§ MR. MAURICE HEALY (Cork)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State 45 for the Colonies whether complaints of the maladministration, not only of the Leeward Islands, but of the West Indies generally, have been increasing greatly in frequency and gravity for several years past; whether these complaints have implicated the administration of justice in Demerara in the case of Mr. De Souza, and British Honduras in the case of the late S. Malony Dillett; and whether he will lay upon the Table the Correspondence relating to these cases?
§ MR. S. BUXTON(1.) With the exception of the complaints of the maladministration of justice in Trinidad, which were the subject of an inquiry by a Commission in 1892, the answer to this question is in the negative. (2.) Complaints were made of the administration of justice in Demerara by the late Mr. De Souza, and in British Honduras by the late Mr. Dillett. In the latter case, which occurred in 1884, Mr. Dillett succeeded in an appeal to the Privy Council. In the former case, which occurred in 1888, Mr. De Souza obtained leave to appeal, but his death prevented the appeal. (3.) Considering the time that has elapsed since the occurrence of these cases, the Secretary of State does not think it desirable to lay the Correspondence relating to them.
§ SIR R. TEMPLE (Surrey, Kingston)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of a Despatch from Sir Andrew Clarke, Governor of the Straits Settlements in 1874, on a Special Mission to the Court of Siam at Bangkok, of which the effect was that France, together with England, assented to the independence of Siam, together with Sovereignty over its tributaries; and whether he will communicate the Despatch or any part of it to the House?
§ MR. S. BUXTONThe Despatch in question was received in April, 1875. Reference has been made to it, and it does not confirm the accuracy of the statement made in the concluding words of the question. The Despatch can be seen by the hon. Member if he will call at the Colonial Office; but it is not worth while to print it for Parliament.