§ MR. HEDDERWICKI beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the case of James Sutherland, of Wick, who was recently prosecuted for using a gun without having a gun licence, the said gun being a toy gun used for shooting little darts at a mark in a private house by means of a spring mechanism; and whether such a prosecution was undertaken with the sanction of the Government; if not, whether he will cause an inquiry to be made into the circumstances of the case.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir M. HICKS-BEACH,) Bristol, W.I have inquired into this case. I find that the gun used was one of a class advertised to drive a metal dart through three-eighths of an inch of pine at a distance of -So feet, and that James Sutherland was carrying on a public shooting gallery in an unoccupied shop with this instrument. I see no occasion for my interference.