deceased soldiers the balances they are | attention has been called to a case tried entitled to; but I am inclined to think before the stipendiary magistrates a few that if the brigade depôts were made days ago at Birkenhead, when Thomas more generally the centres of informa- Critchley and William Suxden were fined tion respecting men, some advantage one shilling each and £5 128. costs bemight be secured. tween them, or in default to go to gaol for seven days, for "besetting the apWorks, with a view to compelling two of the workmen to leave their employment;" whether, as the defendants were admitted by the magistrates to have used "no threats or violence" their conviction case, due regard has been had to the can be justified; and, whether, in this definition of besetting," as given in the latter part of the seventh section of "The Conspiracy and Protection of Property Act, 1875 ?" ARMY - VETERINARY WARRANT OF proaches to Messrs. Brassey's Engine MAY 1, 1878.-QUESTION. COLONEL ARBUTHNOT asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether any and what steps have been taken with a view to the amendment of the Veterinary Warrant of 1st of May 1878, in consequence of representations which have been made relative to the same; and, whether any decision has been arrived at? COLONEL STANLEY: No, Sir; no decision has yet been arrived at. POST OFFICE-THE CHINA MAILS. QUESTION. MR. DALRYMPLE asked the Postmaster General, If his attention has been specially called to the inconvenience and loss caused to persons engaged in the China trade by an arrangement contained in the new Postal Contract with the Peninsular and Oriental Company, by which a stoppage on the homeward voyage of forty-eight hours at Hong Kong has been assented to, when no mail necessity can be pleaded in justification (as twenty-four hours are sufficient on the outward voyage), in order that the steamer carrying the mails may load homeward cargo? LORD JOHN MANNERS, in reply, said, the duration of the stoppage at Hong Kong of the homeward packet from Shanghai, under the new Contract with the Peninsular and Oriental Company, was the same as at present namely, 48 hours, and it was understood that this interval was of advantage to the China merchants, most of whom had branch houses or agencies at Hong Kong. This stay of 48 hours at Hong Kong was a stipulation of the Peninsular and Oriental Company in their tender, and formed part of it. CONSPIRACY AND PROTECTION OF QUESTION. MR. BURT asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If his Colonel Stanley 66 MR. ASSHETON CROSS: This, Sir, is an important point; and the parties have very properly appealed. That being so, and as the matter is awaiting the decision of a Court of Law, it would be manifestly improper on my part to express any opinion on the subject. SOUTH AFRICA-THE FORCES IN ZULULAND-QUESTIONS. MR. WADDY asked the Secretary of State for War, What is the total number of British and Colonial Forces, naval and military, and of all arms now in Zululand; and, what troops, if any, are on their way thither or are under orders to depart? COLONEL STANLEY, in reply, said, the total number, according to the last Return of the British Forces, was 16,959, in addition to 1,064 men on the passage out and 1,615 under orders to embark. The Colonial troops were, so far as he had been able to ascertain, something like 4,453 of all arms. had no Returns of the Naval Force. The troops under orders to embark were, for the most part, drafts. He MR. WADDY said, that perhaps the First Lord of the Admiralty could inform the House what was the amount of the Naval Force? MR. W. H. SMITH: The number of men landed from the ships is 850 bluejackets and Marines. INDIA-THE DISTURBANCES IN BOM- MR. HANBURY asked the Under MR. E. STANHOPE: My noble Friend the Secretary of State for India (Viscount Cranbrook) telegraphed the other day to the Governor of Bombay with the view of obtaining the latest information on the subject; and, with the permission of the House, I will read the reply, dated May 21, of Sir Richard Temple "Your Lordship's telegram regarding Deccan troubles.—Recent Dacoities occurred in villages, border, Poona and Sattara districts. Robbery only, not murder. Plans laid for seizing money and valuables, to be secreted in hilly jungles for future use. Dacoits, hill men of either side, above and below mountains, western QUESTION. MAJOR NOLAN asked the Secretary of State for War, If the general rule in regiments of Cavalry and Infantry is that Officers hold their commands for five years only; if, however, there are certain exceptional regiments in which the Commanding Officers hold their commands for terms beyond five years, whether the practical effect of such exceptional retention of command will be to cause junior Officers to be retired against their will under the new retiring scheme; and, if so, whether steps will be taken to mitigate the exceptional severity which the combined effect of the new retirement scheme and the exceptional prolongation of the Lieutenant Colonels' command will have on the prospects of junior Officers in such regiments? COLONEL STANLEY: As a general rule, in regiments of Cavalry and Infantry, officers should hold commands for five years only; but, in the concluding sentence of the Royal Warrant, provision was made for the extension of the term in the case of lieutenant colonels in command, in the event of their being called on, or engaged in, active service in the field, or under other special circumstances. The practical effect on the junior officers might possibly be prejudicial in bringing them under the operation of the compulsory clause of the Warrant; and it is a mat hardy, daring character, led by one or two educated persons. Numbers small; not exceeding 300. They are in two or three gangs; but steep hills and thick jungle favour their operations. First symptoms early last March, when we placed detachinents of troops at all the principal places near Eastern side of mountains to prevent evil spreading, besides increased police precautions. Original leader and gang soon captured. Trouble checked end March to middle April; began again end April. Additional detachments of troops despatched, and special pursuing parties organized under European officers. Capture of one desperate gang just effected, and stolen property recovered; leader not caught, but systematically pursued. Poona city fires directed against two old Mahratta palaces, used by British for public pur-ter worthy of consideration whether in poses. The incendiarism probably intended to annoy Government. Dacoities at present quite localized. Cause believed to be general. No local reason yet shown to exist. No sign of agrarian trouble. Distress increasing in Eastern Deccan, but relief administered." As regards the last Question of the hon. Gentleman, I have only to say that the subject has been under the very careful consideration of Her Majesty's Government; and the Government of Bombay have recently prepared a Bill, mainly in accordance with certain suggestions sent out to them from the Secretary of State in Council. That Bill is now under the consideration of the Government of India. There will be no objection, when a conclusion has been arrived at upon it, to lay it on the Table. such cases the retirement of the officers should be dated from the five years' tenure; or, in other words, that the appointments in succession to them should be ante-dated to that extent. I think that such an arrangement might answer financially and otherwise. ARMY-CIVIL EMPLOYMENT FOR DIS CHARGED SOLDIERS.-QUESTION. SIR HENRY HAVELOCK asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether, considering the universally acknowledged and daily increasing difficulties of obtaining old and experienced noncommissioned officers for the Army, he has taken any steps to carry out the recommendations of the Select Committee presided over by the Right honourable Member for Pontefract in 1875 and 1876, ARMY-FIRST-CLASS ARMY RESERVE. on the civil employment for discharged | COLONEL STANLEY: It is very possoldiers, as to placing at the disposal of sible that that may have been so; but the Army, as inducements to non-commis- the point of the Question is answered sioned officers to prolong their service to by the fact that the 88th is in excess of twenty-one years, that limited number the establishment. of permanent posts in the Civil Service of the Country which that Committee found to be available for that purpose, after all the legitimate and reasonable requirements of the Civil Departments have been complied with; and, whether he can give any hopes that this great inducement will shortly be held out to non-commissioned officers to prolong their service? ARMY-THE 88TH REGIMENT-VOLUN TEERS.-QUESTIONS. SIR HENRY HAVELOCK asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether it is a fact that, a few months ago, while the 88th Regiment was virtually on active service, volunteers were actually called for and given from the depôt of that regiment to other regiments in South Africa; whether, when more reinforcements were subsequently required, volunteers from other regiments at home had not to be again called for to fill the deficiencies thus wholly unnecessarily caused in the strength of the 88th Regiment; whether this departure from the principle of the supply of a regiment with men from its own depôt was simply a blunder, or was intended as a new method of developing the brigadedepôt system; and, whether it was done with the knowledge and approval of the Commander-in-Chief? COLONEL STANLEY: I am informed that no volunteers have been called for or taken from the depôt of the 88th Regiment since the outbreak of hostilities. No volunteers have been called for or required by the 88th, which are still in excess of the establishment. SIR HENRY HAVELOCK asked whether volunteers were not called for between the cessation of hostilities with the Galekas and the breaking out of the Zulu War? Sir Henry Havelock QUESTION. COLONEL MURE asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether, in view of the long time which must elapse before the Army Discipline and Regulation Bill can possibly become Law, Her Majesty's Government will introduce a Bill into Parliament amending the existing Law which regulates the service of the First Class Army Reserve, enabling Her Majesty to call for volunteers from that body during the present emergency in Zululand? COLONEL STANLEY, in reply, said, that if an understanding could by any means be arrived at, and a Bill of one clause, enabling the men of the First Class Army Reserve to volunteer for service, could be passed through the House without prolonged discussion or the opening up of general questions, he would be willing to introduce such a lead to lengthened discussion, it would, measure. If, however, it was likely to he thought, be better to proceed in the matter by means of the Army Discipline and Regulation Bill, in which there was a clause of a similar nature. COLONEL MURE said, the Secretary of State for War could only discover whether it would be allowed to pass without discussion by bringing forward hon. and gallant Gentleman; but, at the Bill. The onus was upon the right hon. and gallant Gentleman; but, at the same time, he, personally, did not think there would be much opposition. LUNACY LAWS-LEGISLATION. QUESTION. MR. DILLWYN asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If he can state when the Lord Chancellor intends to bring in the Bill relating to the Lunacy Laws, which, a short time ago, he informed the House to be his Lordship's intention to introduce? MR. ASSHETON CROSS, in reply, said, his noble and learned Friend would be very glad to introduce it; but he was waiting until some progress had been made in the measures already before the House. to admit of the examinations being SER- undertaken, before the close of the winter session, by Examiners appointed by the Department. MR. ANDERSON asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, When Sir P. Julian's Report on Maltese matters is to be laid before Parliament, and why the Papers as to the Maltese Riots of 15th May last, promised on the 20th March, have not yet been laid upon the Table? SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH, in reply, said, that the Report related to the Maltese Civil Service, and that it had only recently reached the Government; but he could not say positively whether he would be able to lay it on the Table. It must first be laid before the Council of Malta, whom it primarily concerned. He regretted that Papers as to the riots, presented on the 15th of May last, had not yet been circulated; but they would be in the hands of hon. Members in a few days. WESTMINSTER IMPROVEMENT COM MISSIONERS.-QUESTION. MR. J. R. YORKE asked the First Commissioner of Works, Whether the Westminster Improvement Commissioners, appointed by "The Westminster Improvement and Incumbered Estate Act, 1861," to forthwith wind-up the affairs of the Commissioners appointed by "The Westminster Improvement Act, 1845," have concluded their labours; if not, when it is expected they will do so; and, whether the Report and Accounts, which were required by Westminster Improvement Act, 1847," to be rendered half-yearly, have been so rendered; and, if so, whether the Government will lay the same before Parliament ? "The MR. GERARD NOEL: The ComEDUCATION (SCOTLAND) ACT, 1878-missioners have not yet concluded their EXAMINATION OF HIGH CLASS SCHOOLS.-QUESTION. DR. CAMERON asked the VicePresident of the Council, Whether the Scotch Education Department has yet arranged with the Treasury for the carrying out the provisions of section twenty of "The Education (Scotland) Act, 1878," for the examination of higher class schools under the management of school boards; and, if not, whether there is still hope of the matter being arranged in time to relieve the school boards concerned from the necessity of appointing their own examiners under the Education (Scotland) Act of 1872 ? labours, and possibly it may take three or four years to realize the remainder of the estate and to pay off the incumbrances. The Commissioners state that they furnished accounts to the Office of Works-then Woods and Works-up to the 16th of November, 1849, at which date their obligation to do so ceased by the operation of 11 & 12 Vict. c. 124. I may add that the Chairmanship of the Commissioners being vacant, I appointed Sir Henry Hunt to that post about 18 months ago, with the view of windingup the affairs of the estate; and from communications I have had with him, I am sure he will spare no exertion to carry into effect that object with as little delay as possible. RICK ON SUIR BRIDGE.-QUESTION. LORD GEORGE HAMILTON: No change has been made in the decision of the Treasury to refuse to allow the cost of the examination of higher class schools BOARD OF WORKS (IRELAND)—-CARunder the management of school boards to be defrayed from public funds since a Question was asked on the subject by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for the University of Edinburgh (Mr. Lyon Playfair). Considerable difficulty has been found in completing the arrangements for these examinations on the terms which were accepted by some of the school boards in small towns; but we hope that, in the case of these boards, this difficulty may be overcome in time MR. A. MOORE asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether it is true that the Irish Government have ordered the Board of Works to prepare plans for a new bridge at Carrick on Suir, and have called upon the grand juries of the three adjoining counties to present sums of money for carrying out the work; whether the people of the district have begged that a swivel arch or portcullis be included in the plan; and, whether the Government have ignored this appeal, and have insisted on a plan which will impair the navigation of the river? MR. J. LOWTHER: The facts are correctly stated in the first part of the Question. As to the second part, if the word "town" is substituted for "district," that is also correct. As regards the action of the Government, the case was referred to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, which is the final Court of Appeal in cases of the kind, and the duty of the Government is simply to give effect to the decision of that Court. MR. A. MOORE: Sir, I beg to give Notice that I shall draw attention to this matter on the Vote for the Board of Works. SOUTH AFRICA THE ZULU WARALLEGED CRUELTIES.-QUESTION. MR. O'DONNELL asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether his attention has been called to the following account of the slaughter of a wounded Zulu Chief in the Durban Correspondence of the "Daily Telegraph" of Monday the 19th instant: "The following from Colonel Bellairs, D.A.G., has just reached me: Captain Prior, 80th Foot (on April the 5th) proceeded with a mounted patrol, consisting of Lieutenant Ussher and four of his regiment, and Mr. Freter, junior, from Luneberg, in the direction of the Upper Pongola Drift. Having come up with twenty friendly natives, and obtaining infor mation that the Zulus were sweeping horses and cattle from the valley, he went in pursuit, and came within 800 yards of a few mounted men, who were hurrying on horses and cattle, which they abandoned and fled. After capturing the horses (eighteen), and leaving them in charge of Lieutenant Ussher, Mr. Freter, and two men, he went on with Private Bowen, their horses being freshest, following two Zulus who had taken the direction of Dombie. They came eventually within 400 yards, and exchanged shots with them; one of the Zulus was wounded by a bullet, and, the friendly natives coming up, was assegaied. He was recognised as a younger son of Sihayo; the other, who got away, being ascertained to have been Umbelini; whether he has had his attention directed to the correspondence of the "Standard" of the same date, in which cases of refusal to give quarter and of the slaughter of wounded Zulus after the battle of Gingilhovo are mentioned; and, whether he proposes to take any steps in consequence of these statements? Mr. A. Moore SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH: The account of the "slaughter of a wounded Zulu Chief" which the hon. Member has quoted from The Daily Telegraph is, I see, contradicted by a later account which appeared in the Press yesterday, from which it seems that of the two Zulus named one was killed by a bullet at 400 yards, and the other wounded, and that the wounded man escaped. I cannot say whether either story is accurate; but the later version certainly does not bear out the interpretation placed by the hon. Member on the passage which he has quoted. As to the cases mentioned in the correspondence in The Standard, they appear to be unsupported statements of a general character, resting on hearsay evidence, which I should not think it necessary to notice. Circumstances may unavoidably occur in the heat of action which all would regret; but if any English officer, or soldier, had intentionally refused quarter to an enemy who had submitted-which I do not believe-I am satisfied that the military authorities might safely be trusted to deal with the case. SOUTH AFRICA-INDENTURE OF NATIVES IN NATAL.-QUESTION. MR. O'DONNELL asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Why no Despatch from the Colonial Office has yet been published in the Blue Books laid before Parliament forbidding the South African authorities to indenture out captured Native women and children in servitude to the Colonial farmers; and, whether former British Administrations have not most strongly condemned this practice on the part of subjects of the Transvaal Republic? SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH: I believe that the practice of indenturing captured Native women and children to subjects of the Transvaal Republic, which was condemned, was one under which children were indentured for 21 or 28 years, and the rights of a master in the indentures of his apprentice were transferable by sale; and that nothing has now occurred which can fairly be compared to this system. So far as I know, in the only instances in which indenturing has now been resorted to, it was necessary to save from starvation destitute women and children who had been deserted by the men of their tribe; and I |