curator Fiscal of the Eastern Division of discussion; and it was decided that no Fifeshire; and, if so, if he would please state the date of the appointment and the salary attached to the office; and, whether Mr. Renton's commission contains any provision restricting him from engaging directly or indirectly in private practice? THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. MACDONALD): Mr. Renton was appointed by the Sheriff Procurator Fiscal of Fifeshire. That appointment has not yet been confirmed. The salary is £600 a-year, and the Sheriff did not in his nomination debar Mr. Renton from private practice. DR. CAMERON gave Notice that if Mr. Renton's appointment was confirmed, he should call attention to the conditions when his salary came before the House in Committee. GLEBE LANDS (IRELAND)—PUR- MR. O'BRIEN asked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether, in view of the poorer distressed condition of the olasses of purchasers by right of pre-emption of glebe lands in Ireland, owing to the largeness of the purchase-price, fixed at a time of exceptional prosperity, and owing to the heavy depreciation of every description of stock and farm produce in recent years, arrangements can be made for their relief by enabling them to obtains loans from the State or from the Church Temporalities Commissioners of the fourth part of the purchase-money supplied by themselves (which was in most cases raised from money-lenders at exorbitant rates of interest), on the same reduced terms as to interest that they are now offered under the 23rd subsection of the Land Purchase Act, with respect to the three-fourths advanced by the Commissioners on mortgage; and, whether the benefit of the 23rd section can be extended to purchasers who held short terminable leases of their holdings, and upon whom the agricultural depression has told with equal severity? THE SECRETARY (Mr. JACKSON): In reply to the first paragraph of the Question, I have to say that the question how far the terms allowed to purchasers of church lands under the Act of 1869 could be modified was most carefully considered by the Government when the Purchase Act of last Session was under change in these terms could be justified, except that embodied in the 23rd section of the Act of 1885. The Government see no reason to modify this conclusion, and are not prepared to propose the legislation which would be required to carry out the hon. Member's present suggestion. With regard to the second paragraph, the 23rd section of the Act of 1885 extends to― "Any land which is held immediately from or under the Commissioners by virtue of any lease or tenancy," and this would seem to cover such cases as those now referred to. TRADE AND COMMERCE-BOUNTIES TO ITALIAN SHIPPING. MR. TOMLINSON asked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether Her Majesty's Government have any information with respect to an Act lately passed by the Parliament of Italy giving a bounty to Italian ships; and, whether they have any objection to lay on the Table a Copy of the Act with a translation? Yes, Sir; we have received a copy of the THE PRESIDENT (Mr. E. STANHOPE): Act recently passed in Italy giving bounFriend will move for it a translation ties to Italian shipping, and if my hon. of it shall be published. It may probably not be necessary to circulate the Italian version also. TARIFF AND CUSTOMS ACT, 1876- MR. KING asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether, in view of the fact that Section 179 of "The Tariff and Customs Act, 1876," by providing that— "Every person who shall be found to have been on board any ship or boat liable to forfeiture shall forfeit a sum not exceeding one hundred pounds, and may be taken before a justice to be dealt with,” by its terms exposes innocent persons to conviction, the Government will consent, at an early day, to repeal or revise that section? THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER, in reply, said, his attention had been called to that matter by the Question, and he certainly was of opinion that the law as it stood at present could not be defended. He would communi cate with the Commissioners of Customs | Dublin; but their unhealthiness is beon the subject, to see what amendment should be made in the law. TURKEY -- TREATMENT OF CHRISTIANS. MR. BRYCE asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the attention of Her Majesty's Government has been called to reports which have recently appeared in the newspapers, of acts of religious oppression practised by the Turkish authorities upon Christian subjects of the Sultan, in violation of the engagements repeatedly contracted by the Sultan's Government for the securing of religious liberty within his dominions; and, whether Her Majesty's Government will inquire into the facts; and, if satisfied of their existence, remonstrate with the Turkish Government upon the subject? THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. BOURKE): The rumours in question have not escaped the attention of Her Majesty's Government, and are at the present time the subject of inquiry by Her Majesty's Representative at Constantinople, in communication with the branch of the Evangelical Alliance in that city. I may mention that of the 16 persons who were stated by the Evangelical Alliance to have disappeared, and were supposed to have been imprisoned, some have now been discovered to be at large. When the facts have been thoroughly investigated, Her Majesty's Government will be ready to make representations to the Porte as to any departure by the Turkish officials from the principles of the Hatt-i-Houmayoun of which there may be sufficient evidence. ARMY-RICHMOND BARRACKS, DUBLIN. SIR JAMES FERGUSSON asked, Whether attention has been called to the insanitary state of Richmond Barracks, Dublin; and, whether any Special Reports have been made upon the drainage and other circumstances of the Barracks; and, in that case, whether any early steps will be taken to remedy the defects? THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, WAR DEPARTMENT (Mr. H. S. NORTHCOTE): The attention of the War Department has been drawn to the insanitary state of Richmond Barracks, The Chancellor of the Exchequer lieved to be attributable rather to the condition of the neighbourhood generally than to any special defects in the drainage or ventilation of the barracks themselves. It is under consideration whether any steps can be taken to improve the sanitary condition of Richmond Barracks. MR. JOHNSTON asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether he can communicate to the House the terms of the Treaty alleged to have been made between the Queen of Madagascar and the French Republic; and, if he is aware if freedom of worship for the native Christians is secured thereby? SIR CHARLES W. DILKE said, he had given Notice of a Question on this subject which the right hon. Gentleman might be able to answer now. THE UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. BOURKE): We are not in possession of the precise terms of the Treaty. Until the text of the French Treaty has been received, I am unable to state whether its provisions are inconsistent with the Treaty rights of Great Britain. As to the Consul, a new Consul has just been appointed, but has not left for Madagascar. Meanwhile, there is an Acting Consul at Tamatave, a paid Vice Consul at the capital, Antananarivo, and unpaid Vice Consuls at various points on the coast. CRIME AND OUTRAGE (IRELAND) — ALLEGED CRUELTY TO A "BOY- MR. STANLEY LEIGHTON asked, Whether it is true, as stated on the occasion of a deputation to Lord Salisbury, that a boycotted woman in Ireland was held down by her neighbours, while a dog gnawed her legs; and, if true, whether any persons have been arrested for the outrage? SIR WILLIAM HART DYKE: I will answer this Question, at the request of my right hon. Friend (Mr. W. H. Smith). The statement in question appears to be based upon the following evidence which was given by a "Boycotted" man named Donoghue, in a case of assault upon his wife and child by a neighbour named Mrs. Sullivan. The case occurred in the Mill Street district in County Cork I left "Heard Mrs. Sullivan call the names. my spade and came down. Saw my wife down, Mrs. Sullivan's son holding her, and she fisting her with a stone. Saw the dog tearing my wife's legs. The dog ran away. My wife lifeless against the ditch. Went to the police. Had to call in Dr. Leader. He has been attending my wife and son. She has not been able to walk since." Mrs. Donoghue swore that "the dog was set at her." The magistrates imposed a sentence of two months' imprisonment on Mrs. Sullivan for each assault. MR. HEALY: Might I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, as a matter of fact, this case, which was one of assault arising out of a dispute between two women, was not amicably settled out of Court and the sentence of two months' imprisonment withdrawn? SIR WILLIAM HART DYKE said, that he must ask the hon. and learned Member to give Notice of his Question. MR. HEALY gave Notice that he would repeat his Question on an early day. BURMAH-THE BRITISH AUTHORITIES SIR GEORGE CAMPBELL asked the Secretary of State for India, Whether, since the Annexation of Upper Burmah, the control of affairs is under the Chief Commissioner and the Military authorities are amenable to his orders in regard to the treatment of the Burmese; and, whether they exercise any uncontrolled power of life and death under any sort of Martial Law? MR. OSBORNE MORGAN asked, whether the prisoners stated to have been shot by order of the Provost Marshal at Mandalay were subjected to any form of trial; and, if so, how and for what offences, and under what law, if any, were they tried? THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Lord RANDOLPH CHURCHILL): I imagine that part of the Question of the right hon. and learned Gentleman is of a highly technical and legal nature, and as such he will hardly expect me to answer it without Notice. I can, however, give the House a good deal of information in answer to the Question which the hon. NAVY—SHIPBUILDING ON THE TYNE. Baronet (Sir George Campbell) has MR. BROADHURST asked the First placed upon the Paper, and, perhaps, Lord of the Admiralty, Whether his will also to some extent answer the attention has been called to the delay in Questions put to me the other day by the hon. Member for Glasgow (Dr. the building of the naval vessels now in the course of construction on the Tyne; tion on the Paper, the Viceroy informs Cameron). With regard to the Quesand, whether this delay is in consequence of an attempt, on the part of the firms me that the original instructions to intrusted with the work, to enforce a re-head of the Expedition, and therefore General Prendergast, who was at the duction of wages to a less rate than that which was paid at the time the estimates were made and the contracts entered into for the building of these vessels? THE FIRST LORD (Lord GEORGE HAMILTON): I am informed that there has been a difference between certain shipbuilders on the Tyne and some of the men whom they employ; but I do not know the exact cause of the dispute. The ships now building on the Tyne for the Admiralty are, so far as their construction is concerned, in advance of the Estimate made last year of their probable progress; and, in all probability, a Supplementary Vote will be required to provide funds for the payments the contractors can claim over the provision made in the Estimates of the present financial year. responsible for everything that was done while the military operations were going on, were to this effect-that he and Mr. Commissioner Bernard were to establish a Civil jurisdiction as soon as the Military authorities could pacify the disturbed districts. Mr. Bernard has tele graphed to the Viceroy "The present state of affairs with reference to the Civil and Military jurisdiction is as follows:-We have English Civil officers and police officers in command in each of the five districts of Mandalay, Minhla, Ningyan, Pagan, and Myingyan. These officers are supported by troops, and they are working through local Woons and Thagyis." Of course, in these districts obviously "The rest of the country is nominally dominated by the Burmese Supreme Council." I cannot pronounce the Native name for | Cries of "Oh, oh!" from the Home that body. Rulers and cries of "Order!"-I am Bhamo, giving the House the best information I can - we have "At several points, however Tagaing, Slwebo, Ava, Upper Chindwin, Lower Chindwin, and Myodaung military detachments stationed, with Civil officers in attendance. At present the country is still under military occupation." Mr. Bernard goes on to say that— "The rebels taken in arms on the field are liable to be shot; no one is to be shot or punished by Civil officers otherwise than after trial. In districts nominally under the Burmese Supreme Council sentences of death cannot be carried out by Native officials otherwise than on the responsibility of, and after trial by, the Civil officers who may be nearest the ground. The prisoners punished under martial law by the Provost Marshal or any of the officers do not come under the Civil officer's cognizance while the country is under military occupation. My hope is that in a few weeks' time I may be in a position to post Civil officers, only backed by troops, in the remaining districts of the country." That is all the information I have in my possession with reference to the Question of the hon. Baronet on the Paper. With regard to the Questions asked me on Friday, I am sorry to say that the information in my possession is far from satisfactory. The Viceroy telegraphs to me that it is clear that the Provost Marshal has proceeded in a most unjustifiable manner; at any rate, in one case. That alludes to the case where evidence was sought to be extorted by placing a prisoner apparently under the fire of soldiers. The Viceroy says he has telegraphed to General Prendergast directing that if a prima facie case is made out against the Provost Marshal on either of the counts mentioned, he and other officers implicated are to be suspended from their functions, and, if proved to be guilty, to be visited with the severest penalty. Mr. Bernard telegraphs from Rangoon to the Viceroy that he is still investigating or asking for information at Mandalay as to the allegations with regard to the Provost Marshal photographing prisoners under execution. With regard to the second point, Mr. Bernard says "It is true that the Provost Marshal did place a man suspected of treasonable correspondence in fear of instant death, in order to induce him to give information which would have criminated two members of the Burmese Durbar. On hearing of this, I pointed out to the Provost Marshal that evidence extorted was law". valueless, and that it was contrary to all Lord Randolph Churchill The result of the Viceroy's telegrams would undoubtedly be that the Provost Marshal will be suspended, and the closest and most rigorous investigation will be made into the officer's conduct; and if it should turn out that he had so disgraced the Queen's Army, I make no doubt whatsoever that, in the Viceroy's words, "the most exemplary punishment will be meted out to him." SIR GEORGE CAMPBELL asked, whether Burmese resisting the conquest of their country were to be treated as rebels-to be treated as rebels taken in arms; and, further, whether, in case of such a jurisdiction being exercised by the Military authorities, the noble Lord would direct some record of these trials to be kept, so that so-called rebels should not be shot without any record? LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILL: I imagine that when King Theebaw and the Burmese Army surrendered it was held by the Military authorities that regular military resistance had come to an end. The Military authorities are occupied now in putting down what is called dacoity, which is another word for brigandage. The dacoits are bands of armed men, who did not attack the British troops, but who attacked the Burmese villagers, burnt their houses, and plundered the towns. As long as the country was in military occupation the dacoits would be tried by Martial Law if taken in the field and redhanded; but in districts where the English Civil officer has troops under his command, then I imagine dacoity will be put down by the Civil officer's Court, according to the form of the English law. Records will, of course, be kept of all proceedings of this kind. SIR GEORGE CAMPBELL: I beg to give Notice that I shall take the earliest opportunity of calling attention to this very important question. MR. O'KELLY asked, whether orders had been given to stop the shooting of prisoners taken in arms in Burmah? MR. CONYBEARE: The noble Lord, in his first answer, spoke of "rebels,' and in his second answer he spoke of "Certain pretender had razed villages and committed other crimes. He was captured by Burmese officers, and sent to Mandalay for trial. The pretender admitted the truth of the charges, but said he was not aiming at the Throne of Mandalay, but at the Throne of one of the Shan States. The trial was conducted by the Burmese Supreme Court, and the prisoner was sentenced to death; but the British authorities had pointed out that if execution were to take place they must have evidence themselves, as they could not execute on the strength of the decision of the Burmese Supreme Court." It was further pointed out that if the facts of the charges were proved, the life of the pretender would be forfeited. Colonel Sladen had agreed to conduct further inquiry personally. I have not heard the result; but I will make further inquiry. DR. CAMERON asked, would the noble Lord consider the propriety of laying Papers on the Table on the subject? LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILL: I will lay all the information possible on the Table, and as quickly as possible. INDIA-THE UNCOVENANTED CIVIL SERVICE. MR. SERJEANT SIMON asked the Secretary of State for India, Whether any steps have been taken to remedy the grievances of the uncovenanted Civil Servants of India, as set forth in the Memorial presented by them to the Indian Government two years ago? THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Lord RANDOLPH CHURCHILL), in reply, said, he had not seen any Memorial from the Indian police, who, he understood, were the Civil Servants alluded to. If those officers had grievances, they would be included in the Indian Committee, which he wished very much to see appointed. SALE OF INTOXICATING LIQUORS LEGISLATION. THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER: Sir, any proposals which Her Majesty's Government have to make for the purpose of dealing with the sale of intoxicating liquors and the licensing system will be, so far as I know, embodied in the County Government Bill. I do not think I can give any further answer than that. SEED SUPPLY (IRELAND) ACT— FOURTH INSTALMENT OF RATE POSTPONEMENT OF PAYMENT. COLONEL NOLAN asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If, in consideration of the difficulties caused by the agricultural depression, he would permit such unions as might apply for more time to defer the payment of the fourth and last instalment of the Seed Rate for another twelve months? SIR WILLIAM HART DYKE (who replied) said, this was more a Question for the Treasury than for the Chief Secretary. He would ask the hon. and gallant Gentleman to postpone it for a few days. INDUSTRIES AND SALMON FISHERIES (IRELAND) -THE SELECT COMMIT. TEES-RE-APPOINTMENT. MR. SEXTON asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, with regard to the recommendation made by the Select Committees on Irish Industries and Irish Salmon Fisheries at the close of the last Parliament, Whether the Government intend to move for the appointment of Select Committees to carry on and conclude the inquiries in question? THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER, in reply, said, the Government would be prepared to assent to a Motion for the re-appointment of these Committees. ENGLAND AND GREECE-COLLECTIVE NOTE OF THE EUROPEAN POWERS. MR. CHAMBERLAIN: I wish to put to the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs a Question of which I have not been able to give him Notice, but which I hope he will be able to an MR. T. WATSON asked Mr. Chan-swer. It is, Whether the telegrams cellor of the Exchequer, When the Go- which appear in this morning's papers vernment intend to introduce their mea- to the effect that a communication has sures dealing with the Sale of Intoxicat- been addressed by Sir Horace Rumbold, ing Liquors and the Licensing system? our Minister at Athens, to the Greek |