§ MR. ESSLEMONT (Aberdeen, E.)I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether he is aware that some years ago forcible possession was taken of a dwelling house by the landowner in the fishing village of Inverallochy, East Aberdeen; that a case is now pending in the Sheriff Court of that county, between a man, named William Strachan, and Colonel Fraser, of Castle Fraser, the former claiming to be the lawful owner of the said house, and the latter the undisputed owner of the ground rent; and that, in consequence of the dispute, a summons has been served upon the said William Strachan, to remove his whole goods and gear from another house and store in which he is at present in lawful possession, and which is his only means of earning a livelihood; and whether, having regard to the fact that the Law as to the tenure of fishermen's dwellings in Scotland is frequently governed by custom, and is uncertain and complicated, and taking into account the whole circumstances and the danger to the peace of the community, he will endeavour to stay the threatened evictions until the Government are able to deal (aspromised) with Scotch allotments and fishermen's dwellings?
§ * THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. P. B. ROBERTSON,) ButeI have made inquiry into this matter, from which it appears that the question between the parties is one of facts, which will, no doubt, be laid before the Sheriff in the action Colonel Fraser has brought against Strachan, in consequence of his having paid no rent on either holding for a considerable number of years. It would not he advisable for me to make any statement, or to interfere in any way with a matter which is now sub judice.