§ MR. HANBURYI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies how long the Chief Justice of the Bahamas has been absent from the Colony; whether he has been receiving half-pay during the whole of his absence; whether he is aware that the House of Assembly has refused to vote any further money for this purpose; whether the Secretary of State has ordered that he shall continue to receive half-pay from the Crown Funds of the Colony; and bow long it is intended that this arrangement shall continue?
§ MR. S. BUXTONThe Chief Justice of the Bahamas has been absent from the Colony since the 6th of June, 1766 1892, and has been receiving half-pay during the whole of his absence. As the local law makes no provision for payment from the general Revenue of the salary of an officer on leave beyond nine months, the Secretary of State has ordered that since the expiration of that period the Chief Justice shall receive half-pay from the Crown Funds. The House of Assembly has not been asked to vote any money for the purpose. The Legislative Council and House of Assembly of the Colony have passed Resolutions deprecating the return of the Chief Justice. The case has been referred to a Committee of the Privy Council, and the present arrangement will continue until the Committee have heard and reported on the case.