§ MR. WEIR (Ross and Cromarty)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any arrangements have been made under which the railway which is about to be constructed between Chiromo and Blantyre, in the British Central Africa Protectorate, will receive a Government subsidy; and, if so will he state the amount of the subsidy.
* THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Lord CRAN-BORNE,) RochesterNo arrangements have been made under which a Government subsidy will be given to any railway 801 in the British Central Africa Protectorate. But a preliminary contract was made in September last with the Shire Highlands Railway Company under which they have acquired for a limited time the exclusive right to construct a railway between the points mentioned subject to specified conditions.