§ Mr. LAURENCE HARDYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has received papers with respect to the trial of Walter Henry Stanford by naval court martial, in July, at Durban, alleging various irregularities occurring at and previous to the trial; whether any decision has been arrived at in connection with the matter; and whether he can see his way to remit or reduce the sentence, seeing that the prisoner was kept so long in close custody previous to his trial?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe question is now receiving attention, and all the circumstances of the case, including the long period of close custody to which the man was subjected, will be duly weighed when coming to a decision.