§ MR. LABOUCHERE (Northampton)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether H.M.S. Tyne, which is to be despatched on the 9th or 10th of this month with two Batteries of Artillery, reliefs for Line battalions, and with the entire crews of two men-of-war for the China Stations (in all, over 1,200 persons), has only accommodation for half that number of persons, and, although in need of thorough repair, has only been patched up?
§ LORD G. HAMILTONThe hon. Member's information is not quite correct. His statements are to the effect that the Tyne is to leave England on the 9th of December with 1,200 troops on board, being twice the number she can accommodate, and that she requires thorough repairs, which have been scamped. The facts are, the Tyne is not to leave England until the 31st of December; she will not have on board any troops, being on Naval Service, the entire crews taken amounting to 142 men, to which have to be added 190 supernumeraries, a total of 332, which is well within the accommodation of the vessel. The Tyne is at the present moment in the hands of the Dockyard receiving careful repairs.