§ Mr. D. JENKINSasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, If he can give any information as to the cause of the bursting of one of the boilers in H.M.S. "Thunderer?"
§ Mr. HUNTI am not surprised, after the occurrence of this terrible calamity, that hon. Members and the public generally should be exceedingly anxious to learn the cause of the disaster. At present, however, the cause is only a matter of conjecture and surmise; and I am not, therefore, in a position to give the hon. Member the information he desires. But, even if I had made up my own mind on the subject, I should not think it right to state it publicly to the House until after the con- 1526 clusion of the inquiry by the Coroner's jury.
§ Mr. J. R. YORKEsaid, that a subscription list had been placed in the cloak-room of the House of Commons inviting Members to subscribe, and that it was headed by a Member of the Government. He wished to know, If the list had been placed there by the authority of the first Lord of the Admiralty, and whether it was intended by this public subscription to show that the Government did not intend to compensate the sufferers or their families out of the public Exchequer?
§ Mr. HUNTThe Paper was placed in the cloak-room by my authority. This fund is being raised with a view to relieve the immediate necessities of the families of the sufferers, and is not intended to be a substitute for any action which may be taken on the part of the Government with reference to their relief.