§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHasked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether the Transvaal Government has, according to the Convention, paid the sum of £100,000, agreed to be paid on or before the 8th August 1882, on account of the debt due to Her Majesty's Government, and made provision for paying the interest on the remainder of that debt; what amount has been paid by Her Majesty's Government on account of awards against the present Transvaal Government for injury to person or property during the war; whether the property captured by the agents of the present Transvaal Government during the war has, in accordance with promise, been realised, and the proceeds handed over to the British Resident in reduction of the total amount so paid by Her Majesty's Government; and, if so, what proportion the proceeds of such property bears to the total amount so paid by Her Majesty's Government; and, when Parliament will be asked to defray the balance?
§ MR. EVELYN ASHLEYSir, the Transvaal Government has paid the interest due on their debt for the half-years ended on February 8 and August 8, 1882. They have not as yet paid any portion of the £100,000. Her Majesty's Government have consented to wait till the end of this year, when, if the Estimates of the Transvaal Government are realized, they should be able to pay at least £50,000 in reduction of the capital of the debt. £136,960 12s. 1d. was the amount of the award made against the present Transvaal Government. The proceeds of captured property paid over to the British Resident amount to £10,000, which sum the Transvaal Government said exceeded the actual amount realized. That left a balance of £126,960 12s. 1d. Bills to the amount required have been drawn by the British Resident on the Treasury Chest Fund. When the accounts have been closed, and the exact balance required is known, an Estimate for the amount will be laid before Parliament and a Vote taken.