COURT. (Speeches marked thus (*) have been reef owl by the speakers.)

DOUGLAS, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1899.

The Tynwald Court sat to-day, for the first time since the vacation, under the presidency of Sir Alured Dumbell, Deputy-Governor. Thera were present, in the Council, besides the Deputy- Governor, the Lord Bishop (Dr. Straton), Honour Sir James Gall (first. ); the At- torney-General (Mr G. A. Ring); the Receiver- General (Col. Anderson); the Archdeacon (the Rev. H. S. Gill, M.A.); and. the Vicar-General (Mr. Samuel Harris.) In the Keys, there were present, the Speaker (Mr A. W. Moore), Messrs John Joughin, T. Allen, D. Maitland, T. Corlett, 'E. H. Christian, E. T. Christian, F. G. Callow, J. D. °Incas, T. Clague, J. Qualtrough, Quayle, J. C. CreIli% R. Corlett, W. J. Kormode, W. Quine, J. J. Goldsmith, J. T. Cowell, J. A. Myken, T, Mylohreest, and J. R. Kerruish.

DEATH 01 D.L..cd-uSTER GILL. The Deputy-Governor said: My Lord His:lop and members of the Council Mr Speaker and gentlemen of the . This being he first occasion upon which this Court has met s;nce the lamented death of the late Deemstor Gill, I think it is right and proper that we should take some steps to mark our appreciation of his worth and of the value of the services he rendered to the Legislature, and our :sympathy with his widow and his family in their trouble. It is not necessary for me io repeat over again I.ere what has lately been said so well and so often in other places. It is the less necessary for me to do so, because his Honour the late Deemster was known individually to every one of you. It is as a. member of the Legislature that we are now dealing with his worth: and as a member of the Legislature he was necessarily known to you all. I will, therefore, content myself with saying that you all know how unwearying, indus- trious, and able a member of this Court he was— never sparing hilymelf in any way—taking upon himself any burden or any labour the Court

Death of Demnster Gil]. 2 TYNWALD COURT, November 7, l899.

chose to put on him. (Hear, hear.) • oily now call upon his Lordship to move a resolM.ion on the subject. The Lord Bishop: The resolution which I hare the honour to propose runs as follows:— That his Excellency the Deputy-governor be respectfully requested to cause an appreciative and sympathetic letter to he addres€ed to Airs Gill conveying to her the sense which this Court re. tains of the late Deemster'e work, and of the value of his services to the Legislature and the people of this Island. I cannot, in moving this resolution, refrain fr,m adding a few words to those which have fallen from his Excellency's lips. I am sure there is not a single member of this Court will hesitate cue single moment to re-echo what I have said when I say that the worth of the late Deemster tisil was deeply appreciated by every member of both houses of the Legislature. You have only to look at the list which we have before us to-day--the long list of committees on which the late Deem. ster served, and I am quite sure you wi:1 agree with me when I say that not only was he a lair, painstaking, conscientious man, but he never spared himself in the public service. I am rather of opinion that he did not. spare himself as much as he ought to have done. He was always willing to serve on any committee, and nowhere in the Island will his loss be more deeply felt than this Legislature. I have spoken of his pri:':Ve worth in other places, and I am not going to enlarge upon that topic to-day. I am quite cer- tain that the mourns the late Deem Any in a way that is not very easy to describe. We have lost a valuable, excellent, public servant —one who, as his Excellency remarked, was a personal friend to us all—and I think the lea.d we can do is to ask his Excellency the Deputy- Governor if he will kindly write s letter whi.?ii will in some degree express our feelings of re.get on this subject. (Kens, hear.) Speaker : I beg, my Lord 13ishop, to second your motion, and to endorse what you have sa.d. So ranch has been said about our friend, the late Deemster Gill, and it has been so well said, that it is very difficult to add anything to it. We [IA know what a patriot he was—bow many and eonstant were his efforts to promote the good ,,f this Island generally, and, as regards this Court in particular, if we needed an object lesson, which we do not, to show how large a port he tock in its work, the agenda paper of to-day amply supplies it.

Death of Deemster Gill. TYNWALD COUR November 7, 1899. 3

It is no exaggeration to say that, during i:i last 15 years, he was chairman of most of the committees appointed by this Court for various purposes. In this capacity, and in his capacity as chairman of the Local Government Board, he was constantly brought in contact with memi,ers of the House of Keys, who, owing to his invari- al,ie courtesy, his patience, and his sound. com- mon reuse, have ever found him a most valuable and acceptable colleague. We regarded him with respect and affection. and we unile with Excellency and the members of the Council in mourning his premature death. The vote was carried unaniinously--ihe Cowl. upstanding.

CONGRATULATIONS TO TBE DEPUTY GOVERNOR. The Lord Bishop: I rise again to move thai the congratulations of this Court should be ac• corded to his Excellency Sir Attired Dumbell, oa the very honourable position in which he appears before us to-day. We all deeply regret; the pro- longed illness of Lord .Henniker, and I feel he has only taken the right step in hiking measures in order that his place may be filled. We art arriving at an important period of the year, and it is very desirable that any business which is to be attended to snould be attended to without delay in order that we may have no more trouole when we arrive at the 5th July, and I am quite satisfied that no more able businees man could lie selected for the post. of Deputy-Governor than Sir Alured Dumbell. I, therefore. beg to more that the congratulations of the Court be ad- dressed to Sir Alured Dumbell, and an expression of the hope that Lord Renniker's health may be speedily restored. The Speaker : I beg to second the motion. The motion was put by the Lord Bishop, and carried unanimously- The Deputy-Governor: My Lord, you have just referred to the stale of his Excellency's health—of course ynu will all know that that is the cause of my presiding here io-day—I think you will all be glad, as I am glad, to know 'hat his health really is improving—(hear, hear)— improving very much: and I believe it would have improved still more if it had not been for his great anxiety to return to the Island un take up his work here before be was fit to attempt it. But I had the opportunity of

Congratulations to the Deputy-Governor. 4 TYNWALD COURT, November 7, 1899. perusing a written report from his very able and eminent physician who is attending him, and in which he predicts, without any shadow of doubt, his complete restoration to a proper state of health. (Rear, hear.) I, therefore, hope that my tenure of office will only be brief. 'While it lasts I can promise you I will try to do what is right. (Hear, hear.) Of course, I may say at once, I am at a considerable disadvantage, coming in without any special knowledge of the position of affairs and of what. legislation is really required. I am not in a position to state that till I have had time to study it—I am not yet a. week old. But, of course, one sees that. the time is very late now to determine what. new legislation there is to be, and, having determined that, then you will have to have Bills drafted and prepared, and then passed by both branches of the Legislature, and all that takes a very considerable amount of time. If I had-been appointed a month sooner, no doubt we could have gone into a great deal more; but I simply wish to impress upon you that at this late time of the year it would not be a wise thing to attempt too much—not as much as we otherwise might attempt. Therefore, in- stead of attempting anything like an ambitious programme, I feel that our best course now would be to modify it very considerably, and simply frame and attempt to carry through satisfactorily a very modest programme. I will enumerate later on in my remarks the position of legislation before either 'branch of the Legislature, and also What new legislation is proposed, and put yuu in possession, as far as I am able, of the various facts relating to the position of business generally. At this point, one thing occurs to my mind which is not strictly within the category we are dis- .cussing, but it has given rise to considerable uneasiness in the minds of persons interested, and has been a good deal discussed in public. Therefore I refer to it to let you know how the matter truly stands. That is the educational question of teachers' superannuation and pen- sions. Now, it is well that it should be distinctly understood that any delay there is about that matter has not occurred in the Isle of Man. The fact is that it is absolutely necessary that an Eng- lish Act must. be obtained—it cannot be done by a Manx Statute, and we can only keep on continu- ally urging on those at the other side of the water who have to deal with it, and that has certainly been done. as the correspondence shows. It is no use troubling you with too many details

Congratulations to the Deputy.Govcrnor. TYNWALD COURT, November 7, 109. 5

as to how it arises, but you can take it from me as an actual fact, • that an English Act must be procured, and until it is procured the thing cannot be worked out. You may take it that, in the energetic hands of the Attorney-General, on this particular subject, at all events, he will not allow any delay if he can help it, and he has as full a knowledge of the subject as any one. I must next refer you to the position of committees of this Court— outstanding committees. There is a great num- ber of them, some dating as .far back as the very beginning of 1897. I do not know for what rea- sons, but, perhaps, some members of those corn mittees—I will go through them all by and bye— will be able to tell us the reasons why nothing has been done. I have no doubt there are rea- sons for it, and, in addition to that, there are a considerable number of committees on which there are vacancies, prin*ally (not; tent.iroly) caused by the death of his. Hon. Demneter Gill. It will be necessary to fill up those vacancies I may as well explain, because I have heard that there is some difference of opinion about it, tha' a vacancy of only one single member of a com- mittee does prevent a Committee working. There is no doubt about it. You will understand clearly if I put it in this way. Suppose thi: Court refers a matter to a committee of five. That will be a committee consisting of three members of the Keys and two members of the Council. A member of the Council dies, the Legislature as' no longer count on the servioes of a committee of five, and if they go on after the death of one. they can go on after the death of two, and the second may happen to be the other morebor of the Council. Well, it is apparent that, as a committee of the Tynwald Court, they no longlr exist, it is only a committee of the Keys. In several other ways, too, it works out that a vacancy on the committee brings that committeo to a standstill. With regard to the Dougb.s Sewerage Committee, I was chairman of that ccmmittee from the beginning, and all arrange- ments had been made for a sitting of the corn naittee. The engineers and others were coming from London, and were actually on their way. and WO managed to stop them at the steamer at Liverpool to prevent them coming over hero— I having decided that, in consequenoo of the death of Deemeter Gill, who was a member of the corn- inittee, that committee could not sit. I only wish to dear it up, as I understand that there was some

Congratulations to the Deputy-Governor. 6 TY9WALD COURT, November 7, 18991. little difference of opinion as to whether a vacancy on a committee prevents that committe going on with its work; and, therefore, it ].s material that we should to-day fill up some, at, all events, of these vacancies. Now, that bring' me to this question. When we come to fill up these vacancies to-day we should be in the position that we would not. he able to do it, unless NV2 took the preliminary step which T am going to ask you to do—which is to revive the rules regu- lating the eleotiun of committees by this Cour,. Those rules were passed in 1897, and they were a sort of tentative measure. We wanted to cel• how they would work, and, iiensequently, their operation woe limited to two years, and they expired on the 5th july, 1899. The matter is a little complicated, how- ever, and, as I say, if we are to go on, to fill up these vacancies, we shall have to revive those rules, because we could not even fall back, very well, upon the old system of eleotion for ihe purpose of filling these vacancies, because one Part of the committee having been elected under those rules, it is manifett• that the vacancies must he filed up in the same manner. You could not have one part of the committee elected by one mode and another part by another mode. There is a committee pending at the present tint., L•o consider amendment? to these rules- -ther• will have to be a revival of that committee ti..-day, But those amendments are amendments :Yawn up by the late Speaker, Sir .1ohn Taubman. and they do nut touch the gist of the rules in any way, even if they are adopted; they simply make provision her the easier working of them in certain_ cases. For instance, where a member is nominated by both branches of the Legislature, and is called upon to declare for which he will sit, as the rule stands now he must declare for which he will sit : and if he is not present in Court he cannot do that ; and one of the amen,l- ments proposed by Sir John is to provide that he can do that by proxy when he is not present•. I only mention that to show that they do not affect the rules themselves: they only refer to methods of making them work more smoothly. do not think there is anything more I want to say specially at this particular time. I will pro- ceed to indicate, an I promised to do, the legis- lation pending before both branches of the Legis- lature, and the new measures I hope to intro- duce. I hope both branches of the Legis- lature will strenuously endeavour, during the

Congratulations to the Deputy-Governor. TYNWALD COURT, November 7, 1899. 7 comparatively short time before them, to clear away all legislative blocks and obstruotions, and all old business that should be cleared out of the way, and let us get the road clear for new legis- lation. in doing that, 1 venture to hope that I shall have the loyal support of both branches of the Leg:ulature. (Hear, hear.) I have not for- mally thanked you yet for the congratulations you have kindly tendered to me, which are very pleasing to me, and for which, I am sure, I am grateful. Now, as for ns the Keys are concerned, 1 need say nothing about that, because they know the Bills that are before their own chamber. and wo in the Council know what work we have be- fore us. What will interest you more is the proposed new legis-ation. The proposed new legislation will inclo,e a Married Woman's Pro- perty Bill, dealing with dower, and so on—a Bill which is being prepared with very great care by the Attorn;ey;Genera,!. There is also to ho brought forward a Bill to ainend the Criminal Code. principally dealing with the question of the removal of children to reformatories. There is a Factories run not sure how that stands. Then there is another measure which it is intended to bring forward, which is not yet in print—a Bill to amend the Summary Jurisdic- tion Acts.' I fanny it includes codification. The Attorney-General : Not exactly ; but it will enable magistrates by summary proceeding to deal with a large number of potty offences, in- stead of sending them to a jury—especially in the cage of children. young persons, and persons charged for the first time. The Deputy-Governor (continuing) : Then there is a connected with chemists and druggists.--- a Pharmacy Act—and there are two measures which. I hope, will be brought forward at my own instance. One is an At to amend the Bank- ruptcy laws—and that is badly wanted. (Rear, hear.) We have dropped behind in this Island altogether. We have only got our original Act; wo have not followed it up with recent legislation as they have done in England; and I know that his Honour Deomstor Gill has told use over and over again that it is almost im- possible to get through the work with the present legislative enactments. Another is "a Bill to amend the Companies' Acts, and, ae to that, no one is in abetter position to speak than myself, be- cause I had in the Chancery Division to work out all those questions where so many of those heavy

Congratulations to the Deputy-Governor. 8 TYNWALD COURT, November 7, 1899.

companies name to be wound up latterly, and we have none of the latest English provisions whatever. We have to fall back on the old Act, and try to wind them up the same as if we had the new Acts. To give you just an illustration of the extreme awkwardness of the state of things We had a company here which was being wound up simultaneously here and in England. We had a liquidator here, and there was a liquidator in England. Part of the matters were pending before Mr Justice Kekewich in London, dealing with them under the English law, others were be- fore me, and I could only deal with them under our old Manx law. Yon can imagine the state of things. So I am most anxious that those two Acts—the Bankruptcy and the Companies' Acts—should be brought up to date, and mads properly workable. (Hear, hear.) And now, as to these committees—I am afraid I am tres- passing on your time—but I daresay the Court would like to know how they stand, The first on the list is the Lacey Inner Harbour Works. That committee was appointed so far back as 25th March, 1897. The oommittee consists of his Honour Deemster Sir James Gen, the late Deem- ster Gill, Mr Mylrea, Mr T. Corlett., and Mr J. H. Cowell. Now, I presume that committee has still work io do—as to that some of the members can tell me ; but I conclude that their labours are not finished, as they have not yet reported. At all events, that is one of the committees where there is a vitertney caused by the late Deemeter Gill's death, and which ought to be filled up to-day. In the same way, there is a committee about Abbey Lands and Baronies Customs. I do not know exactly what position that is in, or what the terms of referenee to the committee were; but it was appointed on the same day as the last.— the 25th March, 1897, and in that also there is a vacancy by the death of Deemster Gill: and I am not quite sure, but I am inclined to think that there is another vacancy by the death of the late Speaker, unless the present Speaker was substituted for him. The Speaker : There is no substitution, Demeter Sir James Cell: There has been no substitution on any committees by the late Speaker's death. The Deputy-Governor : Well, there are two vacancies on the Committee. What their duties are, or whether they have anything to do, I do not know. Then there is.the Committee on eleo-

Congratulations to the Deputy-Governor TYNWALD COURT, November 7, 1899. 9 tion by ballot and registration of voters. Tha£ is in the same way; there is a vacancy caused by the doaHi of Decroster Gill. There was another vacancy upon the late Attorney-General being made Demister, but that has been filled up: he now stands on the Committee as Deemster. Then there is the ventilation of the Tynwald Court Chamber Committee. The Members of that are the , the late Deemster Gill, Mr Speaker, and Mr J. T. Cowell. There again there will bo two vacancies; first, the late Speaker, and then Deemster Gill. {I am. going on in this way, but I take it or granted that if any member of any of these Committees has any- thing to inform as about it he will do so.) Then there is the Committee on the Standing Orders of the Tynwald Court as to :he appointment of Com- mittees and Boards. The date of that is the 16th December, 1897, and that is the Committee which was appointed to consider the amendments of the late Speaker, Sir John Taubman. The Committee are Sir James Gen, the Clerk of the Rolls, and Mr Speaker. There again, that is the ]ate Speaker, and there is another vacancy also, because ought to be elected afreeh as Deeinster, adopting the same plan as was adopted in the Election by Ballot. Then there is the Douglas Sewerage Committee of the 13th January, 1898. The Committee there are the J. T. Cowell, Mr .1. R. Cowell, and Mr Mydrea. There is one vacancy in that Committee—Deem- ster Gill. Then there is a Committee on the 15th July, 1898, on Artizans' Dwellings in Douglas— the Attorney-General, Mr J. T. Cowell, and Mr Ara itlend. Tho Attorney-General: I am very glad to have the opportunity of making one or two remarks about that. Tha Committee met immediately and they had several sittings. A member of the Committee, the hon. member for North Douglas, spoke to me about this ver matter. The last time we adjourned wo gave expression rather strongly to the view we entertained with regard to the question of providing dwellings in another part of the town, and substituting them for these dwellings which the Corporation are bound to provide under the existing order of the Court. It will be remembered they naked leave to aban- don a part of the Improvement Scheme, which entailed their making dwellings—ehope below and dwellings above them—in Lord-street—the new Lord-street. Well, then, we met and went

Congratulations to the Deputy-Governor. It) TYNWALD COURT, November 7, 1899.

into the question as to providing dwellings in another part of the town if they were allowed to escape from the obligation of providing thee., and on the last occasion upon which we met the Council undertook, at least we understood them to undertake, to submit a scheme to the Com- mittee providing substituted dwellings, and wo have been waiting for that scheme ever since. It really lies with the Corporation. The Corpora- tion is asking this Court to exonerate them from the obligation, of providing certain dwellngs: the Committee have asked before they report whe- ther they recommend that or not that they should suggest an alternative scheme for the considers, tinn of the Committee. The Corporation are now considering whether they will eubmit scheme or not. In the meantime the matter hangs fire, and the Corporation does not get the answer it requires to the prayer of its petition. The Deputy-Governor: The, next. Committee is the Redemption of Tithe Committee. That Com- mittee was appointed on the 24th January, 1899, and consists of Deerester Gelb the Attorney- General, Mr Speaker, Mr Chess, and Ur J. R. Cowell. That Committee is complete. Then there is the Publication of Logislativo Debates Committee. That was appointed OE the Tat January, 1899, and consisted of the late Demister Gill, Mr Speaker, Mr Crain, lIr Mylrea, and Mr Cowley.- There Is ono vacancy, you will see, threegh the death of Deemstor Gill. Then on the 24th January, 1899, there was a Committee appointed in the matter of new bye-laws for Peel, Ceetletown, Port Erin, and Port igt. they were techuically sepnrate Committees in each ease, but preetioally they are the same members for all—Deeinetcr Gill, Mr Mylrea, Mr Clague, Mr Qualtrough, and Mr Oalloev. On the 24th Jen-limy, 1899, for Ducey Village Dietriot and Ormhnn Village District, a Committee was ap- pointed in the matter of the application of part four of the Local Government Acts, 1886 to 1897. Mr Maitlanzl: Concerning the Onehan Village Commissioners, I was one of the Committee on that.. We sat and took all the evidenoa that was submitted to us, end the late Deemeter submitted his report, which. I believe, is in the hands of the advocate for the Commissioners. It is drafted and agreed to by the Committee and sent to the advocate of the Cummiesiouers, Mr ICueen, to have it printed.

Congratulations to the Deputy-Governor. TYNWALD COURT, November 1, 1899 ii

The Deputy-Governor: Of course that vacarmy wilt have to be filled up before the Committee ran report. Mr Maitland: Would not that report doll The Deputy-Governor: No; they can return the seine report supposing the new member agrees to it. Then, (111 the 26th of May, 1899, a Committee was appointed in relation to the lease of Govarnment House, consisting of Doemster Sr -James Gen, Mr Mykeit. and Mr Christian, Nothing ran he done in that until the Governor dines back. Now. thorn are the whole of the outstanding Committees. *Deesinster Sir Anuses Gen: I did not know that your Excellency meant us to make any remarks until yoh were through the list. I was going to say, with mference to thole Committees, it never occurred to me about the Standing Orders of the Court. The last one I am on that, but his Ex- cellency is too. There was delay at the time, owing io the illness and absence of the late Speaker. I.I. was very important to have his his services on the Committee, I may say gener- ally, with reference to the point. that has occurred about a. Continues being suspended by the death of a member or a vac:mey of office, that I do not think any defect of that kind ever oc- enrred until we made these last rules for the ap- pointment of Committees. The rule prescribes that the number of the Committee must be put into the resolution, and that a Committee is to comist of ihrec, four, or five members, and then the Court has to have a Deport from so many members. Previously to that I. feel quite confid- ent that when vacancies have occurred, tho sur- viving or continuing members of the Committee did make reports, and their reports have been received. The work of a Committee is not like judicial (work, in which you must have certain persons agree. These Committees are Commit- tees of Inquiry for the information of the Court, and" therefore, if four or five, or a number less than the number nominated, make a report, the Court has accepted the report. I think the diffi- etilty has occurred owing to this new rule, that the number is to be specified in the resolution of the Court. Previously there was an understand- ing in the Court OW. there should be a certain number appointed, but it was not embodied in the resolution itself, and, therefore, the Court accepted the report of the members who actually served.

Congratulations to the Deputy-Governor, 12 TYNWALD COURT, November 7,109. The Deputy-Governor : Then, if you agree with me in my view of the matter-- Deems-ter Sir ;lames Gell: Certainly, by reason of the number of members being specified in the resolution appointing them under the Standing Orders last made. Now, with respect to the first Committee—Laxey Inner Harbour Works—I am on that Committee, as his Excellency mentions; but I was only put on it recently : it was owing to the retirement of Deemster Drinkwater that another member of the Committee was appointed, and, in fact, I believe that he, as a member of another Committee as to harbours generally, knew more about the matter referred, the one harbour of Laxey, than any one else. Deemstcr Gill was on that general Committee, and after the retire- ment of Sir William Driukwator he was made chairman of it. There is one meeting of the Laxey Committee at .Laxey which I attended. That is all I have done, and, really, I am not up in What hue been done by the Committee. It seems absurd, sometimes, after a great deal of work has been done by a Committee to put on it. a person who really knows nothing of the matter. That is the position in this matter : I am on the Committee, but the principal part of the work was done before I was on it. I am rather under the impression that Decanter Gill had said that the members are almost ready to report; I under- stood so. At Laxey I heard the evidence given to the Committee, but I did not understand its connection wits the evidence previously given. I remember Doometer Gill mentioning the awkward position of the Committee. There was a general Conuni•ttee on harbours, including Laxey, and there was a Committee for Laxey only. When It was Attorney-General I had a great deal of work to do, but since 1 became Deemster may time has been so occupied I really have not had time to give much attention to Committee work. I would like the °dart to excuse use from this work as much as possible. Although, as a mem- ber of this Court, I am bound to serve on every Committee to which I may be elected, I em not bound to servo as chairman of Committees. There are very few Committees on which I have ever sated as chairman, because I really could not undertake the responsibility of getting meetings together and doing the organising work. There is no doubt a great deal of responsibility on the chairman. At the same time, on the Committees I have been on, I have done my best to attend any meetings that have been called, end ,I have Congratulations to the Deputy-Governor, TYNWALD COURT, November 7, 1699. 13 rarely failed to attend. I have made these re- marks merely to explain my own position as re- gards Committees. With respect to the Commit- tee on Elections by Ballot and the Registration of Voters, Deemster Gill was I.he chairman of it. The subject referred to that Committee is one of much difficulty and responsibility. It is im- possible ,sa.tisfaetorily to consider the working of the ballot without registration. We have taken a deal of evidence, and the great question is as to expense. The Committee are endeavour- ing to find a mode by which the expense can be saved. They have had very valuable suggestions from the Douglas Town Council, through the Town Clerk, who gave evidence before them. One suggestion made to the Committee is that one registration of voters should be made for all elections—a plan most excellent, if the qualifi- cations of voters were in all elections alike; but they are not. If we had. one registration for all purposes .it. ,would he an immense saving; but to have separate registrations in earn electoral die- triet for different purposes will entail a great deal of expense. A suggestion has been made to level, as it were, tho existing qualifications for voters. The gist of the whole question is the means of securing the secrecy of voting at a minimum of expense. As to this Committee, there has been some delay owing to the illness of Deemster Gill. As to the Committees for the Village Districts of Onchan and Laney, I do not know exactly what it was was referred to them. I am not on these Committees. The Deputy-Governor: I was only asking mem- bers who are on Committees to give any explana- tion. Mr Myirea: I might, perhaps, be allowed to supplement the remarks of the Deemster as to Lazes Inner Harbour Works, on which, as he explained, he only recently became a member and, therefore, is not fully in possession of the facts. I may say that there was a Committee charged with going into the matter of Laxey Harbour, and a variety of proposals were placed before it, hot I think T am right in saying that, as a rule, there tvu,s such a difference of opinion about these proposals, and, to far, they were, on raw whole, not practicable, that the Committee, rather despaired of them, and the Committee practically became funetus omcii, without re• porting at all. Unarm those circumstances a fresh idea was suggested, whioh brought about

Congratulations to the Deputy-Governor, 14 TYNWALD COURT, November 7, 1899, the appointment of a now Committee. The idea was the excavation of the large quantity of silt or debris inside the river as a very practical way . of forming a harbour and giving shelter to ship- ping. That was put into the hands of a. fresh Committee that was appointed. That Committee, as the Deemater has told us, sat at Laxey and took a large amount of evidence. They had, T. think, the officials of the Harbour Board before them, and I think they satisfied themselves generally upon the point and came to a general conclusion in favour of a. scheme. Ilut• that scheme obviously entailed such a very large expenditure of money that I am afraid, in the present. condition of our finances, we felt that the report did not press upon us with any great urgency, inasmuch as there is not any immediate probability of money being forthcoming. But we shall he in a position very shortly, I think, to gather up the fragments and prosent a report to the Court on the subject. The Deputy-Governor : That is just, the sort of information that I think would be of interest to the (It- ut, as we went through these Committees.

VENTILATION OF THE TYNWALD COURT CHAMBER. Mr J. T. Cowell: I do not know that I should interrupt the Court for many minutes, but there is one Committee—that with regard to the venti- lation of the Tynwald Court Chamber—of which your Excellency is a member. 1 do not know that we ever met, and, on a Former occasion, when this question was raised. I drew the atten- tion of the Court to the Net that the hon. mare- - bmr for Ramsey was the member who moved for this report, after an interesting debate in this room, when the atmosphere had become some- what "clogged." It was the hon. member for Ramsey who was appointed on the Committee, and I am borne out in saying so by other mem- bers of the Court. But that is a matter of very little moment. I am sorry he is not present this morning, but the Court will be glad to know that since the COot has met I have received a telegram saying he is very greatly improved since he ar- rived at Buxton, (Hear, hear.) The Deputy-Governor: I understand that this is an error, and that instead of "3. T." it should he "3. B." Cowell. (Hear, hem•.) Mr 3. T. Cowell: I am very glad to hear it. That exonerates myself. Ventilation of the Tynwald Court Chamber TYNWALD COURT, November 7, 1899. 15

BV-LAWS—CASTLETOWN, PORT BRUNT, PORT ST. MARY, AND PEEL. I)eemstcr Sir :fames Gell I Would your Excel- lency allow me to refer to one Committee—that, is the Committee about the by-laws for Castle- town, Port Erin, Peel, and Port St, Mary. There are really four Committees, but they are practically one Committee, so far as the personnel is concerned. 1 may 503.-, on behalf of the Committee, that we have endeavoured to arrange for several meetings of that Committee, and we were informed by the promoters of this Bill that they were not ready to bring these bv•]aws before them. I have two or ihree times threatened, al. last, to call the Com- mittee together simply to report the position of matters and ask that we should be diecharged. do not know what the position is, but I strongly suspect that the by-laws were not in a position to be laid before the Court at the time the Com- mittee were appointed. I mentioned to his Excellency the other day that, in future, where approval of the Court is sought, the Court ought to see that the document which is referred to . the Committee is actually laid before the Court first. All I know is that the promoters are not ready to go on with tile by-laws. The Deputy-Governer: The Committee en the ventilation of the Tynwald Court Chamber, to which the hon. member for North Douglas referred, is in a very bad eundiiim. There are two ❑aeamies---etio caused by the death of the late Speaker, and one caused by the death of the late Deemster Gill. Then there is Mr Cowell off the island, and Major Stephen very much so. What Mr Cowell objected to was not the hot air, but the draughts. Ile very pointedly said he wonld sit with his hat on if it was not remedied. I am the only member of the Com- mittee available now, and I don't object to a little fresh air. (Laughter.) So I ant afraid it is altogether a hopeless condition of affairs. The Speaker: Major Stephen intended to lie in his plane to-day. His physician wrote to me saying he was too ill to come over. The Deputy-Governor : I only referred to the fact that he is hors de combat as far as this Com- mittee is concerned—that is all.

By-Lax s—Casth town, Port. Er in, Port St. Mary, and Peel. 16 TYNWALD COURT, November 7, 1899.

FILLING VACANCIES ON COMMITTEES The Deputy-Governor: The next step is to as• certain whether the Court will agree to pass a resolution continuing the Standing Orders as to tho. election of Committees. If this resolution is passed we can proceed to fill up vacancies on such Committees as we may think desirable so to do, and leave over those that you may not think it desirable to deal with to-day. There might be ri new Demister shortly. Why should he not have his share of the work. If we fill up all the vacan- cies to-day we may not get him into harness. I shall ask the Attorney-General to moue to this effect :— Whereas. the Standing Orders of this Court re- lating to the appointment of committees made upon the 5th July. 1897, expired upon the 5th day of July last, and it, is desirable that such Stand- ing Orders should for the present remain in force: Resolved.—That such Standing Orders of the Court, shall continue in force until otherwise resolved. The Attorney-General: I have pleasure in mov- ing the resolution which has just been read to the Court. The Vicar-General seconded the motion. Mr Mylrea; I fear that the resolution—if pert in this form—is not likely to be carried. Under thme circumstances it is, perhaps, better that we should face the situation at once, and so put the motion to Lha Court in the form in which your Excellency has put it—namely, that Committees eleoted under the old order should continue to be elected under a similar standing order, and that, therefore, vacancies should be filled up in the same NVIIY- I am bound to Ray that the argu- ment which your Excellency has put forward in that respect has a very great deal of force, and yet I fear the Court as a whole is not disposed to accept the resolution of the Attorney-General. I venture to suggest it might be a wise amend- ment to accept a motion in the form suggested. The Deputy-Governor: Would the Court like some fixed time mentioned for the continuanoe of the Standing Orders? Mr Mykw': I have not the slightest objection to that. The Deputy-Governor:It would get over the difficulty, and would not cause the Court to part with authority. Mr Afylrea: Yee.

Filling Vacancies on Committees. TYNWALD COURT, November 7, 1 17

The Deputy-Governor You can say six months if you like. Mr Mylrea : I should beg to suggest. the 5th July next. I would point out to members of this Court who take an interest in this matter that the point of view which many members of the House of Keys take is that they somewhat lose power. I think I am right in saying that the Committees in which they take the greatest in- terest are those Committees of the Court which deal with Highways, the Asylums, the Harbour Board, and so forth. Now, if we adopt this Standing Order, and carry it on to the 5th July next, we shall still have in our hands the appoint- ment of thoso Standing Committees of the Court, and we shall only have to deal, in the mean- time, with the smaller Committees, with regard to which I do not think the same interest is felt. I do not think any real difficulty would arise in that case. I strongly advise the Court to adopt an amendment to the hon. Attorney-General's resolution, to the effect that such Standing Orders of the Court shall eentinue in force until 5th July next. The Deputy-Governor: It need hardly be an amendment, I am quite willing to alter the resolution in the manner suggested. Mr WOO : I should like to say that the mode of electing Committees followed during the last two years has not, been satisfactory to those whom the Keys represent., No doubt, the Council have tried to do their very best. The Council have lied the appointment of half the Committee, and the Keys, who are the representatives of the peo- ple, have only the appointment of the other half. And when I have sat in this Court and seen the Speaker of the House and the Governor appoint- ing a fifth or a. seventh member openly, in which every member of the Conned could hear who was proposed, I felt that such a mode should cease. I hope that it will he mended. The country feels it very keenly, and I am sure that the Keys felt it. (Laughter.) Mr Crellin : I would like to point out that the majority of these Committees were appointed prior to these by-laws which Deemster Drink- water prepared—months before they came into operation. The Deputy-Governor That is so—as to some of the Committees. Deemster Sir James Gell: I am quite willing Irthing- Vacancies on Committees. 18 TYNWALD COURT, November 1, 1899. to support Pallor amendment or motion. The hon. member for Rushen speaks of the country being dissatisfied. That may or may not be so. am sure the standing order has not been drawn so as to give additional power to the Council. The Council have voted for members of the Keys, and have put. committees as much as possible in the bands of the Keys. The Council have not sought in any way to inerease the power to themselves. When Sir pro- posed these standing orders, I agreed to them ; but, after a little experience of them, I have changed my mind. There is trouble in work- ing them, and they are put in force on many occasions when there is no need for it. I re- member, on one occasion, when there was a committee of throe to be appointed, and there was a unanimity on the appointment of the three members, but it was thought we were obliged to go through this form prescribed, The feeling was, however, so strong in the House of Keys, as to the members to be appointed, that the Court suspended the standing order, and the resolution was passed. without going through this prescribed form. The mode of election is so complex altogether that I think it is not advisable to continue it. We might continue it till the 5th of July next, and, in the meantime, see what we can do towards the improvement of the standing orders. The Deputy-Governor: I propose to put the motion in this form: "Resolved, that euch stand- ing orders of the Court he continued in force until the 5th July next, or until otherwise de- termined." You must remember that you have got a committee actually appointed to go into these rules. and amend them in any way they think fit. In the meantime, while this is going on, the old standing orders will be in force until July, and the Committee, if they do their duty, will make an amendment of the standing orders. Mr J. T. Cowell: I should think the Com- mittee on these standing orders will see the necessity of going on at once, when they see the strong feeling against the present standing orders. J have a difficulty in accepting the amendment. Proposed by my /IOU. colleague; but at the same time I think it is the best we can accept. It is not a very long time--si months--eo long ae we reserve the right to ourselves to alter it. Had it been left the other way, it might not have been in our power again to cancel these stand- ing orders, as we have power now.

Filling Vacancies on Committees. TYNWALD COURT, November 7, 1899, 19

The Deputy Governer: Of course we do not propose to apply these rules to the Oorionittoes appointed. since the new rules came into force. Tho motion was put., and Mr Qualtrough called for a division. Messrs Clues* and Quine were the only members of the Court who voted against the motion, as altered. The motion was carried.

LA EY INNER IIARROT3R. The Deputy Governor pointed out that a now Deemster would shortly be appointed, and that it might be well to place him on this COM- mines in lieu of the late Deomsher Gill. Mr Mylrea: I cannot think that that presses, your Excellency. The Deputy Governor: If you are close upon getting done with the thing, we might fill it up to-day and make an end of it. Mr Mylrea: I am afraid it will entail another meeting and 'further evidence. The Receiver-General: There was to have been another meeting, because Deemster Gill asked for some information from our office. Deemeter Sir ;James Gel!: I am of the same impression. I do not know wool, the evidence was that Was given. The Deputy Governor : I fancy we had better make the appointment You will he in a position Then to get done with it. The Laxey Committee will be appointed on the old lines. The existing members are Sir James Gell, Mr Mylrea, Mr T. Corlett, and Mr J. R. Cowell. Mr Kerruifh proposed the Attorney-General. The Attorney-General: I am a member of a Committee much ,Aider in scope. It embraces the whole of the harbours in the Isle of Man, and almost everything connected with them. It was a Committee that did no work, because It was simply impracticable. I understood Mr J. R. Cowell to say that he intended to move that the Committee be discharged, The Deputy Governor: Could you not leave thnt over? The Attorney-General: Would it not be better to leave me over too in t.ho spine way? (Laugh- ter.) Mr Mylrea.: I beg to second the Attorney- General.

rtaxey Inner 13arbout•. 20 TYNWALD COURT November 7, 1809.

The Attorney-General: I shall be very trouble- some. The motion to appOint the Attorney-General was carried.

ABBEY LANDS AND BARONIES CUSTOMS The Speaker: I find, your Excellency, that I am a member of that Committee, and not the late Speaker. . The Deputy Governor: Yes, that is correct. The Speaker: I might point out, at the same time, on the 24th January last, T was put on the Committee as to the Ventilation of the Tyn- wald Court Chamber, and also the Standing Orders Committee, so there are no vacancies on those Committees. The Deputy Governor: This Abbey Inds and Baronies Customs Committee—have they any- thing to do? The Speaker: I do not know. Mr MyIron.: I believe I was appointed on this or a similar Committee three years ago. It arose originally on the suggestion of the late respected Mr John Thomas Mess, but I most confess that we never met. The Committee has been appointed from time to time as new Houses have arisen, but it has never met from that time to this, and I do not suppose it over will. The Deputy-Governor: Es it the pleasure of the Court that the Comin'ttee should be dis- charged? Agreed.

ELECTIONS BY BALLOT. Tho Deputy-Governor: The only vacancy in that is the late Dremster Gill. That Committee, I venture to think, is one. having regard to the object of it, amt. might he left over for the new Deeinter's appointment. Mr J. B. Jterrwsh: I think it is to import- ant to triHe with it. and it has been before the country for many 3,, 1.F. All the members of the Local Government, Board in this Island are unanimously in favour of the adoption of the ballot in. °Motions. It is two now since this Committee wae appointed, nod I think it would be wisdom to have I his vacancy filled up, so that the Committee can proceed with the in- quiry and report at once as to the adoption of

Abbey Lands and Baronies Customs. —Elections by Balk''. TYNWALD COURT, November 7,1899. 21 the ballot in all the Local Government elections in the Isle of Man. The Deprtty-Governor : I do not think it would involve much delay, hut, in order to test it, will somebody move that it be deferred? The Attorney-General: I beg to move that., I think it is very much the best suggestion. Mr Mylrea: I beg to second that.. Without going into the merits of the question, or other- wise, I think we should simply leave it over to obtain the view and the assistance of the new Deetnster. Mr Quine: There is no matter before the Tynwald Court. so important as the election by ballot. Town Commissioners, Poor Relief Oona- mittees, and School Committees, are all anxious and waiting for this Ballot Act, and I think this appointinent is one that ought to be filled up at once. It is a matter that the country is anxious for. The Lord Bishop: I understand the Attorney- General has moved that this matter be deferred till the new Deernster is appointed. If the in- tention was to defer it sine die, I would coincide with Mr Kerruish in what he has said, but, as I understand, it. is only for a very short time. Mr J. T. Cowell: While the matter of the ballot is of importance, more important to the electorate of this Island is the fact that it refers to registration. The Committee have to deal with that matter as well as the ballot. The ballot is of no use to the country unless we have a better system of registration than we have at the present time, and I think the attention of the Court should be called to it. This matter is drifting, and I am against any further delay simply because it means delay. We do not know what may happen, and if there should come another general election without the voters being provided with the means of properly discharging their duty to the country, it would be a very great pity. Therefore, I move that this be filled up to-day. The Deputy-Governor: That is just a. negative. The Attorney-General: My motion is not with the object of indefinitely postponing this. It is a subject with which I have the strongest sym- pathy. (sear, hear.) I have myself formed opinions favourable to the 'ballot for all elections, but I will just put it. to your Excellency, Does this Committee deal with the question of regis- tration of voters for the House of Keys? Elections by Ballots. 22 TYNWALD COURT, November 7, 1899.

Deemster Sir James Gel!: No. Mr J. T. Cowell: The reference is a very wide one. The Attorney-General : it surprised me—what the hon. member said about the general election. M 3 ,T. Cowell, The reference to the Com- mittee is it very wide one. Deemster Sir :lames Gell: When I say it does not affect the registration of electors for the House of Keys, I mean 1 have not heard a word against the registration for the House of Keys. But what took place before the Committee had reference to the other elections. I admit that the resolution would be sufficient to cover the House of Keys as well, but the qualification is quite different. That is where the difficulty is. The qualification differs in various elec- tions. I do not imagine that. in the House of Keys elections there is any great grievance. Mr J. T. Cowell : was on that question of registration the Committee were appointed; the matter of ballot was brought in afterwards. The Deputy-Governor : Of course, if this was to operate in regard to the House of Keys, there would have to be a Bill to repeal the House of Keys Election Acts, which provide their own rules; but if the Committee wilt refer to the reference from the Tynwald Court, they will find that it is on that question of registration they were appointed. The resolution was put cud carried. The Deputy-Governor: You need not fear it will be deferred. very long: I will give you an opportunity before very long.

VENTILATION OF THE TYNWALD COURT CHAMBER. The Deputy-Governor suggested that this Com- mittee should be discharged. This was agreed to.

STANDING ORDERS. The Deputy-Governor: The only vacancy crn that Committee is with regard to Sir James Gell, who has since become Deemster Gell. The question is we can elect him now as Deemster Cell. On the motion of the Lord Bishop, seconded by Mr Maitland, this. course was adopted.

Ventilation of the Tynwald Court Chamber.— Standing Orders. TYNWALD COURT, November 7, 1899. 23

Deemster Sir .James Gall explained that when a similar alteration was made in former Commit- tees he did not remember this one. Be had no objection to sitting on the Committee, as he had a great deal to do with the matter from the first.

DOUGLAS SEWBRAGE. The Deputy-Governor: As regards that, you have to fill up a vacancy caused by the death of Deemster Gill. I think it would be well to fill that up to-day, because I do not know the moment the Corporation may wish to bring that on again and arrange for dm witnesses to come over. Ae I told you they were on their way on the Mon- day, the Committee were to sit on Tuesday, and the witnesses were only stopped by telegraph at the boat at Liverpool. I have no special 'n- formation from the Corporation, but I suppose by that they are anxious to be getting on, end it is quite right they should bo anxious. The other members are—the Clerk of the Rolls, Mr J. T. Cowell, Mr J. R. Cowell, and Mr Mylrea. The election in this case is to he made by the Coun- cil ; it comes under the new rules. The Council elected the Receiver-General, on the motion of the Bishop, seconded by the Attor- ney-General. The Deputy-Governor : There is no vacancy on the Artisans' Dwellings Committee or the Re- demption of Tithes Committee. Publication of Legislative Debates—the Committee was appoin- ted 4th January, 1899—in that ease I am very much inclined to recommend the Court to take the same course as with regard to the Ballot Committee, and defer it for the present. Agreed. The Deputy-Governor : Then there is the Com- mittee on by-laws for Peel, Castlotown, Part Erin, and Port St. Mary. There are no vacan- cies on that Committee. In the ease of the Onchan And Laxey Village Districts, there is a vacancy caused by the late Deemster Gill's death, and there, I think, it is a ewe in which the Com- mittee are ready to report. Mr Maitland i' lis us the report is practically ready, and it will be only nominal. Mr Maitland: It is in the hands of counsel. Mr Kerruish: There is some mistake in regard to that matter of the by-laws of Laxey and On- ()ham I was appointed by this Court as a

Douglas Sewerage,. 24 TYNWALD COURT, November 7, 1889. member of that Committee. I never received any intimation up to the prevent time as to meetings of that Comm;lime, and how a report can be prepared without a member of the Committee being notified, I do not know. I have had no official information that a meeting was to be held. I have seen something in the papers, but., apart from that, I received no information that there war an inquiry. The Deputy-Governor We cannot go into that matter here or now, The Court must assume that the Committee acted legally and properly. If not, the matter lies between you and your fellow- Committee-men. Mr Maitland: I got proper summons from the late Chairman, we sat, but I remember as a fact that Mr kerruish was not present at any of the meetings. The Council stented the Attorney-General, in place of the late Deemster The Deputy-Governor : I will suggest to the members of that Committee, Mr Maitland and Mr Kerruish, that before they learn to-day they should co./ect a chairman to call the Committee together. The only other Committee is one re- ferring to Government House, a,nd that cannot be done until the Governor returns.

NORTH DOUGLAS ELECTION. The Attorney-General moved for the appoint- ment of n Committee to examine the accounts connected with the forming and revising the lists of voters under the House of Keys Eleotion Acts, for the year ended 30th September last. Mr Clucas seconded the motion, and it was carried. The Deputy-Governor : Mr Mylrea is gener- ally a member of this Committee. Mr Mylroa: What position are you in yourself? The Deputy-Governor : You cannot put me on the Committee now. The Committee was appointed as follows:—Mt Mylrea, the Attorney-General, and Mr F. G.

PUBLIC AUDITORS. Deemster Sir James Gell moved the following resolution : - That Messrs W. H. Walker and Co. be appointed to audit the following accounts, and that their renuaneraticrn be fixed at k154 72 ad, payable in

"North Douglas Election.—Public Auditors. TYNWALD COURT, November 7, 1899. 25 the proportion& set opposite the same respectively, viz. :— Borough of Douglas, for year to 31st March, 1900 £47 5 0 Commiesione,rs of Ramsey do. 12 12 0 Commissioners of Castletown do, 4 4 0 Commissioners of Peel do. 4 4 0 Commissioners of Port Erin do. 2 2 0 Commissioners of Port St. Mary do. 2 2 0 Trustees of Common Lands, year to 12th Nov., 1899 2 5 0 The Assessment Board, for year to 12th May, 19D ..... ...... 212 6 The Asylums Board (including Poor A sy- lurn), for year to 31st March, 1900. 30 10 0 Douglas Poor Relief Committee do. 5 5 0 Ramsey do. 3 3 0 Castletown do. I 11 6 Lezayre do. I 11 6 do. 1 11 6 Doman do. 1 11 6 do. 1 11 6 The Highway Board, for year to 12th Env., 1849 25 0 0 Advertising Committee, for year to 31st Dec., 1999 5 5 0 £154 7 0 His Honour observed: I have just boon informed there is no change made in the fees this year. Mr Mylrea: I have great pleasure in seconding that. Motion carried.

THE VALUATION ACTS. The Receiver-General: It has been suggested to me—I am in the hands of the Court entirely- -that this motion for a Committee might ho left over until there is a fuller Court, but I am qui'..o ready to go on, or leave it over. Mr Goldsmith: As this is a very iMportant matter, I think it should be proceeded with. (Hear, hear.) The Deputy-Governor: Of course the Council is very small. There is not the slighte.t. feeling. The Receiver-General: I beg to move . - That a Committee of Ave members of the Court be appointed to consider the general working of the Valuation. Act, and particularly with refer. once to the cost of valuation, and to suggest any ainendmeirts which might tend to reduce expendi- ture ar simplify the present mode of valuation. Attention has been called in this Court on several occasions by various members to the exile isel of the valuation. Now, the Board consider that the expenses are very heavy, but they are not ex- penses with which they can in any way interfere;

The Valuation Acts. 26 TYNWALD COURT. November 7, 1899. of this Court. Of course it does seem that an average of £910 a year for the last four years they are laid down by the Act or by resolution is very heavy. Therefore, we have brought it before this Court. in order that a Committee of the Court might. be appointed to inquire into the working of the Acts. There are several ways in which expenses might he reduced, but they must more or less interfere with actual working. For instance, I may say that in the divisions of property and those things, the work must be done by three valuers. Many of them might be done by one valuer, and these are various small things I thought might make the working of the Act cheaper. So that we thought the shortest and easiest way will be to bring forward a motion for a Committee to inquire into the whole matter. Mr J. D. Camas: I beg to second that. Mr Qualtrough : I beg leave to suggest that the words " to report within a period of six months" be added to the motion. The fact is that some Committees never report. We have heard this morning that Committees that have been. stand- ing for two years have been discharged, and possibly this may fall into the same category. I suggest that this time limit of six months be given. Mr GoldsiMA: It would lie a most unusual prooe.eding to limit them to any particular period of time. There is nothing to prevent them re- porting in less than two months that I know of. I object. The Deputy-Governor: Prolbably the hon, member has not considered what could be done if they did not report. You have no authority over them. Mr Qaaltrough: If they delay longer than six months, they will probably have forgotten what they were elected for. Mr Quine: 1 think the time has arrived when a. fixed period should be appointed for Com- mitt o to make their reports. We have had very Clear evidence to-day of how Committees have been working for two years and that they have never been called together, and T think the suggestion of my colleague is a very wise one. Deernetor Sir James! Cell: It is a. very' good thing that Committees' work should not be neg- lected. I do not know what would happen if a Committee did not report within the time

The Valuation Acts. TYNWALD COURT, November 7, 1899. 27 limited—whether the Court would send default- ing members to prison or not. I do not know my- self what could be done, and so I don't see what is the use of fixing a limit. In some cases the members of the Committee are appointed against their will, and that being so, the best thing for them, in order to effect this object, would be to sit and do nothing, and just let the time limited for a report to he made to expire. I do not think the time limit would be satisfactory. Mr Qualtrough: I do not think the members of lihis Court take up their duties in that style. I more that as an amendanent. Mr Quine sceoended. The amOnClIMENIt was put, and declared lost. A division was called by air Quine, and only Messrs Qualtrough, Quine, and Kermode voted for the amendment.—Amendment The motion was carried. The Committee was appointed as follows:— The Attorney-General and Mr Goldsmith (by the Keys), the Archdeacon and Mr MIME (by the Council), Mr Qualtrough (by the Deputy-Gov- ernor and Speaker).

NOXIOUS WEEDS. Mr J. T. Cowell: I would just :like to point out that while the legislation proposed by your Excellency is satisfactory so fur as it goes, there is one matter which requires the earnest atten- tion of the Legislature at an early date. My friend Mr Quine, the hon. member for Rushen, has had a Bill which has passed one branch of the Legislature. The Deputy-Governor: That is being attended to- Mr J. T. Cowell: I did not hear it mentioned. The Deputy-Governor: No, it was not referred to because it is a. Bill that has come up from the Keys. it was teen to even as early as yesterday. 'Mr J. T, Cowell: I have been going through the country this last year, and my attention has been called to the absolute necessity for a Bill at sal early dale. There are gentlemen in this House who have too many thistles growing very near their residenees. (Laughter.) The Deputy-Governor: I have never had my attention called to the necessity for a measure of this sort so strongly as it has been called this year. (Hear, hear.) It is my own personal ex-

Noxious Weeds. 28 TYNWALD COURT, November 7,1899.

perienoe, and I intend to get that remedied as speedily- as possible. Mr Quine complained of a delay in connection with a. Bill to abolish compulsory Church rates, and hoped his Excellency would see his way to bring it forward at an early date. The Court then rose.

Noxious Weeds.