§ MR. DILLON (Mayo. E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that, in the case of Rainsford, lately District Commissioner of West Africa, against Major Browne, of the West Africa (Ashanti) Force for libel, arrest, and false imprisonment, tried in the Dublin Courts before the Lord Chief Baron and a special jury last February, in which judgment was given for the plaintiff with £500 damages. the amount of the damages has since been paid, and the defendant has abandoned his intention of moving for a new trial; whether the Government have paid the damages or required Major Browne to pay them from his private resources: and whether he has any objection to lay upon the Table the charge of the Lord Chief Baron to the jury in that case, which dealt with propositions of constitutional law and the jurisdiction of the civil courts where the country is in a state of rebellion.
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINI am aware of the circumstances to which the hon. Member refers. The Gold Coast Government has paid to Major Browne the amount of the damages in the action. The latter part of the hon. Member's Question should be addressed to the Chief Secretary for Ireland.