§ SIR HENRY TYLER (Great Yarmouth)asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, If he has ascertained whe- 1158 ther the return of Sir John Pope Hennessy as Governor of the Mauritius will, after what has passed, be grateful to the inhabitants of that Island?
§ MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.), as a matter of Order, asked whether the Question did not raise a matter of opinion?
§ MR. SPEAKERsaid, the Question asked was whether the inhabitants of the Mauritius were favourable to his return, and he saw nothing out of Order in that.
§ MR. SEXTONasked if it were precluded by the Standing Orders?
§ MR. SPEAKERsaid, it might be a question of policy on the part of the Minister whether he had ascertained the feeling of the Colony.
§ MR. HENNIKER HEATON (Canterbury)asked the right hon. Gentleman, whether he had not received a Petition, signed by three-fourths of the inhabitants of Mauritius, in favour of Sir John Pope Hennessy's return?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir HENRY HOLLAND) (Hampstead)The majority of the inhabitants of Mauritius are Indians, and they may, upon the whole, be said not to have taken much interest in the matter referred to; but there is good reason to believe that a large part of the rest of the population approve the policy of Sir John Pope Hennessy and desire his return. I have received a Petition to that effect signed by 4,267 persons, which was brought over here by a delegate specially appointed for that purpose; and I may add that a majority of the unofficial Members of the Council of Government are in favour of Sir John Pope Hennessy.