§ MR. HEALYasked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, What reply has been sent to the Petition addressed to Lord Derby by the taxpayers of the Island of Grenada against the vote of £260 by the Legislative Council for the repair of an Anglican parsonage at St. George; and, is it the fact that three-fourths of the Islanders are Catholics; that the Protestant Church there has been disestablished; that the vote was carried against a majority of the unofficial members of the Council; that the Petitioners cite the local Act of 1874 against the validity of the vote; that, although the Anglicans form only a fourth of the population, they comprise amongst their number some of the wealthiest inhabitants; and that they have hitherto had a monopoly of all religious endowments?
§ MR. EVELYN ASHLEYWe have only received a copy of the Petition referred to. The original, which must come through the Governor of the Windward Islands, has not yet reached us. We have, however, already sent a despatch to the Governor asking for information as to the obligation of the Colonial Government to undertake the repair of this parsonage. We have further directed him not to allow any part of the money to be expended without further instructions. But we are not yet in a position to give a final decision. The statements contained in the second part of the Question are, in the main, correct; but we have no official knowledge of the relative wealth of the different communities.
§ MR. HEALYWould the hon. Gentleman kindly state how soon the Government can give their definite decision?
§ MR. EVELYN ASHLEYwas understood to say that it would be given in about a week.