§ MR. RENSHAW () Renfrew, W.I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that the Swedish steamers Dagrnar and Gelfe have been compelled to leave the ports of Fraserburgh and Peterhead without discharging their cargoes; whether it is the case that no efficient protection has been afforded by the Burgh Authorities; and whether any, and if so what, steps have been taken by Her Majesty's Government to secure the protection of those in charge of the steamers and enable them to discharge their cargoes?
§ THE SECRETARY FOR SCOTLAND (Sir G. TREVELYAN,) Glasgow, BridgetonThe Burgh Fiscal of Peter-head telegraphs to-day that no attempt was made to land barrels; that coopers and others expecting barrels to be landed struck work and gathered to oppose landing; that an attempt to pull one steamer out was stopped by the police; that beyond this no violence or threats were reported to him or to the police; that the Magistrates offered the owners of the cargoes all necessary police protection, if the cargoes were to be landed, but that the owners of their own accord removed the steamers to the bay, and that the steamers have since sailed. I shall obtain fuller information, but, thus far there does not appear to be any 1347 ground for supposing that the Local Authorities, with whom the duty of preserving the peace primarily rests, will not perform that duty.