§ MR. PULESTONasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been called to legal difficulties arising inconsequence of a vacancy in the office of coroner; and, whether if it is correct that no authority exists to direct any person to hold an inquest under such circumstances, provision can be made for meeting such difficulties as were reported to have occurred at Llanerchymedd in Wales, viz., that no inquest could be held on the body of a man who was killed, the county coroner having died two weeks previously, and the office being vacant?
MR. ASSHETON CROSS,in reply, said, it was true that once or twice legal difficulties had occurred of the kind referred to, as the moment the Coroner died the office of deputy ceased, and no Coroner outside the district could hold an inquest in the district. The point was one which deserved consideration, and in any Bill consolidating the law with regard to Coroners he might have to deal with it should not be overlooked.