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THE ALLOTMENTS ACT, 1887. MR. COBB: I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether a loan contracted by a Rural Sanitary Authority for the purchase, under "The Allotments Act, 1887," of land for allotments for any particular parish, is ultimately repayable, first as to principal, and secondly as to interest, out of the rates of the whole rural sanitary area, or out of the rates of the parish only for which the allotments have been provided, in the event of there being a deficiency after applying all receipts in respect of the allotments which are properly applicable towards the repayment of such loan and interest; and whether the security for the repayment of such loan to the lender is upon the rates of the whole rural sanitary

area ?

THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. RITCHIE, Tower Hamlets, St. George's); The principal of a loan contracted by a Rural Sanitary Authority for the purchase under the Allotments Act, 1887, of land for allotments for any particular parish and the interest in respect of the loan during its continuance are payable out of the rates of the parish for which the allotments have been provided. The security for the repayment would be the rates of the parish, and not the rates of the whole rural sanitary district.

THE SANITARY COMMISSIONERS OF

GIBRALTAR.

MR. CAUSTON (Southwark, W.): I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will state what is the annual expenditure of

the Board of Sanitary Commissioners of the City and County of Gibraltar, and from what sources and in what proportions is the income derived; and what is the rateable value of property, and what is the proportionate representation of the ratepayers on the Board as constituted under the Sanitary Order Amendment Order (Gibraltar), 1891, and how are the members elected?

BARON H. DE WORMS: The expenditure of the Sanitary Commissioners in 1890 was £28,031. Their income is derived from rates levied, sale of water, fees for use of baths; and the receipts from rates in 1890 were £10,649, and the receipts from the sale of water average over £10,000 a year. Private ratepayers contribute rather less than two-fifths of the receipts from water, and two-thirds of the receipts from rates. The total rateable value is about £144,000. The private ratepayers are represented on a Board of nine-by four members nominated by the Governor, one from the list of the Grand Jury, one from the list of special jurors, and two from the list of the common jurors.

THE "SUBMARINE SENTRY."

MR. KIMBER (Wandsworth): I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been drawn to the "Submarine Sentry," recently described in the principal papers and reported upon by special representatives of some of them, as a means of giving warning to ships of the proximity of shallow waters, and so of saving life and property at sea; and, if so, whether his examination has enabled him to decide whether it might afford a means of averting the calamity and loss occasioned by the occasional stranding of Her Majesty's ships, or to what other result has his inquiry led?

LORD G. HAMILTON: The "Submarine Sentry" has been experimented upon in some of Her Majesty's surveying ships, and seems to promise to be useful in searching for dangers; but it is not considered, in its present form, a necessary or desirable adjunct to Her Majesty's ships for the purposes of navigation.

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BUREAU OF VIENNA.

MR. KIMBER: I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has, during the past two years, been advised by either of Her Majesty's Astronomers Royal that it would be highly advantageous, in the interests of commerce and navigation as well as science, that Great Britain should join the other European nations in the International Geodetic Bureau of Vienna, the object of which is the collection and collation of data, from the surveys of all nations, as to the mass of the earth, its form and dimensions, tides, levels, &c., and costs the small sum of £100 per annum; and on what grounds, if any, the Government have not so joined?

LORD G. HAMILTON: I have received no communication from the Astronomer Royal on this subject during the past two years. As to the reasons why Her Majesty's Government did not join the International Geodetic Bureau, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the 21st March this year.

no information as to the second paragraph of the question.

MR. P. O'BRIEN: As I got my information from a fellow-prisoner, who told me Dr. Gallagher was suffering from melancholia or some form of insanity, I would ask the right hon.. Gentleman if he will make further inquiries? Is it not a fact that the right hon. Gentleman did allow other doctors than the medical officers of the prison to see Dr. Gallagher?

MR. MATTHEWS: I must ask the hon. Member to observe that my information on this subject does not come from common talk amongst persons in the gaol, but from a careful and most deliberate Report made by the medical officer of the prison.

MR. P. O'BRIEN: I would ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it was not common talk that led to an inquiry as to the weak state of health of O'Donovan Rossa, and whether his infirmity was not denied on the authority of the medical officers at the time, just the same as in this case?

MR. J. E. REDMOND: Will the

right hon. Gentleman tell us how many of those prisoners have become insane since their conviction some years ago?

MR. J. O'CONNOR: Might I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is not the fact that Dr. Gallagher was reported by the Visiting Committee to have been suffering from insanity three years ago?

MR. MATTHEWS: I have answered THE CASE OF DR. GALLAGHER. that question, or a similar one, several MR. P. O'BRIEN: I beg to times. ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Dr. Gallagher, at present confined in Portland Prison, suffers from insanity; whether he is aware that a brother of Dr. Gallagher is at present a dangerous lunatic in America, and that insanity is hereditary in the family, and whether, under the circumstances, he will allow an independent medical man to examine Dr. Gallagher, or will he consider the advisability of releasing him on condition that he returns to his family in America?

MR. MATTHEWS: I have received a Report, dated yesterday, from the medical officer of Portland Prison, who informs me that he finds no indications of mental unsoundness in Gallagher; that he is perfectly rational; and that he has never, while in prison, shown signs of mental degeneration. I see no reasons for allowing an independent medical examination, and I cannot advise the release of the prisoner. I have

MR. MATTHEWS: I am not aware of any such report; but if the hon. Member will put the question on the Paper, I will inquire.

MR. P. O'BRIEN: If I drew attention to the mental state of an English prisoner, whom I allege to be insane, would the right hon. Gentleman get his information from the same source as that to which he applies in the case of Dr. Gallagher? In one case it was found out afterwards that the prisoner was mentally wrong as had been stated, and he was ordered to be removed to the Asylum. I ask the right hon. Gentleman how he can now rely on the Report of the medical officer of the prison in view of cases that have occurred before?

MR. SPEAKER: Order, order! MR. T. P. O'CONNOR : I wish to ask the Home Secretary, with reference to Question 64, whether as it is notorious in America that there is insanity in the family of Dr. Gallagher, he will follow the precedent he has followed in other cases, and allow an independent medical inquiry if the expenses are paid by the parties interested?

MR. MATTHEWS: I should prefer not to give a definite answer to that question without notice. At present it strikes me that the circumstances are quite different to those in the case in which I allowed an independent medical examination. In that case there was undoubted illness of a grave character, and it was to calm the distress and anxiety of the friends of the prisoner that I allowed an independent

medical man to see him. Here I see no ground for investigation by anyone. MR. T. P. O'CONNOR: It is exactly to calm the distress of the friends of the unfortunate man in America that we are asking for an independent medical inquiry into the case.

MR. MATTHEWS: The hon. Member omits the most important circumstance, that in the other case there was ground for alarm, but in this there is absolutely none.

chase Act of 1891 was passed; and
what number of the same appeals now
remain undisposed of approximately,
according to the latest information ?
*MR. JACKSON: The Irish Land
Commissioners report that the total
number of fair rent appeals up to 1st
June, 1891, and which remained undis-
posed of at the passing of the Purchase
Act of 1891 was 14,950. Of these
1,840 were subsequently disposed of,
leaving outstanding on the 29th Feb-
ruary of the present year 3,110.

LABOURERS' COTTAGES IN THE

BANDON UNION.

DR. TANNER: I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether any, and, if so, what, steps are being taken for the erection of labourers' cottages in the Bandon Union under what is locally termed the new scheme; whether he is aware that on the last occasion of the meeting of the Board, it was stated the scheme has been dropped for six will state how months; and if he often and for what periods this business has been adjourned, and if any steps will be taken to provide

the labourers in this Union with

the houses and allotments proved necessary?

MR. P. O'BRIEN: I would ask the *MR. JACKSON: Under the original right hon. Gentleman whether, in a scheme submitted by the Bandon Board case of insanity which has recently of Guardians 125 labourers cottages been brought under his notice, the have been provided in that Union. official medical officer said there was no Representations were subsequently insanity, but that it afterwards turned made to the Guardians for the erection out that there was? Was not the second of additional labourers cottages. The examination in consequence of a ques-question has been postponed from time tion put in this House; and, for that reason, does he not think it desirable that some independent medical man should examine the prisoner, and the expense be borne by the authorities?

MR. MATTHEWS: I cannot follow the reasoning of the hon. Gentleman. Will he put a question down on the Paper?

FAIR RENT APPEALS.

MR. SEYMOUR KEAY: I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland what number of fair rent appeals lodged on or before 1st June, 1891, remained undisposed of at or near the date when the Land Pur

to time by the Guardians, and at their meeting last week they appear to have adjourned the matter for a further period of six months.

DR. TANNER: I would ask the right hon. Gentleman if he has borne in mind the fact that this has been so repeatedly adjourned.

*MR. JACKSON: I think the hon. Member is under a misapprehension with reference to my power with the Board of Guardians.

DR. TANNER: Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that as Chief of the Local Government Board he has power in this matter, and is he also aware that this is a thoroughly Conservative

Board of Guardians, a real old Tory | hearing in Mr. Justice North's Court in Board?

*MR. JACKSON: No, Sir, I have no power to interfere unless some representations are made to me by the Local Government Board. I was not aware of the composition of this Board of Guardians from a political point of view, but I am very glad to hear that it is as the hon. Gentleman has stated.

THE SALE OF SPIRITUOUS LIQUORS

TO NATIVE RACES.

MR. SUMMERS (for Sir WILFRID LAWSON, Cumberland, Cockermouth): I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to a conference between British merchants interested in the African trade and Members of Parliament, which was held at the House of Commons on the 11th March, at which it was stated, on behalf of the merchants, that " they could not do without sending a certain amount of spirits out with the cotton goods;" and whether he will take whatever steps are in his power to prevent the policy endorsed unanimously by a Resolution of this House (April, 1888), condemning the sale of spirituous liquors to Native races, being set at naught?

July, 1891, is still unheard, and that only about one-third of the cases then set down before it for hearing have been disposed of; and will he explain why the case, which has for some time been marked as fit for transfer to the Queen's Bench Division, has not been so transferred?

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir RICHARD WEBSTER, Isle of Wight): In answer to the question of the hon. formation furnished to me it appears Member I have to say that from inthat at the date when the action referred to was set down for trial there were 53 actions standing before it in the list, and that 28 of these still remain to be tried. The delay has been due to the fact that some exceptionally heavy causes, one of which lasted no less than 20 days, have had to be disposed of. The marking of a case as fit for transfer does not imply more than that if the state of business in the Queen's Bench Division permits the action will be transferred for trial to that division. The unavoidable absence through illness of three Chancery Judges, and the consequent necessity for trying ordinary Chancery causes by a Judge of the Queen's Bench Division, rendered it undesirable to transfer causes to the Queen's Bench Division at the present time, but I may add that it was open to the plaintiff, had he so desired, to have commenced his action in the Queen's Bench Division, in which case the trial would probably have taken place at an ealier date.

THE CHICAGO EXHIBITION.

BARON H. DE WORMS: My attention has been drawn to the Report referred to. I can assure the hon. Baronet that there is no intention of departing from the pledge I gave on behalf of the Government in April, 1888, to which he refers, and which was again confirmed by the Secretary of State in another place in 1889. So long as other countries have contiguous MR. J. O'CONNOR: I beg to ask possessions through which spirits can the Attorney General whether he inbe imported it is impossible for us to tends to recommend the Government to suppress the traffic. We already levy apply to Parliament for a further sum in our Colonies duties on spirits greatly of money for the purposes of the Comin excess of those imposed in the neigh-missioners of the British and Irish bouring French and German Colonies, section of the Chicago Exhibition; and and also higher than the tariff laid whether he has taken any steps with down in the Act of the Brussels Con- the Commissioners to have a separate ference. grouping of Irish exhibits, under distinctively Irish management or submanagement, with a separate sum set apart for the purposes of Irish exhibitors?

MR. JUSTICE NORTH'S COURT.

MR. LEWIS FRY (Bristol, N.): I beg to ask the Attorney General whether he is aware that the case of 'Eliot and others v. the Mayor and Corporation of Bristol," set down for

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SIR T. ESMONDE: I beg to ask the Attorney General whether the Government will agree to an increase of

the funds available for the organisation | proximity of the General Election, of a representative exhibition of Irish expenses incurred by Parliamentary industries at the Chicago Exhibition; candidates at the present moment come and, if so, to what amount; and within the meaning of the "Corrupt whether in consideration of the strong and Illegal Practices Prevention Act, feeling in Ireland in favour of a separate 1883," and should be included in the Irish section at the World's Fair the Return made to the returning officer, Government will favourably consider in accordance with Section 33 of the the proposal? said Act?

SIR R. WEBSTER: In reply to the SIR R. WEBSTER: The question of questions of the hon. Member for the hon. Member implies that the date Tipperary and the hon. Baronet the at which the expenses are incurred is Member for Dublin, the Royal Com- the only important consideration. This mission for the Chicago Exhibition is not the fact, as, according to the have presented a memorial to Her "Corrupt and Illegal Practices PrevenMajesty's Government asking for a tion Act, 1883," if expense is incurred substantial increase of the amount to be" on account of or in respect of the granted in connection with the British section. The Commission have carefully considered the question of a separate Irish section and separate management for Irish exhibits, and they are in communication with leading gentlemen from Ireland upon the subject. At present, however, the feeling of Irish exhibitors appears to be that it would not be desirable to have the Irish exhibits separately grouped, and that it would be distinctly unfavourable to the exhibitors for that course to be adopted. The matter is, however, receiving careful consideration.

conduct or management of an election "
such expense must be included in the
maximum amount allowed.
The ques-
tion is in every case one of fact as to
whether the expenses fall within the
description to which I have referred—
namely, of expenses "relating to the
conduct or management of an election."
I am afraid that no other general
answer can be given.

MR. COBB: I would ask the hon. and learned Gentleman whether a sitting Member is responsible for these expenses?

SIR. R. WEBSTER: There is no difference in the case of a sitting Member and a candidate.

MR. J. O'CONNOR: I would like to ask the hon. and learned Gentleman how soon he will be able to give us the information he has promised, and I LONDON COUNTY COUNCIL AND THE would also like to know whether it is intended to add to the Commission any representatives of Irish industries?

*SIR R. WEBSTER: The matter really cannot be determined until all the exhibits have come in. It is quite possible there may be some things which it will be desirable to localise and others which may be otherwise dealt with, but there can be no final determination in this matter in the meantime. As to the other question I have received no notice of it, but in reference to adding to the Commission gentlemen representing Irish industries, that matter will be carefully considered on the re-election of the Council in May.

ELECTION EXPENSES.

MR. BRAND (Cambridge, Wisbech): I beg to ask the Attorney General whether, in consideration of the Sir T. Esmonde

ANNUITY SYSTEM.

MR. J. STUART: I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury what are the grounds on which Her Majesty's Treasury has declined to sanction a loan of £5,000 by the London County Council to the Free Library Commissioners of Shoreditch repayable on the annuity principle, in view of the fact that the approval of the Local Government Board was obtained to the loan on an estimated expenditure for repayment calculated on the annuity principle, and that the same method of repayment was also proposed by the London County Council?

MR. GOSCHEN: The Treasury has not declined to sanction a loan of £5,000 by the London County Council to the Free Library Commissioners of Shoreditch. It was proposed that the loan should be repaid in certain terms of years under the annuity system, and

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