§ MR. BRADLAUGH (Northampton) (for Mr. WATT0) (Glasgow, Camlachie)asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether it is a fact that Mr. Streeter, junior, received assurances of a permit and arranged for a staff to work the Ruby Mines before he left England; whether a third member of the Syndicate is a Sheriff's officer; whether the inquiry to be instituted by the Secretary of State will include an investigation so as to arrive at the truth, or otherwise, of the allegation that certain Government officials were interested in the Syndicate; and, whether he is now prepared to state to the House the nature of recent despatches?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JOHN GORST) (Chatham)The Secretary of State can, after careful inquiry, find no trace of any assurances being given to Mr. Streeter, junior, before he left London that he would get a permit to work the Ruby Mines. He has no information about Mr. Streeter's arrangement for a staff. The Secretary of State has no information as to the third member of the Syndicate. The inquiry now instituted by the Secretary of State has reference solely to the best mode of disposing of the Ruby Mines. The allegation that certain Government officials were interested in the Syndicate is now heard of by the Secretary of State for the first time. If any such allegation is made by a responsible person, and supported by primâ facie evidence, the Secretary of State will cause inquiry to be made. I could not state to the House, in answer to a Question, the nature of recent despatches without unduly trespassing upon the time of the House; but I have reason to think that Papers will be laid upon the Table relating to the Ruby Mines in the course of next week.