§ 67. Mr. MACPHERSONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Crown entered into an agreement recently with regard to foreshore sea-turf in Nigg Bay, Ross-shire, agreeing to sell certain acres of it at a certain price and acknowledging the receipt of that sum; whether he is aware that, when the purchaser attempted to take possession of his purchase, the local landlord, the Countess of Cromartie, raised an action of interdict against him and prevented him from taking possession; and, seeing that from time immemorial the local public have used this sea-turf for local purposes without interference, will he say what steps the Crown proposes to take now to implement its part of the contract?
Mr. ROBERTSONMy hon. Friend is under a misapprehension in supposing that the Crown has entered into any agreement for the sale of foreshore sea-turf in Nigg Bay, Ross-shire. A certain individual made an offer to purchase sea-turf, and while his offer was under consideration he, without invitation, remitted the amount which he himself had named. The receipt of the amount was formally acknowledged as a matter of ordinary 1834 business courtesy, pending inquiry locally. It appears from that inquiry that the sea-turf in question is above high water mark of ordinary spring tides and therefore not within the jurisdiction of the Crown. The applicant has been so informed and the amount forwarded by him has been returned.
§ Mr. MACPHERSONCan the right hon. Gentleman say what expert has been sent down to view this property?