§ LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILLasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether it is true that persons who had contracted to serve the Cape Government in a civil capacity in the "Mounted Police" have been by a Colonial Law compelled, without the option of discharge, to serve in a military capacity in a force called the "Mounted Rifles"; whether those who respectfully refused to submit to this arrangement were not tried by court martial and sentenced to six months' imprisonment and hard labour, which involves their working on the roads of the Colony with common convicts; and, whether Her Majesty's Government propose to take any action in the matter?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH, in reply, said, he was unable within reasonable limits to give an answer to the Question. If the noble Lord would wait for two or three days until the next volume of the Cape Papers was issued, he would find all the facts in the Correspondence that had taken place on the subject.