§ SIR J. JARDINE (Roxburghshire)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War what title the owners of the 1,760 acres of foreshore purchased by the Crown for artillery practice at Shoeburyness set up against the Crown: whether those owners denied the right of the Crown to fire over or use that part of the foreshore; and whether, and what, legal proceedings were taken to assert the rights of the Crown.
§ MR HALDANEThe title rests on a grant to John de Burgh, confirmed by Edward II. In 1900 the owners applied for an injunction restraining the War Department from firing over or using this foreshore. No legal proceedings were taken to assert the rights of the Crown. The Law Officers of the Crown advised the Crown that the action should not be allowed to come to trial, but should be settled on the best terms.
§ SIR J. JARDINEI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether the War Office has agreed to pay £5,500 for an estate of 890 acres of foreshore at Shoeburyness, and to whom is the payment to be made; whether the War Department had rented that estate for above forty years from the Office of Woods, as representing the Crown, and used it in whole or part for artillery practice and other military objects; whether, during that period, any private persons alleged ownership in denial of the rights of the Crown to fire over these lands; and whether the price of £5,500 was offered to such persons before they had proved their title in a Court of law.
§ MR. HALDANEAs regards the first part of the Question the War Office has 1476 paid this sum of £5,500 to the Misses Knapping—the owners of the manor. The reply to the second part of the Question is in the affirmative. The reply to the third part of the Question is in the affirmative. As regards the last part of the Question the payment was made after evidence of title had been given which satisfied the legal advisers of the War Department.