Mr. POINTERasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has received the Report of the inquiry into the financial condition of the St. Augustine estate, the property of the Trinidad Government; whether the Report showed negligent management; and, if so, what steps he has taken, or intends to take, in the matter?
Mr. HARCOURTI have received a dispatch from the Governor reporting that in October last very considerable arrears of rent had been found to be outstanding, that certain payments had not been brought to account, and that the overseer of the estate had been dismissed. The Governor added that he had appointed a committee to consider what steps should be taken to put the management of the estate on a more satisfactory basis. I have not yet received the report of this committee.