§ LORD WILLIAM GRAHAMsaid, he rose to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty, if he can state whether the Foreshore sold at Pembroke Dock by the Woods and Forests five or six years ago was sold with or without consultation with the Admiralty, and with or without its approbation; and whether any inquiries had since been made with a view to the repurchase of the same?
§ LORD CLARENCE PAGETsaid, that in 1854 certain parties proposed to purchase a piece of land near Pembroke Dockyard, and the Admiralty of that day consented to the purchase being made. Those parties were then prevented by circumstances from carrying out that purchase, 1947 but in 1858 they again proposed to complete their purchase. The matter having got into Chancery, some delays took place. In 1858, when the proposal was again made, the Admiralty refused their consent, but it was only fair to state that the Master in Chancery, in whose hands the case had been placed, overruled the objections of the Admiralty, and hound them by their former agreement of 1854; so that in fact this piece of land was purchased contrary to the wish of the Admiralty. There was no intention, however, on the part of the Admiralty to re-purchase it from the parties who now possessed it.