§ MR. R. N. FOWLERasked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether he is aware that Solinye, one of the Zulu prisoners convicted of high treason at Pietermaritzburg, was a subject of the Zulu King; whether his 232 attention has been called to the fact that on the trial the judge expressed grave doubts as to whether Solinye was amenable to British Law; and, whether he will ask the opinion of the Law Officers of the Crown on the subject?
MR. GRANT DUFFI am aware, Sir, that Solinye was once a subject of the Zulu King; but evidence was given at the trial that he had resided for three years in the Colony, and had become amenable to British law. I know that the Judge expressed some doubts as to the point of allegiance. In answer to my hon. Friend's third Question, I have to say that the Law Officers may have to be consulted; but we should require more evidence than we have as to the state of facts before we had materials enough to submit to them. I told my hon. Friend, however, long ago, that we were only waiting for rather calmer times in South Africa to take final action as to the cases of all these raiders.