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TUNISIAN TARIFF.

SIR HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central): I beg to ask the Under Secre tary of State for Foreign Affairs if Her Majesty's Government is aware that under date the 2nd instant a decree was

published at Tunis by the French Resident General, levying increased duties upon all imported goods other than French goods, most of which are to be admitted free, and making such duties applicable to all stocks of an alcoholic nature, although imported prior to the decree and in ignorance thereof; and, if instructions will be given to the Queen's Consul General to support, by all means in his power, the appeal made against such retrospective action by the British subjects injured thereby, having regard to the terms of the Anglo-Tunisian Treaty of 19th July, 1875, which provides that imported goods on which the customs duty has been paid shall not be subjected to any other duty or tax?

MR. CURZON: I have seen the Decree mentioned in the first paragraph of my honourable and gallant Friend's Question. I have not heard of the appeal by British subjects mentioned in the second paragraph, but I would remind my honourable Friend that the Treaty of 1875 expired from October 15th, 1897,

when the new Convention was ratified and came into force. I will, however, inquire into the matter, and will communicate with Her Majesty's Consul General at Tunis with respect to it.

BALLYCOTTON HARBOUR.

CAPTAIN DONELAN (Cork, E.): I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that the absence of a light at the entrance of Ballycotton Harbour, county Cork, constitutes a serious danger to fishing and other vessels on dark nights, steps will be taken to establish a small light either on the pier or breakwater?

THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE: I am informed by the Commissioners of Irish Lights that the light suggested by the honourable and gallant

Member would not be for the benefit of general navigation, which is sufficiently protected by the existing lighthouse. If a light on the pier or breakwater is required for fishing and other vessels. using Ballycotton Harbour, it should be placed there at the expense of the locality, and would not be one which ought to be paid for out of the general lighthouse fund.

HOSPITAL OF ST. BARTHOLOMEW,
NEAR OXFORD.

SIR W. FOSTER (Derbyshire, Ilkes ton): I beg to ask the honourable Member for Thirsk, as representing the Charity Commissioners, whether they have received from Oriel College the accounts of the charity called the Hospi tal of St. Bartholomew, near Oxford, for the year 1897; and, if so, whether they will supply a copy to persons interested; and whether the Charity Commissioners, before recommending acceptance of the proposals now made by Oriel Colleg with regard to this charity, will take the opinion of the standing Counsel of the Charity Commission with respect to the same?

VISCOUNT VALENTIA (Oxford): At the same time, may I ask the honourable Member for the Thirsk Division of Yorkshire, as representing the Charity Commissioners, whether Oriel College, Oxford, is placing the current income arising from the lands and other property of the Hospital of St. Bartholo mew, near Oxford, to a suspense account pending the settlement of the questions. with regard to the charity which have been before the Charity Commissioners, or whether the college is carrying the said income to the corporate revenues of the college, and, if the latter, whether it is being done with the concurrence and assent of the Charity Commissioners?

in the union, and the inspector felt himself unable to recommend that the guardians should be required to carry out. an improvement scheme for this division. If the persons who signed the representations to the guardians apply to the Local Government Board for an inquiry, the propriety of acceding to the application will be considered. No steps can be taken in the direction of compelling the guardians to provide cottages except. in pursuance of such an application and. such an inquiry.

Rhodesia. THE PARLIAMENTARY CHARITY had reference to the question of erectCOMMISSIONER (Mr. GRANT LAWSON, ing cottages in one electoral division only Yorkshire, N.R., Thirsk): The Commis sioners have not yet received the accounts. When they are rendered the Commissioners will be prepared to supply a copy to any person interested. The Commissioners will deal with this case, as they deal with all such cases, upon their own responsibility. The Commissioners have reason to believe that Oriel College is placing to a suspense account the stipends and allowances which the college acknowledges to be payable in respect of the places now vacant among the brethren of the hos pital. Pending the settlement of the claims of the charity upon the college the Commissioners have no power require the college to carry the income derived from the former property of the hospital to any separate account.

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SIR W. FOSTER: Is the honourable Member aware that considerable doubt exists as to the legality of the proposed scheme, as these funds were left for pure charity, and ought not to be used for any other purpose?

MR. GRANT LAWSON: I think the House will agree it would not be right for me, speaking on behalf of the Commissioners, to answer such a question. I must ask for notice.

LABOURERS' COTTAGES IN DOWN

PATRICK UNION.

MR. MCCARTAN (Down, S.): I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state the number of labourers' cottages within the union of Downpatrick; whether he can state what was the report of the Local Government Board inspector who held an inquiry on the subject in Downpatrick; and if some step will be taken with the view to provide sufficient and proper accommodation for the labourers living within the union?

PRACTICE OF MEDICINE IN INDIA.

SIR W. FOSTER: I beg to ask. the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that at present uneducated and unqualified persons have as much right to practise medicine in India as fully qualified practitioners; and whether, in view of the danger to which the Indian people are thereby exposed, he will consider the advisability of instituting a system of registration for medical practitioners similar to that which exists in Great Britain and Ireland.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Lord G. HAMILTON, Middlesex, Ealing) The answer to the first branch of the question is in the affirmative, and that to the second branch in the negative. It would be, in my judgment, impossible, in the present condition of India, to prevent the people of that country from resorting to native practitioners,. even though they may be regarded by Europeans as not fully educated or qualified for the work they undertake.

RHODESIA.

MR. J. L. MORGAN (Carmarthen-shire, W.) I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) whether, underMR. GERALD BALFOUR: No cottages the new constitution of Rhodesia, there have been provided in this union under will be any means by which holders of the Labourers Acts. The inquiry men- land or minerals by grant from native tioned in the second paragraph was owners prior to grants to the Chartered held so far back as January, 1895. It Company will be able to establish or

HIGHLAND COUNTY COUNCILS AND

PIER CONSTRUCTION.

MR. WEIR (Ross and Cromarty): I beg to ask the Lord Advocate, having regard to the fact that under the Highlands and Islands Works Act, 1891, certain powers devolved on county councils in regard to the construction and maintenance of piers, and that these powers do not now exist in conjunction with the newly created Congested Districts Board, will he state whether the Government propose to take any action in the matter; and, if so, what?

enforce their rights in a Court of Law; (2) whether under the High Commissioner's Proclamation, having the force of law in Rhodesia, no such grant is receivable in evidence unless it has been previously approved by the Secretary of State; (3) whether any, and, if so, what concessions in Rhodesia to others than the Chartered Company have been approved by the Secretary of State; (4) whether there is any form of judicial inquiry by which the Secretary of State can be guided as to the questions of fact and Native Law which must be determined in order to ascertain whether any concession was validly granted; (5) whether he is aware that the African-Portuguese Syndicate, composed of Mr. Reuben Bemingfield and other colonists of position in Natal and Cape Colony, have for many years past been endeavouring to secure a legal determination of their alleged rights under grant from the Chief Umtassa, but have been unable to do so, although successive Secretaries of State have declared the matter to be one for judicial determination; and whether a proclamation will be issued by the High Commissioner enabling such a determination to be given?

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. J. CHAMBERLAIN, Birmingham, W.): (1) No fresh provisions on this point are contemplated in the new Order in Council. (2) No such grant can be recognised by any Court of Law unless approved by the Secretary of State. (3) I am not aware of any. (4) There is no established machinery for this purpose. (5) The claims of the African-Portuguese Syndicate have been before the Secretary of State for some years past. I cannot find that my pre decessors have declared the matter to be one subject to judicial determination. I myself, on the production by the Syndicate of some further evidence, made a suggestion with a view to bringing the matter before a Court of Law; but this suggestion has not been acted upon; and I am not prepared to state what further steps, if any, I shall take in the matter. The whole question has formed the subject of voluminous correspondence, and it is impossible to give full explanations in answer to a question in Parliament.

Mr. J. L. Morgan.

THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. GRAHAM method in which, and the local authori MURRAY, Buteshire): The question of the ties through which, the Congested Districts Board should exercise any powers vision of piers in congested districts is they possess in connection with the proat present under consideration of the Board. The provisions of the Act of 1891 are fully in view.

RABIES IN KENT.

Mr. BOSCAWEN (Kent, Tunbridge): I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether any case of rabies has been reported in the neighbourhood of Tunbridge and Tun bridge Wells since the case of the mad dog which came from Croydon and was destroyed near Tunbridge last October; and, if not, whether it is the intention of the Department shortly to take off the Muzzling Order?

THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE (Mr. W. H. LONG, Liverpool, West Derby): Since the occurrence of the case to which my honourable Friend refers the places nearest to Tunbridge from which rabies has been reported have been Croydon and Wychling. which are about twenty miles east and west of that town respectively. In view of the past history of the disease in Kent and of the local circumstances, it would be premature for me as yet to relax the Muzzling Orders now in force in that county, but the position has much improved, and I hope it may not be very long before I am in a position to give effect to the representations which I have received on the subject.

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PERFORMING BEARS IN PUBLIC
STREETS.

MR. JAMES ROCHE (Galway, E.): I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, having regard to the well-known and dangerous effect upon horses of the sight or smell of a live bear, and to the recent lamentable accident resulting in the death of a child in London on the 18th instant, which was caused by the bolting of a horse on meeting a performing bear in Marylebone Road, he will direct the police to prevent the exhibition in the thoroughfares of live bears in any part of the kingdom?

The following Questions on the same subject also appeared on the Paper :

COLONEL DALBIAC (Camberwell, N.): I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention has been called to the recent fatal accident in the Marylebone Road caused by the presence of a bear in the public street; and, if so, will he now take measures to absolutely forbid these formances?

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COLONEL WYNDHAM MURRAY (Bath): I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that a fatal accident lately occurred in the streets in consequence of

a horse being startled by a performing bear; and whether he can now take steps to stop this performance in London, and so prevent the recurrence of such accidents?

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir M. W. RIDLEY, Lancs., Blackpool): My attention has been called to this unfortunate accident, but there is no power for the general prohibition of these perform ances. The matter is one which can, to some extent, be dealt with by by-laws, and a reasonable by-law will always be favourably considered by the Home Office.

FRY COMMISSION.

COLONEL WARING (Down, N.): I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, what is the cause of the delay in the publication of the evidence taken before the Fry Commission, and when we may expect it to be in the hands of Members?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR: I was recently informed by the printer that the circulation of the evidence only awaited the completion of the index, which was in the hands of the late Secretary to the Commission. I have no further information on the subject. The matter does not rest with the Irish Government.

TREASURY CLAIMS ON KILKENNY.

MR. P. O'BRIEN (Kilkenny): I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Corporation of Kilkenny has to pay to the Treasury an annual sum of £50 for a patent to hold fairs, £55 per year rent for the old gaol and the city grand jury premises, and also £22 per year as rent charges to the Irish Land Commission; whether, seeing that the premises for which the £55 rent is charged were originally the property of the ratepayers, and that when acquiring them the Government paid no compensation to the ratepayers, will he take

steps to relieve them of this rent; | men's Association; and whether the whether the Treasury bears any of the Government will give favourable concost of the fairs in Kilkenny; and, if not, sideration to the various requirements set whether he is prepared to urge upon the forth in that memorial so as to place the Treasury the advisability of waiving its Irish fishing industry on an equality as claim for this impost upon the Corpora- to funds, brands, communication, and tion, which has to expend large sums in facilities as those enjoyed by English making provision for those fairs; and Scotch fishermen? whether he can explain what this £22 rent charge is for; and, whether he proposes to insert in the Local Government (Ireland) Bill a provision to remit all or any of those charges?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR: I have not had time to look into this matter, but I think it is most improbable that it could be dealt with as suggested in the last paragraph of the Question.

MR. GERALD BALFOUR: I received the memorial yesterday; the representations which it contains will receive consideration.

TITHE AND LOCAL RATES.

CAPTAIN CHALONER (Wilts, Westbury): : I beg to ask the Chancellor of

MR. P. O'BRIEN: I will repeat the the Exchequer whether it is the intenQuestion on the 6th June.

CONTRACT ADVERTISING.

tion of the Government to put the official incomes of parochial incumbents which consist of tithe on the same footing as all other official stipends in respect of MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN: I beg to consideration the great hardships which local rates; and whether, taking into ask the Secretary to the Treasury arise under the present system, he will whether the Treasury will consider the endeavour to deal with this question at advisability of requiring the spending an early date? department in Ireland to advertise all contracts locally, with view to economy?

MR. HANBURY: It is certainly my desire that contracts under Departments connected with the Treasury should be advertised in such a way as to ensure the greatest efficacy as well as economy, and I am considering the matter.

MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN: Is not the right honourable Gentleman aware that yesterday the Under Secretary of State for War admitted that an important contract had been given in Kilkenny to an outsider, and that it was not advertised?

MR. HANBURY: That had nothing to do with the Treasury.

IRISH FISHING INDUSTRY.

MR. FIELD: I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has received a memorial from the Arklow Boatowners' and FisherMr. P. O'Brien.

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir M. HICKS BEACH, Bristol, with the law of rating should be adW.): Any Question as to a Bill dealing dressed to the President of the Local Government Board rather than to me; but, in speaking on this subject last Session, I pointed out the difficulty of dealing with it apart from other ques afraid I am not in a position at present tions affecting local taxation, and I am to add anything to what I then said.

LIGHT DUES ON BALTIC SHIPPING.

MR. DOUGHTY (Great Grimsby): I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he could state to the House what is the amount of light dues at present paid on one voyage by a steamer of 1,000 tons register trading from the port of Grimsby to the Baltic, and what will be the dues payable by a similar steamer on one voyage should the Mercantile Marine Bill become law in its present

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