§ SIR C. DILKE (Gloucester, Forest of Dean)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies what arrangement is in force between Her Majesty's Government and the Niger Company with regard to their respective contributions towards expenditure upon military and exploring operations now being undertaken in those territories in the neighbourhood of the Niger which have formed the subject of recent arrangement with France; whether any date has yet been fixed after which the duties collected by the Royal Niger Company on their own imports and exports will be collected for the account of the Imperial Government; and whether the Government will be able before the end of the Session to make a statement on the subject of the proposed acquisition of any portion of the Niger Company's territories by the Crown?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERThe answer to the last two 84 questions is in the negative. There is an understanding by which the Royal Niger Company will practically be recouped for the services of the kind rendered by them at the request of Her Majesty's Government since January 1st last. But this matter will form part of the general settlement with, the company.