§ MR. RICHARDasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether there is any truth in the statement which appears in a communication from South Africa in the "Daily Telegraph" that
Some time ago a King's messenger was sent in with a letter and a flag of truce to Colonel Pearson, the man asking only for a guarantee of safety for other messengers who were following him, but Colonel Pearson, acting on general opinion, and especially the advice of a missionary, put the messenger in irons as a spy?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHMr. Speaker, I have heard nothing of this matter, except from the statement which appears in the Press; and I may say that I do not credit that statement.