§ MR. GOURLEY (Sutherland)asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, If he will be good enough to inform the House of the nature of the reply received from the Canadian Government relative to the deposition of Captain Jacobs, of the Molly Adams, dated 12th November, 1886; and, whether he can account for the delay which has arisen in not receiving an earlier reply to the despatch sent to the Marquess of Lansdowne by Mr. Secretary Stanhope, on the 27th December last, regarding this vessel?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir HENRY HOLLAND) (Hampstead)The general nature of the reply recently received from the Canadian Government shows that the statements of Captain Jacobs are in some particulars quite incorrect, and in others are so exaggerated as to give an entirely misleading account of the occurrence. With regard to the delay, the Marquess of Lansdowne, in expressing his regret at the delay which has occurred in sending a reply, said—
Some time was taken in collecting the evidence embodied in the Reports which accompanied the Minute of the Privy Council of the Dominion (and are enclosed in his despatch); and the occurrence of the General Election for the Federal Parliament to some extent interrupted the course of business in the Public Departments, and increased the delay.