MR. H. R. BRAND said, he would be much obliged if the right hon. Gentleman could direct inquiries to be made how it was that the men were not able to take a rest after the Review, and before they returned? MR. CHILDERS said, he thought he could answer that Question now. Nothing was more disagreeable to the men than not to go back promptly to their dinner; and certainly the greater part of the casualities which occurred took place directly in consequence of that somewhat natural desire, after being out all the morning, to get their dinners as soon as possible. ARMY ORGANIZATION (THE AUXI- he was riding on a waggon all day, and | large blocks of ice will be in the rear of had undergone no fatigue, nor did he each division and at the railways, and complain till later in the day. It is re- great attention has been paid to the markable that from the Brigade which medical arrangements, both on the went over the most ground and did the ground and at the stations. Should the hardest work the smallest number of day be very hot, care will be taken to men-only 12-fell out, and none went keep the men under the trees as much into hospital. In reply to the next Ques- as possible. I must apologize to the tion, I find that there is nothing in the House for giving so long an answer; Queen's Regulations limiting the hours but it is perhaps justified by the public for parades or exercises in this country; interest in this matter. but it is well understood, and the practice is universally acted upon, that at times of exceptional heat all parades are to take place in the early morning, so that troops may be back in camp before the power of the sun becomes excessive. I do not think that, beyond this wellunderstood rule, attention to which has been especially called by a Circular issued on Tuesday, the discretion of commanding officers need be hampered. We are all greatly distressed by, and deeply lament the deaths of these men; but I think I have stated plainly the exceptional circumstances under which they occurred. With reference to my hon. Friend's last Question, it may interest the House to know what precautions have been taken as to the Volunteer Review by the Quartermaster General, who has been for some time past engaged in preparations for the comfort of the men taking part in the Review. With respect to the conveyance of the 52,000 men to Windsor, the Railway Companies have heartily co-operated with the military authorities, and all practical arrangements have been attended to. As to the supply of food during the day, this has always been arranged by the commanding officers of the respective regiments; but we endeavoured to help them by suggesting to some large firms accustomed to such business that they should establish booths for the sale of provisions on the ground, under arrangements with the Ranger of the Park. We found, however, that no well-known firm would undertake this; and it was then settled to revert to the ordinary plan, which seems most acceptable to the corps themselves; and I have authorized, as a special and exceptional arrangement, having regard to the unusual number of men assembled on the ground, the issue of a ration allowance of 18. or 2s. a-head, according to the distance the men have come. Ample supplies of water and COLONEL KENNARD asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether Sergeant Majors of the Volunteers, appointed as such before the Royal Warrant of 1878, may be allowed to retain their rank and enjoy all the advantages accruing to them under that title, as regards pension? MR. CHILDERS: No, Sir. This question was fully and carefully considered by my Predecessor; and I am not prepared to alter the decision, which only gave to Volunteer corps an acting sergeant-major. ARMY ORGANIZATION SCHEME-RULE 77-COMPULSORY RETIREMENT. MAJOR O'BEIRNE asked the Secretary of State for War, If officers who entered the service above the age of twenty from the Militia, or as University candidates, and in whose favour a relaxation is made in the age of compulsory retirement, by Rule 77 of the New Army Reorganisation Scheme, will be allowed to benefit likewise by Rule 49, and consequently become available for regimental and staff employment up to the age of forty-five? MR. CHILDERS: Yes, Sir; those | officer who had acted as Political Secreofficers will be able to do what my hon. tary, and had been sent on various misFriend suggests. sions in the interior. MR. HEALY asked whether the COMMERCIAL TREATY WITH FRANCE British Government claimed the right to exact tribute from every unhappy African King? (NEGOTIATIONS). SIR CHARLES W. DILKE: No, Sir. Barrow had any authority to treat MR. RICHARD asked whether Capwith the King of Ashantee for the surrender of the Axe? SIR CHARLES FORSTER asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether deputations from trad-tain ing communities can be received now that the proceedings of the French Commissioners have been suspended; and, if not, whether any facilities can be afforded for making representations as to the manner in which particular trades will be affected by the proposed Treaty? SIR CHARLES W. DILKE: The sittings of the Royal Commission for the purpose of receiving deputations are for the present suspended; but the Commissioners will be very happy to receive any written representations which particular trades may have omitted to send in. SIR CHARLES W. DILKE: Captain Barrow was authorized to treat with the King of Ashantee, but not to demand the surrender of the axe. POST OFFICE (IRELAND) — MAIL TRAINS TO THE SOUTH AND WESTSTOPPAGE AT THURLES. MR. A. MOORE asked the Postmaster General, Whether he has received several applications from public bodies and private individuals begging him to permit the mail trains to be stopped at Thurles, and thus enable passengers and mails to be more conveniently and speedily transmitted to Clonmel and other districts by the new line of Railway recently opened; whether he is aware that the line was constructed on a guarantee on the rates of the County; of the ratepayers, and the convenience and, whether, considering the interests of the public, he can now accede to these applications? AFRICA (WEST COAST) - THE WAR WITH ASHANTEE-PAYMENT OF FINE. MR. RICHARD asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether it is correct, as stated in the papers, that the 2,000 ounces of gold dust imposed as a fine on the King of Ashantee have arrived in this country; whether, as also alleged, the celebrated Gold Axe of Ashantee, an article held in great reverence by the King and people of that country as "an emblem had carefully considered the applicaMR. FAWCETT, in reply, said, he of high sovereignty," and forming notions referred to in the Question, and part of the exacted indemnity, has, by the repeated importunities of a trading captain, Captain Barrow, been delivered captain, Captain Barrow, been delivered up and brought to England as a present to the Queen; and, whether Captain Barrow was invested with any official authority to treat with the King of Ashantee for the surrender of this article? SIR CHARLES W. DILKE, in reply, said, that 1,200 ounces of gold dust had been received out of 2,000, and that bonds had been taken for the remainder in six months. Papers to be laid before Parliament would show the circumstances in which the King of Ashantee had decided to send the Gold Axe. The King stated that he surrendered it on the understanding that it would be sent to England to the Queen. Captain Barrow was not in the Merchant Service, but was a distinguished military found that no public advantage would Limerick. This would delay the letters, to arrive somewhat later at Cork and FOREIGN JEWS IN RUSSIA-EXPUL SION OF MR. L. LEWISOHN, A NATURALIZED BRITISH SUBJECT. BARON HENRY DE WORMS asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the Report of the Law Officers of the Crown on the case of Mr. Lewisohn has been received; and, if so, whether the illegality of Mr. Lewisohn's expulsion is confirmed by that report or not; and, whether Her Majesty's Go- | called to a Report, issued to Members vernment will alone, or acting in con- on the 5th July, drawn up by the Asjunction with those Powers whose sistant Commissioners on Agriculture, Jewish subjects have been similarly ill- and dated 1st January 1880; whether treated, address a protest to the Russian he has noticed the following statement Government on the subject? in the Report with reference to the condition of the people in many parts of Ireland :— SIR CHARLES W. DILKE: We have received a preliminary Report from the Law Officers of the Crown, and communications on the subject are passing. NATIONAL EDUCATION (IRELAND) SCHOOL CHILDREN. MR. W. J. CORBET asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If he has had his attention called to the Report of the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland, for the year 1880, just placed in the hands of Members; whether he has noticed the following statement with reference to the great increase in the daily average attendance of pupils : : "This unusually large increase of 33,503 in the average attendance is to a considerable extent due to the benevolent operations of the Committee organised by her Grace the Duchess of Marlborough, the Mansion House Committee, and the New York Herald' Committee, who, in the early part of the year, supplied clothing and rations of food to destitute children in the schools of the impoverished districts; ' and, whether, looking to the impossibility of dealing permanently with this sad form of want in Ireland by means of private benevolence, he will advise the Government to take into consideration the necessity for making some arrangement by which a ration of food shall be given daily, at the public expense, to destitute children attending school in the impoverished districts? MR. W. E. FORSTER, in reply, said, that he had seen the extract quoted by the hon. Member, but feared that if he acted on the suggestion he should be introducing a most important change. To give daily rations of food at the public expense would virtually be to give outdoor relief, and the hon. Member would at once perceive the great danger of taking such a course. AGRICULTURAL DISTRESS (IRELAND) -REPORT OF THE DUKE OF RICHMOND'S COMMISSION. MR. W. J. CORBET asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether his attention has been "A succession of bad harvests has prevented them from paying up their accounts regularly. In this way debts have accumulated until many of the small farmers have come to owe the shopkeepers and others four, five, six, and even ten times the amount of their annual rent; whether he has noticed, amongst others, the following statements : could flourish under such conditions as we have "It appears to us that no industrial system described. Our experience justifies us in saying that there are many thousands of small farmers in Ireland who are paying away as interest an amount equal to the rent to their land;' and again, "We have already visited hundreds of these farms, and found the occupants of them in so deplorable a condition that we feel unable to describe it in a way which would enable His Grace (the Lord Lieutenant) to realise it fully;" whether, looking to the fact that the revelations contained in the Report would, if supplied in time, have afforded valuable information to Members in considering the Irish Land Bill, he can inform the House why it was kept back so long; and, whether any further Report has been made by the Assistant Commissioners; and, if so, when can it be laid upon the Table of the House? MR. W. E. FORSTER, in reply, said, he thought the hon. Member had asked him this Question by mistake. It ought to have been asked of some Member of the Duke of Richmond's Commission. That Commission was not under the control of the Irish Government. He supposed the hon. Member was induced to ask him the Question because of the presence of the words "His Grace" in one of the extracts. The words "His Grace" referred to the Duke of Richmond, and not to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. MR. DAWSON: The Report referred to was addressed to the Lord Lieutenant. MR. W. E. FORSTER said, he had the Report in his hand, and it began by stating submit to the consideration of His Grace the "In accordance with your instructions, we President of the Royal Agricultural Commission, &c." VISCOUNT EMLYN asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether he can now lay upon the Table of the House a Copy of the Rules made by him under the provisions of the Army Discipline and Regulation Act, for the punishment of serious offences committed by soldiers upon active service? MR. CHILDERS: No, Sir; but I hope to be able to do so before the end of the month. I have not received all the strictly confidential opinions for which I applied to officers of experience in command; but I expect these inquiries will be completed in a few days. TURKEY AND GREECE - THE MR. ARTHUR ARNOLD asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the evacuation of the first section of the territory to be ceded to Greece by Turkey not later than July 5th 1881, under the stipulations of the annex to the Convention of May 24th 1881, has been duly carried out? SIR CHARLES W. DILKE; A telegram was received yesterday from General Hamley stating that the Turks had retired from the Frontier, and that the Greeks had crossed and taken possession. All had been done in good order. PIERS AND HARBOURS (IRELANDCO. CLARE. MR. O'SHEA asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Whether his attention has been called to the smallness of the sums of money granted from any of the sources recently available for such purposes, towards the improvement of the fishing harbours and creeks in Clare; whether representations have been made to him as to the extraordinary way in which the fishermen of that county have availed themselves of every chance that has been afforded them, and as to the alacrity with which they have paid rents and other debts, out of their earnings under the first revival of their industry; and, whether under these circumstances, Her Majesty's Government are disposed to afford any further facilities for the improvement of some of the fishing harbours and creeks on that dangerous coast? LORD FREDERICK CAVENDISH: Until I read my hon. Friend's Question, my attention had not been called to the smallness of the sums assigned to County Clare. I may say, however, that the apportionment of the recent Canadian and Parliamentary grants of £60,000 was made on the recommendation of a Special Committee, which carefully examined the proposals brought before it, and the Treasury have no reason for thinking that the claims of County Clare were not duly weighed. I have no special knowledge of the condition of the fishermen on that coast. Considering the terms on which the special grant of £45,000 was made last year, I cannot at present make any promise with respect to further free grants. Any application for a loan on sufficient security, however, will be carefully considered. TRADE AND COMMERCE-FOREIGN COMMERCIAL TREATIES. MR. JACKSON asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether, following the precedent of 1872, when M. Kindt was present as the representative of Belgium at the discussions in Paris between the British and French Commissioners to settle the Compensatory Duties, Her Majesty's Government will take steps to secure that a representative of England shall be present at the Conferences about to be held to discuss the terms of Commercial Treaties between France and Belgium, and between France and other countries? SIR CHARLES W. DILKE. I would beg leave to point out to the hon. Member that there is no precedent in the case of the negotiations in 1872 for what he proposes should be done now. When M. Kindt was present at the discussions between the British and French Commissioners in that year, a Treaty between this country and France had already been signed, and it was considered that the presence of a wellqualified and impartial Belgian official would facilitate an agreement as to the rates of the Compensatory Duties. In the present case, however, no Treaty has been signed; and I can hardly think it probable that the French Government would consent to the unusual, if not unprecedented, course which the hon. Member proposes. PROTECTION OF PERSON AND PROPERTY (IRELAND) ACT, 1881 - MR. CUNNINGHAM, OF LOUGHREA, A PRISONER UNDER THE ACT. MR. T. P. O'CONNOR asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he is aware that Mr. Cunningham of Loughrea, who has been imprisoned under the Coercion Act, and now lies in Dundalk Gaol on the charge of meeting to murder presumably the man Dempsey, is a relative of the murdered man? MR. W. E. FORSTER, in reply, said, he was informed that Mr. Cunningham, who was now in Dundalk Gaol, was a second cousin of the man Dempsey. The warrant for his arrest stated that he was suspected of inciting to murder. He might remind the hon. Member that there hed been three bad murders lately in the Loughrea district. ARMY (AUXILIARY FORCES)—THE WINDSOR REVIEW. MR. SCHREIBER: I beg, before asking the Question which stands in my name, to request the permission of the House to read a short extract from the morning papers of Tuesday on which my Question is founded. The extract says "Enclosures will be reserved to the left of Her Majesty for the members of the Royal Household, the Press, the Four-in-Hand Club, the Eton Boys-at least, those of them who are not present with their corps on the field-officers on foot and in uniform. On the right of Her Majesty places will be reserved for the Park officials, the children of the Royal Schools, the students of Cooper's Hill Indian Engineering College, and with these exceptions the remainder of the line of view will be free to all comers " that is to say, to Mr. Speaker, to the Lord Chancellor, and to Members of both Houses of Parliament. In answer to previous Questions on the same subject, I have hitherto been told that Members of this and the other House of Parliament could not have reserved places at the Review, because no places were to be reserved. After what has appeared in the newspapers on the subject, I have now to ask the Secretary of State for War, Whether it could be arranged that Peers and Members of Parliament wishing to attend the Volunteer Review on Saturday should be admitted, on presentation of their cards, to the spaces which it now hand and on the left of the position to appears will be reserved on the right. be occupied by Her Majesty? MR. CHILDERS: My answer is that the whole of the arrangements rest not with me, but with the Ranger of the Park. I know nothing of, and have not even seen, the notice in the paper quoted by the hon. Member. I may add that I have no intention of making to the Ranger any representations on the subject. MR. SCHREIBER wished distinctly to understand whether the right hon. Gentleman, having seen the Question on the Paper for some days past, had not thought fit to communicate with His Royal Highness the Ranger of Windsor Park on a subject of so much interest to Members of both Houses of Parliament? MR. CHILDERS: I have already twice answered the Question, and have distinctly stated that I have no authority in the matter. I do not propose to address to the Ranger any communication on the subject. MR. LABOUCHERE asked what Mithe action of the Ranger? nister was responsible to Parliament for MR. CHILDERS: I myself most certainly am not. I believe the First Com missioner of Works is. MR. T. P. O'CONNOR asked what was the name of this Ranger who had put this snub on the House of Commons? MR. CHILDERS said, that, in his opinion, the concluding words of the hon. Member were decidedly un-Parliamentary. MR. T. P. O'CONNOR: Mr. Speaker, I rise to Order. I beg to ask you, Sir, whether a right hon. Gentleman has a right to usurp your function, and describe asun-Parliamentary an observation made by another Member of the House? MR. SPEAKER made no reply to this Question. MR. CHILDERS: What I said was that, in my opinion, the use of the word "snub" is not Parliamentary. MR. O'KELLY rose amid loud cries of "Order!" MR. SPEAKER: The right hon. Gentleman was in possession of the House when the hon. Member rose. MR. CHILDERS: I want only to add that the Ranger of Windsor Park is Prince Christian. MR. SPEAKER said, that the right hon. Gentleman was entitled to say that |