MR. D. CRAWFORD (Lanark, N.E.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether his attention has been called to a Report made at Vancouver by Captain Tullock, of the British General, to the effect that he had been boarded off Warren Hastings Island in December last by natives, who reported the loss of a large vessel there several months previously, and gave up a quadrant belonging to the vessel; that there was reason to believe that the vessel was either the Morayshire or the Blair Athol, both of which, bound from Java to Vancouver, have been missing since last summer; and that, in his opinion, a search should be made on the island; and whether, in the interest of the Merchant Navy and the relatives of the officers and crews of the missing vessels, it will be possible for one of the Queen's ships to visit the island and make inquiries?
THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Sir U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTH,) Lancashire, ClitheroeThe first information we have received is from my hon. Friend. The newspaper reports are somewhat conflicting, and we cannot say what action may be desirable till we have received further information from the owners of the British General, to whom a telegram has been sent to-day by the Admiralty.