§ LORD GEORGE HAMILTONsaid, he rose to call attention to the recent prohibition of coursing in the Home Park at Hampton. The privilege of coursing there was granted to the farmers in the neighbourhood of Hampton thirty years ago as compensation for the damage done to their farms by those who joined the Royal Hunt. In 1865 the privilege was withdrawn; but the Duke of Beaufort, considering a Memorial presented to him by the farmers, permitted them to course three days in the year, which last year were curtailed to two, and were abolished altogether this year. While he did not dispute the right to withdraw the privilege, he thought it was not politic to do so, and he hoped the matter would be re-considered, for it had caused great local irritation.
§ MR. EYKYNsaid, he thought that the privilege ought to be continued under properly recognized authority. The farmers had given an assurance that the coursing meetings should be held under their own management, and that the irregularities which had been complained of should not recur.
§ MR. AYRTONsaid, he regretted that he was not able to hold out to the noble Lord any prospect of this privilege being restored. The Park was required by the Master of the Horse for the use of Her Majesty's stud, and in consequence of the changes which had occurred in the district it was necessary to put an end to what was allowed in former times. Hampton was now surrounded by houses, and to that place the sporting community found their way from all parts of London. The railways brought together people whose patronage of the greyhound was chiefly confined to the publichouse of that name, while instead of the meeting being carried on in a quiet way, circulars were distributed, and people were assembled more for the purposes of gambling than of sport.
§ MR. EYKYNgave notice that on going into Committee of Supply on Civil Service Estimates, he would call attention to the expense attaching to the Home Park at Hampton, and make a Motion upon the subject.