MR. MELDON asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is a fact that Dr. Alexander Smiley, who had served for nearly thirty years as medical officer of the Ballycurry Dispensary district of the same Union, had been compelled by broken health (brought about by the arduous duties he was called on to discharge) to resign his office, had been recently refused any superannuation allowance by the guardians of the said Union, although the dispensary committee of the district had unanimously recommended him for a pension; and, if so, what was the reason assigned for such refusal; and, whether, considering the public disadvantage that a medical officer should, at the age of sixty-four, after thirty years' service, and in ill health, be compelled to persevere in the attempt to perform his duties, night and day, in a district the area of which is 14,215 acres, with a population of 4,533 persons, mostly in poor circumstances, he would take some steps to avoid this public evil? MR. W. E. FORSTER understood that, in the main, the facts, as stated in the Question, were correct. MR. BIGGAR asked by what evidence the right hon. Gentleman said the last portion of the statement was correct? MR. W. E. FORSTER said, he thought it almost spoke for itself. It would be very hard that an officer who had attained the age of 64 years should be obliged to perform the duties of such a district. MR. BIGGAR said, he asked the Question with reference to the two last lines, which stated, "with a population of 4,533 persons, mostly in poor circum stances." MR. W. E. FORSTER: I am afraid it is the case with many people in Ireland. MR. BIGGAR: No; it is not. EDUCATION DEPARTMENT-THE NEW CODE, SCHEDULE VI.-PUPIL TEACHERS. MR. SALT asked the Vice President of the Council, Whether any represenVOL. CCLXVIII. [THIRD SERIES.] tations have been made to him as to the inconvenience that will arise in certain of the elementary schools in arranging the daily school-work, if the teaching hours of the pupil teachers are reduced from thirty hours to twenty-five hours per week, as proposed in Schedule VI. of the new Code; and, whether he will consider the possibility of some modification of this general restriction, under the authority of the inspector or otherwise? MR. MUNDELLA, in reply, said, that representations had been made to him as to the inconvenience that would arise in certain elementary schools if the teaching hours of the pupil teachers were reduced from 30 to 25 per week, as proposed in Schedule VI. of the new Code; but he thought they were made under a misapprehension. Existing contracts were not at all affected by the change. It was only the contracts of the pupil teachers in the future that would be affected; and they should be very loth indeed to increase the hours, for they believed pupil teachers had been greatly over-worked, and that there had been a great deal of suffering in consequence. If inconvenience were found to result from the regulation, it could be modified; but he would wait for experience of its working before taking any step in that direction. MR. SEXTON asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether Mr. Thomas Brennan was suddenly removed, a few days since, from Kilmainham to Naas Prison, after an imprisonment in the former place for a period not far short of a year, many months of which he had spent in the infirmary of the Prison, where he was at the time of the order for his removal; whether the removal of Mr. Brennan was so suddenly executed as to prevent him from seeing, before his departure, his regular medical adviser, Dr. J. E. Kenny; and, whether the removal to Naas cuts Mr. Brennan off from Dr. Kenny's care; whether Mr. Brennan has been for some months in a precarious state of health; whether he will lay upon the Table Copies of the Report on Mr. Brennan's condition, made by Dr. R Robert MacDonnel about three months | quashed by the Court of Queen's ago, and, since then, by Dr. Carte, the Bench, on the application of the Atofficial medical attendant at Kilmain- torney General for Ireland, stated that ham Prison; and, whether any reason when the first witness on behalf of the can be assigned for the removal of Mr. next-of-kin, John Delaney, of AbbeyBrennan, in his dangerous state of laix, attended at the police barracks, health, from a prison, in which his own pursuant to the coroner's directions, in medical adviser had daily access to him, order to identify the sub-inspector who to one in which he is totally deprived of gave the order to charge, Delaney, on the exercise of that gentleman's skill entering the police barrack, was threatand care? ened, and it was stated his name would be taken down for the purpose of having him prosecuted; whether, during the inquest, and within forty-eight hours after this threat, John Delaney was in fact arrested under the Coercion Act, and has been since detained in Naas Gaol; what is the date of the warrant under which the said John Delaney was arrested; was not the said John Delaney at the time conducting a considerable business in Abbeylaix, which has been greatly injured by his detention; and is it the intention of the Chief Secretary to prolong the imprisonment of Delaney, which has now continued over five months, or to direct an inquiry into the circumstances of his case? MR. W. E. FORSTER, in reply, said, that Thomas Brennan had not been removed to Naas Gaol, but to Kilkenny. It was not the fact that he had been so suddenly removed as to prevent his having been seen by a doctor before he left. He was informed two days before of his intended removal, and, in accordance with his wish, Dr. Kenny saw him before he was removed. Dr. Carte also saw him. Thomas Brennan was in his ordinary health, and for some time back no reasonable complaint had been made on the ground of ill-health. Instead of the change being dangerous to Mr. Brennan, it was thought it would be beneficial. He did not consider he was called upon to lay upon the Table the certificate of the doctor. MR. SEXTON: Perhaps the right| hon. Gentleman will tell the House why Mr. Brennan was removed to Kilkenny? MR. W. E. FORSTER said, the reason Mr. Brennan was removed to Kilkenny was that the Executive found it necessary to secure the safe-keeping of the prisoners; and also to prevent their carrying on practices for which it had been found necessary to detain them, and to prevent them carrying on communication with outside parties. MR. SEXTON gave Notice that he would move for Papers bearing on this question. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. W. M. JOHNSON), in reply, said, he was not informed Mr. Adams was present. Delaney was arrested under the Protection of Person and Property Act, on the 17th of October, under a warrant dated the 14th instant. His case was under the consideration of the Lord Lieutenant. MR. PATRICK MARTIN asked whether, if it was proved to the satisfaction of the right hon. and learned Gentleman that Mr. Adams and the Coroner were present, any steps would be taken for the release of Delaney? THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. W. M. JOHNSON) said, he thought not, and for this reason-he STATE OF IRELAND—RIOT AT BALLY- thought it would be a bad precedent to RAGGET. MR. PATRICK MARTIN asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether Mr. Adams, of the Munster Circuit, who acted as counsel for the next-of-kin of James Marsfield, in respect to whose death the jury at the inquest, held in Ballyragget, returned a verdict of wilful murder against the sub-inspector in charge of the police, which has been lately establish that of making counsel in a case a witness in the case. MR. PATRICK MARTIN asked whether, in point of fact, the right hon. and learned Gentleman had received information to the effect that Mr. Adams was not present? THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. W. M. JOHNSON): I have received no information at all about Mr. Adams. COLONEL ALEXANDER asked the Secretary of State for India, Whether he will make Clauses 198 and 201 of the Royal Warrant applicable to Regiments serving in India, with a view to enable Quartermasters of those Regiments to obtain the advantages to which Quartermasters serving elsewhere are entitled; and, if he will state the reason why Quartermasters serving in India, who hold the rank of Captain, do not receive the allowances always granted in India to officers of that rank? THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON, in reply, said, that, so far as their English pay was concerned, Quartermasters of regiments serving in India came under the conditions and rates of the Royal Warrant referred to in the Question. With respect to their Indian pay and allowances, the Government of India would be addressed in view of their reporting on the subject of the hon. and gallant Member's Question; but he had to observe that the rank held by Quartermasters serving in India, as elsewhere, was honorary and relative only, and did not, therefore, necessarily carry with it the pay and allowances of substantive rank. EDUCATION DEPARTMENT-THE NEW CODE-ARTICLE 109, G. LORD GEORGE HAMILTON asked the Vice President of the Council, Whether, under the New Code (Art. 109, G. IV.), it is intended that scholars who may choose to remain at school after passing Standard VII. should contribute to the Grant made to their school, either by their attendances (Art. 13), or by their passes on re-examination in Standard VII. ? MR. MUNDELLA, in reply, said, that it was the intention of the Department that scholars who remained at the school after passing Standard VII. should contribute to the Grant. LORD GEORGE HAMILTON: Are those attendances to be included in the average attendances? MR. MUNDELLA: Certainly. EGYPT-ROBBERY OF BRITISH SUBJECTS. CAPTAIN AYLMER asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If he has received any communication from our representative in Egypt regarding the robbery, reported in the Globe," of all the effects of six English gentlemen, who have been travelling in the Atbara Mountains, by an Abyssinian tribe; and, whether the Egyptian Government have been asked to send assistance to these gentlemen? SIR CHARLES W. DILKE: No information has been received from Her Majesty's Agent in Egypt with regard to the robbery of Englishmen by Abyssinians in the Atbara Mountains; but as it is known that some of the party are personally acquainted with Sir Edward Malet, there is no doubt that he will do all in his power to assist them. CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT-THE NEW WAREHOUSING SCHEME. MR. SPENCER BALFOUR asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, If it is still intended to enforce the superannuation of those upper division clerks of the Customs Warehousing Department in the prime of life who do not wish to undertake service in the Outdoor Department, while retaining in other departments some thirty clerks who are upwards of sixty years of age? MR. THOROLD ROGERS asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Whether he will inform the House what are the immediate and prospective savings, if any, in the Estimates, from the impending changes in the Customs Department; and, whether they will not involve the superannuation of many public servants in the prime of life? LORD FREDERICK CAVENDISH: It is impossible, in the present state of affairs, to give a definite answer either to this Question or to the latter part of that of my hon. Friend the Member for Southwark. When we know how many of the warehousing clerks are willing to accept posts in the re-organized Department, and how many wish to retire, we shall be in a position to consider whether it will be necessary to compel any officers under 60 years of age to retire. I hope it will not be so necessary; and we shall endeavour to avoid this result by every means consistent with the interests of the public service. As regards the former part of the Question of my hon. Friend the Member for Southwark, I have to state that the Estimates now before the House are framed on the basis of the old establishments. The changes are expected ultimately to produce a considerable reduction of expense; but the amount of that reduction cannot yet be stated. Economy was not the first motive for making the change. PROTECTION OF PERSON AND PROPERTY (IRELAND) ACT, 1881-MESSRS. ALLIS, CULLINANE, FLOOD, AND DALTON. MR. HEALY asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he will have any objection to allow the four Poor Law guardians of Tipperary Union, at present confined as suspects in Kilkenny Gaol, Messrs. Allis, Cullinane, Flood, and Dalton, to be released on parole in order to take part in the election of officers for their union on Tuesday next? MR. W. E. FORSTER, in reply, said, he did not think that was a ground for releasing the prisoners in question. PRISONS (IRELAND)-OUTBREAK OF FEVER IN CLONMEL GAOL. MR. HEALY asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he can give the House any information as to the outbreak of fever in Clonmel Gaol, and as to the disposition or removal of the suspects therein confined? The hon. Member said he put the Question in consequence of a telegram he had received stating that this was the second outbreak of fever in the prison, and that prisoners were put in the cells next those where the sick prisoners were, and no attention had been made to complaints. MR. W. E. FORSTER, in reply, said, that he had sent a telegram that morning directing the Governor to inform him if fever had broken out in Clonmel Gaol, and, in reply, he had received a telegram which stated that a case of typhoid fever had occurred. The inspector and architect of the prison had gone to see what could be done for the safety of the prisoners; but he had not yet received their Report. In reply to Mr. HEALY, MR. W. E. FORSTER assured the hon. Member that he would do all he could in order to prevent a spread of the fever; and he should at once telegraph to inquire as to how the prisoner was who had been attacked by the disease. PROTECTION OF PERSON AND PRO. PERTY (IRELAND) ACT, 1881-MR. MARTIN O'SULLIVAN. MR. HEALY asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is a fact that Mr. Martin O'Sullivan, who was arrested on the 23rd June 1881, was deprived by the Governor of Limerick Gaol of his necktie; whether, although Mr. O'Sullivan demanded it several times, the Governor refused to give it up; whether it is true that the flags in one of the yards in Limerick prison on a wet day are so be exercised in, and that in another covered with water that the yard cannot yard there is a closet which sometimes emits such an odour as to prevent the suspects from going within a long distance of it; whether it is a fact that, when letters are stopped by the Governor of Limerick Gaol, he will not return to the suspects the penny stamps on the back of the envelopes; and whether it is true that, in this and other gaols, suspects are charged for having their cells cleaned? MR. W. E. FORSTER, in reply, said, that when Mr. O'Sullivan was arrested he wore a large green tie with "Land League" and a harp without a crown worked in with white silk. The Governor took the tie from him. He asked for its return, and it was refused; but when he was discharged it was returned to him. There was a closet in the yard; but it was a good one. During alterations portion of the yard was exposed to the bad weather; but it was now enclosed. In future, when it was necessary to stop a letter at Limerick Gaol, the stamp would be returned to the sender. It was quite true that the "suspects having their cells cleaned, unless they were charged 1d. a-day for did it themselves; but that matter was discussed last year, and he did not see any reason now for making a change. STRAITS SETTLEMENTS-SLAVERY IN THE MALAY PENINSULA. MR. GORST asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether he will lay upon the Table of the House Papers which will show the policy in reference to slavery pursued by the British Government in the protected Native States in the Malay Peninsula; and, what steps have been taken subsequent to the Despatch of the late Secretary of | offered, while all the other Sub-ComState of March 5th 1879, to promote the Abolition of Slavery in Perak? MR. COURTNEY: Papers on this subject shall be prepared and laid upon the Table of the House. The existence of slavery in the Malay Peninsula attracted the attention of the late Secretary of State, who took steps to secure its gradual extinction; and in the despatch of the 5th of March, 1879, gave orders to prevent the application of the system of debt-slavery to any new cases. In a despatch written on the 4th instant the Earl of Kimberley directed the Governor of the Straits Settlements to report on the progress that had been made towards the extinction of debt-slavery since the despatch of his Predecessor. LAND LAW (IRELAND) ACT, 1881, SEC. 8 -"ADAMS v. DUNSEATH." missions fix the value without any evidence on the point having been offered, and discourage the practice of offering such evidence; whether it is the case that the Lord Chancellor and the Master of the Rolls, in their respective judgments in the case of Adams v. Dunseath, expressed contrary opinions as to the meaning of the phrase "true value" of a tenancy; whether it is a fact that the power of fixing a specified value does not apply at all when a holding is subject to the Ulster Custom; and, whether, having regard to the difficulties and contradictions which section eight, sub-section five of the Land Act has given rise to, the Government will take steps to have it repealed? MR. GLADSTONE: I have telegraphed to Dublin; but, unfortunately, in consequence of the absence of Mr. MR. HEALY asked the First Lord of Justice O'Hagan, it is impossible for me the Treasury, Whether his attention has to obtain either the verification or the been called to the case of Cullen, ten- correction of any of the recitals contained ant, Bunbury, landlord, reported in the in this Question. I may, perhaps, re"Freeman's Journal" of the 24th instant, mind the hon. Member that when the in which Judge O'Hagan commented on Land Act was in Committee, this rather the "extreme difficulty of the task im- important subsidiary provision of the Act posed on the Land Commission" by was almost the only one which passed section eight, sub-section five of the through the Committee without any opLand Act, which requires the Court, on position or discussion whatever. I do not application, to fix a specified value of a think a single word was said on the subtenancy with a view to a subsequent ject. If the hon. Gentleman were correct sale, and expressed a wish that he could, in the allegations contained in the Quesif possible, evade the difficult task thus tion, we should be very desirous to know imposed on the Court; whether he is what are the views of the Judges and aware that the same difficulty has arisen Commissioners about it—what light their before the Sub Commissions all over experience may have thrown on the Ireland, and resulted in extreme diverg-question; and we shall consider all inence of practice and procedure among those bodies; whether it is the case that one Sub-Commission has decided that its duty, under the circumstances referred to, is to fix the highest market value of the tenancy as the specified value, while Mr. Justice O'Hagan has expressed an opinion that the specified value should not be the highest market value; that another Sub-Commission was in the habit of fixing, as the specified value, the maximum amount of compensation for disturbance which the tenant would be entitled to if arbitrarily evicted, and without any reference to the tenant's improvements, but was subsequently compelled to change this practice; that one of the Sub-Commissions has refused to fix a specified value at all, unless specific evidence on the point is formation so obtained on that and other points without any prejudice whatever. With respect to the closing paragraph of the Question, and the engagement to make an amendment on the Act, I must refer the hon. Member to what I ventured to say a few days ago, and repeat that the Government must depend on the co-operation of the House with respect to their passing measures through the House, and be cautious as to engagements on that subject until they have secured an opportunity. STATE OF IRELAND-MURDER OF MR. A. E. HERBERT. MR. BOURKE inquired of the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he can give any information to the House with respect to the |