Mr. CATHCART WASONasked the Under-Secretary for the Colonies, whether, in view of the fact that a native, Sumoni Ewumi, was granted a concession to cut mahogany logs by Lapoki, the Oba of Aye, and that the said Sumoni Ewumi was deprived of this concession by the action of the District Commissioners, Captain Werry and Mr. T. P. Pinket, and the concession given to Mr. Matheson as agent for Messrs. W. B. McIver and Company, Lagos, that over twelve months ago full judicial inquiry was promised, and that no inquiry has taken place, he will inquire further into the matter?
§ Colonel SEELYA further inquiry has already been made by the Secretary of State, and the Governor's reply has been received. My hon. Friend will remember that in my reply to his question on 20th May last year I referred to certain technical questions as to the jurisdiction of the court. There have been further difficulties in this respect, but they have now 1017 been surmounted, and it has been settled that the trial of the case in the Supreme Court shall take place on the return of Mr. Matheson to the Colony.