have been well if the noble Lord had | depôts or centres throughout the country placed a Notice on the Paper, so that for purchase, in order to secure for they might have been prepared to enter- themselves the present profits of the tain the noble Lord's complaint. His middleman; and, whether he can stato noble and learned Friend (the Lord generally how horses used for military Chancellor) appeared to have taken an purposes are at present bred, and in interest in the matter; but he (Viscount which portions of the United Kingdom Cross) was not aware of the views of the they are mostly produced? noble and learned Lord. LORD DENMAN said, he had men. tioned to the noble and learned Lord (the Lord Chancellor) that the second Bill he had introduced was entirely different from the first, and all the precedents showed that he was entitled to have the Bill placed on the Paper for a second reading. House adjourned at a quarter before HOUSE OF COMMONS, Monday, 12th September, 1887. MINUTES.]-NEW WRIT ISSUED-For County propriation). Considered as amended QUESTIONS. WAR OFFICE-PURCHASE OF HORSES FOR ARMY PURPOSES. MR. BURDETT-COUTTS (Westminster) asked the Secretary of State for War, If he will explain the present system of buying horses for the Army, with special reference to the extent to which a middleman or contractor is employed for the purpose; the average "last price' paid by the Military Authorities for horses for Artillery, Light Cavalry, and Heavy Cavalry, respectively; and the age at which such horses are purchased; whether he can see his way to establishing a system whereby farmers or breeders could bring in young horses direct to regimental THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. E. STANHOPE) (Lincolnshire, Horncastle): My hon. Friend will not, I suppose, now wish me to explain very fully our present system, since he will, no doubt, have seen from a statement made in "another place" that it is about to be completely changed. I may, however, state generally that, under the present system, horses for Cavalry regiments are bought by the regimental commanding officers, generally through dealers, and those for the Artillery by the Inspector of Horses, Royal Artillery. The Government prices average £42 for Heavy Cavalry, £40 for Light Cavalry, and £45 for Artillery horses, and the standard ages are between four and six years. Cavalry horses mostly come from Ireland, while those for other military purposes are generally bred by farmers in Great Britain. The change that we propose to introduce is that, in future, all horses for military purposes will be examined, selected, and passed into the Service by the officers of a Government remount establishment now in process of formation. We hope by this new system to obviate the complaint made by breeders that they cannot get their horses viewed by Government buyers, and generally to insure more direct transactions between Government and the breeders without the intervention of dealers. MR. BURDETT - COUTTS asked, whether the right hon. Gentleman was in a position to explain in further detail the methods whereby farmers who could not offer their horses direct to the Army, could send them to agents in different centres, or whereby officers would be sent round the country to establish direct communication with breeders. MR. E. STANHOPE said, that he could not make any further statement to the House upon the subject; but he should be very glad to discuss the matter with the hon. Gentleman, who would find that the Government proposed to issue, from time to time, Circular explanations, so that people in the country might know what was being done. ENCOURAGEMENT OF HORSE-BREEDING-APPROPRIATION OF £5,000. MR. BURDETT COUTTS (Westminster) asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the promised appropriation of £5,000 for the encouragement of horse breeding; Whether he will recommend the Board, which is to arrange the allocation, to take into consideration the fact that, at the present time, except in three counties, there are practically no good stallions at the service of farmers and breeders, other than thoroughbreds and cart-horses; that there exist in special localities at least three old English breeds, possessing the qualities requisite for breeding the best type of general utility horses-namely, the Hackney, the Cleveland bay, and the Yorkshire coach-horses; that these breeds have been for some years systematically bought up by Foreign Governmental Breeding Establishments, with the result that foreign countries now supply England with a vast number of the light-draught horses used; and, whether he will provide that the grant in question shall not be monopolized for the production of hunting stock, but that the interests of the above-mentioned breeds be represented on the Board with a view to their preservation and further development throughout the country? Trade, Whether, in view of the increasing importance attaching to the fact that no Returns are available show. question of destitute aliens, and to the ing the number and nationality of such aliens arriving annually in the British Isles, he will immediately take mea sures to collect information as to the foreigners arriving at the various ports of the United Kingdom, who are with out resources and likely to become chargeable upon the rates? THE SECRETARY (Baron HENRY DE WORMS) (Liverpool, East Toxteth): The Board of Trade have no Statutory power, nor have they any funds at their disposal for carrying out the suggestion made by the hon. Member, and it would not appear possible to obtain such information. Passengers landing, say, at Dover, Harwich, or Hull, or at any similar port, could not be questioned on landing as to their resources, and as to whether they intended to settle in the country. IRELAND-LICENSING ACT, 1872-PRO SECUTIONS AT PETTY SESSIONS. MR. CLANCY (Dublin Co., N.) (for Mr. DEASY) (Mayo, W.) asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, By what Statute or authority are the Royal Irish Constabulary directed to prosecute at Petty Sessions, instead of before Town Courts, offenders offences committed within the townships resident outside the town boundaries for of towns under the Towns Improvement Act? THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. GOSCHEN) (St. George's, Hanover Square): The Board which is to be constituted to administer the sum THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER allocated to the encouragement of horse- SECRETARY (Colonel KING-HARMAN) breeding will be a Board of experts, (Kent, Isle of Thanet) (who replied) said: and I really cannot see that it is the Under Section 12 of the Licensing Act, business of the Chancellor of the Exchequer to advise them in the discharge to prosecute in their own names as com 1872, the Constabulary are authorized of their duties. It is to that Board, plainants in Courts of Petty Sessions when constituted, that the hon. Mem- for the offences enumerated in that ber's suggestions should be addressed, section. The Constabulary Regulation, and I am sure they will receive the however, on the subject limits-as I consideration which they deserve. Un- explained to the House a few days ago doubtedly, it is intended that the pro--such action on the part of the Conposed grant should be devoted to improving the breed of general utility horses, and not merely to the production of hunting stock. IMMIGRATION OF DESTITUTE MR. WEBSTER (St. Pancras, E.) asked the Secretary to the Board of while arising within the boundaries of stabulary to cases in which the offence, a town under the Town Improvement Act, 1854, is committed by a person who does not reside within the town, a limitation very favourable to the Town Court, as it would be lawful for the Constabulary to take all such cases into the Petty Sessions Court, SOUTH SEA ISLANDS-THE GERMAN SQUADRON AT SAMOA. : DR. TANNER (Cork Co., Mid) had on the Paper the following Question:To ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If the account received is true-namely, that the German Squadron have landed 500 armed men in Samoa, have declared war against Malietoa, the reigning King, and have proclaimed Tamasese, his rival, as King; whether it is true that the former wished to resist, but, owing to a proclamation issued by the English Consul, which declared the English Government would not accept the German nominee, King Tamasese, the late Monarch, Malietoa, has not taken action, but has thrown the responsibility of his deposition upon the English Government; and, what steps are being taken to prevent undue acrimony and friction with the German Local Authorities, whose opinion has been enforced by the positive action of a German Naval Squadron? The hon. Gentleman said: As I see that Her Majesty's Government are afraid of Germany, I beg to postpone the Question. OF MR. SPEAKER: Order, order! THE UNDER SECRETARY STATE (Sir JAMES FERGUSSON) (Manchester, N.E.): The hon. Gentleman has put a Question on the Paper, and it is not right that it should remain unanswered. I have already given to the House all the information on the subject possessed by Her Majesty's Government. Her Majesty's Consul has been instructed to observe a strict neutrality. Her Majesty's Government have received assurances from the German Government that the foreign relations of Samoa, especially those with the three Treaty Powers, would not be affected by their action. DR. TANNER: Then, are we to understand that Her Majesty's Government have cried "Peccavi" to the German Consul? MR. SPEAKER: Order, order! ADMIRALTY—MERCHANT SHIPPING "ARMED CRUISERS" FOR THE NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN. CAPTAIN COLOMB (Tower Hamlets Bow, &c.) asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, Whether there is any line of British steamers traversing the North Pacific Ocean which could furnish vessels fulfilling Admiralty conditions for "armed cruisers," of 16 knots seagoing speed; and, what steps are being taken to give effect to the policy of subvention, for the protection of the considerable British commerce in the North Pacific, so as to secure in peace the presence of fast merchant steamers, suitable and ready for conversion as "armed cruisers" in those waters on the outbreak of war? THE FIRST LORD (Lord GEORGE HAMILTON) (Middlesex, Ealing): I am not aware of the existence in the Pacific of any line of British steamers fulfilling the conditions prescribed by the Admiralty for the employment of merchant vessels as armed cruisers. The Admiralty cannot create a line of merchant steamers in any part of the world; but if a line of steamers he established which would be able to furnish the Admiralty with armed cruisers of the requisite speed, strength and coal endurance it would be the duty of the Admiralty to entertain any propositions to that effect made to them. REGISTRY OF VOTERS (SCOTLAND)DISFRANCHISEMENT OF ELECTORS IN INVERNESS AND ROSS. MR. A. SUTHERLAND (Sutherland) asked the Lord Advocate, Whether all the ratepayers entered on the Valuation Roll at £4 and upwards, in the parishes of Kilmuir and Snizort, in the Island of Skye, have been entered on the Parliamentary Register, whereas in the parishes of Portree, Durinish, and others, only those who have paid their rates have been so entered; whether the tenant can be disfranchised through the default of the landlord; and, whether this default of the landlord is the main cause of the disfranchisement of 4,000 electors in the Counties of Inverness and Ross? THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. H. A. MACDONALD) (Edinburgh and St. Andrew's Universities): All the ratepayers in Kilmuir and Snizort have not been entered in the Parliamentary Register. Only those who have paid their rates have been entered, and there are a considerable number in all the parishes mentioned who have not paid. If these parties are in any way aggrieved, the proper course is for them to lodge a claim in the Registration Court. All PORT OF BELFAST SERGEANT MURRAY, BELFAST. MR. MACARTNEY (Antrim, S.) asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If Sergeant Murray is still employed on Portal duty in Belfast; whether, since the month of March, 1884, Sergeant Murray has been reported nine times for breaches of duty; and, whether four of these Reports were made in 1886 and two in the present year; and, if so, what are the reasons for retaining Sergeant Murray in the discharge of Portal duty? the electors, however small the valua- |(Kent, Isle of Thanet) (who replied) tion, are separately entered in the said: The Inspector General of ConValuation Roll, and receive notice to stabulary informs me that it is the case pay from the Inspector of Poor. I do that since Mr. Lennon took charge of not, therefore, see that there is anyone the County Donegal, a large majority responsible for their disfranchisement of the transfers have been Roman but themselves. Catholics; but that the question of religion had nothing whatever to do with these transfers-some were on punishment, some to meet the exigencies of the service, and others on the men's own application. On two occasions, during the absence of the District Inspector of Ardara, the Head Constables named were sent to take temporary charge of the district. Head Constable Reilly was sent because of the illness of Head Constable Bailie; and Head Constable Hannon, because the County Inspector did not consider Head Constable Bailie sufficiently active to take charge of the district in the absence of the officer. The expenses of the two Head Constables for their temporary transfer were paid from the Constabulary Vote. There does not appear to have been any other Report of the County Inspector representing the Head Constable's incompetency. The Inspector General, on the occasion of Head Constable Hannon being applied for to take temporary charge of the district, directed that in future Head Constable Bailie should be left in charge of the district, and should exert himself to discharge the duties efficiently. He has not been tested in conformity with Section 1429 of the Code, the necessity for such not having arisen; but should he fail to discharge in future his duties efficiently, the question will arise as to whether he is fit for his present rank. When the turn of this Head Constable arrived on the seniority list of his rank for advancement he was, on the recommendation of his officers, called up for examination at head-quarters, and, having passed the usual test, was promoted. THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER SECRETARY (Colonel KING-HARMAN) (Kent, Isle of Thanet) (who replied) said: The facts are as stated in the Question. The constabulary officer for the time being acting as portal supervisor found that the complaints were either groundless or of a frivolous nature, and he took no action upon The sergeant is reported to perform the duties satisfactorily. ROYAL IRISH CONSTABULARY COUNTY OF DONEGAL. a MR. D. SULLIVAN (Westmeath, S.) asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether, since County Inspector Lennon came to Donegal, almost all the transfers of the constables of that county have been Roman Catholics; whether, on the separate occasions during the absence of the District Inspector of the Ardara District, Head Constables Reilly and Hannon were transferred temporarily there to do clerical work for Head Constable Bailie, and from what source were their expenses paid; whether the County Inspector reported the incompetency of Head Constable Bailie to the Inspector General; whether he was tested in conformity with section 1429 of the Code; and, whether it is customary to promote a Head Constable for such services as those rendered by Head Constable Bailie? THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER SECRETARY (Colonel KING-HARMAN) LIMITED LIABILITY ACTS-LEGISLA TION. MR. ADDISON (Ashton-under-Lyne) asked the Secretary to the Board of Trade, Whether the Government have prepared any legislation to remedy the defects of the Limited Liability Acts; and, whether he is prepared, early in the next Session of Parliament, to bring in a Bill dealing with the different matters complained of in the working of these Acts? THE SECRETARY (Baron HENRY DE WORMS) (Liverpool, East Toxteth): A Bill was drafted dealing with the defects of the existing law, which seemed to require the most urgent attention. The period of the Session when it was possible to take action did not admit of any attempt at consolidation; and when the draft measure came to be considered it was obvious that it would be necessary to proceed with great care, the subject being very complicated and of grave importance. It was, therefore, thought better to proceed only with a complete measure. It is intended that such a Bill as that indicated by the hon. and learned Member shall be introduced early in the next Session. POST OFFICE-SALARIES IN THE CENTRAL TELEGRAPH OFFICE. MR. CAREW (Kildare, N.) (for Mr. M'CARTAN) (Down, S.) asked the Postmaster General, Whether it is a fact that some transferred clerks employed at the Central Telegraph Office are paid higher salaries than London clerks of equal service; whether he will raise the salaries of the latter, so as to place them on a footing of equality with the former; and, whether, having regard to the fact that some of the officers on the secondclass are at present receiving less pay under the present and improved classification than they might have received under the old, he will take steps to compensate them for their loss? SIR HERBERT MAXWELL (A LORD of the TREASURY) (Wigton) CRIME AND OUTRAGE (IRELAND) (who replied) said: A few teleDISTURBANCES AT MIDDLETOWN FIRING FROM CARS. SIR JAMES CORRY (Armagh, Mid) asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If it is true that a number of people from Keady attended a Nationalist meeting at Middletown on Sunday last (4th), and, when returning, those on the first car, on passing the church of the Rev. Dr. Irwin at Madden, where service was being conducted, began shouting and fired a revolver, and those following fired revolvers at the congregation when leaving the church, to the great alarm of the women and children; and, whether the parties are known to the police ? THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER SECRETARY (Colonel KING-HARMAN) (Kent, Isle of Thanet) (who replied) said: It is the case that as a number of people from Keady were returning on cars from a Nationalist meeting at Middletown on Sunday, September 4, some of them indulged in Party cries and fired several shots along the way. When opposite Madden Church, where the congregation were leaving, some revolver shots were fired, and again passing the school-house. The women and children along the road were greatly alarmed. No one, however, appears to have been injured. None of the parties are at present known to the police; but every effort is being made to discover their names. graphists, transferred from the Provinces to the Central Telegraph Office, are paid at a higher rate than other telegraphists of equal service in that Office. The Postmaster General is not prepared to raise the salaries of the latter so as to place them on an equality with the others; because, in the case of the officers transferred from the Provinces, there were special circumstances justifying a special rate of pay, which did not exist in the case of those officers who had always been employed at tho Central Telegraph Office. As regards the latter part of the hon. Member's Question, the Postmaster General is not prepared to admit that the officers on the second-class at the Central Telegraph Office will suffer any loss. A large number of the officers on that class have already derived advantages from the improved classification, and the prospects of all have been decidedly improved. IRELAND-HORSE BREEDING--THE ROYAL DUBLIN SOCIETY. MR. CAREW (Kildare, N.) asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, If he his aware that two of the sires selected at the recent Dublin Horse Show for the purpose of improving the breed of horses in Ireland are the property of Captain Davis, of Kilcock; that one of them, named "Condor," having proved worthless as a racer, was purchased by him at a "weeding out sale in this |