§ MR. MACDONALDasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, 681 When the collective Reports of the Inspectors of Mines for the year 1875 maybe expected to be laid upon the Table of the House; and, whether he will direct that such Reports, if not ready now for printing, be prepared without delay?
MR. ASSHETON CROSS, in reply, said, there were a great number of Re-turns which must be made to the Inspectors of Mines, and those Returns had not, under the Act, to be sent in till the 1st of February. It then took a considerable time for the Inspectors to put them in proper form; and the 31st of March was always held to be the earliest day on which the Reports could practically be finished. He would give special directions that they should be presented to him on or before that day.