§ MR. KIMBER (Wandsworth)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he can now state whether many important petitions have been presented to the Punjab authorities from loyal Sirdars of the Cis Sutlej territory of the Punjab, praying for relief from uncertainty and for recognition by Government of the rule of primogeniture in the succession to their respective estates, and whether there has been any delay or want of uniformity on the part of local officials in reporting on and dealing with such petitions; and whether he can now grant a Return giving copies of the petitions and correspondence in respect of which, on the 11th May last, he was pleased to state that he would make a reference to the Government of India.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Lord G. HAMILTON,) Middlesex, EalingI made a reference to the Government of India on the subject referred to in my hon. friend's question, and learn from them that no petitions of the nature referred to in it have reached the Punjab Government. The correspondence on the subject does not appear to be of such public importance as to be suitable for being laid before the House, and is, moreover, incomplete. I shall, however, be glad to communicate it to my hon. friend if he desires to see it.