§ MR. W. M. TORRENS (for Sir ROBERT TORRENS)asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether it is true that the Banda and Kirwee Booty was estimated, two years after the sale of the capture property, in Her Majesty's Royal rant of 10th June 1864, at Rs. 7,000,000, exclusive of interest; whether the actual payments fall short of that sum by more than Rs. 1,500,000; how the discrepancy is accounted for; whether there are not prize claims still in dispute (besides the claims for the funded property of the Chief of Kirwee) for arrears of interest and other sums amounting to about £100,000; and, whether these disputed prize claims of the troops ought not to be referred (under the Act 3 and 4 Vic. c. 65, s. 22) for judicial settlement?
MR. GRANT DUFFIn reply, Sir, to my hon. Friend's first Question, I have to say that it is true that the amount of the Banda and Kirwee Prize Fund fell short of the estimate by about the sum named. In reply to his second Question, I have to say that the discrepancy arose partly from an item having been entered twice in the account, partly from some articles, particularly jewels, having sold indifferently. In reply to his third Question, I have to say that the further prize claims alluded to can, I presume, only be the claims which have already been held invalid by the proper authorities in such matters, whose judgment is considered final.