HC Deb 17 July 1884 vol 290 cc1389-90
MR. MACFARLANE

asked the Lord Advocate, Whether his attention has been called to the fact that Mr. Allan, of Aros House, in a Letter dated 26th November 1883, addressed to the Royal Commissioners, printed on page 446 of their Report, used the following words with reference to Donald Colquhoun, of Tobermory, of whom he was writing:— At the last term of Whitsunday he paid no rent, and is now over a year in arrears; this accounts for his recent notice of removal; if he has compared this statement with the Letter of D. Colquhoun, printed on page 448, and, further, with the Copy of Colquhoun's rent book, certified by Mr. Maccallum, notary public, which has been placed in his hands, commencing in 1875; and, if the Lord Advocate is now satisfied that the accusation that he has paid his rent "with great irregularity," and was in November 1883 "over a year in arrear," is unfounded?

THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. B. BALFOUR)

I have read the letters and copy of Colquhoun's rent passbook referred to in this Question. The last-mentioned document does not appear to me to negative, on the contrary it seems to confirm, the statement in Mr. Allen's letter. I understand that Colquhoun's rent was £6, payable half-yearly in equal moieties at Whitsunday and Martinmas. The entries in the passbook show that Colquhoun paid nothing at Whitsunday 1883, and that at Martinmas of that year he was owing more than a full year's rent, £6 17s., which sum was not paid until 14th December, while Mr. Allen's letter is dated 26th November. The prior entries in the account do not show that the rent was regularly paid as it fell due; on the contrary, they establish that Colquhoun was generally somewhat in arrear, though the amounts in arrear were usually small.

MR. MACFARLANE

asked if the Lord Advocate was aware that the man's rent-book satisfied the Royal Commissioners?

THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. B. BALFOUR)

I do not at all know what the Royal Commissioners may hav-thought about it; but I read it caree fully with reference to the two documents to which the hon. Member refers-and I think it will be found that the answer I have given him as to the sums is strictly correct.