MR. MACDONALD CAMERON (, &c.) Wickasked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether his attention has been called to an article in The Times of Ceylon, of May 31, report- 1712 ing the discovery of gold in the district of Sarangalla by Constable Arachichi; whether it is true that the Ceylon Government purchased nuggets from the constable for the Museum in Colombo; and, whether the Secretary of State will advise an inspection of the district by a competent gold-mining expert at the Government expense with a view to ascertaining whether the gold area is sufficiently rich to warrant its being worked in the interests of the Colony?
THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Sir JOHN GROST) (Chatham)(who replied) said: The Secretary of State has seen a reference in the Ceylon newspapers to the subject; but there has hardly yet been time for any Report by the Colonial Government to be received in this country. Such a Report will, doubtless, be made in due course; and when it arrives the Secretary of State will consider the suggestion made in the last paragraph of the hon. Member's Question.