Milner reports by telegraph that he has received a number of memorials against the Ordinance, but that, after carefully considering them, he came to the conclusion that the Ordinance was in the main fair and reasonable, and that he therefore gave his assent to it, and that it came into operation on 1st August. (3) Sir A. Milner states that a test case will be brought before the High Court by certain traders, but I am not informed whether this is at the instance of the Buluwayo Chamber of Commerce, and I have no information as to the alleged intentions of the Salisbury merchants. (4) I am not aware of any cause for interference at present; the High Commissioner and Her Majesty's Government will take care that no injustice is done.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies what will be the composition of the proposed Commission to settle the differences between Her Majesty's Government and the Transvaal Republic; at what period the Commission is expected to come to a decision; and whether such questions as the independence of the Transvaal High Court of Justice, the equality of languages, and educational rights for the non-Boer inhabitants, will come within its purview.

Until the proposal for a Joint Commission has been accepted by the Government of the South African Republic I am unable to make a statement as to its composition its functions would be to report to the two Governments whether the proposals recently adopted by the Volksraad will secure to the Uitlanders immediate and substantial representation, and if not what Amendments would secure this result. I do not anticipate that this will take many days.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether we are to understand that the inquiries by the proposed commission are to be limited to the discussion of the franchise?

I have stated exactly what the Commission is to consider. I have nothing to add to my answer.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has received any further information in reference to the settlement of the remaining points at issue in connection with the construction of the Pacific Cable; and whether the negotiations have now sufficiently advanced to enable him to give a general outline of the amended scheme of joint ownership and mutual responsibility, as agreed upon by the representatives of Her Majesty's Government and the Colonial Governments concerned.

The terms of the arrangement are not yet completely settled, and I am not in a position to make a statement.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies what response, if any, has been received from the Colonial Governments concerned to the offer of the Eastern Extension Company to construct a cable from South Africa to Australia.

The offer in question was not made through this Department, and I have no information as to any replies hat may have been given to the company by the Colonial Governments concerned.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the unofficial report of the hon. Baronet the Member for the Sudbury Division of Suffolk, written by request, relative to the condition of the West Indies, first, with regard to the establishment of central sugar factories in Barbadoes, Antigua, and St. Kitts; and, secondly, with regard to the creation of a peasant proprietary similar to that recommended by the West India Royal Commission; and, thirdly, with regard to increased coolie immigration; and, fourthly, with regard to better steam communication; if so, will he state whether any of the moneys voted by Parliament under the Colonial Loans Bill will be set aside for the purpose of carrying out any of the recommendations.

The hon. Member for the Sudbury Division was good enough to furnish me with a report of his visit to the West Indies, and all the subjects to which it relates are and have long been receiving my careful consideration; but the loans provided for by the Colonial Loans Bill are intended for other purposes.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if any information has been received with reference to the inquiry which he promised to institute regarding the issue of a stringent edict by the Governor of German South-West Africa, prohibiting the extension of credit to African natives; whether this edict decrees that henceforth the claims of British Indian traders arising out of loans to such natives shall be dismissed by the Colonial Courts; and whether, as the Gewerbsteuer, or tax upon commerce, is directed against those traders, any steps have been taken to represent to the German Government the injustice of imposing upon British subjects trading in German possessions restrictions which are not imposed on German subjects trading in British possessions.

Her Majesty's Government have not yet received the information on the subject which has been asked for.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Bankok-Khorat railway contract, from which an English firm was ejected by the Siamese Government in August 1896, was subsequently handed over to the German engineers who had formerly been competitors with Messrs. Jardine, Matheson, for the contract, and is now on the point of completion; whether our treaty with Siam was violated by the action in this case of the Siamese Government; and whether Her Majesty's Government intend permanently to withhold the correspondence on the matter from Parliament.

The Siamese Government have themselves undertaken the construction of the Bankok-Khorat railway, and this is, of course, no violation of the treaty between Great Britain and Siam. Her Majesty's Government see no particular reason for laying Papers on the subject before Parliament.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give the House any information as to the reported co-operation of Japan with China in the task of maintaining Chinese independence, and of establishing reforms in China.

We have no information which would enable us to make any statement on this subject.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Convention for the conversion of the Cyprus Tribute Loan has been completed, and when it will be carried into effect.

The negotiations on the subject with the Turkish Government are not yet concluded.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether there are at present any negotiations on the part of Her Majesty's Government or any other Government with a view to reassemble the Brussels Conference with respect to sugar bounties; and whether the French Government are now ready to join the other Governments in agreeing to modify or do away with their bounties on sugar.

No such negotiations are proceeding on the part of Her Majesty's Government, nor, so far as Her Majesty's Government are aware, on the part of any other Government. So far as I know, the French Government have made no declaration of change in their attitude as regards this question.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give the latest information in his possession as to the situation in Samoa, and the prospects of a general acceptance of the new form of government suggested by the Joint Commission.

The latest information from Samoa is that the natives have returned to their homes, and that tranquillity prevails. The.Report of the Joint Commission has not yet been received, and no opinion can therefore be expressed concerning it.

:I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any assurance has yet been received from the French Government that French traders in the New Hebrides will be subjected to the same restrictions as regards the sale of spirits and firearms to the natives that have been imposed for several years past upon British traders.

No answer has been received from the French Government, but their attention was recently again called to the subject by Her Majesty's Ambassador.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board how many appeals have been made to the Local Government Board against disallowances in the accounts of urban district councils of moneys paid from the rates for the employment of water diviners; what were the amounts involved, the dates of the disallowances, and the dates on which the appeals were decided; and whether the Board have allowed the appeals in some cases, and have held that water diviners can be legally employed at the cost of the rates; and, if so, whether the Law Officers of the Crown were consulted.

Three appeals have been made to the Local Government Board against disallowances of the kind referred to in the question. The sums disallowed were £13 8s. 7d., £7 13s. 6d., and £3 8s. The disallowances were made in May and August, 1897, and in August, 1898. One of the appeals is at present before the Board, but in the other two cases they have allowed the appeals. The decisions were given in October, 1898, and March, 1899. The Board did not deem it necessary to consult the Law Officers of the Crown on the case. They were advised by their own legal adviser that the reasons assigned by the auditor for making the disallowance did not support the action he took in point of law; but at the same time they stated that they could not but consider that the action of the District Council had been unwise in the matter.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been drawn to the action of the Board of Guardians of the South Shields Union in requiring the attendance of children belonging to the Church of England at religious instruction given by Nonconformists, notwithstanding the objection in some cases of the parents, and in others of the clergyman standing for this purpose by law in loco parentis: and what steps he proposes to take in the matter.

The attention of the Local Government Board was called last year to the attendance of Church of England children in the workhouse of the South Shields Union at a service held in the workhouse weekly by the Sunday School Union. The Board communicated with the guardians, and they were informed that the services in question had been held in the workhouse for a great number of years, that they were conducted by laymen, and that no attempt had ever been made at the service to promulgate any denominational doctrine whatever.

Was not objection taken by some of the parents as well as by the chaplain?

I believe objection was taken, and the reply was that no particular creed was taught.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the teaching complained of is Bible teaching, which involves all kinds of doctrines?

I do not know about that.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether it is in contemplation to issue an order for the dissolution of the Woburn Union in Bedfordshire; whether the inspector sent down to inquire into the merits of dissolution is the same official who suggested to the guardians on 5th November, 1897, that dissolution was desirable; and, if so, whether he will consider the desirability of a re-investigation by another inspector; whether he is aware that public meetings have been held in many places in the union against dissolution, that petitions against it have been presented to the Board from fourteen out of the seventeen parishes, and no petitions have been presented in favour of it, that the resolution in favour of dissolution was only carried at the meeting of the Board of Guardians by ten to seven, that the question of dissolution was not before the ratepayers at the last election of guardians; and, whether, under these circumstances, he will withhold his consent to dissolution until after the next election of guardians.

The answer to the first paragraph is in the affirmative, and I believe that the facts are generally as stated in the question. The inspector who held the inquiry states that in making his Report he was not guided in any way by his private opinion, but simply and entirely by the evidence given at the inquiry. The decision rested not with him, but with the Local Government Board. I understand that the question of dissolution of the union was before the ratepayers at the last election, and it does not appear to me to be necessary either that a further investigation should be held, or that the dissolution should be postponed until after the next election.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been drawn to the state of the law under which, while the representatives of a private trading company possess the right of voting at municipal elections, yet, on the conversion of such trading concern into a limited liability company, possibly without any actual change of interest or of personnel, the directors of such limited company forfeit the privilege of voting at municipal elections; whether he is aware that in the county borough of West Ham private property assessed at£678,000 qualifies no less than 35,000 voters, while £342,000 of company property is unrepresented and voteless; and whether he will consider the desirability of submitting to Parliament such proposals as would confer upon these ratepayers the same privileges and right of voting as are enjoyed by other residents in the same municipal area.

I was not aware of the particular case referred to by the hon. Member, but I think that the facts generally are as stated. But I am afraid I cannot give any undertaking to promote legislation on the subject.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster-General, if he will inquire into the complaint of David Mackay, postman, of Brora, Sutherlandshire, that he was induced by the representations of the quartermaster and a sergeant of the Cameron Highlanders, in March last year, to give up his situation on the railway and to accept an appointment as postman, being informed by the military authorities that his pay would be 16s. rising by 1s. 6d. yearly to 23s. weekly, which statement was endorsed by the chief clerk at the Inverness Post Office; will he explain why, when Mackay had served a year, and applied for the increment, he was for the first time informed that he was appointed on a fixed wage of 16s., and not upon a scale; and whether the Post Office, while admitting the fault was on the side of the military authorities, decline to place this man on a scale wage.

I beg at the same time to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster-General, if he has considered the case of David Mackay, postman, of Brora, who complains that he was induced to enter the postal service by a sergeant of the Cameron High- landers, on the understanding that he would receive a commencing wage of 18s. weekly, whereas he has been placed on a fixed wage of 16s., and has been told that the Post Office cannot be held responsible for the mistake made by the sergeant as to the amount of pay.

The wages authorised for the Brora and Balmacoil walk, on which David MacKay is employed, are 16s. a week (fixed pay); this was stated when application was made to the War Office for a soldier candidate for the vacant walk, and Mackay, on his appointment in May, 1898, signed the usual form in which the wages were correctly given; the quartermaster and the clerk at Inverness Post Office, to whom reference is made, deny that they informed Mackay that he would receive more than 16s. a week, and until the receipt of his application in May, 1899, for an increase in wages, it was not known to the Department that he was under any misapprehension in the matter. The Post Office do not admit any mistake, either of their own or of the War Office.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the appointment of a Select Committee next year to consider and report on the question of.savings banks, ho will obtain through the Foreign Office, and issue before next session, a summary of the legislative and administrative arrangements as to savings banks in foreign countries, with the latest statistics and information as to the relative success of various methods of encouraging thrift, and of carrying out the investment of savings; as regards the results to the depositors, to the economical working of the institutions, and to the State finances of each country.

My right hon. friend's undertaking to the House was to make proposals to Parliament next session on the subject of the savings banks, which might, if it should seem necessary, be examined by a Select Committee—not to appoint such a Committee to consider and report on the question. It is proposed to obtain information from foreign countries on the matter, which I hope may be laid before the House before the proposals are made.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster-General, whether Postman Livingstone, of the Newbliss district, resigned his position on the 11th July ult.; whether the Clones Postmaster, with the sanction of the Dublin postal authorities, appointed an under age person to the vacancy, although a suitable candidate named McGough had made application for the place; did Livingstone ask to be reinstated, and with what result; did the Secretary of the Dublin Post Office receive a communication about the 10th of July ult., in reference to the pending resignation of Livingstone, to which no reply was vouchsafed; and can he ascertain why the Dublin secretary treated this communication with silence.

Livingstone resigned on the 5th ultimo. A lad under sixteen years of ago was employed by the sub-postmistress of Newbliss to provide temporarily for the work. This lad, she reports, was the only candidate in Newbliss. McGough, to whom the hon. Member refers, made no application for the post, and he lives two miles from Newbliss. He applied some time ago for employment as a postman, and was told that if a vacancy occurred where he lived his application would be considered. Livingstone made three applications, viz., on the 18th, 22nd, and 26th ultimo for reemployment. These applications, together with a further one since received, are in the hands of the local surveyor for consideration. A communication was received on the 11th of July which related to Livingstone's retirement amongst other matters, and an answer will be returned to it in due course.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether the accounts of the Meteorological Council show a sum as being set aside to provide for a superannuation fund from the Annual Grant, and what is its amount; if so, whether, seeing that it is a condition that the Grant should be applied exclu- sively to the scientific work of meteorology, attention has been called to such a misappropriation of public money by the Controller and Auditor-General.

If the hon. Member will refer to the Appropriation Account of Vote 6, Class IV., he will see that in the year ended 31st March, 1898, a sum of£144 was expended on pensions, but there was no provision for a general superannuation fund. The Controller and Auditor-General has not thought fit to comment on the expenditure in question.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, whether the regulations which were issued in 1892 respecting the payment of an uniform rate of 1s. 2d. per hour for overtime performed by assistant clerks were intended to apply generally throughout the public service; and, if so, whether steps will be taken to pay the amount withheld from those assistant clerks who performed extra duty in those departments in which, through a misapprehension of the said regulations, a lower rate than the authorised one was paid for extra duty subsequent to 1892.

No general regulations were issued in 1892. In 1891 the Commissioners of Customs were informed that in that department a rate of 1s. 2d. should be paid for overtime. General regulations prescribing the rate of overtime to be paid to abstractors of the new class were issued by the Treasury in November, 1896; and I understand that the practice of all departments with regard to abstractors of the old class was then rendered uniform.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster-General, if any decision has been come to regarding the case of Thomas Shrimpton, auxiliary postman, of Richmond, Surrey, who, although he has been in the service nearly thirteen years, is compelled to rank at the bottom of the whole outdoor staff of sixty-three men, although in an Order (118,396, 1896) it was directed that men in his position should be allowed to rank as regards choice of duties and annual leave after the men already appointed, but before new entrants in the classes to which they are attached; and will he explain why this man is compelled to do duty on alternate Sundays as one of the eighteen junior men, although it was provided in a departmental order that auxiliaries are not to be compelled to do extra work, as they are expected to earn their living outside the service, and Sunday duty is always paid for as extra work.

Shrimpton is an auxiliary postman, and, as such, is not entitled to leave or choice of duties. He is allowed to fill the place of an assistant postman, but he cannot be actually appointed an assistant postman, because he cannot obtain a Civil Service certificate. He is, nevertheless, allowed all the privileges of an assistant postman, and takes his choice of leave at the head of that class. Assistant postmen are required to do duty on alternate Sundays, and receive extra pay. If Shrimpton finds a substitute he will be exempted in accordance with the usual rule.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury I whether he has sanctioned the action of the Department of Woods and Forests in compelling the owner of the pier of Glenarm, County Antrim, to pay the Crown £1,200 (under threat of legal proceedings) in order to quiet his title, which had for many years remained unchallenged; and whether he is aware that if the Department pressed their claim the result would be to throw hundreds of workmen out of employment.

The owner of this pier, etc., was the Crown. It was built under a Crown lease of the foreshore, etc., granted in 1864, which expired in November, 1898, at the same time as the lease of the neighbouring quarries. The Commissioners of Woods recently sold the pier to Lord Antrim, the owner of the adjoining quarries. There is no question of workmen being thrown out of employment by the action of the Crown. Indeed, the continued employment of the quarrymen chiefly depended upon the quarries and the pier being worked together.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the large increase in the jurisdiction of the county courts since the salaries of the judges were fixed, Her Majesty's Government have considered the reasonableness of introducing legislation which will enable their salaries to be adequately increased; and whether Her Majesty's Government will introduce legislation to extend without limit, or at any rate very largely, the jurisdiction of the county courts, but so that such extension should be exercised only by specially selected judges sitting at special courts.

I have consulted the Lord Chancellor, and can hold out no hope of legislation of the nature suggested.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention has been called to a murderous attack made upon an Irish labourer named Edward Duffy, at Leigh, on Monday last, when he was felled by a blow from behind, and had his hands tied to his back while being kicked by his assailants; is he aware that the injuries are deemed to be of a fatal nature; and if any of Duffy's assailants have been arrested.

I am glad to be able to say that Duffy is reported to be making favourable progress, and to be likely to recover, in spite of the serious nature of his injuries. A man has been arrested and charged with the assault, and is now under remand.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received a petition, signed by over eleven thousand of the inhabitants of Northampton, including many public officials of the borough, praying for a remission of the sentence of ten years' penal servitude, passed upon a man named Golding, who was convicted of pointing a pistol, which it was proved in evidence could not be fired, at one Emily Roberts; whether he has considered such petition; and whether he is prepared to advise the Crown to remit the remainder of the sentence?

A petition on behalf of Golding was received in 1898, and was carefully considered by me, together with all the facts of the case. I am not prepared to advise an absolute remission of the sentence, but I have directed that the case shall be treated as one of seven years' penal servitude.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that on November 22nd last a serious collision occurred at Orton station, on the Highland Railway, between a cattle train from Forres to Keith and a passenger train from Keith to Forres; and will he state whether any official inquiry has been held by the Board of Trade in regard to the accident; and, if not, will he explain on what grounds.

No person was returned as injured, and as the cause of the accident was clearly explained, a formal investigation was not made. The case was considered, however, by Sir Francis Marindin, and his views were communicated to the company by the Department in correspondence.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the names of the vessels, if any, owned by the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Shipping Company on which the Board of Trade have declined to allow deductions from tonnage in consequence of that company not complying with the 210th section of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894.

I wish the hon. Gentleman could have seen his way to giving longer notice of this question and the questions next on the Paper. They only appeared on the Paper on Saturday morning; they necessitated a considerable amount of search, and as a conse quence several members of my staff have been deprived of their holiday. The names of the vessels owned by the Peninsular and Oriental Company in which deductions from tonnage have been disallowed, because the space required by Section 210 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, was not provided, are as follows:—"Arcadia," "Bengal," "Ballarat," "Coromandel," "Carthage," "Chusan" "Canton," "Manila," "Massilia," "Nubia," "Oriental," "Oceana," "Paramatta," "Peninsula," "Pekin," "Peshawur," "Shanghai," "Shannon," "Thames," "Valetta," and "Simla."

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he has been advised by the Law Officers of the Crown that Section 210 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, bearing upon the accommodation for seamen, applies to Lascars and other Native seamen in the same manner as it applies to other seamen serving on board British vessels registered in the United Kingdom.

I can only refer the hon. Member to the terms of the answer given to a similar question put by him on the 3rd instant, which obviously showed that in the opinion of the Law Officers of the Crown the provisions of Section 210 of the Merchant Shipping Act are infringed when the space required by that section is not provided for Lascars or other Native seamen.

Seeing the right hon. Gentleman admits there has been an infringement of the Act, may I ask him whether, and when, the Board of Trade intend to enforce the law by summoning the owners under the section which provides for a penalty of £25 for each offence?

The hon. Gentleman had better give notice of that question.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the following British registered steamships have foundered or are missing since June, 1898: s.s. "Eira," s.s. "Tina," s.s. "Harbinger," s.s. "Arno," s.s. "Earnock," s.s. "Almida," s.s. "Recepta," s.s. "Dora Foster," s.s. "Caradoc," s.s. "Arona," s.s. "Laughton," s.s. "Wooler,' s.s. "Boadicea," s.s. "Picton," s.s. "Oberon," s.s. "City of Wakefield," s.s. "Croft," s.s. "Port Melbourne"; also that the following British registered sailing vessels foundered or are missing since June, 1898: "Celtic Bard," "Rose," "Montague," "Marlborough," "Village Belle," "Iddesleigh," "Aldboro," "Sunbeam," "Dora," "Andelina," "Sefton," "Hawkesdale," "Dechmont," "Laurel Bank," "David Morgan," "Atlanta"; whether he can state the number of persons carried on these vessels as crew or passengers, and the number who lost their lives on such vessels; and whether any inquiries have been held to ascertain the cause of the loss of these vessels, and in how many of these cases have no inquiries been held.

The list of steamships foundered or missing, as given in the question, is correct, except with regard to the "Harbinger," which is reported to have arrived on the 3rd instant, the "Arno," which was lost by stranding, and the "Caradoc" and "Boadicea," which were sailing vessels—not steamers. The list of sailing ships foundered or missing is correct, except with regard to the "Dechmont," which is reported to be now on her voyage from Caleta Buena to London, the "Sefton" and the "Hawkesdale," which were lost by stranding, and the "Marlborough," which was lost in April, 1898 (not since June, 1898). The number of persons carried on the vessels which were lost was 605 (including one passenger, the wife of a master), and the number of persons lost was 545, including the passenger. In six cases ("Arno," "Earnock," "Wooler," "Montagu," "Hawkesdale," and "Atalanta") formal inquiries have been held. In one case ("Recepta") inquiry was ordered, but had to be abandoned for want of evidence. In three cases ("Caradoc," "Celtic Bard," and "Laurelbank") inquiries have been ordered, and are pending. In the remaining cases mentioned in the question all available information was obtained by the Board of Trade; but the Department were of opinion, after consideration of such information, that normal inquiries would be without useful result.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman why no inquiry was held with regard to the loss of the eight steamers which foundered in January and February last in the Atlantic Ocean?

Order, order! That is not the question on the Paper. The hon. Member must give notice.

The names of the vessels are in the question; but it is quite true I have not asked why the inquiry was not held.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the inspecting officer appointed to inquire into the causes of the accident whereby a portion of the Cockett Tunnel, on the Great Western Railway main line, fell through, has made his Report to the Board of Trade; and, if so, what is the result of such inquiry; and what steps are being taken for securing the safety of the travelling public and the railway servants before the tunnel will again be used for traffic.

I have not yet received the inspecting officer's report. The Board of Trade understand that the company are engaged on necessary works to secure the safety of the public, and that no passenger traffic is at present admitted through the tunnel.

I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Committee of Council on Education whether the Returns published by the Education Department during the current year show that the amount of annual grant paid on behalf of scholars in attendance in Voluntary schools is about 4½d. per scholar in excess of that paid last year, and that during the same period the amount of Aid Grant brought to account was equal to about 3s. 1d. per scholar, the two together making an increase of 3s. 5¼d. per scholar in average attendance; and that during the same period the cost of maintenance has increased 1s. 10¾d. per unit of average attendance in Voluntary schools; whether of the difference of 1s. 6½d. per head the fall in voluntary subscriptions accounts for 7½d.; and, if so, can he state what has become of the other 11d. per scholar, equal in the aggregate to about £113,800. Can he state how much of this sum has been used in increasing the rents paid by school managers, either to private persons or religious bodies, and how much of it has been used in the liquidation of debt contracted before the passing of the Act, or used as current income in order that other moneys may be set free for the liquidation of such debt; and can he state whether the Department contemplate any steps for restricting the use of the Aid Grant to the purposes for which it was allotted by Parliament.

The Aid Grant brought to account, as shown in the Returns referred to, was at the rate of about 3s. per scholar in average attendance. On the other hand, a combination of all other Government Grants brought to account, shows precisely the same rate as in the preceding year, and the rate of income from voluntary contributions and other local sources fell by about 9d. The net gain in income was thus about 2s. 3d., while the expenditure on maintenance increased by 1s.10d. The latest returns show no increase in the rate of rent per scholar in average attendance. A considerable part of the Aid Grant necessarily remained as unexpended balance in the hands of the managers; but such balances continue to be applicable exclusively to the purposes for which the grants were given, and care is taken in the Department to see that they are properly spent. No part has, so far as the Department are aware, been used for the liquidation of debt contracted before the passing of the Act.

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether an infraction of the law has been committed by officers of the Scottish National Church in debarring the Rev. James Mackay, a lawfully appointed and ordained minister under the Presbytery of Edinburgh, from his sphere of duty and his income as minister of the Scottish National Church at Manchester.

I am given to understand that the Rev. James Mackay alluded to in the question complains of the action of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. In matters spiritual the General Assembly is the supreme tribunal of the Church, and not subject to review. If Mr. Mackay has any claims of civil right, he can prosecute them in the civil court.

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether Mr. Andrew Carnegie has been appointed a justice of the peace for Sutherlandshire, and whether he is a naturalised British subject.

I have no knowledge of the fact except that I saw in the newspapers that Mr. Andrew Carnegie has been appointed a deputy lieutenant. I am not aware whether he has received letters of administration; but if he has not, it is quite clear that as an alien he is unable to serve as a justice of the peace, and it must have been unknown, both to the Lord Lieutenant and the Lord Chancellor, when the appointment was made.

I understand he is not naturalised.

I beg to ask Mr. Attornoy-General for Ireland if anything has arisen between March 28th, 1897, and July 25th, 1898, to alter the legal position of the Commissioners of Education, or that of their tenant, Canon Gregg, in reference to the Roxboro' Road Schools; or have the Commissioners received different advice since it was declared that the land on which the schools are built was inalienable; whether he is aware that the total cost of this school was £1,672, of which £1,640 were presented by the Grand Juries of the County of Limerick, and the County of the city of Limerick; and that the Mayor and Town Council of Limerick protested by formal resolution against the present use of this school as a sectarian institution; is he aware that in the schemes which were drawn up by the Educational Endowments Commissioners for dealing with these premises it was provided that their value should go to promote intermediate education in the City of Limerick, amongst the citizens of all creeds; under what law do the Commissioners of Education grant them at £20 a year to Canon Gregg; in what state of repair are the buildings at present; could he state when they were inspected by an architect on behalf of the Commissioners of Education, and what report did he make; what steps have the Commissioners taken within the last ten years to enforce the covenant to repair, and not to allow the premises to be rendered worthless by its use as a poor school; is it a fact that from the year 1880 to the year 1890 the Commissioners of Education gave the rent of the premises to the tenant for repairs, notwithstanding his agreement to keep them in repair; and how is the money to be made good.

Nothing has occurred between the dates mentioned in the first paragraph to alter the legal position of the Commissioners of Education, who in the reasonable management of this property had let it to Canon Gregg as tenant from year to year. They have not alienated it, as assumed in the question. The Commissioners have not received any advice which was different from that on which they acted in March, 1897. The facts appear to be correctly stated in the second paragraph, except that the resolution of the Limerick Town Council contains no reference to or suggestion of the fact, as alleged, that the premises are used for sectarian purposes. The schemes in question contained provisions for the application of the income from the school premises and from the moneys to be realised by the sale thereof in the promotion of Intermediate Education in the dioceses of Limerick, Killaloe, and Kilfenora. The circumstances under which the school premises were let to Canon Gregg are fully set out in the recitals of the schemes referred to, copies of which were sent from time to time to all persons interested. The Commissioners have acted under the law as administered by the Court of Chancery in reference to the management of trust property by trustees. The buildings were not inspected by an architect on behalf of the Commissioners since Mr. Mitchell made his report in 1892. From the year 1880 to 1890 the Commissioners expended a sum of £188 17s. 6d. on the premises. During the same period Canon Gregg appears to have expended on the premises out of his own money a sum of £160.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Mr. M'Millan, Inspector of National Schools, recently appointed to the Bantry district, has largely reduced the result fees hitherto earned by the teachers of the district, the reduction in some cases amounting to nearly one-half of what they had previously been earning; and will he explain upon what grounds have the reductions been made.

I am informed by the Commissioners of National Education that the amount of results fees earned by teachers in this district has suffered a reduction in most, though not in all cases, on the examination of the new Inspector, Mr. McMillan, held up to the present this year, as compared with what was received last year by the same teachers, on the examinations of his predecessor. Only in a very few cases, however, has the difference been as large as stated in the question. As many circumstances, such as the number of pupils presented for examination, the classification of the pupils, the prevalence of sickness, or other local cases, are liable to affect the results from year to year, it would not be safe to draw any general conclusion as to the change being attributable solely to over severity on the part of the inspector. The matter will, however, be inquired into.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, with reference to the recent appointment of Mr. Wilson as a member of the County Antrim Sub-Commission, whether he is aware of the general dissatisfaction of the farmers of North Antrim with this appointment, on the grounds that he formerly acted as land agent within this district, and has also been an assistant road surveyor under the County Antrim Grand Jury; whether he had any practical or other qualifications for testing the profit-producing qualities of lands; and what were the experience and qualifications which commended his appointment.

:The Land Commissioners will refer the first part of this question to Mr. Wilson for his observations. I am not, however, aware that his employment on the Sub-Commission which has recently been sitting in the County Antrim has caused any dissatisfaction in that district. Mr. Wilson was first appointed as assistant commissioner in June, 1890, and he continued in office until August, 1891. He was reappointed in September, 1896, since which date he has been continuously employed in the County Antrim; and the commissioners are not aware that any objection has previously been raised to his employment in that county. In reply to the second and third paragraphs, the experience of Mr. Wilson prior to his appointment as assistant commissioner was as a land valuer, surveyor and civil engineer.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he could state how many members of the Royal Irish Constabulary are at present stationed at Buncrana, and how many of these are Roman Catholics; whether it is a fact that the district inspector, head constable, and sergeant are Protestants; and whether the regulations of the force necessitate the presence of so many Protestants in Catholic districts.

There are twelve members of the constabulary stationed at Buncrana, of whom six are Roman Catholics. The district inspector and head constable are Protestants; one sergeant is a Roman Catholic and another a Protestant. I do not think there is anything in this distribution calling for special remark.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether Her Majesty's Government have considered the great variety of points as to which litigation appears to have become necessary owing to the indefiniteness of the terms of the Workmen's Compensation Act; and whether legislation will be proposed next session to remove ambiguities shown to exist in the provisions of the said Act.

I believe the hon. Gentleman is right in saying that there has been a great deal of litigation in connection with this matter, but I am not aware that any facts have come to light to indicate the necessity of bringing in an amending measure.