HC Deb 06 May 1884 vol 287 cc1479-80
MR. DEASY

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty, Whether certain statements contained in The Echo of the 2nd May have come to the notice of the Admiralty, these statements being to the effect that a midshipman named Dynley, of the ship Garnet, accompanied by some sailors, went to office of the The Grenada People newspaper, and informed the editor that he and his comrades had obtained the permission of the commanding officer, Captain Montague, to destroy the office and presses of the newspaper, and that they would do so that evening; that threats to the same effect were used by several of the officers and men of the Garnet to some of the people of St. George's; that Captain Montague afterwards wrote a letter to the editor of The People, that he was prepared to horsewhip him for criticising the conduct of the Governor of Barbadoes, Sir AVilliam Robinson, and that, on the night of the 11th February, Mr. Dynley and two of the crew of the Garnet took the sign board of The People office; whether the Admiralty has received any information of the matters stated; and, if the statements are correct, what steps are intended to be taken?

MR. CAMPBELL - BANNERMAN

The Admiralty have received a letter from the editor of the newspaper in question complaining of the conduct of certain naval officers; and the letter has been sent to the Commander-in-Chief of the station, who will report upon the facts.

MR. SMALL

asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether the attention of the Colonial Office has been drawn to a statement contained in The Grenada People and copied into The Echo of the 2nd May, that Captain Montague of the ship Garnet declared that he had at St. Vincent asked permission from Sir William Robinson, Governor of Barbadoes, to let his crew destroy the office of The Grenada People, and that Sir William Robinson had replied that he could not officially order but would be very glad indeed if it could be done; and, whether the Colonial Office will make inquiry into this statement?

MR. EVELYN ASHLEY

On the 29th of March we received a letter from a Mr. Donovan, who, I gather, is either editor or proprietor of the newspaper in question, making certain statements and inclosing a copy of his letter addressed to the Admiralty. We wrote to him pointing out that, in accordance with well-known Colonial regulations, he should forward his statements through the Governor, in order that the Governor may make any remarks he may think right. Pending any further inquiry, I may say, in justice to Sir William Robinson, that neither of Mr. Donovan's letters make the statement contained in the Question as to Sir William Robinson's reply to the alleged request of Captain Montague.