§ MR. W. M. TORRENSsaid, he wished to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether any steps have been taken in compliance with the prayer of the Petition from certain inhabitants of New Romney, presented to this House on the 26th July 1867, in accordance with which inquiries have been subsequently made, by order of Government, regarding the municipal property of the town?
§ MR. KNATCHBULL-HUGESSENsaid, in reply, that certain inhabitants of New Romney had asked for a charter of incorporation; but inquiry having been made in the usual manner, the Committee of the Privy Council had determined against the application. It was not usual to give the reasons upon which the Privy Council decided these questions, but the fact was that, apart from the smallness of the population of New Romney, it appeared that the establishment of a new corporation would not abolish the old corporation, who would have existed side by side with the new body, and have retained the control and management of the property.