land, Whether it is a fact that the workhouse having been complained of people of Broadford, county Limerick, are badly in want of fresh water; whether it is a fact that the inhabitants of that place have frequently written to the Local Government Board on the subject; and, if he will order steps to be taken at once to remedy this great want? MR. TREVELYAN: The only complaint made on this matter to the Local Government Board had reference to the repair of a pump, which was a subject of dispute between the Board of Guardians and the inhabitants of Broadford. The Board of Guardians gave way, and placed the matter unreservedly in the hands of the Guardian from the electoral division in which Broadford is situated, telling him to get the work done to the satisfaction of the residents in the place. This occurred early in last November, and no complaint has since reached the Local Government Board; but they will make inquiry as to what was done. MR. O'SULLIVAN remarked that the pump was being constructed for the past five years, and it was not yet finished. POOR LAW (IRELAND) BELFAST WORKHOUSE-ERECTION OF NEW DWELLING HOUSE FOR MASTER. MR. BIGGAR asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If his attention has been called to the proposal of the Belfast Guardians of the 29th ultimo, to erect a new detached dwelling house for the present workhouse master, at a cost of £600 or £700; if it be true that the master was only appointed about two years ago, and since this time upwards of £200 have been expended in general improvements to, and furniture for, his apartments, in addition to the furniture previously purchased for them; is it true that this expenditure was incurred in order to accommodate the master's wife and family, who are maintained out of the rates; are these apartments the same as those occupied by all previous masters; and, will he undertake to have this proposal of the guardians set aside on the ground that the expenditure is unnecessary? MR. TREVELYAN: Inquiry on this subject has been made; but as the Question only appeared on the Paper yesterday, a full reply has not yet been received. I am able to state, however, that the apartments of the master of the as unhealthy, and having been, after examination by a special committee of the Guardians, condemned as unfit to live in, it has been proposed to erect a suitable dwelling at a cost not to exceed £400. The proposals of the Guardians will receive the careful consideration of the Local Government Board before a decision is come to. PARLIAMENT PUBLIC BUSINESS BALLOT ACT CONTINUANCE AND MR. NEWDEGATE asked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether, inasmuch as the several provisions of the Parliamentary Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Practices) Bill are dependent on the passing and provisions of the Ballot Bill, when he proposes to proceed with the Ballot Bill? SIR CHARLES W. DILKE: I am anxious to make progress with the Bill, as are the Government as a whole. It is not our fault that so little progress has been made up to the present. I will bring it on as early as possible. MR. NEWDEGATE: May I ask the right hon. Gentleman, further, whether he will give any assurance to the House that further proceedings on the Ballot Bill will take place before the completion of the Committee stage of the Parliamentary Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Practices) Bill? SIR CHARLES W. DILKE: I hope so; but I cannot give any assurance. It does not depend on the Government really. INDIA-CRIMINAL CODE PROCEDURE AMENDMENT BILL-REPORT OF DEBATE. SIR HERBERT MAXWELL asked the Under Secretary of State for India, When the two Reports, complete and incomplete, of the Debate in the Indian Legislative Council upon Mr. Ilbert's Native Jurisdiction Bill will be laid upon the Table of the House, in accordance with his undertaking made on the 28th May? MR. J. K. CROSS: The telegraphic summary of the debate on the Jurisdiction Bill will be presented to-day and distributed with the full report of the debate which was laid on the Table on the 28th of May, and is now being printed. MR. E. STANHOPE: Will the hon. | and the Principal Commissariat Officer Gentleman ask the Indian Government of the Army were informed of so much that Reports from the Local Govern- of the General's plan as was necessary ments to Lord Ripon shall be sent home to enable them to arrange for the without any delay? My object, of course, efficiency of their respective departis that they may be printed before the ments under the altered conditions; and, if so, at what date was the seizure of Ismailia as a base sanctioned by the War Office, and at what date were these officers respectively informed of the intention to seize it? end of the Session. MR. J. K. CROSS: We have already asked that they may be sent on as early as possible. SIR HERBERT MAXWELL: Is there any precedent for a debate in the Legislative Council being reported and telegraphed at the expense of the Government, except in the case of the Budget debates, which are not controversial? MR. J. K. CROSS: I cannot answer that Question without Notice. EGYPT (EXPEDITIONARY FORCE)— THE ARMY MEDICAL DEPARTMENT. DR. CAMERON asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether the hospital at Troodos, in Cyprus, having been given up with the consent of the Principal Medical Officer of the British Army in Egypt on or before 24th August, and Sir Garnet Wolseley having on 30th August stopped the "Carthage" with 196 sick on board for Cyprus, the Principal Medical Officer, after communication with Cyprus on 3rd September, wrote to the Chief of the Staff that it seemed a great pity to disturb the hospital arrangements made elsewhere than at Troodos, in Cyprus; whether, on 4th September, he received from the Chief of the Staff the reply, "Sick can be sent to Cyprus;" whether, on 9th September, 72 sick were sent to Cyprus; whether, on 14th September, 300 more were ordered to sail for Cyprus; whether he had, before 24th August, ordered that Cyprus should not be used as a hospital until October; whether the Principal Medical Officer stated before Lord Morley's Commission that, up to the 19th of January, he had never heard of this decision; if he would state whose duty it was to inform the Principal Medical Officer of the decision of the Secretary of State; and, whether the Director General of the Medical Department at home was ever informed of it? The hon. Member also asked, Whether, when Ismailia was seized and the plan of campaign developed in Egypt, the Principal Medical Officer THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON: I must ask the hon. Member to bear in mind that the Army in Egypt was commanded by the General Officer on the spot, and not by the Secretary of State at home. Nearly all the points in this long Question relate to local details in connection with the conduct of the Campaign in Egypt. I have no information on these points beyond that contained in the Evidence given before Lord Morley's Committee, which is before the House. With regard to the last part of the hon. Member's Question, I will read the Minute of Sir John Adye, the Chief of the Staff, approved by the Secretary of State, which contains the only thing in the nature of an order given on the subject by the War Office prior to the despatch of the Expedition. As I have before stated, any subsequent orders varying this decision would be given by the Commander-in-Chief of the Expedition. The Minute is as follows: "I have seen the Director General of the Army Medical Department and the Principal Medical Officer of the Force. They concur that, looking at the season of the year, and that the weather will be cool towards the end of September, Troodos may be given up, and a of disembarkation. hospital established at Polymedia, near the place "(Signed) JOHN ADYE, August 3, 1882." This answer applies also to the hon. Member's last Question. The determi nation of the base of operations in Egypt was wholly a matter for the determination of the General commanding the Force; and it was for that officer, acting through the Chief of the Staff, to convey to the Heads of Departments under him such instructions as he might think necessary and desirable. DR. CAMERON said, that on Lord Wolseley's Annuity Bill he should oppose any grant unless full explanation were offered regarding the arrangements made at head-quarters affecting the Medical Department. At present un merited blame seemed to be thrown upon | of trade. Under other circumstances, that Department. SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFF asked whether the hospital at Cyprus was given up on the motion of Sir Garnet Wolseley, or by instructions from the Secretary of State? THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON said, he could not go much into detail; but the hospital at Cyprus was not given up until the battle of Tel-el-Kebir, when the Campaign was virtually at an end, and the hospital at Cyprus would not be required. LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILL asked, if it was the case that, owing to the fact of the military authorities at home, in conjunction with Sir Garnet Wolseley, having decided that the base hospital should be at Cyprus, there was no base hospital at Ismailia when the troops were landed? SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFF also asked, whether it was decided to give up the hospital at Cyprus on the 3rd August; and whether troops were embarked on the 30th August for Cyprus, and then stopped by Sir Garnet Wolseley? THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON said, no final determination with reference to a general hospital was arrived at until after the battle of Tel-el-Kebir. The decision come to on the 3rd of August was that an hospital at Troodos would not be necessary. ARMY-PURCHASE OF SUPPLIES. DR. CAMERON asked the Surveyor General of Ordnance, Whether it is true that, while supplies purchased for the Army in London for special occasions, such as the Egyptian Campaign, are purchased and dealt with by civilian brokers, similar articles are purchased and passed at home and abroad, and under all other circumstances, by the Commissariat; and, whether the Director of Supplies, officially responsible for the purchase of the flour sent to Egypt, or the Commissary General, were consulted as to the recommendation of Messrs. Bovill that American flour should alone be sent out, or as to the mode in which it was to be shipped? MR. BRAND: Supplies purchased in London are obtained under the system in force in the London market. This system gives us the advantage of highly trained experts in the various branches speaking generally, garrisons at home. and abroad are supplied under periodical contracts. As a rule, these supplies are delivered direct to, and are inspected and passed by, the troops. But the contractor can appeal against a rejection to a Special Board, of which the Commissariat Officer, when available, is appointed a member. The officer acting as Director of Supplies dealt with the question of the purchase of flour for Egypt. It was never intended to depend solely on American flour. Local supplies were to be secured, and the shipment in question was only made to meet immediate wants on landing. LAND IMPROVEMENT AND ARTERIAL DRAINAGE (IRELAND) BILL, 1883“COPYHOLD LAND." MR. MARUM asked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether the expression "copyhold land," in Clause 68 of the Land Improvement and Arterial Drainage (Ireland) Bill, 1883, is intended to apply to and include land subject to statutory terms; and, if not, whether he will provide that such statutory land tenures in Ireland of a quasi perpetual character, subject to fair rental conditions, may be brought within the meaning of such definition Clause? MR. COURTNEY: My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this Question. If I understand the hon. Member aright, he desires to know whether occupiers at judicial rents can be brought within the definition of owner for the purposes of the formation of a drainage district and a Drainage Board. This is a very important question, and was carefully considered when the Bill was in preparation; but I came to the conclusion, having regard to the fact that the Bill is mainly a Consolidation Bill, that it would be impossible to introduce this new proposal in it without making hopeless what is already sufficiently precarious-the chance of passing the Bill. I may point out that such tenants can, under Section 31 of the Land Act, obtain loans for the draining and improving of their separate holdings. MR. MARUM asked what was meant by the expression "copyhold land ? " He was not aware that there was any such land in Ireland. MR. COURTNEY said, the expression | Members understood that the Bill would intended to apply to copyhold land. If be gone on with on Monday, and through none existed in Ireland, it would not next week; and, whether he did not conapply. sider it would cause inconvenience if that arrangement was altered? THE MAGISTRACY (IRELAND)—SPECIAL RESIDENT MAGISTRATES. MR. GLADSTONE, in reply, said, that at the time his right hon. Friend MR. DAWSON asked the Chief Se-made the answer, the Government were cretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether the Irish Government mean to dispense with the services of the special resident magistrates in Ireland, and also of the temporary resident magistrates; and, if so, when; and, whether the statement that they intend to continue some of them as special provincial or county magistrates has any foundation? MR. TREVELYAN: Sir, I am sorry to say that, by some oversight, I did not notice this Question on the Paper; but I have answered on a previous occasion that the Government were anxious to introduce a change into the present system of local police and criminal administration in Ireland, and that, later on in the Session, they intend to introduce a Bill for the purpose. When that Bill is introduced I shall be prepared to answer Questions with regard to the personal arrangements made and the gentlemen employed. The Special Resident Magistrates are only temporarily employed; and in the position in which. they now are I do not conceive that Questions regarding them need be asked until the change is proposed. But if the hon. Member has any special Question to ask which I would be justified in answering, I shall be glad to answer it. PARLIAMENT BUSINESS OF THE MINISTERIAL STATEMENT. not certainly aware that they would have the Parliamentary Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Practices) Bill in a condition to go into Committee last night or today; and he agreed with the observations of the hon. and gallant Gentleman (Sir Walter B. Barttelot) that it was better for the interest of both subjects not to mix the Committees upon Bills of this character. There was no difference whatever in the intention of the Government to proceed with these two Bills; but, on the whole, having already gone into Committee on the Parliamentary Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Practices) Bill, they thought it would be for the convenience of the House that they should persevere with the Committee on the Bill first, and that was the intention they had formed. Some of the circumstances of the debate last night certainly tended to impress them that it was well there should be no appearance of hesitation on the part of the Government with respect to this Bill. SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTE asked whether the Government were or were not going to accept the suggestion of his right hon. Friend (Sir Michael Hicks-Beach), that it was desirable to incorporate in the Agricultural Holdings Bill the clauses from the Agricultural Holdings Act of 1875, in order to avoid reference to two Acts? As there was now time given before proceeding with the Committee stage on this Bill he thought it would be desirable to take the course suggested and re-commit the Bill. MR. HENEAGE asked the Prime Minister, When he answered a Question last night by the hon. and gallant Ba- MR. GLADSTONE said, he did not ronet the Member for West Sussex (Sir think it would be desirable to take a Walter B. Barttelot), whether he was course that should mix a re-discussion of aware that, in replying to the right hon. all the old clauses with the discussion on Baronet (Sir Michael Hicks-Beach), the the new clauses. The whole argument Chancellor of the Duchy the other night for introducing the old clauses was for stated that he would not like to re-com- convenience of reference. What they mit the Agricultural Holdings Bill, be- should take into consideration was whecause he desired to go on with it next ther they should not take the Bill through Monday, and to re-commit it, in order Committee as it was, and subsequently to incorporate procedure clauses, would to re-commit it for the purpose of introcause delay; whether he was aware that, ducing the old clauses. He did not obin consequence of that answer, hon.ject to the proposal in principle; but MR. GLADSTONE said, he was sorry his hon. Friend should indulge in such gloomy anticipations. The Government entertained considerable confidence that both Bills might be disposed of within a time when it might be for the convenience of most Members of the House to attend. they should have an opportunity of con- I take received by another Lachlan Macsidering during the next few days what kinnon, also residing in an island bewould be the best course to adopt. longing to the parish of Harris, namely, MR. CARTWRIGHT said, he feared St. Kilda, whose son, also named Donald, if the Parliamentary Elections (Corrupt had left St. Kilda thirteen years before, and Illegal Practices) Bill were to be and had not since been heard of. Docucarried through Committee before they ments were procured clearly establishing again took up the Agricultural Holdings the fact that a mistake had been made, Bill they might not be able to deal with and that the money was intended to be the latter Bill at all. sent to the Lachlan Mackinnon first mentioned, and who formerly resided in the island of Taransay. Every endeavour was made by Norman, the son of the latter, to recover the property. In consequence of the great obstacle arising from the fact that there is no postal communication to St. Kilda, Norman Mackinnon resorted to the expedient of causing his name to be put on the poor's roll of the court, and sought justice from the Court of Session; and two agents were appointed in succession by the Court of Session; whether the agent last appointed, despairing of successfully prosecuting the case in consequence of the absence of regular postal communication between St. Kilda and the mainland, applied to the Crown authorities and demanded a criminal prosecution; whether, in consequence, the papers were ordered to be sent to the Procurator Fiscal at Lochmaddy in June 1881, and, on the decease of the Procurator Fiscal a few days after, a fruitless search was made for these papers; whether he is aware that the Minister of Barvas communicated with the Home Office, and that the following reply was sent by the Under Secretary of State : SIR GEORGE CAMPBELL asked the Prime Minister, Whether, since he had once successfully taken a Tuesday, he would not consider the propriety of taking another Tuesday, and of discontinuing the Morning Sittings, by which the working time of the Grand Committees was shortened, and the House was counted out regularly at 9 o'clock? MR. GLADSTONE said, he thought he should be acting more agreeably to usage, and the general feeling of the House, if he persevered for a short time in the course of the Motion which the House had granted the Government, and they could then form a judgment according to circumstances. In reply to Sir STAFFORD NORTHCOTE, MR. GLADSTONE stated that the Business of next Tuesday would be the Committee on the Parliamentary Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Practices) Bill and a Morning Sitting. LAW AND JUSTICE (SCOTLAND)-CASE VOL CCLXXX. [THIRD SERIES.] "That he regretted he could not interfere to aid in the enforcement of a pecuniary claim' and that, after consultation with the Lord Advocate, he was of opinion that there would be no ground for criminal proceedings unless it were proved that the St. Kilda man was retaining the money in bad faith;" whether any steps were taken to throw light on this point; and, whether, after seeing the missing papers which were discovered last year, he has decided not to institute criminal proceedings; or, what further steps will be taken by the Crown authorities in Edinburgh to prevent a miscarriage of justice? THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. B. BALFOUR): This case has been several times under consideration. In its first aspect, it is plainly of the nature of a civil claim for the recovery of money alleged to have been paid in error. This Сс |