§ MR. WEIR (Ross and Cromarty)beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Water Ordinance, which the Governor of Trinidad in Council recently sought to impose on the people of Port of Spain, received his sanction, and will he state the number of deaths which up to the present time have resulted from the riots of the 23rd March, and the value of the public property destroyed.
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINThe Port of Spain Waterworks Bill was not submitted to me before its introduction into the legislature. Such a course in regard to a Bill of purely local interest would have 1511 been unusual and unnecessary. The statement that the Governor sought to impose this Bill on the people is not accurate, but the whole circumstances will form the subject of consideration by the Commission which is now sitting, and it would be improper to enter on any discussion of the matter pending their report. The number of deaths which have resulted from the riot of the 23rd of March up to the 24th is fifteen. No information has been received as to the value of the public property destroyed.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)asked whether the Governor of Trinidad was still acting as Governor.
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINCertainly.