tions, which directs that "in framing no information as to whether the finding charges care should be taken to render of the court martial was or was not the them specific in names, dates, and unanimous opinion of the tribunal; and places," inasmuch as there was no men- having regard to the oaths prescribed tion made in the charges of the name of by the 152nd Article of War, he could the gentleman to whom Captain Roberts not inform the hon. Member if the Court is alleged to have written, or of the date were unanimous. It was not in accordof such communication; whether an ance with the usual practice to entertain Officer holding Her Majesty's Commis- any application for the production of sion is thereby deprived of the legal proceedings until after the promulgaright to address a communication to ation. private friend seeking counsel and advice; whether, after the close of the case for the prosecution, it was either legal or equitable to admit the evidence of Sergeant Burgess; whether the finding of the Court Martial TREATIES RESPECTING NON-EURO- "MAP OF EUROPE BY TREATY." QUESTION. SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFF asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether Her Majesty's Government will hold out any inducement to Mr. Hertslet, Librarian of the Foreign Office, to pub was the unanimous opinion of the Officers constituting that tribunal; and, whether there will be any objection to lay upon the Table of the House, before the promulgation of Captain Roberts' sentence, Copies of the full record of the charges, evidence, state-lish a Collection of Treaties respecting ments of prosecutor and prisoner, and of the Deputy Judge Advocate, and the finding of the Court Martial? non-European Countries on the same plan as his recent work entitled "The Map of Europe by Treaty ?" THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER, in reply, said, the Government highly appreciated the work alluded to, and he believed it would be a useful thing if a similar book respecting Treaties affecting non-European countries published. No representation had, however, been made to the Treasury by the Foreign Office. was SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFF said, he would repeat the Question to-morrow to the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. MR. CAVENDISH BENTINCK, in reply, said, it was the fact that Captain Roberts made the application stated in the Question of the hon. Member; but the application was refused as being contrary to usage, and also on the sufficient ground that of about 60 witnesses examined 57 were in the Belfast district, while only three were in London, and of these three not one was summoned by the prisoner as necessary to his defence. He would remind the hon. Member that there was no such thing as a common law right to a change of venue; and having a regard to all the circumstances, PUBLIC HEALTH THE SHEERNESS the prisoner was clearly not deprived of any advantage by the course which was followed. The charges upon which MR. PEMBERTON asked the SecreCaptain Roberts was arraigned, both tary of State for War, Whether it is legally and specifically alleged, the of true that on the 21st ultimo a man emfences for which he was tried, and he ployed by the authorities of the War was of opinion that those charges were Office at Sheerness lost his life in cleanframed, not in violation of, but in con- ing out a drain owing to the foul air and formity with the paragraph of the gas; and, whether such drain had been Queen's Regulations to which the hon. allowed to remain uncleansed for many Member referred. He was also of months, although the attention of the opinion that an officer holding Her officer who had charge of the drainage Majesty's Commission was not thereby was repeatedly called to its condition by deprived of the legal right to address the Local Board of Health in the disa communication to a private friend trict? SEWERS.-QUESTION. seeking counsel and advice. He was of MR. GATHORNE HARDY: Yes, it opinion that the Court acted both legally is true. The drain in question was and equitably in admitting the evidence regularly emptied every 24 hours, and of Sergeant Burgess at the time when special means of flushing are provided; he was examined as a witness. He had but these means had not been in use in ARMY-CAPTAIN ROBERTS-THE 94TH REGIMENT.-QUESTION. consequence of the water in the moat | India Office to the references made to from which it is flushed having been that Department on the subject of the drawn off to allow the Local Board to claims put forward in that letter. Nothing obtain earth from the moat for forma- was known in the War Office of the letter tion of the sea embankment, which earth dated Simla, April 1, 1875. was given them by the War Office. The Local Board have on two occasions stated the outlet of this drain to be a nuisance, but the accident occurred over 400 yards from this outlet, at a man-hole which has never been complained of, and which has not been opened for 20 years. At the Coroner's inquest a verdict of "Accidental Death' was given after a thorough investigation. The drain has always been in good working order, and a letter received this morning from the Town Clerk of Rochester reports that the spot has been inspected by the principal water bailiff, and COLONEL JERVIS asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether any reply has yet been made to the letter of His Excellency the Commander in Chief in India, dated Head Quarters, Simla, 9th August, 1875, addressed to the Adjutant General to the Forces, Horse Guards, War Office, London, respecting arrears of pay due to certain officers of Her Majesty's British troops by the Government of India, and as such letter refers to previous communications and concerns a number of officers of high standing in the service, he can explain the cause of so unusual a delay; and, whether he is aware that His Excel lency the Commander in Chief in India, by letter dated Simla, 1st April, 1875, Deputy Adjutant General's, Royal Artillery, directed the Commander in Chief of the Presidencies of Bombay and Madras not to forward any further applications, as a reply was shortly expected on the subject from the Horse Guards? MR. GATHORNE HARDY, in reply, said, that no reply had been made to the letter dated 9th August, 1875, as no decision had yet been received from the VOL. CCXXXI. [THIRD SERIES.] MR. CALLAN asked the Secretary of State for War, If he has any objection to produce the Certificate regarding the soldierly and satisfactory condition of Captain Roberts's Company, 94th Regiment, which Captain Mackinlay, at the recent Court Martial in Belfast on Captain Roberts, admitted having written and signed when he took over that Company on the occasion of Captain Roberts being removed from the command by Colonel Lord John Taylour; and, whether it is not the fact that, at the same Court Martial, Captain Mackinlay deposed on oath that Captain Roberts's Company, at the time of his, Captain Mackinlay, being appointed to the command thereof, was in a most unsatisfactory and bad condition? MR. GATHORNE HARDY: The certificate regarding the company of the 94th Regiment referred to is connected purely with the interior economy of a regiment, and does not refer to the order of the company as regards drill and appearance or cleanliness of the men, but to the condition of the arms and accoutrements, accounts, &c. The document is as follows: "I certify that I have received over the arms and accoutrements, great coats and necessaries, together with the accounts of Letter H Company, from Captain F. Roberts. I am perfectly satisfied with the same and become responsible for company from this date. "J. MACKINLAY, Lieutenant Should it appear to His Royal Highness ARMY-THE MONCRIEFF GUN CARRIAGE.-QUESTION. MR. MAITLAND asked the Secretary of State for War, For what reasons the P LORD EUSTACE CECIL, in reply, said, the experiments had not been proceeded with, because such gun-carriages were not required for heavy guns. The question as to whether such carriages should be used for siege purposes was now under consideration. experiments on Major Moncrieff's hydro- | which not only ordered the guns attached pneumatic system of gun carriages have to the Regiment to be returned to store, not been further proceeded with? but disbanded the men and serjeants of the two troops of Artillery themselves; and, whether, in view of the testimony of the Commanding Officer to the efficiency of these two Troops as Yeomen, and to the great sacrifice of time and money made by both officers and men in learning the additional duties of artillerymen, he would think it right to vice in the Regiment as Light Cavalry, accept the offer of their continued serwith some acknowledgment of the services they have already rendered? PUBLIC HEALTH ACT, 1872-MEDICAL OFFICERS OF HEALTH.-QUESTION. DR. CAMERON (for Dr. LUSH) asked the President of the Local Government Board, If he will state to the House the reasons why he has recently refused to confirm the appointments of medical officers of health for a longer period than one year; and, on what grounds it is believed that such a limitation of tenure is likely to operate beneficially in securing activity and efficiency in the performance of the duties of sanitary officers? MR. GATHORNE HARDY, in reply, said, his attention was drawn to the letter in question, which was duly replied to. In communicating to the Officer Commanding the Bucks Yeomanry on the 15th December, 1875, that the two Artillery troops could no longer be permitted to form part of the establishment of the regiment, and that they must be disbanded; it was not the intention that these troops should be necessarily disMR. SCLATER-BOOTH, in reply, banded in the literal sense, but that they said, under the Act of 1872 it was pro- should be discontinued as Artillery and vided that the first appointment of their guns withdrawn, the troops remedical officers of health should be for maining in the regiment as Cavalry, and a period of five years. An experimental retaining with their officers their regiperiod was adopted in order to see mental positions. This was subsequently whether the arrangement was satisfac- explained to the Officer Commanding by tory, or whether any change would be letter dated the 26th of January last. desirable. He agreed that the efficiency The services rendered by the Artillery of an officer was increased by the per- troops and their efficiency were fully manency of his appointment, and the appreciated, and an expression of the practice was to sanction permanent ap-appreciation of Her Majesty's Governpointments where the medical officer of health devoted his whole time to the performance of his duties. In cases where he did not devote his whole time he (Mr. Sclater-Booth) thought that the rule of five years would be convenient. The Report of an experienced Inspector reviewing the whole question would soon be submitted to him. ARMY-THE AUXILIARY FORCES- QUESTION. MR. J. G. HUBBARD (for Mr. E. HUBBARD) asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether his attention has been drawn to a letter written by the Lieutenant Colonel of the Royal Bucks Yeomanry on January 1st, 1876, to the Inspector of Auxiliary Cavalry, acknowledging the letter of the War Office 0070 | 734, ment of their efficiency was made to the Officer Commanding on the 15th December last. THE ROYAL MINT-THE NEW SITE. MR. HANKEY asked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether a map has been prepared and laid upon the Table of the House, showing that the site of the present Mint comprised in the gross 203,624 superficial feet, or a little more than four acres of ground, of which 13,775 superficial feet, are now let on an unexpired term of six and a quarter years, and that the ground required for the Mint which it was proposed in 1871 to build on the Thames Embankment was only 123,174 superficial feet, thus showing that a new Mint could be erected on the present site, and leave 66,675 superficial feet, or about one and a-half acres to spare, and which could be sold in part payment of the cost of a new Mint on the present site? MR. W. H. SMITH, in reply, said, that the figures which the hon. Member had given were accurately quoted from the map in the Library. The frontage of the Mint was very narrow, and a new Mint could not be erected on a part of the present site without pulling down the main building and incurring enormous expense. There was only one Mint in this country, and the coinage could not be carried on during the reconstruction of the building, nor could it be suspended. Owing to the shape of the existing site the back part of the premises could not be sold with advantage, as there would be great difficulty in obtaining access to it. It would be much cheaper, even if it were not absolutely necessary, to sell the present unwieldly site and place a new Mint, properly arranged and concentrated, on a new and more convenient one. MERCHANT SHIPPING ACTS-LIGHT DUES. QUESTION. quire into the circumstances connected with the Eagley milk epedemic, will be presented? MR. SCLATER-BOOTH, in reply, said, the Report on the subject had been communicated to the sanitary authorities interested. ARMY-MILITARY PRISONERS-HAND CUFFS.-QUESTION. MR. HAYTER asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether his attention has been drawn to the injury done to a soldier travelling under arrest in the Bourton accident to the Great Western Express on the 27th ult.; whether he is aware that, in the West Drayton accident to the same express, another case of injury through a prisoner travelling in handcuffs occurred; and, whether he will either direct that prisoners under arrest be not conveyed by these fast express trains or will permit the removal of their handcuffs? MR. GATHORNE HARDY: It has been mentioned in the newspaper that a soldier was injured in the late railway accident, but no official report has been received at the War Office. I am not aware that a prisoner when travelling in MR. NORWOOD asked the President handcuffs was injured in the West Drayof the Board of Trade, Whether the in- ton accident; no report was made of crease of five per cent. recently made in such an occurence. Soldiers do not, as Light Dues on Shipping was rendered a rule, travel by fast express trains; necessary by a falling off of receipts but it would be undesirable to prevent below the amount required for the main-prisoners being taken by these trains tenance of the service; and, if that be not the case, to inquire the purpose to which this increased revenue will be applied? SIR CHARLES ADDERLEY: The recent increase of 5 per cent in the light dues has been rendered necessary by a falling off of receipts below the amount required for the maintenance of the service. The reserve fund, which in April, 1874, was £250,000, had in April, 1876, fallen to £60,000. There is also an increased expenditure going on in supplying fog signals at several light stations. when necessary. Handcuffs are necessary for the safe custody of prisoners. COMMERCIAL FRAUDS.-QUESTION. the Secretary of State for the Home MR. ASSHETON CROSS, in reply, said, the question referred to by the hon. Member was, no doubt, one of con PUBLIC HEALTH—THE EAGLEY MILK siderable difficulty; but he was advised EPIDEMIC.-QUESTION. that a Bill had been brought in by the hon. Member for Macclesfield (Mr. MR. CHARLEY asked the President Chadwick) which would, to a great exof the Local Government Board, When tent, prevent the frauds which were rethe Report of Mr. Power, the Com-ferred to in the Question. The hon. missioner appointed by the Board to in- Member for Macclesfield had been as sured by the Government that they would be very glad to see that Bill become law, and if it did not become law during the present Session, he trusted that either under the auspices of the hon. Member or of the Government, some similar measure might be passed into law during next Session. TURKEY-GUARANTEED LOAN 1855. QUESTION. COLONEL MURE asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether the coupons and drawings of 1855 Turkish Guaranteed Loan, due on the 1st August, have been paid; if so, whether the funds out of which such payments have been made were deposited in the Bank of England or France on the Egyptain Tribute Account, under the Third Article of the Convention between England and the Sublime Porte, by which these ments form a special charge on the annual amount of the Tribute of Egypt "which remains over and above the part thereof appropriated to the 1854 Loan;" or, whether the money has been paid or supplemented by the Governments of England and France, or from any other source? pay SIR MICHAEL HICKS - BEACH presumed that the hon. Member referred to a convict whose name was not quite identical with that given in the Question, but who was convicted of this murder and sentenced to death, which sentence was commuted to penal servitude. He had not been set at liberty, and was still undergoing his sentence. VICT KIRWAN.-QUESTION. MR. CALLAN asked the Chief SecreTHE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHE-tary for Ireland, Whether it is true QUER: The best answer I can give to that Kirwan, who was convicted of the the Question of the hon. and gallant murder of his wife, under circumstances Member will be to mention the facts. of great atrocity, at Ireland's Eye, has On Saturday, the 29th of July, the Bank been set at liberty; and, if so, on what of England wrote to the Treasury that and whose recommendation? the necessary funds had not been provided to meet the charge of the Imperial Ottoman Guaranteed Loan of 1855, falling due on the 1st of August. On the 31st of July, the Treasury communicated this information to the Foreign Office, in order that a proper representation of the circumstances might be made to the Turkish Government. On the same day the Treasury informed the Bank that Her Majesty's Government were prepared to fulfil the guarantee which they had given jointly with the French Government and severally; but they (the Treasury) asked the Bank to advance the amount of the dividend in the first instance. This was an act of courtesy to the Turkish Government in order to afford them the opportunity of acting on the representation which had been made to them. On the 1st of August the Bank paid the dividend as requested by the Treasury. On the 2nd of August SALE OF INTOXICATING LIQUORS ON OBSERVATIONS. SIR WILFRID LAWSON: Sir, I have given Notice of my intention to move the adjournment of the Orders preceding that of the Sale of Intoxicating Liquors on Sunday (Ireland) Bill. But, Sir, as you have been good enough to inform me that I have not put down my Notice of Motion in a manner exactly in accordance with the Forms of the House, |