came there Liberals, and he was a Liberal of thirty years standing, and he was just as staunch now. They came there to make the confession that they had not kept their public men up to the mark, to confess that some of their leading men had been making a Dutch auction' of infamy of this Irish Question;" whether, considering that his honour Judge Thomas Hughes is a Judge of County Courts, the Government have taken his speech into consideration; and, whether the attention of the Lord Chancellor has been drawn to it? THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Mr. CHARLES RUSSELL): Sir, I have received a letter from Mr. Hughes, in which he states that the meeting in question was not a political meeting in the ordinary sense of those wordsthat is, it was not a political meeting of one Party in politics, but that there were a number of gentlemen present belonging to the two great political Parties. I have brought the matter under the notice of the Lord Chancellor, and also the statement of the County Court Judge, and he does not feel called upon to take any further notice of the matter. for statutory sanction, a proposal for certain increased allowances being paid to the light keepers in their service. That proposal is under the consideration of the Board of Trade, and the Commissioners have been asked for further details and information, which have not yet come to hand. AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND— THE PARCEL POST. MR. SPENSLEY asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Whether it tend the facilities of the Parcels Post is contemplated, at an early date, to ex to Australia and New Zealand? THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. H. H. FOWLER), in reply, said, the matter was under consideration, the Postmaster General having already been in communication with the authorities in Australia and New Zealand. It was hoped an answer would shortly be received, as definite proposals had been made to the Colonial Govern ments. FORCE AT MULLINGAR. MR. T. P. O'CONNOR asked, was not ROYAL IRISH CONSTABULARY—THE the meeting of the so-called Irish Loyal and Patriotic League called for the purpose of resisting such changes in the relations between England and Ireland as had been over and over again foreshadowed by the Prime Minister? MR. CHARLES RUSSELL: I am not able to answer that Question, as I have no information; but I believe it is a fact that the meeting was presided over by a noble Duke, who is, or was, a Member of the Liberal Party. COMMISSIONERS OF IRISH LIGHTS LIGHTHOUSE KEEPERS. MR. DONALD SULLIVAN asked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether, in July last, the lighthouse keepers on the Irish Coast sent in to the Commissioners of Irish Lights a petition praying to be placed on the same scale as regards pay as the keepers on the Scotch and English Coasts; whether a reply has since been returned to the petition; if not, on what ground; and, when the Commissioners will be able to make up their minds on the question, and announce the result? THE PRESIDENT (Mr. MUNDELLA): The Commissioners of Irish Lights last month forwarded to the Board of Trade, Mr. Johns MR. TUITE asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether there is at present in the town of Mullingar a force of about forty constabulary occupying two separate barracks, and if this force, in proportion to the population of the town, 4787, together with the peacefulness of the locality, is far in excess of what is necessary for the maintenance of order; whether, in consideration of the absence of serious crime generally throughout the entire county of Westmeath, the extra constabulary force will now be withdrawn from the county, and the second barracks at Mullingar, which was established within the past five years, abolished; and, whether it is true that the said force at Mullingar is frequently employed by the county inspector and other constabulary officers at Mullingar at other duties than those connected with the constabulary service? THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. JOHN MORLEY): The police force at Mullingar consists of 29 men, and it is not considered too large for the requirements of the place. They are temporarily located in two buildings for sanitary CRIME AND OUTRAGE (IRELAND)— RIOT AT ARMAGH. reasons; but it is in contemplation to the property of Nicholas Darcy, of build a new permanent barrack. The Churchtown, Newcastle West, county extra force of the county at present Limerick, was burned on the 1st of numbers 36. The question of reducing October last, and if it is true that the it is periodically considered, and 50 men property of Darcy was under police have been struck off since August, 1884. protection at the time; whether a claim It is not considered possible to make a for compensation for the loss of his profurther reduction now. I am assured perty, amounting to £540, was made by that there are no grounds to suppose Darcy to the presentment sessions held that the men in Mullingar are impro- at Newcastle West on the 31st of Deperly employed. cember last, and if the application was rejected in consequence of the sworn testimony of a man employed by Darcy, named John Connors, to the effect that he had set fire to the hay, at the instigation of Rose Darcy, which evidence was corroborated by another witness named Jeremiah McCarthy, also in the employment of Darcy at the time of the burning; whether Connors was subsequently arrested and charged with arson at a special court held in Newcastle West on the 4th of January last, before Colonel Persse, R.M., when McCarthy swore to having seen Rose Darcy supply Connors with oil and matches, and that he then set fire to the hay; whether Colonel Persse adjourned the court to the 11th of January, for the purpose of examining Rose Darcy as a witness, notwithstanding a strong protest made by Connors' solicitor that Rose Darcy was equally amenable, and if it is true that, on the assembling of the said court on the 11th of January, the prisoner Connors was not produced for trial, though Colonel Persse and Rose Darcy were in attendance; if it is also true that, later on the same day, Colonel Persse attended at the county gaol, Limerick, and addressed the prisoner Connors in the following MR. ALEXANDER BLAINE asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether, at the foot of Scotch Street, Armagh, on the night of 2nd February 1886, Mr. Hamilton, R.M., permitted a "loyal minority" mob to collect with threats and menaces within four paces of the Royal Irish Constabulary under his command without any attempt at their dispersal; and, whether, in consequence of his neglect of duty, the formation of the Constabulary was broken up by the mob assaulting them with violence, knocking some of them down and kicking their helmets, breaking the teeth of others, &c.; and, if so, whether the Government will cause the removal from office of Mr. Hamilton, R.M., and District Inspector Bailey? THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. JOHN MORLEY): It appears that a disturbance took place in Armagh on the night of the 2nd instant, consequent on the election excitement; 22 persons have been made amenable, and will appear before a Special Court of Petty Sessions to-morrow. Elaborate precautions were taken to prevent a conflict between the opposing parties, and this was happily effected. Mr. Hamilton, R.M., was not present when the disturbance arose, and the District Inspector was on duty in another part of the city, but arrived on the scene in time to take part in dispersing the crowd. CRIME AND OUTRAGE (IRELAND)- COMPENSATION. MR. WILLIAM ABRAHAM (Limerick, West): I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether a quantity of hay, terms, viz. : "By some accident you were not forthcoming at Newcastle West to-day, where I went to dispose of your case. On your own admission you have committed a very grave offence, but your admission is contradictory, and you have stated one thing at one time and another at another. Your evidence is therefore more or less worthless. The other who states to having seen you commit that crime I also look upon as another worthless witness. I look upon you both as tools in a conspiracy formed against Darcy; a conspiracy first to destroy his property, afterwards to deprive him of compensation, and, thirdly, to damage his character. I discharge you now for this offence of arson, because, as I said before, there is not sufficient evidence, yours and McCarthy's being worthless; and I only hope that the authorities will see their way to prosecute you for perjury, of which doubtless you have been guilty, and I only hope you will be brought to justice for it; " and, whether he will state the reason why Connors was not produced for trial, and if the course pursued in the whole of this matter by Colonel Persse, R.M., meets with the approval of the Government; and if steps will now be taken to bring the persons implicated in the crime of arson to trial, or otherwise to proceed against Connors and McCarthy for wilful and corrupt perjury, of which crime they have been already pronounced guilty by Colonel Persse, R.M.? THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. JOHN MORLEY): I am informed that the claim of Mr. Darcy for compensation for the burning of his hay is about being brought before the Grand Jury at the Limerick Assizes; and, pending the investigation that may then take place, I think it would be more convenient that I should abstain from entering into the matters involved in this Question. ARMY (DISCHARGED AND INVALIDED MEN)-CASE OF MICHAEL HERON, 1ST ROYAL IRISH. MR. JOHN REDMOND asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether Michael Heron, late of 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment, who was invalided and sent home from Afghanistan in 1880 in consequence of an injury received during active military service there, has been discharged as unfit for further service; whether all permanent pension has been refused to him; and, whether his case will now be reconsidered? THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN): The man referred to was discharged with a temporary pension, and on its expiry a permanent pension was refused him. The grant of pensions is made by the Commissioners of Chelsea Hospital, who acindependently of the Secretary of Statet and in my experience conduct their SOUTH AFRICA-SALE OF SPIRITS IN business with great care and regard to BECHUANALAND. SIR ROBERT FOWLER asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether it is true that canteens for the sale.of spirits have been opened in Bechuanaland with the sanction of the authorities? THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. OSBORNE MORGAN): The sale of spirits in Bechuanaland is regulated by the laws and regulations of the Government of that country, issued last year, which permit licensed dealers to sell liquors to Whites at fixed places, but prohibit under heavy penalties the sale of wines and spirituous liquors to Natives. They, however, permit the sale of Caffre beer, beer, or gingerbeer, or like liquor to Natives. A clergyman, the Rev. John Brown, has lately objected to the sale of gingerbeer, as well as other beer; but Sir Hercules Robinson has replied that he allowed such sale under the advice of persons who had had practical experience of the working of prohibitory legislation, and as a mode of averting greater evils. He adds, however, that the practical working of the regulation in question will be carefully watched by Mr. Shippard, the Administrator of the country, as well as by the officers under him; and should further experience prove that modifications are required they will be adopted. Mr. William Abraham the interests of the soldier. I propose, however, to refer the case to them for reconsideration. INLAND REVENUE-CASES OF SMUG GLING IN SCOTCH DEER FORESTS MR. MACDONALD CAMERON asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether he will furnish a Return of the number of smuggling detections made in deer forests since 1879; whether Excise officers in the execution of their duty have a right of entry, of search, and of way over deer forests; and, if not, have they hitherto been exceeding their duty; and, have there been cases of tenants of grouse moors, sheep farmers, and crofters deforcing Excise officers with impunity? THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir WILLIAM HARCOURT), in reply, said, that it was impossible to give an answer quite accurate to the first part of the Question; but he believed the number to be about 14 or 15. Customs officers had the right of search in deer forests when they were armed with civil warrants, but not otherwise, for the detection of smuggling. There had been no case of tenants of grouse moors, sheep farmers, and crofters deforcing Excise officers with impunity. MR. MACDONALD CAMERON asked whether the Excise officers, when they made the 15 detections to which low are in great distress for want of the right hon. Gentleman alluded, had employment; whether he is aware that such warrants? in 1796 a benevolent lady, Miss Eaton, SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT: I pre-left by will a sum of money for estabsume so, otherwise their action would have been illegal. CHARITY COMMISSIONERS - SCHEME FOR CHRIST'S HOSPITAL. MR. SPENSLEY asked the Vice President of the Privy Council, When the revised scheme of the Charity Commissioners for the administration of Christ's Hospital is likely to be laid upon the Table of the House? THE VICE PRESIDENT (Sir LYON PLAYFAIR): The scheme for Christ's Hospital has not yet been submitted to the Education Department. It is still under the consideration of the Charity Commissioners. MOROCCO-STATE OF THE PRISONS. MR. W. J. CORBET asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If he has seen the statements in The Globe of the 25th, 26th, and 27th January, relative to the shocking state of the prisons in Morocco, and the cruelties inflicted on the prisoners; and, whether he will inquire into the allegations, and, if they turn out to be well founded, whether he will cause representations to be made with a view to mitigating the sufferings of the unfortunate prisoners? OF SECRETARY THE UNDER STATE (Mr. BRYCE): The statements referred to by the hon. Member have been already forwarded to Her Majesty's Minister in Morocco for inquiry and report. Her Majesty's Government have not received any very recent Reports respecting the state of the prisons in Morocco; but in March of last year Her Majesty's Minister at Tangier addressed a strong representation to the Moorish Government on the subject, and at his suggestion the Representatives of France, Germany, and Italy took a similar step. The Sultan, in consequence of these representations, issued an Edict directing reform. It is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to continue to press the matter on the attention of the Moorish Government. lishing a woollen factory in the place, which money is still locked up in the Court of Chancery; and, whether any steps can be taken to apply it for the manner intended by the testatrix? relief of the existing distress in the THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. JOHN MORLEY): No report has been made to Government as to the existence of distress among the labouring classes in the town of Wicklow. The sum of money to which my hon. Friend refers was left to a family in Cheshire named Gardiner, the testatrix bequeathing the residue of her estate for the establishment of a woollen factory in Wicklow. The particular sum cannot become residue until the rights of the claimants, of whom there are 36, have been disposed of; and the late Attorney General gave directions for the institution of a Chancery suit with that object. I believe there is also a further legal difficulty as to whether the gift for a woollen manufactory can be regarded as a charitable gift in any circumstances. EVICTIONS (IRELAND)—CO. MAYO. tary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, MR. DEASY asked the Chief Secre If he will state the number of eviction notices in the Sheriff's hands in the Western Division of the county of Mayo? THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. JOHN MORLEY): I am informed that the number of eviction notices in the hands of the Sheriff for West Mayo is nine. DISTRESS (IRELAND)—WESTERN ISLANDS. MR. DEASY asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, What course the Government intend to pursue in order to alleviate the distress and save the people from starvation in the islands off the coast of Mayo? THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. JOHN MORLEY): My attention was drawn to the state of affairs in some of the islands off the West Coast of Ireland, immediately on my assumption of Office, and IRELAND-DISTRESS IN WICKLOW. I have since given the subject a good MR. W. J. CORBET asked the Chief deal of consideration. It is unfortunately Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of true that much distress prevails, and the Ireland, Whether he is aware that the situation needs to be carefully watched; labouring classes in the town of Wick-but we have come to the conclusion that VOL. CCCII. [THIRD SERIES.] 2 L the state of affairs does not indicate any | Whether it is the case that only one present necessity for the Government to English contractor is employed by the supplement the provisions of the law for War Office for the manufacture of the relief of the poor. We shall, of swords; what sum was paid to him for course, at the same time further, by every the manufacture of the 1884 pattern means in our power, any voluntary effort swords which have already been withthat may be made to ameliorate the con- drawn as unserviceable; and, whether dition of these islanders. this contractor was himself a member of the War Office Committee which designed this sword of unserviceable pattern? He would ask, also, the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether, as the Secretary of State for War has made considerable purchases of swords in Germany, he will direct the Commercial Attaché to the British Embassies and Legations in Europe to make a full report on the manufacture of such purchases, especially with regard to quality, cost of material, and cost of FISHERY PIERS AND HARBOURS (IRE- MR. PETER M'DONALD asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If he has received any reports or applications in reference to the necessity of the erection of a fishery pier at Knocklow Head, Grange, county Sligo; and, if not, whether he will cause inquiry to be made in the matter, and order a report thereon? THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. JOHN MORLEY) The hon. Member has sent me a Memorial on this subject, which I shall refer to the Fishery Piers and Harbours Commission. I think it right to say, however, that the Commissioners were recently obliged to decline to entertain a similar application from the same locality, owing to want of funds. COMMITTEE ON INDIAN ADMINISTRA TION-GUARANTEED CAPITAL OF RAILWAYS. MR. LIONEL COHEN asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether the system under which money is raised in this Country under the guarantee of the Secretary of State for India in Council, for the service of Indian Railways, will be one of the questions submitted to the proposed Committee on Indian Administration? THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir UGHTRED KAY-SHUTTLEWORTH): Due notice will be given of the terms of the Reference to the Committee, and it would be premature to give answers upon particular points such as those raised in the Question; but I may remind the hon. Member that there was a full and elaborate inquiry and Report of a Committee of this House upon Indian Railways in the Session before last. ARMY (ORDNANCE DEPARTMENT)— MANUFACTURE OF SWORDS. COLONEL SALIS-SCHWABE asked the Surveyor General of the Ordnance, Mr. John Morley labour? THE SURVEYOR GENERAL (Mr. WOODALL): It is the case that only one English contractor has been employed to manufacture swords; but practically there is only one firm in England which was at the time in a position to execute very large orders. The unserviceable pattern referred to was that of 1883, not 1884; and the sum paid to the contractor for swords of that pattern was £2,682 18. The sword in question was not designed by a Committee. It was submitted by the Military Authorities, and, before being adopted, was extensively tried by several Cavalry regiments. Perhaps the hon. and gallant Member will allow me to reply to the next Question which stands in his name. practice of the War Department has been, in cases where orders for small arms or swords have been entrusted to manufacturers at home or abroad, to have the works inspected by the Superintendent of our Royal Small Arms Factory. In the instance referred to, we have been satisfied with the general conditions under which the contract is being executed, and with the quality produced. Under these circumstances, it does not appear necessary to ask the assistance of the Foreign Office Attachés. IRELAND-DISTRESS IN ACHILL ISLAND. The MR.T.M. HEALY asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Whether, in view of the famine in the Island of Achill, the Government propose to remove the technical obstacle to the loan |