and improving the harbour for £22,500, | into the case, and am informed that the on which Sir Alexander Rendel has facts are as stated in the question. Superrecommended additions and modifica- intendent Kene did object to one of the tions, bringing the cost up to some witnesses, a police constable, answering £30,000; and that the town of Wick- the question, who accompanied another low, with a valuation of £5,266, in constable and himself at the time he saw addition to paying its share of the £1,940 the defendants gaming. The objection was annually paid for the £40,000 harbour taken on the ground of privilege, and that loan by that district, contributes £540 it would not be public policy to disclose the annually towards this harbour in interest name of the third person. The Justices on the former £12,000 harbour loan, and upheld the objection. I cannot interfere is unable to contribute anything further in what is after all only a question as to than the surplus income of the port improper admission or rejection of evi(which it is willing to do if given the dence, unless I have reason to believe power) in raising a loan of £10,000, pro- that some substantial injustice has been vided the Treasury gives the balance done, which, so far as I am aware, there required as a grant; and whether, con- is no ground for suggesting in this case. sidering the present very critical condition of this harbour, and its importance) to the locality and also to the Government now that a cordite factory has been MR. W. FIELD (Dublin, St. Patstarted in the neighbourhood, he will rick): I beg to ask the Vice Presitake immediate steps to give a grant for dent of the Committee of Council the necessary repairs before it is blocked on Education, whether he is aware by the collapse of its breakwater ? that during the last five years in

SCIENCE AND ART STUDENTS IN

IRELAND.

THE SECRETARY TO THE TREA- Ireland there has been a falling off in SURY (Sir JOHN HIBBERT, Oldham): the attendance of science and art I fully recognise the importance and students of 26 per cent., whereas within difficulty of this matter, and it is receiv- the same period the number of science ing every attention. The Exchequer has and art students has increased by about already advanced on loans sums amount- 60 per cent. in England; and whether ing to £46,000 towards the construction equal financial assistance will be proof the harbour, and the Government is portionately granted to Great Britain prepared to afford further assistance, but and Ireland? I cannot admit that the locality is unable to contribute anything by way of guarantee or otherwise.

A BARNSLEY POLICE CASE.

:

THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (Mr. ACLAND, York, W.R., Rotherham): The facts are correctly stated in the first part of the question. But during the last two years for which MR. H. J. WILSON (York, W.R., the figures are available there has been a Holmforth) I beg to ask the Secretary slight increase in the numbers for Ireof State for the Home Department land. As regards financial assistance, whether his attention has been directed the grants offered to Ireland by the to the report of a case, heard before Mr. Science and Art Department are more C. Harvey and other Barnsley magis- liberal than to Great Britain. The trates on the 27th March, in which the solicitor defending certain miners against a charge of playing pitch and toss, asked a police witness for the prosecution who was with him on the occasion in question, but Superintendent Kene objected to this question being answered by the witness, and the Bench allowed the objection, upon which the solicitor retired from the case; and whether he will make inquiries into the circumstances of the case?

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. ASQUITH, Fife, E.): I have made inquiry Mr. J. O'Connor.

grants for fittings, apparatus, and examples, and those for technical instruction, which have been suspended in Great Britain while the Local Taxation (Customs and Excise) Act of 1890 remains in force, are continued in Ireland, the other grants being the same in both countries.

IRISH POSTAL ARRANGEMENTS.

MR. F. MANDEVILLE (Tipperary, S.): I beg to ask the Postmaster General why the Post Office authorities discontinued a mail car through the village of

1133 Shipment of Sailors and {8 APRIL 1895} Firemen at Foreign Ports. 1134 Ballylooby, county Tipperary, thereby outrage, and who escaped from justice causing much inconvenience to the in- by a flight to America; that a police habitants; is he aware that the people constable named Muldowney, who was of that district are willing to give the engaged in protection of the said Regan, Post Office authorities a guarantee for was convicted, and sentenced to death the cost of sending a mail car through for complicity in the murder; and that Ballylooby; and will he consent to have the Attorney General entered a nolle a mail car run on the Ballylooby route prosequi in regard to a number of men daily, as before, on condition that the who were arrested and charged at the Post Office is indemnified by a guarantee same time as Muldowney and Finnigan, for the expenses of that mail car and against whom precisely the same service? evidence was in existence, on the ground that such evidence was not sufficient to justify a conviction; (3) was the sentence of Constable Muldowney commuted from the capital penalty to penal servitude, and has Constable Muldowney been yet released; (4) is he aware that the jury on the first trial refused to convict Patrick Finnigan, and that he has now suffered in all over 12 years' imprisonment; and (5) will he give a favourable consideration to Finnigan's case, with a view to a commutation of his sentence?

THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. ARNOLD MORLEY, Nottingham, E.): I regret that I cannot sanction a service by day mail to Ballylooby. The village did, it is true, enjoy that accommodation when the day mail car to Clogheen ran through the village; but it became necessary to divert this car in order to serve a district receiving a considerable amount of correspondence, while there were only three or four letters a day for Ballylooby, which suffer delay in consequence of the change. In these circumstances it would be hardly possible for the Post Office to establish a mail car under guarantee. But if the district choose to put on a car, I might be able to take advantage of it for the few letters referred to.

THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. J. MORLEY, Newcastleupon-Tyne): My attention has been drawn to the case of this convict, who was convicted of murder in August 1884, and sentenced to death. The sentence, however, was subsequently commuted to penal servitude for life. The facts are substantially as stated in the second and fourth paragraphs, except that, as I am informed,

MR. A. WEBB (Waterford, W.): I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether he has received a memorial relative to the present night mail postal service to Lismore, Cappoquin, Tallow, Regan was a land steward (not land Ballyduff, and surrounding district; and whether he is prepared to recommend changes in the direction desired by

memorialists?

MR. ARNOLD MORLEY: I have quite recently received the memorial referred to, and inquiry is being made into the subject of it; but some weeks must elapse before I can be in a position to come to a decision.

THE CASE OF PATRICK FINNIGAN.

MR. M. M. BODKIN (Roscommon, N.) I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1) if his attention has been called to the case of Patrick Finnigan, at present undergoing a sentence of penal servitude at Mountjoy Prison on conviction of complicity in murder; (2) is he aware that it was proved at the trial by the Crown the murder in question was instigated by a land agent named Regan, who was proved to be present and assisted at the

agent), and that it is not known upon what grounds the Attorney General of the day entered a nolle prosequi in the other cases referred to. Muldowney's sentence was also commuted to one of penal servitude for life; he has not been released, being at present confined in Mountjoy Prison. Finnigan's case was considered in 1886, 1888, 1891, and again in April of last year. As at present advised, there seems to be no sufficient grounds for ordering his release.

SHIPMENT OF SAILORS AND FIREMEN

AT FOREIGN PORTS.

MR. J. HAVELOCK WILSON (Middlesbrough): I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can state what fees Consular officers are allowed to charge for the shipment of seamen on board of English vessels in foreign ports; whether he is aware that certain agents who use the Consul's

office in the port of Antwerp charge accommodation on board of ship, from seamen 10s. each as a shipping fee; 72 cubic feet to 120 cubic feet; what whether he is aware that seamen are accommodation is allowed to convicts, unable to secure employment on board of English ships in the port of Antwerp unless through the agency of these men; whether he is also aware that crews are signed on by these agents in the absence of the Consul; and whether he can see his way to prevent these men using the Consul's office for the purpose of extorting such fees from the seamen ?

soldiers, and paupers; why the Board of Trade does not insist on shipowners who carry Lascar seamen on board of their ships, allowing these men the 72 cubic feet of space as set forth in the Merchant Shipping Act, 1872; whether it is a fact that on board of several steamships comveying Her Majesty's mails, and who carry Lascar crews, that these THE UNDER SECRETARY OF men are only allowed 36 cubic feet of STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS space; and what steps he intends to (Sir EDWARD GREY, Northumberland, take with a view of enforcing the MerBerwick) The statutory fee paid to chant Shipping Act on board of all Government is two shillings for each vessels, and especially on those vessels seaman shipped. We have no know- receiving a subsidy for the carrying of ledge as to the alleged action of agents, Her Majesty's mails? but if evidence is given an inquiry will be instituted.

MR. BRYCE: Such steps as the Board of Trade have been able to take (without fresh legislation) with regard to the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Labour affecting seamen, have already been taken, and are explained in a paper (c. 7540-1894) recently presented to Parliament. The question of increasing the minimum crew space allowance will be considered when an opportunity for legislation occurs. I am unable to furnish the hon.

MR. J. HAVELOCK WILSON: I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state how many able seamen and firemen were shipped on board of English vessels during the year 1894 in the ports of Hamburg, Bremen, Antwerp, and Rotterdam; whether he can state how many of such sailors and firemen were British and how many were foreigners; and whether he will cause to be published in the Labour Member with particulars of the accomGazette the number of foreigners signed on as able seamen and firemen on British vessels in British ports, also the number of foreigners signed on as able seamen and firemen on British vessels in the ports of Hamburg, Bremen, Antwerp and Rotterdam ?

modation allowed on transports or other vessels not coming under Board of Trade survey. All British merchant vessels (whether carrying Her Majesty's mails or not) are required to have for each seaman or apprentice a space of not less than 72 cubic feet; and penalties are provided for contravention of this requirement. Complaints have, however, recently been made to the Board of Trade that, in certain vessels carrying Lascar seamen only the space (36 cubic feet for each man) required by the Indian Act, has been provided.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. J. BRYCE, Aberdeen, S.): The information asked for by the hon. Member is not in the possession of the Board of Trade. As respects the last paragraph of the question it would not be safe to undertake to publish in the Labour Gazette any particular in- owners of these vessels have been information, as in editing the Gazette it is formed that the provisions of the Imnecessary to deal with the contents ac- perial Act must be complied with, and cording to the varying exigencies of the matter is receiving the careful space.

The

attention of the Board of Trade surveyors. Representations have also been made to the Secretary of State for India.

ACCOMMODATION FOR SEAMEN. MR. J. HAVELOCK WILSON: I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he intends to take any steps to carry out the recommendation of the Royal Commission on Labour with reference to increasing the seamen's I Mr. J. Havelock Wilson.

WEIGHING SEAMEN'S FOOD. MR. J. HAVELOCK WILSON: beg to ask the President of the

Board of Trade whether his at- for or nominate candidates as Poor Law tention has been called to a report Guardians in respect of these premises at of a trial in the Central District the present election for this division, and Court at Newfoundland, where Thomas whether the nomination of Dr. William Weatherill and William Prentice, of the Gibson and Mr. James Hollywood is renvessel Elite, sued Captain Hargreaves for dered void by reason of the disqualificasupplying them with food which was con- tion of their nominator, Mr. Wolff; and, siderably under the weight agreed upon in (3) what action the Local Government their articles of agreement; whether it is Board intend to take in the matter? a fact that the men alleged that the balance which was used for weighing the food was defective; and whether there is any law to compel owners to supply their vessels with weights and measures which are thoroughly adjusted and certified to be correct; and, if there is no such law, will he at an early date bring in a Bill making it compulsory on all shipowners to supply their vessels with properly adjusted weights and measures?

MR. J. MORLEY: The facts are as stated in the first paragraph. The Returning Officer has not yet made his return of the persons elected as Guardians for the Belfast Union. If, however, the gentlemen in question should be returned as Guardians, and their right to act in that capacity be questioned, the Local Government Board will, of course, carefully consider any representations that may be made to them in the matter.

CODE CABLEGRAMS.

MR. HENNIKER HEATON (Canterbury): I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether he has observed that

MR. BRYCE: My attention had not been called to the case referred to in the question until I received a communication, dated the 3rd inst., from the hon. Member himself. I have, however, been in communication with the managing owner of the Elite. He appears to have no knowledge of the circumstances, and the new official vocabulary for_code states that the finding of the ship in pro- cablegrams, prepared by the Intervisions rests with the master, who is also national Telegraph Office at Berne, is half-owner. The Merchant Shipping Act, objected to, on the grounds, among 1894 (Section 201), provides that proper others, that it contains words identical weights and measures shall be kept on in signals with other words, words with board ship, and the master is liable to a only one signal difference from other fine (£10) if he neglects to comply with words, words with only one letter this requirement. I have given directions difference from other words, words for the weights and measures of the with first letter's signals dangerElite to be inspected upon the next re-ously turn of the vessel to this country.

BALLYMACARRETT POOR LAW

ELECTION.

like others, and words representing names of articles of commerce, coins, numerals, and firms, and localities; and whether this vocabulary can still be amended and extended, or whether it is binding, as it stands, on the public; and, if amendments will be accepted, whether he will suggest that the official compilers of it should consult with two or more British telegraph experts, and with the Associated Chambers of Commerce, with a view to removing the defects complained of?

MR. S. YOUNG (Cavan, E.): I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1) if his attention has been called to a protest lodged by Mr. John Morton, J.P., one of the candidates for the office of Guardian at the present Poor Law election for the Ballymacarrett electoral division of the Belfast Union, against the nomination MR. ARNOLD MORLEY: I am of Dr. William Gibson and Mr. James aware that objections have been raised Hollywood, two of the other candidates, on the grounds mentioned by the hon. upon the ground that they were jointly Member; but I may remind the House nominated by Mr. Wolff, of 7, Station that the new vocabulary does not come Street, who, as the Poor Rate Collector into force until the 1st January 1898. reports, was not in occupation of these There is ample time for consideration in premises since 1st March last; (2) the interval, and the matter is receiving whether Mr. Wolff was entitled to vote careful attention.

THE EAST LONDON WATER COMPANY. | a position to give any information as to MR. ARCHIBALD GROVE (West the intention of the Treasury with Ham, N.) I beg to ask the President reference to the Resolution passed by of the Local Government Board whether the County Kerry Grand Jury concernhe has received a petition from certain ing the Tralee and Dingle Railway? burgesses of the borough of West Ham, stating that, owing to the negligence of the East London Water Company in not causing their mains to be repaired, the direct supply of water is still cut off, and the public health thereby endangered, owing to the accumulation of sewage matter; and whether he can take any steps to compel the Company to fulfil their statutory obligations?

SIR JOHN HIBBERT: The Grand Jury's Resolution asks for a free grant of £15,000, but my hon. Friend will remember that when the question of a loan for the improvement of the line was under discussion a year ago, the Treasury stated that such a question could not be entertained in the absence of new and satisfactory arrangements for the working of the line. These conditions not THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL having yet been fulfilled by the Grand GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. SHAW Jury, I fear that I am not in a position LEFEVRE, Bradford, Central): I have at present to consider the question of a received the petition referred to in the loan. A free grant is open to far more question, and I have communicated with serious difficulties, and I need not remind the East London Waterworks Company with regard to it. I am informed that the road in which the petitioners reside is now supplied with water, the repairs to the pipes having been completed on Thursday last.

MR. GROVE asked whether the right hon. Gentleman was aware that in various other localities of West Ham the same complaint was made, that for three months less one week the water supply had been cut off.

MR. SHAW LEFEVRE: I believe that was so; but I have no power to enforce proceedings.

HAWAIIAN REVOLUTION.

SIR T. ESMONDE (Kerry, W.): I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Queen Liliokuolani is kept a prisoner in a barracks at Honolulu; who is responsible for her safe keeping; and whether it would be possible to make representations to whatever body now constitutes the Government of Hawaii suggesting the advisability of allowing her to reside in her palace under a guard, if a guard be necessary under the circumstances?

SIR EDWARD GREY: We have

heard that the Queen has been sentenced to imprisonment, but the matter is not one in which Her Majesty's Government could interfere, nor are there any grounds upon which they could found a representation.

THE TRALEE AND DINGLE RAILWAY.

my hon. Friend that when the exceptional compassionate grant of £2,500 was made last year, it was made on the express condition that it represented the final concession of the Government.

SCOTCH PARISHES.

MR. T. R. BUCHANAN (Aberdeenshire, E.): I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been called to the refusal of the petitions from Savoch and other quoad sacra parishes (possessing School Boards) to be constituted parishes for Parish Council purposes; and whether he will give an assurance that full opportunity will be afforded before the next Parish Council

Election takes place for a renewal of such applications, and that, if necessary, legislation will be introduced to facilitate such applications?

THE SECRETARY FOR SCOTLAND (Sir GEORGE TREVELYAN, Glasgow, Bridgeton): I am aware that the applications from Savoch and other quoad sacra parishes have been refused, for what appear to me substantial reasons. No quoad sacra parish of the character and class of Savoch has been made a civil parish. If the applications are, under changed circumstances, renewed, they will, as a matter of course, have full consideration.

The existing law gives ample power to grant them if such a course is deemed expedient.

DISTRESS IN IRELAND.

SIR T. ESMONDE: I beg to ask the MR. J. F. X. O'BRIEN (Mayo, S.): Secretary to the Treasury if he is yet in I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the