§ MR. PEEKsaid, he wished to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether a Petition from Nevis to the Queen, dated in February last, complaining of certain grievances has been received; is the Mr. 0. M. Eldridge, just gazetted to the office of Colonial Secretary in Nevis, the party referred to in the Petition; does he still hold the office of Government Secretary at St. 1604 Kitts; is his appointment to the two offices illegal, as stated in the Petition and the Protest of the Elective Members of the Legislature; and, is Her Majesty's Government prepared to reconsider the appointment in deference to the wishes of the people of Nevis, as expressed in the Protest of the Elective Members of the Legislature, dated the 2nd July 1869, and the Petition to Her Majesty, signed by the same parties, and numerous other inhabitants?
§ MR. MONSELLreplied that the Petition referred to by the hon. Member had been received, and that it correctly described the circumstances relating to Mr. C. M. Eldridge. Her Majesty's Government were most anxious to consult the wishes of the inhabitants; but in this case they were unable to comply with the request of the memorialists, inasmuch as they considered it highly important to reduce the expenditure in the smaller West India Islands by abolishing useless offices.