§ SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFFasked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, If he will give a return of the names of the persons arrested, committed, and sentenced at Gibraltar for the events which accompanied the installation of Dr. Canilla as Vicar Apostolic, together with the charges made against them and the terms of their sentences, and of any representations made by inhabitants of Gibraltar on the subject; whether the Governor of Gibraltar has refused to acknowledge the existence of the Junta of Lay Elders of the Roman Catholic Community, though that body has been recognised since the possession of Gibraltar by this country, and has been confirmed by a decree of the Privy Council, and whether he has, in consequence, transferred to Dr. Canilla, or to any other person, the custody of the Roman Catholic temporalities hitherto administered by the Junta; and, further, whether Her Majesty's Government will take any steps, and, if so, what steps, to restore to the Roman Catholic Community of Gibraltar the tranquillity which has been recently so much disturbed?
§ COLONEL COLTHURSTasked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, with reference to the Question of the honourable Member for Portsmouth, Whether his attention has been called to the opinion of the Attorney General for Gibraltar to this effect:—1. That the appointment of a Junta or Board on the 12th August last was invalid; 2. That the Junta nominated in 1863, since when no lay members have been elected, did not possess any right to the Church of St. Mary or adjacent buildings; 3. That the draft ordinance of 1876 transfers 1562 the churches not to bodies or Junta but to trustees (five in number) comprising the Vicar Apostolic and Vicar General; and, whether it would be possible for Her Majesty's Government to give effect to such opinion?
§ MR. COURTNEYYes, Sir; the Return will be given. I am not aware that the Governor has refused to acknowledge the existence of the Junta, or that he has transferred to Dr. Canilla or any other person the custody of any temporalities hitherto administered by the Junta. I believe some question has been raised as to the legality of a recent election to the Junta; and, indeed, it appears in the Papers presented that the Attorney General has expressed an opinion that that election was invalid, as stated in the Question of my hon. and gallant Friend; but with reference to his further Questions and the Question of the hon. Member for Portsmouth, I would repeat what I have said on a former occasion—that it is not in the power of the Governor to divest the Junta of any legal right. If the custody or administration of anything has been taken from them to which they are entitled, they can assert their claims in the Law Courts, as was done 40 years ago. Tranquillity has now remained for some time undisturbed.