he will lay upon the Table of the House a Copy of the Treasury Minute, of 1841, requiring the Board of Manufactures and the Board of Fishery in Scotland to appoint a joint secretary to carry on the duties of the two Boards? LORD FREDERICK CAVENDISH, in reply, said, that the Treasury Warrant appointing a joint establishment for the Boards of Fisheries and Manufactures in Scotland was a purely formal document, and did not appear to him to be of sufficient interest to be laid on the Table; but if his hon. and gallant Friend would like to see it, he should be very happy to show it him. trate, who was the licensing officer, refused him an arms licence. These magistrates, in doing this, exercised the discretion with which the law has invested them; and even if I had the power, which I have not, I should not think of interfering with them, or reviewing their action in the matter. MR. HEALY: That is no answer to my Question. Attention had been called to the circumstance that people had not arms with which to defend themselves against "Moonlighters,' and yet licences were denied them when they wanted arms. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. W. M. JOHNSON) PROTECTION OF PERSON AND PRO- thought it quite sufficient to say that MR. LEWIS asked Mr. Attorney General for Ireland, Whether Mr. C. S. Parnell, M.P., having been arrested on the 13th October last under the provisions of the Act 44 Vic. c. 4 s. 1, and having been released from custody on the 11th instant, can now be lawfully re-arrested or detained in custody under the original warrant; and, whether, if a new warrant be necessary for his rearrest or further detention in custody, it can be issued in respect of the same offence? THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. W. M. JOHNSON): Mr. Parnell, on surrendering himself at Kilmainham, may lawfully be detained in custody under the original warrants. PEACE PRESERVATION (IRELAND) ACT, 1881-ARMS LICENCES. MR. HEALY asked Mr. Attorney General for Ireland, Whether it is the fact that Mr. G. J. Stephens, of Leskinfin, Gorey, when recently applying for an arms licence, was first asked if he belonged to the Land League, and, having replied that he did when it was legal, the magistrate then inquired if he had subscribed to the fund for the suspects; and, upon stating that he did, was told that it was illegal, and, in consequence, was refused a licence; and, whether the Government approve of refusals to grant licences on such grounds? the magistrates had exercised their discretion. It was not in his power to review what they had done, nor to ascertain their reasons if they gave any further decisions; but, so far as he could give an opinion, he thought that if there were fewer arms in Ireland, and the facilities for obtaining them much less, it would be much to the advantage of the country. STATE OF IRELAND-POLICE VISITS. General for Ireland, Whether it is the MR. HEALY asked Mr. Attorney fact that Mr. Martin O'Sullivan, of Lacka Ballyduff, county Kerry, having been bound to be of good behaviour on a charge of " Boycotting," has his house constantly visited during the night by the police, to the great alarm of his family; and, whether this is necessary; and, if not, whether a stop can be put to the practice? THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. W. M. JOHNSON): An occasional visit to this man's house is considered necessary; but no inconvenience or alarm has been caused to his family. MR. HEALY asked what was the usual hour of their visits? THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. W. M. JOHNSON) could not say; but he apprehended that they were made at the hour at which unlawful practices were most likely to be detected. MR. LEAMY asked if they were to THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR understand that the right hon. and IRELAND (Mr. W. M. JOHNSON): The learned Gentleman considered his police local magistrates refused a certificate to were at liberty to make domiciliary Mr. Stephens; and the resident magis-visits at any hour they thought fit? THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR | quence, he has been obliged to give up IRELAND (Mr. W. M. JOHNSON) re- his business correspondence; whether plied that these were police visits, and not domiciliary visits; and the police would be guilty of a dereliction of duty if they failed to make them. MR. HEALY said, he hoped the next time the police came there they would get a warm reception. ["Order!"] STATE OF IRELAND-HOUSE SEARCHES MR. REDMOND asked Mr. Attorney General for Ireland, Whether it is a fact that on Sunday the 26th March, Constable Hayden and a body of police attempted to search the house of Mr. John Egan, of Ballinasloe, without warrant or authority; that on the following day they again visited his house, and in spite of his opposition proceeded to search the building, refusing to show any warrant to authorise them; whether the police were justified in taking this action; and, whether Mr. Egan would not have been acting legally had he ejected them by force from his house? Mr. P. J. Murphy, T.C. of Cork, who was arrested shortly after Mr. O'Connor, and on a similar charge, has been released for some months; and, whether, under these circumstances, he will order the release of Mr. O'Connor, or his transfer to Kilmainham, to enable him to carry on his business? THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. W. M. JOHNSON): Mr. Prison because it was considered necesO'Connor was transferred to Clonmel will excuse me from giving any further sary and expedient. The hon. Member reason. been transferred from Naas to KilmainMr. O'Connor had formerly and while in Kilmainham he was placed ham at the instance of his employers; in the most convenient cell which could be appropriated to his use. I am informed that his cell in Clonmel is 13 feet by 5 feet 1 inch, and that there is sufficient light in it to read by; therefore, I should infer that there is sufficient light also to write by. Mr. Murphy, who was arrested two days before Mr. O'Connor, has been released, I underthat Mr. O'Connor's case will be shortly stand, on his parole; and I am informed reconsidered. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. W. M. JOHNSON): This search was made by the Constabulary, under the orders of their officer, for dynamite, with which an abominable attempt was feloniously made to blow POOR LAW (IRELAND) up a gentleman's house in the neighbourhood. MR. REDMOND asked Mr. Attorney General for Ireland, Upon what grounds Mr. John O'Connor, of Cork, who has been imprisoned for nine months under the Coercion Act, was recently removed from Kilmainham to Clonmel Gaol; whether Mr. O'Connor had been previously transferred from Naas to Kilmainham, at the instance of his business employers, so that he might be able more conveniently to pursue his usual occupation; whether he was placed in a large cell by the Governor of Kilmainham, to afford him space and light to keep the books and ledgers appertaining to his business; whether the cell Mr. O'Connor now occupies in Clonmel is only five feet wide, and so dark that he is obliged to light a candle at noon to enable him to write; whether, in conse BALLYCARY DISPENSARY DISTRICT AND LARNE WORKHOUSE. MR. BIGGAR asked Mr. Attorney General for Ireland, What is the largest number of paupers who have been inmates of Larne Workhouse from the Ballcary Dispensary district during the past year; and, how many persons have received outdoor relief from same district during that time? THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. W. M. JOHNSON): The number of paupers from the Ballcary Dispensary district relieved in the Larne poor-house for the year ending March 31 last was 19, the largest number at one time being 11. The number relieved out of the poor-house during the same period was 15. SOUTH KENSINGTON MUSEUMMUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY. MR. BIRKBECK asked the First Commissioner of Works, Whether, in view of the opening of the International Fisheries Exhibition, on the 1st of May 1883, measures are being taken to com- | discussion of the subject till we have a plete, at an early date, the building pro- plan to propose, and till we see our way posed to be erected in connection with to ask the House of Commons to give it the new Natural History Museum in effectual and continuous attention. Cromwell Road, and intended to receive the Fish Collection, and other specimens preserved in spirit, now at the British Museum? MR. SHAW LEFEVRE, in reply, said, the building would be finished in November next. STATE OF IRELAND-THE RECENT MURDERS. SIR EARDLEY WILMOT asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether, with reference to the late atrocious assassination of Mrs. Smythe, near Collinstown, and other similar outrages, Her Majesty's Government have had under consideration, during the Recess, any measures for vindicating the power and authority of the Law in Ireland; and, if so, if he will kindly state what measures the Government propose to adopt? At the same time, perhaps, he might ask the right hon. Gentleman if his attention had been drawn to another atrocious outrage which had since occurred in Limerick on Sunday last, when a lady, accompanied by another lady, was fired at, while returning from church, by three men with blackened faces who were concealed behind a hedge? MR. GLADSTONE: The hon. Member seems disposed to think that all outrages are, in the first instance, reported to me when they take place in Ireland. That is not so. They are first reported to the Irish Government, and reports are only mentioned to me in certain cases. I have no detailed information of the outrage to which the hon. Member has last referred; but I understand it is not the case that the ladies were fired at. Her Majesty's Government had under consideration, and have constantly under consideration, all measures that they can take, and they have taken the best measures within their power, within the limits of the existing law. I include, of course, the extraordinary powers entrusted to them by Parliament. With regard to other measures, it is obviously quite impossible that I should state, in answer to a Question, what will be the policy of the Government with respect to that country. And I am bound to say this-that I think we should make a very great mistake if we entered upon a ENGLAND AND FRANCE - THE MR. E. W. HARCOURT asked the First Lord of the Treasury, By whom are the expenses of guarding the tunnel between Dover and Calais to be borne, by the Nation or by the Railway Company? MR. GLADSTONE: The question of the expense of guarding the Tunnel between Dover and Calais forms a part of the general question; and what, I presume, the hon. Gentleman desires is an assurance from Her Majesty's Government that they will do nothing that has any tendency to commit, directly or indirectly, by word or act, the taxpayers or ratepayers of this country to any expense, actual or contingent, in connection with the Tunnel, unless under the authority and with the full sanction of Parliament, and that assurance I can give him. SIR HARRY VERNEY asked if the right hon. Gentleman would give the House an opportunity of discussing the question? MR. GLADSTONE: I believe my hon. Friend has a more sure reliance in this matter than upon any statement I can make, for nothing, I apprehend, can possibly be done except with the authority of this House; and whether I wish it or not, it is quite certain there will be ample opportunity for discussing the subject. LAND LAW (IRELAND) ACT, 1881SECTION 8. MR. LEAMY asked Mr. Attorney General for Ireland, If he will request the Land Commissioners, in those cases in which they are called on under the eighth section of the Land Act to place a value on the interest of a tenant, to ascertain if the tenant has purchased his interest from his predecessor, and in every case in which the tenant has so purchased, to state, in the Returns hereafter to be presented to the House, the amount of the purchase money paid by the tenant, as well as the value placed on the tenancy by the Court? THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. W. M. JOHNSON): My right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary | ject to the Ulster Custom; and, whehas ascertained that, while in these cases ther, having regard to the difficulties the purchase-money alleged to have been and contradictions which section eight, paid by the tenant would most probably sub-section five of the Land Act has form part of the evidence, yet it cannot given rise to, the Government will take always be ascertained with certainty by steps to have it repealed? the Court, and the Commissioners, therefore, cannot undertake to state it in their Returns. MR. GLADSTONE: I am afraid I could not give a satisfactory and full answer to the hon. Member's Question within the proper limits of an answer to a Question; but I shall do the best in my power. It is quite true that Judge O'Hagan has commented on the difficulty of the task referred to-namely, the task imposed on the Commissioners by Section 8, sub-section 5, of the Land Act, which contemplates the fixing of the value of a tenancy during a statutable term. I do not know whether the hon. Gentleman intended to ascribe the use of the word "evade" to Judge O'Hagan - probably he did not-but Judge O'Hagan does not admit that he applied any such word in reference to any provision of the Act of Parliament. Moreover, he did state that as between the Commissioners and the Sub-Commissioners there is no complete understanding yet established as to the rule of procedure in dealing with that particular sub-section; and I may remind the hon. Member that, although he himself took a very active-and I must say a most highly-informed part-in the discussion of this Bill, yet there was no discussion in the House on this sub-section, so that the Sub-Commissioners have not the advantage of such guidance as possibly in some cases they may be able to draw from the lengthened debates in Parliament. Of course, there must be further official information be MR. HEALY asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether his attention has been called to the case of Cullen, tenant, Bunbury, landlord, reported in the "Freeman's Journal" of the 24th instant, in which Judge O'Hagan commented on the "extreme difficulty of the task imposed on the Land Commission" by section eight, sub-section five of the Land Act, which requires the Court, on application, to fix a specified value of a tenancy with a view to a subsequent sale, and expressed a wish that he could, if possible, evade the difficult task thus imposed on the Court; whether he is aware that the same difficulty has arisen before the Sub-Commissions all over Ireland, and resulted in extreme divergence 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 sub-fore it can be stated whether there has sequently 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 offered, while all the other SubCommissions 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 sub been that "extreme divergence of prac tice" which the hon. Gentleman refers to; but the matter will be borne in mind with a view to a full and satisfactory reply. With regard to the statement that Mr. Justice O'Hagan had expressed an opinion that the specified value should not be the highest value, Justice O'Hagan's expression was that the specified value was to be held to be the true value, and I do not know that I could add anything to that statement of fact. I am not here to justify or explain any expression the Judge might use; nor would the Judge be a party to my undertaking one course or the other. With regard to the fifth point, we be graph. My Question is, Whether he is aware that at Tulla, in the county Clare, where a number of families have been evicted and huts were being erected to shelter them, Mr. Clifford Lloyd interfered to-day, stating that the building of the huts was illegal, and ordered the builder to leave the place this evening, and informed him that unless he left he would be arrested? I also ask whether Mr. Clifford Lloyd acted within his legal rights; and, if so, under what statute he could arrest the builder in case he refused to leave? lieve that it is not the case; but we have heard that one Sub-Commissioner has taken "specified value" as meaning the maximum compensation for disturbance, plus the compensation for improvements. With regard to the sixth point contained in the close of the third paragraph, the answer is in the affirmative, and appeals on the subject are now pending. With regard to the seventh point, the Lord Chancellor took the "true value" to mean what the holding would bond fide bring in the open market if sold to an unobjectionable person; and the Master of the Rolls stated the "true value could not be the market value, but what, having regard to the interests of landlord and tenant respectively under this code, would be the true value as between them. With respect to the eighth point contained in the last paragraph but one, the answer is simply, "Yes, it is a fact;" and with respect to the ninth point, I must say that is a matter which I think could not be entered upon in answer to a Question; but there will be an early opportunity of again referring to it and of discussing it in the House. In reply to Mr. BIGGAR, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. W. M. JOHNSON) said, he was not aware that Mr. Bomford was still a Sub-Commissioner acting in the county Cavan. He was under the impression Mr. Bomford was not. MR. HEALY: Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman state whether the Members of this House will get any official information as to the names of the Sub-Commissioners and their districts? THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. W. M. JOHNSON): The new ones is it? MR. HEALY: All of them. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. W. M. JOHNSON): They have all been published from time to time. [Cries of" Where, where?" and "Order!"] I shall ascertain and inform the hon. Member. STATE OF IRELAND-LAND LEAGUE HUTS-MR. CLIFFORD LLOYD. MR. SEXTON: I wish to address a Question to the right hon. and learned Gentleman the Attorney General for Ireland on an urgent matter which has just been communicated to me by tele THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. W. M. JOHNSON): The first part of the Question deals with a matter of fact, and, as I have not had the advantage of seeing the telegram which the hon. Member quotes, I cannot answer it. Assuming that the facts are, as stated by the hon. Member, correct, if Mr. Clifford Lloyd found that those tenants, or others on their behalf, were building huts in which the evicted persons might carefully watch the farms from which they had been evicted for the purpose of doing mischief to any persons who might take them, or with those farms, then, in my opinion, Mr. the object of preventing persons taking Clifford Lloyd has acted rightly. MR. SEXTON: Under what Act of Parliament? THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR the Common Law, Sir. His duty is to IRELAND (Mr. W. M. JOHNSON): Under protect life and property. COAL MINES-THE WEARDALE COLLIERY EXPLOSION. MR. BROADHURST asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether he can give the House any further information with regard to the colliery explosion in Durham than that which appears in the evening papers? SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT: Sir, I have received a telegram from Mr. Bell, the Government Inspector of Mines, and he says "I regret to inform you of an explosion of a colliery belonging to the Weardale Coal and Coke Company, which occurred at 1.30 this morning. Only the night shift, consisting of 40 men, was in the pit at the time. Twenty have been rescued alive. Six bodies have been recovered; hope to reach the remainder during the evening. The work of exploration is going on satisfactorily, there being plenty of engineer |