§ MR. KNOXI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to a statement of Mr. Rhodes in the Cape Legislature on 7th June, that the Chartered Company could give titles to land in N'Gamiland, having a concession of the country; to what concession Mr. Rhodes referred; whether any concession to the Chartered Company in N'Gamiland has been confirmed or ratified by the Secretary of State; and, if so, what concession, and when was it ratified; and whether, if no such concession has been confirmed, the Government will permit the Chartered Company to introduce these powers to the prejudice of those who had acquired rights in the country before the Chartered Company came into existence?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. S. BUXTON,) Tower Hamlets, PoplarAs regards the first and second questions, the Cape newspapers of the 8th of June have, of course, not yet reached this country, and I have not seen any telegraphic report of the statement referred to in the question. As regards the third and fourth questions, the various alleged concessions are now being inquired into; any rights that may be subsequently established will, in the meantime, not be prejudiced.
§ MR. KNOXAs The Times published a telegram to the effect indicated in the question, cannot the right hon. Gentleman say definitely whether the concession has been confirmed?
§ MR. S. BUXTONThe alleged concession which the Chartered Company placed before us was to a certain extent confirmed, but that confirmation has been suspended until we get further information in regard to the matter.