§ DR. CLARK(for Dr. R. MACDONALD) (Ross and Cromarty)asked the Lord Advocate, Is it a fact that at Stornoway, on Wednesday October 17, Sheriff Brand alone, out of the three Commissioners, sat to hear the evidence of the crofters, in contravention of the terms of Section 23 of the Crofters' Act, which provides that not less than two Commissioners can deal with applications under the Act; and, if it is a fact that on that date the valuator, Mr. Ferguson, sat in the Court, while the other Commissioner, Mr. Hossack, was at Barvas doing the valuator's work?
§ THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. P. B. ROBERTSON) (Bute)I am informed by Sheriff Brand that, on October 17, he sat with Mr. Fergus Ferguson, an assessor appointed, and acting under Sections 17 and 20 of the Crofters Act. The hearing referred to would not have proceeded had not Mr. John Murdoch, as representing the crofters who were then present, and Mr. William Mackay, as representing the estate, signed a Minute which had been written upon the application, and was in the following terms, namely:—
Stornoway, 17th October, 1888.—We, John Murdoch, Uddingston, Glasgow, as representing the crofters, and William Mackay, chamberlain of the Lews, for Lady Matheson, considering that Mr. P. B. MacIntyre, Commissioner, is unable, on account of illness, to attend the sittings of the Crofters' Commission in this district, do hereby agree to one of the two remaining Commissioners, with the aid of 1232 Fergus Ferguson, farmer, Monkstadt, Skye, as assessor, proceeding with the hearing, in order to the due disposal and determination of the application, and that such determination shall be as effectual, to all intents and purposes, as if the said P. B. MacIntyre had been present and taken part therein.—J. MURDOCH, WM. MACKAY.I am also informed that the application has not yet been finally disposed of, and that Commissioner MacIntyre, who rejoined the Commission some weeks ago, will be consulted in the matter of the final order.