§ MR. BOWYERsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether it was true that the Rev. Father Sapetti, a Catholic priest, greatly respected at Malta, having left the island for a temporary purpose, was, on his return, refused permission to land in Malta, and sent in a Government vessel to Italy; and, if so, for what reason and under what circumstances this was done?
§ MR. LABOUCHEREsaid, that the Governor of Malta, like the Governor of Gibraltar, had a summary power of sending any foreigner out of the colony over which he presided upon his own responsibility, The Governor of Malta had thought it right to exercise that power in the case of the individual referred to by the hon. and learned Member. That individual was an Italian priest, who had been resident in 1869 the island of Malta, and during his stay there had been very active in fomenting disturbances, the object of his attacks being the Roman Catholic Bishop of Malta. When, therefore, he left the island, Sir William Reid thought it right, under the circumstances, not to allow him to return.