19. Mr. POINTERasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the trial of Mr. R. E. Brassington, manager of the Lusignan estate, Demerara, on the charge of having killed Nankoo, an immigrant on the estate, on 18th September last, and to the prosecution of twenty-four indentured East Indian labourers for rioting on the same date; whether the trial is yet concluded, and, if so, what is the result; and whether, seeing that the accused labourers state that there was no rioting, but merely a demand for higher wages consequent upon a higher cost of living, he will cause inquiry to be made?
Mr. HARCOURTI have already called for a report on this matter, but sufficient time has not elapsed for a reply to reach me. I understand that the riot case resulted in the disagreement of the jury and was to be retried, and also that the trial of Mr. Brassington was proceeding when the last mail left.