§ MR. H. A. HERBERTasked the Postmaster General, Whether the Telegraph Department have any authority or right to make short cuts over and erect poles on private property without leave; if they have no such authority, have the owners of property the right to remove the same; and what remedy is there for wilful and irreparable damage done to valuable timber?
§ MR. MONSELLsaid, in reply, that he thought those questions were legal questions, which ought rather to be put to the Law Officers of the Crown; but he was advised that the Telegraph Department had no authority to make short 1676 cuts over and erect poles on private property without the leave of the owners. He apprehended that the owners of the property might remove the poles so erected, though their right to do it might be an extreme one. As to the remedy for wilful and irreparable damage done to valuable timber, he supposed it was exactly the same as the remedy against any private individual—namely, by an action in a Court of Law. As to the reasons which had induced his hon. Friend to ask that Question, he was sorry to say that his hon. Friend had good cause for complaint; but for the property which had been injured by the agents of the Department full compensation would, as far as possible, be given.