Tynwald Court

ST. JOHN's, TUESDAY, JULY 5, 1898.

The annual Court of Tynwald, held at St. John's, took place to-day. The proceedings of the Tynwald Court were prefaced as usual by divine service in the Govern- ment chapel at St. John's. His Excellency the Lieut.-Governor arrived in his carriage about half-past eleven, and was received by a guard of honour comprising the Isle of Man division of the Royal Naval Reserve in command of their chief officer, Mr Newnham, and the 7th V.R. I.O.M. King's Liverpool Regiment, under Lieut.- Mackenzie, Surgeon-Lieut. Richardson being also present. As his Excellency drove up the band of the battalion played "God save the Queen," and the guard presented arms. The Governor, who was accompanied by two of his daughters, passed into the chapel, followed by the members of his Council in their official robes, and various officials of the Government. His Ex- cellency was in Court dress, and wore several decorations. The members of the Legislature having assembled in their appointed places, the service was proceeded with, the officiating clergymen being the Revs. John Corlett, M.A. ; and E. H. L. Locke, chaplains to the Governor ; and the Rev. R. B. Baron, chaplain to the House of Keys. At the close of the service the procession proceeded to Tynwald Hill in the usual order. Four Sergeants of Police. The Coroners. Captains of Parishes. Clergy in file. The High-Bailiffs. Members of the House of Keys, preceded by their Secretary and Chaplain. The Clerk to the Council. Members of the Council. The Lord Bishop. Sword Bearer. His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor . The Surgeon to the Household. The Government Chaplains. The Chief Constable of the Island. The members of thel Tynwald Court present were :—His Excellency the Lieut.-Governor,

Tynwald Court, St. John s. TYNWALD COURT, July 5, 1898. 435

Lord Henniker (President) ; the Lord Bishop, the Clerk of the Rolls, Deemster Sir James Gell, Deemster Gill, the Attorney-General (Mr G. A. Ring), the Receiver-General (Col. Anderson), the Vicar-General (Mr S. Harris), and the Ven. the Archdeacon (the Rev. H. S. Gill, M.A.). In the Keys :—The Speaker (Sir John Goldie-Taub- man), and Messrs John Joughin, J. R. Cowell, J. T. Cowell, R. Cowley, J. C. Crellin, D. Mait- land, E. T. Christian, E. H. Christian, T. Allen, J. A. Mylrea, R. Corlett, T. Corlett, F. G. Callow, W. Quayle, A. W. Moore, T. Clague, J. R. Kerruish, W. Quine, Joseph Qualtrough, J. J. Goldsmith, James Mylchreest, and J. D. Clucas. Mr Story, Clerk to the Council, and Mr R. D. Gelling, Secretary to the House of Keys, were in attendance. The route of the procession from the church to Tynwald Hill was guarded by the military and naval escort, who accorded a royal salute to his Excellency on passing. The Governor took his seat in the chair of state, surrounded by the members of his Council, the Keys arranging themselves on the lower platform. The new Coroners were sworn in to serve for the ensuing year, as follows:— Philip Teare, Coroner of Glanfaba Sheading. William Kermode, Coroner of Michael Sheading. William Calev, Coroner of Ayre Sheading. John Kennedy, Coroner of Garff Sheading. Robert Bewley, Coroner or Sheading. D. T. Callow, Coroner el _Rumen aneading.

NO PROMULGATIONS. The Governor, addressing the Court, said : I am sorry to say that we are not able to promul- gate to-day the Acts which have been passed. This contingency happened some thirty years ago. It has not been in her Majesty's power to sign these Acts in Council. When they are signed we shall have another meeting on Tynwald Hill for promulgating the Acts which are now only waiting for signature before the Privy Council. This being all the business, three hearty cheers were given for the Queen, and the procession filed back to the chapel in reversed order.

PAPERS PRESENTED. The Governor laid before the Court the following papers :—

No Prcmulgation.—Papers Pi esented. 436 TYNWALD COURT, July 5, 1898.

Account of revenue and expenditure in respect of the Customs duties, etc., of the Isle of Man, and of the passenger tax and harbour dues, and of the Isle of Man accumulated fund, for the year ended the 31st March, 1898, together with the report of the Comptroller and Auditor-Gen- eral thereon. Report and accounts of Harbour Board (£2,300) for year ended 30th June, 1898. Report of Board of Education for year ended 31st March. 1898. Report and Accounts of Highway Board for year ended 12th November, 1897. Report and accounts of Asylums Board for year ended 31st March, 1898. Accounts of Bishop Barrow's Charity for yeas ended 31st December, 1897. Registrar-General's report for year ended 31st December, 1897. Report and accounts of Board of Conservators under The Salmon and Fresh Water Fishery Act, 1882, for the year ended 31st December. 1897. Public Auditors' reperts on the accounts of— The Asylums Board, for year ended 31st March, 1898. Poor Relief Committees of Douglas, Ramsey. Castletown, Lezayre, Malew, German, and Lonan fbr year ended 31st March, 1898. Highway Board, for year ended 12th Novem- ber, 1897. Assessment Board, for year ended 12th May, 1898. Borough of Douglas, Ramsey Town Commissioners, Peel Town Commissioners, Castletown Town Commissioners, Port Erin Commissioners, Port St. Mary Commissioners (for the year ended 31st March, 1898.) Trustees of Common Lands, for year ended 12th November, 1897.

DEATH OF THE RIGHT HON. W. E. GLADSTONE. The Governor : I now have to read to you the answer which I have received to the address of condolence of the Tynwald Court to alit family of the late lamented Mr Gladstone :— Hawarden Castle, 4th January, 1898. Dear Sir,—On behalf of my mother and the family, I beg to thank the members of the Tynwald Court for their kind message of sym- pathy--I remain, very faithfully yours, HERBERT J. GLADSTONE. QUESTIONS AND RETURNS. The following notices stood on the agenda paper:-- Mr Kerruish to ask- 1. When the report of the Commission appointed to inquire into Manx Industries will be laid on the table. Death of the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone.— Questions and Returns, TYNWALD COURT, July 5, 1898. 437

2. When the reprort of the Committee appointed on 25th March, 1897, to consider the ex isting law as to registration of voters and elec- tion by ballot, and the advisability of extending the same, either with or without modifications, to Local Government Commissioners and other Local Bodies, will be laid on the table. 3. When the report of the Committee appointed on 25th March, 1897, to consider the question of inner harbour accommodation at Laxey, will be laid on the table. Returns—Mr J. R. Kerruish to move for the following returns for the year ended 31st March, 1898:— 1. Offences and convictions under Lottery Act, 1839. 2. Offences and convictions under section 45 of the Licensing Act, 1876. 3. Number of persons declared habitual drunk- ards. 4. Offences and convictions under Brewers Act, 1874. 5. Offences and convictions under the Mer- chandize Marks Act, 1885. 6. Offences and convictions under the Bread. Flour, and Corn Act, 1880. 7. Offences and convictions under Weights and Measures Act, 1880, and Inspector's quarterly re- ports. 8. Offences and convictions under Adulteration Acts, 1874 and 1888. 9. Offences and convictions under Wild Birds Protection Act, 1887. 10. Offences and convictions under Sea Fisher- ies Act, 1894; and for copy of bye-laws, and re- turn of number and salaries of Fishery Officers appointed. 11. Statement of accounts, duly audited, of the Trustees of Common Lands for the years ended 12th November, 1896, and 12th November, 1897. The Governor : I understand that the hon. member for Garff, Mr Kerruish, will be glad if I put off these questions to the adjourned Court, and, of course, the returns that he asks for are necessarily put off to the adjourned Court. I have also received notice from Mr Clucas 10 ask the Receiver-General some questions, which I also understand he will be ready to allow to be post- poned to the adjourned Court. (Agreed.)

ASYLUMS, ASSESSMENT BOARD, AND ADVERTISING. The Speaker, as Chairman of the Assessment Board, said : The motion in my name is to levy a rate not exceeding 34d in the £ for the Asylums and for advertising purposes. I understand there is going to be debate. Therefore, with the Ieav9 of the Court, I move that it be adjourned to-day. (Agreed!)

Asylums, Assessment Board, and Advertising, 438 TYNWALD COURT, July 5, 1898.

POOR RELIEF COMMITTEES. The Speaker : The next motion is " That in order to meet the estimated expenses of the Poor Reilef Committee of Douglas for the 12 months ending 31st March, 1899, a rate of 60 in the £ be levied upon all corporeal real estate within the poor relief district of Dou- glas." I want to say again, what I always say in moving these votes, that now there is a change in the law, we are not answerable for these estimates. They may be all right, or may not. There is ng responsibility on the Asylums Board. Still J am bound, under the Act, to move them, and J beg to do so. The motion was carried. The Speaker moved:- " That, in order to meet the estimated expenses of the Poor Relief Committee of Ramsey for the 12 months ending 31st March., 1899, a rate of 7d in the £ be levied upon all corporeal real estate within the poor relief district of Ramsey." The motion was seconded by Mr Crellin, and agreed to. The Speaker moved :— "That., in order to meet the estimated expenses of the Poor Relief Committee of Castletown for the 12 months ending 31st March, 1899, a rate of 7d in the £ be levied upon all corporeal estate within the poor relief district of Castletown." Mr James Mylchreest seconded the motion, and it was agreed to. The Speaker moved :— "That, in order to meet the estimated expenses of the Poor Relief Committee of Lezayre for the 12 months ending 31st March, 1899, a rate of ld in the be levied upon all corporeal real estate within the poor relief district of Lezayre." The motion was seconded by Mr Cowley, and agreed to. The Speaker moved :— "That, in order to meet the estimated expenses of the Poor Relief Committee of Malew for the 12 months ending 31st March, 1899, a rate of 20 in the £ be levied upon all corporeal real estate within the poor relief district of Malew." Mr Quine seconded the motion, and it was agreed to. The Speaker moved :— "That, in order to meet the estimated expenses of the Poor Relief Committee of German for the 12 months ending 31st March, 1899, a rate of 2d in the be levied upon all corporeal real estate within the poor relief district of German." Mr Joughin seconded the motion, and it was agreed to. The Speaker moved

Poor Relief C^mmittees. TYNWALD COURT, July 5, 1898. 439

"That, in order to meet the estimated expenses of the Poor Relief Committee of Lonan for the 12 months ending 31st March, 1899, a rate of 6d in the £ be levied upon all corporeal real estate within the poor relief district of Lonan." Mr Corlett seconded the motion, and it was agreed to.

HIGHWAY RATE. The Receiver-General : I beg to move- " That a highway rate of 3d in the £ value of all corporeal real estate (other than real estate in the borough of Douglas, and towns of Castle- town, Peel, and Ramsey and the village districts of Port Erin and Port St. Mary) be levied, such rate to be payable on the 12th day of November next," Mr Clucas : I beg to move that it be adjourned. Some discussion will take place on that motion. Mr Kerruish seconded. The Governor : Is it the wish of the Court that the motion for the general highway rate should be adjourned o the next Court ? (Agreed.) Motion adjourned.

PROCEDURE. Mr .1. R. Cowell : Shall I be in order in moving that the business which remains on the agenda be adjourned to the next Court ? The Governor : I was about to mention what thought ought to be adjourned. I think the appointment of boards and committees and the applications by the Corporation of Douglas and the Agricultural Society should all be adjourned. I am not sure whether it is necessary to go on with the others. I have no objection to offer to the others. Mr J. R. Cowell : I think, your Excellency, it would certainly meet with the approval of the Court if I move that all the business now be adjourned. Mr J. R. Kerruish : I beg to second that.

REPORT ON HIGHWAYS. The Receiver-General : Before that motion 1P put, I would like to ask if I may be allowed to lay before the Court the report of the High- way Board upon the various roads. I only wish to lay it before the Court, so that it may be printed and circulated. The Governor : There can be no objection to that. Will any member of the Court second it

Highway Rate.—Procedure.—Report on Highways. 440 TYNWALD COURT, July 5, 1898.

The motion was seconded by Mr Joughin, and agreed to. The postponement of the further business on the agenda was also agreed to.

THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS WITH REGARD TO THE ADJOURNMENT. The Governor : Before we go to the next part of the day's proceedings, I want to state to the Court what I propose to do with regard to the adjourned Court. I wanted very much, if I possibly could, to have had the adjourned Court on Friday, the 8th instant—that is Friday of this week—but I find that day would be extremely inconvenient. It appears that a large number of gentlemen—directors of railways and steampacket companies—are expected to arrive here from England, and I found that five or sir members of the House of Keys would have to be absent from the Court. Under these circumstances ,I was obliged to give up the intention of having the adjourned Court on that day. I shoud have liked to have held the Court either to-morrow or next day, but the Court of General Gaol Delivery interferes. I intended to haire the Court as soon as possible, because, in a day or two, I shall be in a position to put my finan rial statement before the Court—the statement which I was not able to put before the Court completely on the former occasion. (Hear, hear.) I hope to lay that statement before the adjourned Court. As it is, it is impossible to adjourn the Court to any day except the 15th inst. Next Monday is taken up by the Deemster's Court, Tuesday is occupied also. I asked the Clerk of he Rolls if he could kindly adjourn his court, but that was perfectly impossible, as it is the last Court before the vacation, and a most important Court. The Keys have asked me, through their Speaker, never to appoint a Thurs- day—(laughter)---so I am left without any day to choose from; and, therefore, I have to put the Court off to the 15th of this month, at Dou- glas. to consider all the questions on the agenda; and then I hope to lay before you a complete statement of the finances of the Island. It is right that I should adjourn this Court formally to the 8th instant at Douglas, but there is no need for any member of the Court to be present. Still, it mus be formally adjourned to the 8th ii.staiit, because a notice has been given by the The Governor's Proposals with regard to the Adjournment. TYNWALD COURT July 5, 1898. 441

Corporation of Douglas as to the Court being held on that day. The Court will, therefore, be adjourned to the 8th instant, without asking members to attend on that day, in the ordinary way ; and then it will be further adjourned to the 15th instant at Douglas at 11 o'clock. Mr J. R. Cowell : It appears to me that at the adjourned Court on the 8th instant it will be necessary to have a quorum ; otherwise how can the Court be adjourned from the 8th instant to the 15th ? The Governor : The treasurer and secretary say it will not be necessary. Deemster Gell : But it will not be necessary to count all the members that are there. In the House of Commons it is necessary to have 40 members present, but it is not necessary to count them, unless a demand is made for a count. Mr J. R. Cowell : I should say it is certainly necessary to have a House— that means a majority. The Governor : I am only acting on what the treasurer said to me. I am perfectly ready to go on. I only adjourn the Court from the 8tb to the 15th to suit members of the House of Keys, who are engaged with this large numbc, of people. Deemster Gell : The Governor had first fixed the 8th intant, and there are notices in private matters given for that day. Mr J. R. Cowell : I am only pointing out Litt unless there is a quorum of the House of Keys present there will be no Tynwald Court and the Court cannot be adjourned. It will be necessary for some of us to attend on that day and form a Court ; otherwise I do not see hov- you can transact business of any kind. The Attorney-General : A formal adjournment will be necessary, because the Act allowing an adjournment simply by an official is not applicable to the Legislature ; it only applies to courts of justice. His Excellency will have to attend t: adjourn the Court, but I do not think it necessary to have a quorum of the Keys. Business is very often transacted in the House of Com- mons without the requisite number of 40 being present ; everything goes on smoothly unless special attention is called to the fact that there are not 40 present. My own view is that an ad, The Governor's Proposals with regard to the Adjournment. 442 TYNWALD COURT, July 5, 1898.

journment would be good, unless attention were called to the fact that there was no House. The Governor : I am perfectly prepared to go on with the business of the Court on the 8tb instant. It was only to meet the convenience of the Keys that I proposed to put it off. Mr J. R. Cowell: As a matter of precedent— and all our standing in this House is built largely on precedent and custom—all I can say is this, that if an attempt is made to recognise a Tyn- wald Court without a majority of the Keys being present, I shall protest against it. (Hear, hear.) Because I consider that our privileges are being interfered with. Deemster Gell: The Governor can adjourn the Court at any time. Mr J. R. Cowell : It seems to me that if his Excellency is to come into the Tynwald Court— it may be, accompanied by a few members of the Council—and is there to undertake to adjourn a Court which does not exist without the presence of the people's representatives, I protest against it. The Governor : I am perfectly ready to adopt either one course or the other. I shall be ,.,ere ready to go on, no matter who else is there. The Clerk of the Rolls : The hon. member says there would not be a Tynwald Court. There would be a Tynwald Court, because the adjourn. ment to the 8th to-day is a valid adjournment. Therefore there would and must be a Tynwald Court on that day. It is not like coming to a day when there was no Court. Then you are in this positionthe Governor comes to an adjourned Tynwald Court—to a Court regularly and properly adjourned—but he finds that there are not a sufficient number of Keys there to transact business. Such a thing has happened before, and what did the Governor do ? He adjourned the Court because there was not a quorum. The right of adjournment is inherent in the Governor, and the Governor can exercise it when he thinks fit, and he does not require a majority either of the Council or Keys to enable him to exercise his right. Of course, in this present case, it is done simply to save the Keys the ,inconvenience of coming together when it is not necessary. But the fact that he has power to go into the Court and adjourn it would be to my mind unmistakable, and the very fact of a working majority not being present

The Governor's Proposals with regard to the Adjournment. TYNWALD COURT, July 5, 1898. 443

would be in itself a cause for adjourning. So that there is no occasion to take alarm about the Constitution. (Laughter.) The Constitution is absolutely in no danger, and the Island will go on the same after such adjournment as it would before. (Renewed laughter.) I do think hon members need not feel in the least alarmed, and I do not think they need entail on themselves the trouble of going there on the 8th instant, or marshalling any force to hear the adjournment— though there is no reason why they should not, if they wish. Deemster Ge11: I would like to say one word more, looking at the other side of the question. Supposing that a number of the Keys put their heads together, and said they would not go there. The Keys would frustrate the Court, and it could not be held. I have seen it in courts of justice, where a quorum of magistrates has not attended. The Court has been adjourning and I never heard it questioned. You remember a time in March, when the Keys could not come from Ramsey on account of the snow.. I think you will find that the Governor adjourned the Tynwald Court on thal day from St. John's, There might have been two or three Keys there, but that was all ; the great bulk of them could not come. The Council attended and went through the service here, and then adjourned. The Clerk of the Rolls : We did not go to the hill. We adjourned without going on the hill. Mr J. R. Cowell : I have listened, your Excel. lency, with great respect to the authorities who sit around you, and who have attempted to pro- nounce an opinion on this matter, but I beg to say that I am entirely unconvinced and dissatis- fied. (Order !) The Governor : I must say that I do think there is no necessity to go on with this. I shall be at the Tynwald Court on the 8th instant to adjourn it, and any members of the Keys who like to be there can be there. I shall only be too pleased to go on with my financial statement. Mr J. R. Cowell : I fully appreciate your in- tentions and good wishes, but, at the same time, if it is to be understood from what you have said to-day that you propose that the Tynwald Court should meet at Douglas, and that it does not matter whether the Keys are present or not.

The Governor's Proposals with regard to the adjournment, 444 TYNWALD COURT, July 5, 1 8.

The Governor (interrupting): I never said so. Mr J. R. Cowell : I understood you distinctly to say it was a matter of no moment. I understood it was not at all necessary for us to attend. The Governor : If it is necessary I shall adjourn to the 15th instant. If there is a sufficient number present, I shall go on with the business, It will be extremely inconvenient to me to adjourn to the 15th instant. Mr J. R. Cowell : I shall content myself with protesting against any attempt to interfere. The Clerk of the Roll : I rise to order. Mr J. R. Cowell : His Honour will wait till I have finished. Please state your point of order. The Clerk of the Rolls : No, I won't. I rise to a point of order. The Governor : I must call you to order, in this chair. There is no reason for you to continue the discussion. I shall adjourn the Court to the 8th instant, and if there is a quorum, I shall go on with the business. Mr J. R. Cowell: Quite so. Then I shall sit down. This terminated the incident.

PRESENTATION TO SIR WILLIAM LEECH DRINKWATER. Sir William Drinkwater advanced to the table of the Court to receive an address and presentation, on his retirement from the Deemstership. The Governor said : My Lord Bishop and gentlemen of the Council, Mr Speaker and gentlemen of the House of Keys ; Sir William Drinkwater—I have the greatest pleasure in taking upon myself, as Governor of this Island, to present you with a small token of our great regard for you. I am sure we all wish to show Sir William Drinkwater, not only our goodwill and appreciation of all that he has done for the Island, in all ways, but, too, with great pleasure, to give him a small token of our regard. (Hear, hear.) There was no more valued member of the judicial bench, during all the years he occupied the position he held ; there was no one more ready to work on committees, and to do work for the good of the Island, than Sir William Drinkwater, during all the years ha was a member of the Legislature; and I venture to say—although I am a much younger man than

Presentation to Sir William Leece Drinkwater. TYNWALD COURT, July 5, 1898. 445 he is, and have only been here a very short time —that there was no more useful member of the Legislature than our friend, Sir William Drink- water, who is present to-day. Although it is, perhaps, bold for me, a much younger man, to say this, I am sure I shall find many in this chapel to agree with me, that, after the long life he has spent chiefly in the service of this Island, we greatly regret that he has thought fit to re- sign his position as first Deemster of this Island, for I believe that no one brought a clearer in- sight, more experience, or better judgment into the affairs of this Island than did Sir William Drinkwater. (Hear, hear.) I venture to say this from what I have observed during my residence here, and to bear testimony which others are better qualified by their long residence here to bear, by their own experience. All I can say is this—that I hope his retirement, and the rest which he may get by it, may prolong his life for many years, and that we may have the happiness of seeing him often amongst us in the Island for many and many a long year. With these few words I offer him our small gift, and I hope his Honour, his worthy son, and grand- sons will value it more—far more as a token of our great regard than for its intrinsic value. I beg to read you a short address which I wish to propose. His Excellency read the following address, which was inscribed on vellum, and signed by all the members of the Court :— To his Honour Sir William Leece Drinkwater, Knight, H.M. First Deemster of the Isle of Man. We, the Lieut.-Governor, Council, Deemsters, and Keys, in Tynwald assembled, desire to express the regret with which we have heard of your Honour's retirement from the high office which you have held with such conspicuous ability for the last 50 years. During this long period, associated with the names of Hope, Piggott, Loch, Walpole, Ridge- way, and Henniker, as Governors, your Honour has ever displayed the most admirable qualities as a legislator, and as a learned and upright judge. Your intimate knowledge of the history, the laws, and the public affairs of the Island, your impartiality and high sense of honour, your dignity and fairness in debate, have done much to maintain the high character of this ancient Legislature; while your services on nearly every important Committee have evoked the admiration of all, and proved of incalculable benefit to this Island. We congratulate your Honour on the happy com- pletion of this long and distinguished career, and we earnestly hope that you may enjoy in your retirement that repose and satisfaction which

fresentatiop to Sir William Leece Drinkwater, 416 TYNWALD COURT, July 5, 1898. have boon so well earned by the hard work of half a century in the public service of this Island. With the assurance of our best wishes for your Honour's continued health and happiness, we beg your acceptance of this expression of our warm regard and admiration. A.D. 1897. With the address was presented a casket, made in silver, richly gilt with pure gold, and designed in the style of the classic Greek revival. It is supported on four richly-decorated feet, introducing two central pendant ornaments in repousse chasing. At each end of the casket are rich foliated acanthus scroll ornaments bearing shields engraved with the Manx Arms. The casket is composed of effec- tive mouldings in raised work, and divided into panels, in which are beautiful enamel paintings of various scenes in the Island, namely, Douglas Bay, Ramsey, Castle Rushen, Sir William's residence at Kirby, Tynwald Hill, Peel, and Bradda Head. Circular panels are also decorated with emblems typical of the office of Deemster and its connections, such as the Fasces, the ancient Roman emblem of authority as carried before the Roman Emperors, the Scales of Justice, the Sword of State, etc., entwined with laurel wreaths. The curve of the lid is repousse chased with a gadroon ornament, sea horses, and the Greek sea wave, having allusion to the maritime importance of the Island. On the front of lid appears Sir William's monogram in blue, red, and white enamel (W.L.D.), and on the reverse of lid is engraved the inscription as follows:— "Presented by the Tynwald Court to his Hon- our Sir William Leece Drinkwater on his retirement after fifty years' service as Deemster. 1897." On the summit is a trophy supported by dol• phins bearing the heraldic shield in true enamel colours of the arms of Sir William Drinkwater, in full blazon, with motto "Sapiens qui Assiduus" (He is wise who is industrious). The arms are surmounted with the crest, three ears of wheat, one in pale, and two in saltire, enfiled with a ducal coronet. On the reverse side of shield appear the arms and motto of the Isle of Man, on a translucent red enamel ground. The casket is lined with pale blue puffed satin, and mounted on an ebony plinth relieved with a moulding of red silk velvet. Messrs Elkington and Co., of Church-street, Liverpool, submitted the design, and were en- trusted by the Tynwald Court with the order for this beautiful casket. Sir W. L. Drinkwaier: Your Excellency, my Lord Bishop, and gentlemen of the Council, Mr

Presentation to Sir William Leen Drinirmater. TYNWALD COURT, July 5, 1898. 447

Speaker and gentlemen of the House of Keys,— In the great empire of which we have the pride and privilege of forming a part, there is no honour more coveted by individuals and public men than that of the presentation of an address from the two Houses of Parliament. In your great kindness in following the high precedent set us in England you have conferred upon me an honour greater than I can find words to express my thanks for, and you have conferred an honour which I consider I had no right to expect, but which the words of your address make me hope that I am in some way entitled to. You have coupled my name with that of the Gover- nors who have presided in this Island during the last 50 years, and I think, perhaps, if it is not out of place, that I should mention the arduous duties which are especially imposed on the Gover- nors of this Island. In the colonies—I mean the self-governing colonies—the governors no doubt worthily represent her Majesty, and, in some respects, have similar duties to those imposed upon our Sovereign, but in this Island not only have our Governors to discharge, and not only have they discharged worthily and rightly the hi" duties imposed upon them as representing her Majesty, but they have other duties of a much more laborious nature which are imposed upon them, and which I shall show in a very few words they have fulfilled to the utmost extent. The Governors of this Island, in addition to their duties as representing her Majesty, are presidents of the Tynwald Court, in which they have to take part in the debates when it seems to them expedient or necessary : they have to preside in the Council over the discussions on numerous legislative matters which are brought before them, and various other matters also usually brought before the Council. They have to be their own prime minister, their own financial minister, their own head of the Board of public health, and they have to perform other duties which it is not necessary to mention. In the colonies this is not so, and I will refer to the way in which the duties have been performed by the Governors here, because you will see that, without their able assistance, this Island could not have arrived at the prosperity which we now enjoy. There are three Governors especially, and as they do not approach exactly to the present time perhaps I may be allowed

Presentation to Sir William Leece Drinkwater. 448 TYNWALD COURT, July 5, 1898. to mention them. The three Governors who held office for the longest time were Governor Hope, Governor Loch, and Governor Walpole. As regards Governor Hope, he was precluded by his orders from London from entering into the question of the reform of the House of Keys, which, at that time, was supposed to be very much needed. He devoted himself to legislation and other ordinary work of the Governor with a devotion to duty which could not have been excelled, and he left a name for justice and for honour in this Island as high as any man can hope to leave. He did commence reform in one very important matter, for he promoted to the best of his power, and encouraged the first com- mencement of popular government in this Island by conferring upon the town of Douglas a Local Government Board. As regards Lord Loch, I could say much more than either time or place seems to fit. On coming to this Island I saw a great deal of him, and his first thought was that this Island could not progress unless some means could be found of obtaining funds to carry on the various improvements which were required. He saw also that these funds could not be properly placed at the disposal of the Tynwald Court unless, at all events, the House of Keys was made an elective body, and the first step that he took on coming to this Island was to endeavour to prevail upon the Govern- ment in England to alter the policy which they had thought right in the time of Gover- nor Hope, and allow the House of Keys to be made an elective body, and the surplus funds of the Island arisng from customs to be placed at the disposal of this Court. He succeeded, and by those means this Island has arrived at the state of prosperity in which we now find it. On perceiving that money would be forthcoming, he laboured day and night in considering how best it could be spent for our good. Harbours of a magnificent character were planned and carried out, and other public works of very great importance carried on, and in addition to this he was busier than even his pre- decessor, Governor Hope, had been in passing numerous good and necessary laws. Standing as I did the other day at the end of Victoria- street, and looking upon the magnificent piers and the palatial houses, and knowing that it was owing to his exertions in a great measure

Presentation to Sir William Leece Drink,A ater, TYNWALD COURT, July 5, 1898. 449 that these works were carried out, and that Douglas, from a city of cottages, had become a city of palatial houses, the thought occurred to me that a memorial was due to Lord Loch, similar to that of Sir Christopher Wren, "Si monumentum requiras circumspece" ("If you require a monument of me, look around.") It may be that that would be sufficient : it may be that that is all that the people of this Island think necessary, but it does seem to me that posterity may think that some further memorial of that great Governor ought to have been thought of by those of his own time, and that some memorial in the form of statuary or painting might be found to commemorate the features of one from whom they had inherited so much good. Governor Walpole followed Governor Loch in all the high endeavours for the benefit of this Island which Lord Loch had instituted. Great works were undertaken, great industry was displayed in legislation, and the means were found for providing for great works without unnecessarily burdening any of the in- habitants of the Island. We owe many thanks to Sir Spencer Walpole, as we do to Lord Loch. We hope and trust that future Governors, and our present Governor will follow the bright example set by those three Governors, and, if so, this Island cannot but prosper. But, your Excellency and gentlemen, Governors, however great, however distinguished, would be of little value com- paratively to the Island if they did not meet with the support of the Legislature of this Island—the Council and the Keys. That they have met with the assistance of those two bodies there can be no doubt. Every proposal of the Governors, every act that has been passed, has been looked at with a scrutinising eye, critically, and, at the same time, with a strong endeavour that nothing should be lost that would probably tend towards the benefit of the Island. It is by the union of the three—his Excellency the Lieut.- Governor, the Council, and the Keys—lhat these great benefits have been bestowed on the Island, and, your Excellency_ and gentlemen, I see no reason why, if they continue to act together as they have hitherto done, this Tynwald Coll* which goes back in its history for many centuries, may not, to the great good of this Island, continue for many centuries yet to come. (Hear, hear.) Your Excellency and gentlemen, I must

Presentation to Sir William Leece Drinkwater. 450 TYNWALD COURT, July 5, 1898.

now bid you farewell. The time that I have spent in the work of this Island has been a very pleasant time, and the termination of it is most grateful to my feelings. You have presented me with an address, and you have accompanied it with a work of art, a thing of beauty, a joy. Your Excellency and gentlemen much as I must prize, and those who come after me must prize, this token of your friendship and esteem, the prize which I prize, the prize of prizes, is not this beautiful casket, but it is the kind address—. the kind words which have been written and spoken by the members of this Court. It is the address of the Lieut.-Governor, Council, Deem- sters, and Keys, which is my greatest treasure. The Governor : I call upon the Lord Bishop to address the Court. The Lord Bishop : It is on your bidding, and your bidding only, your Excellency, that I should venture to say one word on this very interesting occasion. I feel that I can add nothing to the words which you have already addressed to Sir William Drinkwater, and I am satisfied that nothing can be added to those selected words which have been read by you in the address. But there are just two things I should like to say, and the first has been suggested to me by the touching speech to which we have just listened from Sir William Drinkwater. Sir William has given us a sketch of the history of the last four Governors of this Island, but with that modesty which always characterises his utterances he has not said one single word with regard to the part which he played in the legislation to which he has referred. I have no doubt that if we look back ourselves—and some of you can look back far better than I can—those of you who were interested in the matters to which he has referred, will well know that Sir William was one of the chief advisers, whether it be of Governor Hope, or Lord Loch, or Sir Spencer Walpole, or Sir West Ridgeway. Therefore, I think we ought to feel, if he tells us of what he has done of late years in this Island, that he has had a share in those things, and that to him in no small measure is the honour due. I have thought a great deal about Sir William's retirement, since he left us last October. I am satisfied I am only giving expression to what is the feeling in both branches of the Legislature, when I say

Presentation to Sir William Leece Drinkwater. TYNWALD COURT, July 5, 1898. 451 it came upon us like a thunder-clap—the idea that we should no longer have the benefit of his wise counsels on public questions, was a source even of alarm to many of us. But the more I think of his retirement, the more I have felt that his course has been almost unparalleled in history. I was talking to a Cabinet minister about this matter only a few weeks ago, and he agreed with me that he could not recollect, in English history, the case of any judge who had sat upon the bench for 50 years. There was one in sacred history who, we are told, judged Israel for 40 years; but I venture to think it is an unparalleled event, that any one should have sat on the bench and judged the people of this Island so long, so righteously, so justly, and with a career so unblemished in every respect as that which we must think, when we mention the name of Sir William Drinkwater. But he has retired from public life. Still he lives amongst us, and we are thankful for it. We are thankful that we have the privilege of consulting him in private. We shall always look to him in private life, and think of what he was as a kind and good judge, a wise and able legislator, and, under these circumstances, I feel it a privilege that you have allowed me to say one word more as a member of the Council, in expressing to him the deep sense of esteem, affection, and regard in which he is and ever will be held by us. (Hear, hear.) The Speaker : I should like, with your Excel- lency's permission, to add one or two words on behalf of the Keys and also on behalf of myself. I think that the Lord Bishop has said everything that can be said, and your Excellency, too ; but, perhaps, we, in the Keys, have felt more sincerely an interest in the late Deemster- if I may call him so—than the Council he sits with. In the Keys, from the time I remember first, Deemster Drinkwater was always looked on as one who, in the Council, pre-eminently looked after the interests and rights of the Keys. Another reason why I am glad to have this opportunity is that in this Legislature, I, after his retirement, am the oldest member, and I daresay he would like to see some symptom or expression of feeling on behalf of myself and also the House over which I preside, and I am sure their sentiments are hearty good wishes for his health for the rest of his life, and that he

Presentation to Sir William Leece Drinkwater, 452 TVINIWA1,D COURT, July 5, 1898.

may enjoy the retirement which he has so well earned. Mr J. R. Cowell : I have the honour of being requested by the Committee having charge of the arrangements for the presentation of the testimonial to add a. few words to what your Excellency, the Lord Bishop, and Mr Speaker have said with regard to Sir William Drinkwater. It gives me ex- treme pleasure to have the opportunity of adding my small tribute of admiration and praise to the gentleman who is now retiring from our ranks. We have a scriptural injunction to give "honour to whom honour is due," and I feel I am expressing the views of the Keys when I say that, because of his length of service, of his integrity of character, his purity of life, and his devotion to the public service, there is no man in the Island who deserves, or who commands, more respect in the House of Keys than Sir William Leece Drinkwater. (Hear, hear.) The mantle has fallen from off his shoulders in public life, and it will not be easy for him who attempts to wear it ; but, if I may venture to say so, the gentleman who is now retiring from active service has left behind him a reputation which will not be without its effect upon the minds of the individual members of the Tynwald Court. We have in this House the highest possible respect for his character. We appreciate to the fullest extent those bril- liant abilities which he has laid at the disposal of the state, and I venture to believe that every member of this House hopes to gain inspiration when they review the excellence and the devotion of that career which is now publicly terminated. With respect to his services as a judge we have little to say. We are glad to believe that in this country judges, if not above criticism, do not necessarily require criticism. The purity of the English judgment seat is proverbial but, sir. I will venture to say this, that as a judge Sir William Drinkwater has shown in his own person such a combination of qualities, producing in their entirety the judicial faculty, to an extent which few men have been honoured and privileged to possess. In the Legislature it has been my fate occasionally to cross swords with Sir William Drinkwater, We have been brought up in different schools, and have looked at public matters from entirely different stand-points on many occasions, but presentation to Sir William Leece Drinkwater. TYNWALD COURT, July 5, in?. 453

I beg to add my testimony to the patience with which he has always met his opponents in debate, to the liberality of sentiment, and the breadth of view with which he has always ex- pressed himself towards those who have differed from him. During the 16 years I have occupied a seat in this House he has been unquestionably the most hard-working man in the Legislature. No man was more unselfish in the discharge of his public duties than the learned gentleman now retiring. I would venture to say one word more on behalf of this ancient and honour- able House. We beg to express to Sir William to-day our best wishes, and I will go further, and, on behalf of Ala nxmon to whom Sir William is well known throughout the length and breadth of this Island, beg to assist in tendering him the highest appreciation of the Manx people for his public services and his devotion to public duty. I trust that in the remaining years of his life, and in the retirement he has so justly earned, he may rind that happiness and peace which he so well deserves. (Cheers.) The Court then rose, adjourning to the 8th instant, at Douglas, at 11 o'clock in the forenoon.

Presentation to Sir William Leece Drinkwater.