§ SIR H. COTTONI beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to a decision of the Supreme Court in the Transvaal, in March last, in which it was decided that, under the operation of Act 3 232 of 1885, the heirs of Mr. Abu Bakir Ahmed, who have been in possession of valuable property in Pretoria for a period of fifteen years, have no title to that property and have therefore been deprived of their interest in it, and to the recorded opinion of the Court that the law was harsh, but that the judges could only interpret it, and that it was for the Legislature to interfere; and whether, having regard to the racial provisions of this statute, which have always been objected to by the British Government, His Majesty's Ministers will now take steps to ensure the repeal of this Act.
§ MR. CHURCHILLMy attention has been drawn to a newspaper report of the case referred to. Lord Elgin is in communication with the Governor on the subject.