§ SIR W. GUYER HUNTER (Hackney, Central)asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether it is not the case that, about two years ago, Mr. P. H. Cama, a Parsee gentleman, offered a sum of Rs.1,00,000 for a hospital for women and children to the Government of Bombay, on the condition that the hospital should bear his name; that the Government of Bombay refused to accept Mr. Cama's offer unless he defrayed the estimated full cost of the building, amounting to Rs.1,67,000 which amount Mr. Cama paid; whether it is not the case that, very recently, the Government of Bombay have accepted an offer of Rs.1,00,000, for a similar purpose, from Mr. Veerjeevundas Madowdas, a Hindoo gentleman, and are about to supplement it by Rs.1,50,000 from the public funds; and, whether he is aware that the action of the Government of Bombay, in this instance, has given rise to much dissatisfaction among the Parsee community?
THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir UGHTRED KAY-SHUTTLEWORTH) (Lancashire, Clitheroe)No information has been received at the India Office relative to Mr. Veerjeevundas's hospital; but inquiry can be made, if the hon. Gentleman desires it. As regards Mr. Cama's hospital, I learn that that gentleman offered one lakh of rupees towards its erection, upon condition that the Government of Bombay should bear the remainder of the cost. The Government granted a site worth 2¾ lakhs, equivalent to £20,625; but was unable to contribute more than this from the public Revenue. Mr. Cama 728 approved the site, thanked the Government for their liberality, and then with great munificence himself contributed the additional sum required—namely, Rs.20,000, and subsequently a further sum of Rs.44,311 towards certain improvements.