§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state what is the weight of the birches used in the infliction of twelve strokes each, in accordance with the sentence of the magistrate at West Ham Police Court on Wednesday last, on two boys for altering a railway signal at Silvertown Tunnel, which passes through the Royal Albert Docks, the signal being altered from danger to all clear, with the result that the driver entering the tunnel would not lessen speed.
§ * THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. AKERS-DOUGLAS,) Kent, St. Augustine'sThe weight of the birch used on this occasion has been ascertained to be 4¾ ounces.