asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if replies are to be given to the petitions presented by the workmen in His Majesty's dockyards'?

A statement containing the replies to the petitions of the employés in His Majesty's dockyards was issued on the 4th instant.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in the sale of the three obsolete vessels to be sold on the 11th inst. the breaking-up condition is to be insisted on by his Department; and, if so, whether he has formed any estimate of what this condition will cost the country in relation to these three vessels, and will he state it to the House?

The sale conditions in the case of the two obsolete battleships which will be offered by auction on the 11th inst., namely, "Collingwood" and "Rodney," will include a breaking-up clause. The third vessel, the gunboat "Snap," will be offered without any restriction as to breaking up. As stated in reply to the hon. Member's similar question of 14th May, 1907, it is not possible to say whether the breaking-up conditions will make any difference to the price likely to be realised.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, when the 12 destroyers of the German 1907–8 programme were laid down, and when they were completed for sea; and when the five British destroyers of the same year's programme were laid down?

The destroyers of the German 1907–8 programme were laid down between April, 1907, and the end of that year. They were completed between December, 1907, and December, 1908. The actual dates of laying down of the five British destroyers are:— "Nubian" 18th May, 1908 "Viking" 11th June, 1908 "Crusader" 22nd June, 1908 "Maori" 6th Aug., 1908 "Zulu" 18th Aug., 1908

asked the President of the Board of Education, in regard to the Circular No. 709, addressed to local education authorities, relating to the revision of the regulations affecting the staffing of public elementary schools and the size of classes, if a communication has been received from the education committee of the city of Sheffield in which it is pointed out that an additional expenditure of £10,000 per annum will be caused to the local ratepayers; and what steps he proposes to take to either modify such proposals or to grant financial assistance from Government Funds?

I cannot help thinking that the hon. Member is under a misapprehension in the figure which he quotes as representing the cost of satisfying the requirements of Circular 709 in Sheffield. I have not received any estimates of the cost from that authority, but if they will send me a detailed statement showing the changes which they consider will be required in each department individually, I shall be glad to have it examined and criticised.

asked the Lord Advocate whether the Congested Districts Board intend to resell the estate of Vatersay to settlers; if so, whether the Congested Districts Board have received any indication of willingness on the part of the settlers to purchase; and, if it is the intention of the Congested Districts Board not to sell the land of Vatersay, but to hold it, under what statute do they obtain power to use the funds of the Congested Districts Board for this purpose?

The answer to the first two questions is in the negative. The intention of the Board is to hold the land and let it to tenants as crofters under the crofter tenure, a course which they are advised is competent under the Congested Districts (Scotland) Act of 1897.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is proposed to make any increase in the pay of instructors of the Officers' Training Corps; has there been any difficulty under present conditions of pay and service in obtaining suitable instructors; and have the officers themselves been obliged to pay instructors out of their own funds?

also asked the Secretary of State what is the extra pay allowed to an instructor in the Officers' Training Corps; would a colour-sergeant, if transferred as instructor, lose 7s. a week thereby, or how much; is a non-commissioned officer transferred to the Officers' Training Corps struck off the strength of his own regiment and thereby deprived of chances of promotion therein, and in what way is he recompensed for such loss; will he consider the desirability of attracting the best non-commissioned officers to the corps by making the conditions of service therein at least as attractive as with their regiments; is a sergeant-major allowed to each senior division of the Officers' Training Corps, and, if not, will he consider the expediency of an alteration?

Instructors of the Officers' Training Corps are paid, generally, at the same rates as instructors of Territorial units. No extra pay is given from Army funds except in the case of contingents with three or more instructors on the establishment, and with a total strength exceeding 300 cadets, when one of the instructors may be appointed acting sergeant-major, with additional pay of 6d. daily, and 1d. daily additional clothing allowance. It is not considered desirable to appoint acting sergeant-majors in the case of contingents with a total strength not exceeding 300 cadets. Payment may, however, be made from the funds of a contingent for work outside the scope of an instructor's normal duties (such as cleaning of arms or clerical work), the rates generally sanctioned being those allowed under the Regulations for the Territorial Forces for instructors of that force.

As regards the loss of 7s. a week, referred to, the regimental pay of a colour-sergeant of infantry is 3s. 6d. daily, and if he is also the non-commissioned officer who keeps the pay and mess books of a company he receives 6d. daily additional pay. As instructor in the Officers' Training Corps (or Territorial Force) his pay is 3s. daily. This was the rate of pay of colour-sergeants, whether serving regimentally or on the permanent staff of volunteer corps, prior to 1906, when 6d. a day was added to their pay, when employed regimentally, in view of the heavy and continuous nature of company work and the responsibilities involved. As colour-sergeants have not these specially heavy duties when employed extra-regimentally, their pay as instructors remains at the former rate of 3s. Any additional pay drawn for keeping the regimental company mess book is, of course, dropped, if appointment as an instructor is accepted. There has been no difficulty hitherto in obtaining suitable non-commissioned officers, but in order that the appointments may be open to the best non-commissioned officers, it has been arranged that all noncommissioned officers not below the permanent rank of sergeant may be considered eligible for appointment irrespective of length of service. There is no information to show that officers find it necessary to supplement the pay of instructors from their own private funds. All sergeant-instructors become supernumerary to the establishment of their regular corps, and their promotion, on the permanent staff of the Officers' Training Corps and the Territorial Force, is governed by paragraph 351 of the King's Regulations which deals with their cases.

The whole question of the pay and position generally of sergeant instructors was very carefully considered in connection with the Territorial Force. Any divergence from the rates prescribed for other non-commissioned officers of the regular Army is accounted for by corresponding differences in the nature of the duties and conditions. There are considerable advantages to a senior non-commissioned officer in the settled life and relief from foreign service which appointment as an instructor affords, while they have also the chance of serving for a longer period with the colours than they would have if with their regiments.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the field telephones with which the field artillery brigades, the howitzer brigades, and heavy batteries of the field Army are now being equipped are of British manufacture or obtained from abroad; and, if the latter is the case, where they are made?

The instruments were ordered from firms in this country, but were in some cases wholly or partially manufactured in Norway or Sweden.

asked the Secretary for War whether he can give the details of the Regulations which are made for those who have Army horses supplied to them under the new scheme for farming out horses not required at the moment on the active list?

The details of the Regulations for the farming out of horses are still under discussion. It is hoped, however, that they will be settled in the course of a few days, when they will at once be issued to commands.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the cavalry of the Territorial Army are cavalry or mounted infantry; if the former, why are they not armed as cavalry; and if the latter, from what source he proposes to find for the Territorial Army the cavalry necessary to carry out operations in the field?

The yeomanry is so trained as to be capable of performing all the duties allotted to cavalry except those connected with shock action. The force is therefore not armed with the sword. It is considered that the mounted troops of the Territorial Force are suitably armed to enable them to perform the duties required of them in connection with home defence.

asked the Secretary for War whether he has issued or will cause to be issued to the Territorial county associations an intimation to the effect that the grant for uniforms can only be made to those associations which insert the Government's fair wage clause in all their clothing contracts?

The attention of county associations was called last year to the fair wages clause in Army contracts, and it was suggested to them that it would be desirable to insert a similar clause in their contracts. Should it appear that this action has not been sufficient to secure proper conditions of employment generally, I shall consult the associations with a view to agreement upon further action, by which proper conditions may be secured.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that the uncertainty attaching to the interpretation of the Cantonment Code of 1899 in respect of the liabilities as regards sanitation of the owners of houses causes hard- ship to owners of property within cantonment limits; and whether he proposes to inquire into the matter?

The Secretary of State has not heard anything about the matter referred to, but will inquire.

asked the Under Secretary of State for India whether, in the appeal of Mr. Kothandaramayya against his dismissal by the Madras Government, it was found that the inquiry which preceded his dismissal was in violation of the rules which assure to public servants protection against dismissal except after a judicial inquiry conducted either under India Act 37 of 1850 in the case of high officers of his rank or under departmental rules in the case of inferior officers; whether it is obligatory on the Government to conform to those rules so as to afford opportunities to accused public servants to vindicate themselves before they are condemned and deprived of their living; whether the Madras Government professed in its order to have given Mr. Kothandaramayya a thoroughly judicial inquiry while he was contending that he had not been so much as heard in defence; and whether, having regard to these facts, the case of Mr. Kothandaramayya will be re-opened for reconsideration?

In reply to a question from the hon. Member on the 30th July last the Under-Secretary of State stated that the late Secretary of State, after inquiring very fully into the case, saw no sufficient reason for disturbing the order passed by the Madras Government dismissing Mr. Kothandaramayya from his appointment, and that the present Secretary of State, on a full consideration if a renewed appeal by the memorialist, had declined in July, 1907, to re-open the question. The Secretary of State has nothing to add to the reply then given.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that military officers of the Bombay Political Department, although entitled to draw the difference between the consolidated pay of their grade in the Department and the pay of their military rank, receive no compensation for the loss of staff pay which they would have drawn if they had stayed with their regiment; whether he is aware that a major in the Bombay Political Department draws under the present rules only Rs.640 per mensem, whereas if he were still with his regiment he would be drawing at least Rs.200 staff pay more; and will he explain why military officers should be penalised in this way for joining the Political Department, where special ability is required?

The facts are as stated in the first clause of the question, as regards the treatment of those officers in the Bombay Political Department whose pay and allowances are less than the pay of their military rank. This would apply to the case of a major in the position described in the second clause of the question, whose pay would be fixed with reference to his military rank, and not to the staff pay he might be drawing had he remained with his regiment. As regards the last clause, the Secretary of State in Council is awaiting the recommendations of the Government of India on the proposals of the Local Government for improving the position of officers of the Bombay Political Department.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether Lord Wallscourt has offered his Ardfry estate, Galway union, for sale to the Estates Commissioners or the Congested Districts Board; if so, on what date, and how many years' purchase has he asked; whether an offer has been made by either body; and, if so, what was the amount and if negotiations are still going on; and whether there is any prospect of the arrangements being completed within the present month?

The owner has instituted proceedings for the sale of this estate to the Estates Commissioners, who have had the property inspected, and have made an offer for it, which is now under the consideration of the owner. It is not desirable to state the amount offered while negotiations are pending.

asked the Chief Secretary if he can say whether the Estates Commissioners are aware that an evicted tenant named David Cotter, of Garryfine, Bruree, county Limerick, who was reinstated, and who signed an agreement to purchase, has been asked by the landlord, Captain Harkness, through his agent, to pay rent up to last April, which he says he is not bound to pay, pending the completion of the sale; can he say what is the position of this tenant as regards the payment of rent or interest on the purchase-money until the sale is completed; and will the Commissioners inquire into the purchase price, £800, on the rent, £27 10s., not including the bonus which their inspector put on the land, as to whether it is the value of the farm?

The Estates Commissioners have no information as to the terms upon which the owner reinstated David Cotter. He has signed an agreement to purchase his former holding under the Irish Land Act, 1903, in Form H in the Appendix to the Commissioners' Rules, which have been presented to Parliament. Agreements in that form do not provide for the collection of interest in lieu of rent by the Land Commission, and the tenant would appear to be liable for such rent as may have been agreed on between the parties until such time as the holding is vested in the purchaser. The Commissioners are not in a position to make any statement in reference to the concluding paragraph of the question, as the papers in connection with the estate are at present in the hands of one of their inspectors.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he has had a communication from the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies in reference to the limitations of friendly societies, under section 8 of the Friendly Societies Act, by which they are unable to do business which industrial companies are permitted to do; whether it is the intention of the Government to introduce legislation placing mutual friendly societies and proprietary companies in the same position as to business; and whether he has yet replied to the Chief Registrar on the matter?

I understand that communications have taken place between the President of the Board of Trade and the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies in relation to insurance business and that such communications are still being carried on. It is not, so far as I know, the intention of Government to introduce legislation placing friendly societies and proprietary companies in the same position as to business.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in any legislation which the Government intend to introduce with the object of placing collecting friendly societies and proprietary companies in the same position as to business, provision will be made to provide that mutual collecting societies to whom this privilege is granted shall be required to make the usual monetary deposit with the Accountant-General of the Court of Chancery, and that they shall in all other respects be subject to uniformity of treatment and control with that of proprietary and mutual life companies?

I have been asked by my hon. Friend the Secretary of the Treasury to answer this question. The Life Assurance Companies Act of 1870 exempted societies registered under the Friendly Societies Acts from its provisions, including the requirement to deposit in Court a sum of £20,000. I have no present intention of proposing any change in this exemption with regard to the smaller collecting friendly societies, but am at present favourably inclined to the view that the large collecting friendly societies ought to be brought under the provisions of the Life Assurance Companies Acts, including the liability to make a deposit of £20,000.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that assistant clerks in the statistical office of the Customs were on continuous overtime from 1st January to 1st May, 1908; and whether there is any intention to have this amount of overtime materially reduced in the forthcoming year?

Regular overtime attendance has always been required of assistant clerks in the statistical office during the first three months of each year in connection with the preparation of the annual statement of trade, but the amount has been materially reduced during the current year in accordance with the promise given in the House of Commons on 17th November last.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Commissioners of Woods and Forests, whether his attention has been called to the fact that, whilst royalties on slate quarries on Crown property in North Wales are between 2s. 10d. and 3s. 5d. per ton, the average royalty on quarries on private property is between 2s. and 2s. 6d.; and whether he will have an inquiry made into the scale of royalties on Crown property?

The Crown royalties on slates are, in nearly all cases, charged in the form of a percentage on the sums realised by the sale of the slates. Consequently, they rise and fall with the fluctuations of the market, and when prices are low lessees get the benefit of an automatic reduction. The whole question of the royalties on the principal Crown quarries in Carnarvonshire was very carefully and thoroughly gone into by the Commissioner of Woods five years ago, at the request of the lessees; the case of each quarry was considered and dealt with on its own merits; considerable concessions were made, and the lessees united in expressing their appreciation of the fair spirit in which their applications had been met.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether the American Government have put a protective tariff on all cured herrings imported into that country?

The reply to this question is in the affirmative.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what, under the new scheme of taxation, will be the differential rates applied and the total income tax levied, respectively, on an income of £2,100, of which £1,000 is earned and £1,100 is unearned, and on an income of £1,800, of which £1,000 is earned and £800 unearned; and from what date will the new scheme of income taxation come into operation?

On the basis of taxation indicated in my Budget statement the answer to the first part of the question is as under:— Income. Differential Rates of Income Tax to be applied under the Budget Proposals. Income Tax to be Levied. Earned £1,000 1s. in the £ £50 0 0 Unearned £1,100 1s. 2d. the £ £64 3 4 Totals £2,100 £114 3 4 Earned £1,000 9d. in the £ £37 10 0 Unearned £ 800 1s. 2d. the £ £46 13 4 Totals £1,800 £84 3 4 As regards the latter part of the question, the new provision in relation to income tax will come into force as from the 6th ultimo.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the quantity of foreign whisky and other spirits imported into Ireland for the past three years?

submitted the following statement, showing the quantity of foreign spirits imported into Ireland in the years 1906, 1907, and 1908:—

Description. 1906. 1907. 1908. Gallons. Gallons. Gallons. Brandy, in casks 9,261 12,791 8,401 Brandy, in bottle 16,513 17,011 15,068 Rum, in bottles 1 3 2 Rum, imitation, in bottles — — 1 Geneva, in casks 45,394 48,999 42,260 Geneva, in bottles 24,373 24,548 25,439 Spirits, unenumerated, sweetened or mixed, tested, in casks 4 — 108 Spirits, unenumerated, sweetened or mixed, tested, in bottles 113 190 126 Spirits, unenumerated, not sweetened, in casks 4,224 5,709 2,973 Spirits, unenumerated, not sweetened, in bottles 20 31 42 Liqueurs, Cordials, Mixtures, etc., not sweetened, and not proved to be unenumerated, in casks — 6 — Liqueurs, Cordials, Mixtures, etc., not sweetened, and not proved to be unenumerated, in bottles — 2 — Liqueurs, Cordials, Mixtures, etc, not tested, in bottles 2 6 13 Spirits, perfumed, in bottles 281 348 270 Total gallons 100,186 109,644 94,703

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the number of licensed public-houses in Ireland paying licence duty on a £10, the minimum, valuation, and how does this number compare with the total number of public-houses in Scotland; and what are the total numbers of licensed houses in Ireland and Scotland, respectively?

I am considering whether I could not usefully lay on the Table of the House a Paper dealing with the details of my Licensing scheme, but I do not think it would be desirable for me to do so until the Finance Bill is in the hands of Members.

asked the Home Secretary whether it is proposed to

issue to the police authorities and the post offices posters setting forth the main provisions of the Children Act; and whether he will consider the desirability of issuing such posters in the Welsh language for use in Wales?

Posters were distributed to the post offices and police stations throughout the country when the Act came into force. Translations into Welsh of two posters, one stating briefly the most important provisions of the Act and the other giving substance of Part I.

(Infant Life Protection) have now been forwarded to the Welsh police authorities and the Welsh guardians respectively for exhibition in suitable places.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has issued, or will cause to be issued, an intimation to the effect that an efficiency grant can only be made to those county and borough councils which insert the Government's fair wage clause in all their police clothing contracts?

The Secretary of State is sorry that he cannot take the course suggested. Any such intimation would be ultra vires and of no effect, as the statutes under which the grants in question are made do not allow them to be withheld on the grounds suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that he has introduced a Bill to prevent gambling in marine insurance policies, he will consider the advisability of introducing a measure to prohibit gambling in futures and options concerning food-stuffs upon which the life of the people depends, and including raw materials upon which the manufacturers and factory hands and users are dependent?

Having regard to the extreme difficulty of distinguishing between legitimate and illegitimate dealings in produce for future delivery, I am not prepared to introduce legislation on the lines suggested.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the suicide at sea on 18th January of an Asiatic fireman named Ching Kung, whilst serving on the steamer "Avrino," of London; whether the seaman was medically examined before joining, and how long he had been on the vessel; whether he had any previous sea service; whether the seaman was on duty at the time; what was the temperature of the engine-room; what amount of coal were the engine-room hands required to work each 24 hours; and whether any previous cases of deaths from suicide, supposed suicide, or disappearance have occurred on this vessel?

The fireman Ching Kung jumped overboard from the "Avrino" in the Indian Ocean whilst on a voyage from Albany, Western Australia, to London. I am not aware whether he had been medically examined before joining; he was on board the "Avrino" about three months, but it is not known whether he had had previous sea service; he had just finished his watch when he went overboard. According to the report of the Vice-Consul at Port Said the temperature of the engine-room was 99 and of the stokehold 94; the consumption of coal was 42 tons, and the number of firemen and trimmers 12. No other case of suicide, supposed suicide, or disappearance has occurred in this vessel. Special inquiry is, however, to be made into the circumstances.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many submarine bells or signals have been, or are proposed to be, established off the coasts of Ireland and England, respectively; and will he give the location of these signals.

No submarine signalling apparatus has yet been actually established off the Coast of Ireland, but the Board of Trade have sanctioned the Kish, Coninbeg and Daunts Lightships being fitted.

As regards England, 10 such apparatus have been fitted, viz., at the following lightships:— "Royal Sovereign." "Tongue." "East Goodwin." "Outer Dowsing." "Outer Gabbard." "Owers." "Spurn." "Shambles." "North-West." "Bar." The Board of Trade have also sanctioned the fitting of the apparatus on two additional lightships by the Trinity House and the establishment of a ground bell at the North Stack, and in the event of this proving a success, of another off the Lizard.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will ascertain from the medical officer who examined the deck-hand Hasip bin Mat, who died from consumption on the steamer "Bloemfontein," of London, on 16th January, 1909, as to whether he could not detect symptoms of consumption in this seaman prior to his joining the vessel; and, if so, why he was permitted to engage; whether the Board of Trade or the Indian Government have any regulations prohibiting the engagement of Asiatics on vessels trading in latitudes above 38 degrees north and 38 degrees south in the winter months; and whether he can state under what circumstances this vessel was permitted to take a Lascar crew to New York in the month of December?

Inquiries shall be made into, the points raised in the question, and the result communicated to my hon. Friend.

asked the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether any case has yet occurred in which a report has been prepared and forwarded to a county council under the provisions contained in sections 3 and 4 of the Small Holdings and Allotments Act, 1908?

No, Sir; no such case has yet occurred.

asked the Member for South Somerset whether his attention has been directed to the reports of the prevalence of the disease of glanders amongst horses in London; and whether he intends to take any steps in order to stamp it out?

The London County Council are and have been for some time past taking all possible steps to eradicate glanders in London, and we hope that the strict enforcement of the provisions of the Glanders Order of 1907—a copy of which I shall be pleased to send the hon. and gallant Member—will prove of considerable service for the purpose. The disease is not nearly so prevalent in London as it was a few years ago—in 1904, for instance, the number of outbreaks was 1,038, whereas last year the number was 495.

asked the hon. Member for South Somerset whether he can now make any statement with regard to the acceptance of the offer of a sum of money from a private gentleman in aid of horse-breeding, or when he will be able to make a statement on the subject?

I am not at present able to make any statement on the subject, nor do I think that it will be possible for me to do so until the proposals of the Government with regard to agricultural development have been considered by the House.

asked the hon. Member for South Somerset whether extra Commissioners have yet been appointed for any counties besides Wiltshire and Lancashire, and whether any other appointments are now contemplated?

No further appointments have as yet been made, but the position of several of the more backward counties is being closely watched and further appointments will be at once made-if it appears that the provision of small holdings for those who desire them will be expedited thereby.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that a Saturday half-holiday was granted to the clerical staff of the General Post Office in June, 1856, by a proclamation in the name of the Postmaster-General, signed by Sir Rowland Hill, and has been continued by successive Postmasters-General on the recommendation of successive secretaries to the Post Office ever since; whether he will explain why he caused a notice to be issued last year pointing out that the enjoyment of these half-holidays was not a right but a concession; whether he is aware that they have actually been withheld in some recent cases; and whether he intends to depart from the policy of all his predecessors in this matter?

The grant of a weekly half-holiday to the clerical staff of the Post Office has always been subject to the requirements of the Service. It recently came to my notice that there was some diversity of practice in different branches of the Department in applying this rule, and instructions on the subject were therefore issued, but there is no change of policy in the matter.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the place selected for the new post office in Collinstown is that part of the premises of Mr. Gough outside the village which is used by him as a pig-sty; whether he is aware that the proposed site is highly inconvenient, and objected to by the inhabitants; and if he will state what are the arrangements which have been made for obtaining a site for Collinstown postal and telegraphic business?

I am having inquiry made, and will acquaint the hon. Member with the result.

asked the President of the Local Government Boards whether his attention has been called to a report given to the Shropshire County Council by the sanitary committee upon a complaint made by the Liverpool sanitary authority that tuberculous milk was being sent to that city from the Market Drayton district; whether he is aware that, upon investigations being made, one cow was found to be in an advanced state of tuberculosis, the cowhouses and cattle in a dirty and neglected state, and that the diseased cow was sold and removed from the district and lost sight of; and whether, under these circumstances, he will take action in this case with the object of preventing the sale of tuberculous milk and meat?

I have seen a report to the sanitary committee of the Salop County Council by the county medical officer of health with regard to this matter. According to that report the facts are as stated in the question. I find from the clerk to the Drayton Rural District Council that their sanitary inspector attended the auction at which the cow was sold. He had reason to suppose that it would be sent either to Stoke-upon-Trent or to Newport, and he communicated with the inspectors of both places. He subsequently received information showing that the cow had in fact been sent to Newport and slaughtered there, that it had been found unfit for human food, and had been given to pigs. I understand that the cow had been dry for a month or six weeks prior to its sale, and that as soon as it was found to be diseased it was kept isolated. After the sale the cowshed was thoroughly disinfected. There were, as stated in the question, defects in the cowshed, and the district council caused the attention of the agent of the property to be drawn to them. The defects are being remedied. The case does not seem to call for further action. The local authorities and their officers appear to have taken all practicable steps to deal with it.