§ MR. FAWCETTasked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether he is aware that several hundred acres of waste land near Stoney Cross, in the manor of Minestead in the New Forest, previously lying open and forming part of the Forest, have recently been enclosed; and, whether the Crown has consented to this enclosure; and, if not, whether any and what means are proposed to be taken to restore to the open Forest the land thus enclosed?
§ MR. W. H. SMITH, in reply, said, that since the Question had been placed on the Paper he had been made aware of the fact that there had been an enclosure within the last year or two to the extent of 200 or 300 acres, belonging to a private landowner in the neighbourhood of Stoney Cross. The evidence taken before the Committee which had reported this Session was to the effect that any assertion of the forestal rights of the Crown over the property of private landowners would be considered an unwarrantable attack upon private property. He was unable to state whether 557 the Crown thought it right to assert forestal rights over enclosed private property; but the subject would have consideration during the Recess.