§ VISCOUNT CRANBORNEsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for India, Whether the case of Bray v. the Sindh Railway, which has been under arbitration for seven years is likely, soon to be brought to an early conclusion?
§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTEsaid, he might perhaps be excused from replying to the noble Lord's Question in the Scotch fashion, by putting to him another—what did he mean by "an early conclusion?" The action was commenced in 1860, and was referred to arbitration in 1861. The arbitration was going on and there had already been 169 sittings; it was not likely, he feared, the arbitration would be concluded for some time. It was, however, a question of some difficulty. The 1982 Government of India were no parties to the action; it was brought by a private individual. The costs already amounted to £3,000, and probably they would ultimately fall on the Indian Government, who had already advanced £15,000. He (Sir Stafford Northcote) had addressed a letter to the Company, urging them to bring the proceedings to a speedy conclusion, and he was happy to state that the Directors had applied to the arbiter to fix continuous sittings.