The Times from London, Greater London, England • Page 6

THE TIMES, FKIDA7, PEBRUAKY 28, 18731 PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCES HOUSE OP LOKDsTthcxsoxt, Fd. 27. Th LoftD CaUXCZXAOK took his seat oa th woolitck at 'dock, PETITIONS, Lord KBURY presented petition from Inhabitants of various parts et London, ia fsvour of legalising merrisr wita a deceased wiiss mur. Earl BEAUCHAMP presented ft petition from Inhabitants of th borourh of Bridgnorth against th till for legalising Btmin with a decead wlfes utter. rRIVATE BUSINESS.

Th Leicestershire Banking Company Bill, Tavistock Casal Bill, and tb Belfast, lioly wood, aad Uangor Jtau way or Lease) 1U1V vera wad a second Urn. CHELSEA WATER BILL. Lord F1TZWALTER, in moving th second reading of this BilL there was on thief which rare him coup dene in performing the task assigned to! him, and It waa that except under rery extraordinary circumstance tnetr lordship Hons error refused a second reading to a private IU1U Far bo it from him to say that it wa not quit within their lordihipa'prorlaee to stop the farther progress of any Bill at any stage, but he did hope hat when a company cam before their lordships' House with a project public utility, and asked for an Inquiry into that pro ject, such Inquiry would not be reiuseu. lie. did not intend to 50 into the merits of the Chelsea 'Water schema, becaase that was not tb question before their lordships.

They were not asked to say it was coe which, Parliament ousht to adopt; la its present shtpe. All they were asked to do was to treat it as they did other prirat Bills to let it go before a Select Committee, which could examine the plans and bear the argu mean of counsel and the evidence of witnesses. He begged lesveto asy that the matter could not bo properly ex amiaed by such an assembly as their lordships House. He was quite aware that In the minds of some parties there were the strongest objections to the Bill, but he rent ured to think that a strong prejudice against it had been created by statements which had no foundation in fact. It was alleged that if the achem were carried out the plcasure grauad of all BngTd would be destroyed.

If there to be any destruction at all, it was the destruction of a flit marsh. it was asserted that the rirer wall was to be a mile in extent, while the fact was that It would bo only 930 yards long. This wall would be 30 yards from the edge of the waUr, so that trees might be planted along tho bask in front of it What was the case of the company I It was their bound duty to provide the best wstcr possible for large metropolitan districts, inhabited by an immense population. Before selecting the site proposed by the present Bill they had obtained the opinions of a publie inspector and of Mr. Batcman, ono of the most experienced water engineers in the kingdom.

Persons acting under public authority had reported to the company that there were certain things required in respect of the water supply. It wss in consequence of those opinions and reports the company now cam before Parliament with a schema which would put nothing in the pockets of the director 'and would not increase the dividend of the shareholders by on sixpence, while it would ioToiv an outlay of Under then he hoped their lordships would agree to read the Bill a second time and scad it io the ordinary way before a Select Committee. The llarquis of SALISBURY felt it his duty to mora as aa amendment that th BUI be read a second time that day six months. His nobl friend who moved the second readies had devoted a considerable portion of his speech to a vindication of the purity of the directors of the company, bot lis noble friend's efforts in that line had been wholly superfluous. No one desired to cast any reflection on the directors or the company.

No doubt they had endeavoured to do their duty to their shareholders, with th best of their ability, and in accordance with th obligations cart on them, but that House bad a duty as well as th directors of the company. It was their lordships' duty if not theirs to look after th pubUo Interests in this matter. (Hear, hear.) He had the deposited plans before him and there could be doubt what th facts were. The noble lord said th proposed wall was at a considerable distance from the edge of the rirer. Looking at the plan.

found that the wall was la the rirer. Lord FrrZWALTER.That was th first plan. TL Marquis of SALISBURY was looking at the last edition. Of course, what the company might be prepared to do under pressure was quite another thing. It was not an unusual thing for promoters to apply for large powers, but to intimate fiat they did so as a matter of form, and without any intention of using them.

This course wss somewhat analogous to that pursued by, those obliging persons who offered young gentlemen money and only required la return a bit of pspcr, which they assured you meant nothing. Eutif they once got the piece of paper they would act on it. (A laugh and "Hear, bear. Th reservoirs and wall proposed by the company were to be opposite to the Pavilion Terrace, In th grounds ot Hampton For a length of some thousand yards aa erection was to be 13 1, it might be a bank or it might be wall, butt according to all precedent, it would be a watt, It might bo auly 22ft. high, but probably It would' be 27ft.

Now, it the park of Hampton Court were the property of any of their lordships, what would they do, in such a esse 1 Here was a park of singularly natural beauty, and all th more endeared to the possessors because it had been such spark for many hundred years. Suppose it was proposed to build epposlt to it a wall 2Tft high, which would cut o3 half the rirer from that proprietcr and extend for a length of about half a mil in front of th park, would, not the proprietor say that such sn erection would make his place uninhabitable, and would he not ask thai or the other Hons of Parliament to prevent such aa injury I. (Hear; beer.) JL private proprietor whom it was proposed to injure in such a way would have the ordinary law of tt country to appeal to. He would get compensation, and he) would also have an opportunity of srgulag his ease before a Parliamentary Committee. Th publie at large were the virtual possessors of the Park at Ilamptoa Court.

They' resorted to it In thousands for recreation and amusement but It would be impossible to compensate the publie as a private proprietor might be compensated, and th rule of parliament did not allow of the publie being heard before a Parliamentary committee in such a case. (Hear, That wss the Justification for asking their lordships to reject this Bill on the second reading. If there were, any difficulty in supplying a portion of the metropolis with wster, except by meaiu of thu scheme, ths case would be different but it was "only a matter of the slenderest economy that had induced tLe company to tike this step. There was no reason why they should sot tlx on a site for their reservoirs up. Us held a letter from Mr.

Hawkealey, wbo indicated another spot and as he imagined was no difficulty on this point, he did not think that those who opposed the second reading were open to the charge of trying to prevent the company Irons ootaining a supply of water. There was one other ob Jtcticn which had been suggested to him by a distinguished authority It Was that a btgh wall running for a length of half a mile aloog that part of the Thame would considerably increase the ritk fatal accidents to inexperienced osiKnen, who, when their boats now capsized, swam to the bank nod wrre able to get on land. It did not require the fj.it of prophecy to see that such a wall would much increase the risk run by such persons. For all theso reasons he begged to mo to that the Bill be read a second tluio that Usy six'inonths. (Hear, hear.) Earl GRANVILLE was desirous of saying a few words Urore their lordships went to a division.

He did not feel competent to give an opinion oa the merits of the Bill, and he thought was not going too far in saying that there were a great many of their lordships quite as incompetent in that respect ss he was. But the preliminary proceedings with' regard to this Bill reminded him very much of what used to go oa in the House of Commons when he first knew it. At tho time to which he referred there was canvassing on both aides in the case of every private BilLJtow ia this instance he, and no doubt all of their lordships, had been furnished with two sets of pspcrs one by the promoters and the othcrby the opponents of this Water Bill. Th promoters said the object they had ia view was one of a great sanitary cha. racier they were desirous to supply a portion of the metropolis with purer water, and they asked that their project should not be rejected till they hid an opportunity of laying its merits before a Select Committee.

That was ihS course taken by them. Oa th other hand, th eppo nrnta of the BRl ssid the scheme was one to destroy one of the most beautiful places oa tho banks of the Thames, and that If It were adopted it would in terfero with the enjoyment of that place by th thousands who at present resorted to it Now, bVwas not in a position to say what Wit th set and what wss not tb set in this esse That was the first point to bo ascertained and be believed the only way in which their lordships could ascertain it was by means of a Sebjet Committed. But the noble marquis who moved th rejection of the Bill argued that the pubUo not bar tb advantage which would be possessed br a private pioprietor if Hampton Court were his park, lie tiousLttt toU marquis wss mistaken, lie did not think the prirat owner of a park oa tho side of the river oppesit to that on which tb waU was proposed to erected aWou 1 have any focus sJanJi before a Select Comrmtto of itherttkat House or th House of Commons. While, thbi marquis argued that tWworka would destroy 'tbt soenery on that mrt of tho Thames, tbe promoter argued that th waU would be so far back that slight be nlsnted on the bank of th rirer, and that th reservoirs, so farfrom being cuctivo, pnsiUvely prmnt tbe dc akspilea cf th r4cture artwsnos of th bank by thercctioa of any edifice along th edo of th river, lie gar no opinion ot his own as it these allegations, or as to what wa4fsld. tbmt half the river being taken awa to front of Hampton Cowt "What be wished to erg was that was sot derirsW their lordship sbeukt osa Idwa ia nnusual crowds to rot en a Bill like tWs.

Jt ought to allowed to take its chase ia the usual var before a Select Ctetuwitte. thought pnbU atten (wn waa suSeirenydireeiedto tsnsttf to prevsntaU itager tV. JI jasaed nltimately tt wss not itdtMc It theSeleet Ce nrHee earn down and said, There are csrtala faets. proved to oar aaaconTbut IkMUtaMMetlfUaeHU to have their taAnana. lhMlL ia aceerdanc with the ruks of House, wet prMfSe4 fees rs isin tW la snob a.

tha 14 would be for. their lordships' Hons to strik th balance but he did hop that soma others would loin him ia voting with the noble lord who moved tb second read inc. not tnereby to vols tor tb uul nut to vote that it might be subject! to a fair and impartial inquiry. (Hear, hear.) The Msrquk of HERTFORD supported tbe amendment. believing the schetae to be very objectionable oa poMio grounds, while it was not necessary for th purpose alleged ny me promoters, iwo years agotne Ubeise uompany migbt nave joined lb Lambeth Company In getting a supply of wster higher up, and at a part of tb Thames where there was lees organic Impurity than at th snot now selected by If there were such a wall aa that proponed opposite Hampton Court the 'river must hare fiooded tbe park taat morning.

iseount MIDLETOX alao renrtorted the amendment. and said the scheme was opposed by all the inhabitants of the locality, from Lord St. Leonards downwards. If their lordships rejected company could reconsider the maiier ana iniroauce a natter scnem next year. Earl RET concurred in the observstions of his noble friend the Secretary of Stat for FoceLra Affairs.

At one time private Bills in each House wen investicated by the full House itself. What was th result Questions of pri vat legislation were decided by canvass and prirat intrigue. Those who, like himself, were old enough to remember the proceedings of Parliament 40 years sgo must know that tbe abuses became so scandalous and intolerable that Parlia ment wastforeed to tbe conclusion thst each House, in it col lective espsdty, was totally unfit to desl With such ques tions, and thst they ought to be referred to a Select ora mittee.where they could be maturely considered, and wnera the matter could be decided after a careful examination of plans snd th hearing of evidenc. He was far from ssyiag that th proceedings of Psrlismenl in re; epect of private legislation were even at this moment altogether satisfactory, bot certainly they were a great improvement on the former state, of thins. At the period to which he had referred be had seen all the exeitcment that nanallv eharscterized a debate on a rreat party question imported into the coniiderstion of a pnvato Bill it wa moat important for the honour and character of their lordships' Ifouse thst nothing like, that should occur ia the present dsy but, having regard to the appearr ance of the Ilouae at thst moment, he would venture to ask their lordships' whether a danger of that kind did not really exist.

(Hear, hear.) was the question pi this second resdinr before their lordship without any catavsas, without any solicitation on the one side or the other? He was afraid thst could not be said. (Uear, hear.) But it had been said that there were, special reasons for taking this Bill out of the ordinary category, qj private legislation, ile had listened carefully for those reasons, but he had not been able to discover them. There was not one of their lordships who could take upon himself to ssy that, apart from what was contained in the papers which had been printed on one side and the other, he had information which would enable him to form a sound opinion aa to which of the two parties was in the right, The case, therefore, was exactly ofe in which their lonUhips should adhere to their usual practice of referring the Bill to a Select Committee. The noble martruls who moved the amendment said the publie could bot be heard by a Select Committee. Now, be found among the petitioners against tbe Bill th Conservators of the Thames amf the residents of Thames Ditton and he found that money was being raised to assist th opponents of tb measure ia putting their case before Parliament.

He repeated, therefore, that there was no reason for not sending the Bill before a Select Committee. No doubt tbe Select Committee would be quit alive to the importance of preserving the public interests and of preventing Hampton Court from being damsged, and if it should be found thst tbe Bill would injure Hampton Court lathe manner alleged, there would not be the slightest chance of its becoming an Act of Parliament. (Hear, tear.) The Duke of RICHMOND did not mesa to follow th noble earl into a history of tho prirat legislation of Parliat ment.but as he was. one of th individuals to whom tha noble earl alluded when fa said that not on cf their lord ships hail information sufficient to enable him to com ton conclusion on the merits ef th Bui, he ventured to UU the noble earl that be for on had that information. Hon than that, he was convinced that he did not stand alone The majority of th nobl lords then present were as capable of coming to a decision on th Bill as any Select Com mittee would be.

His noble friend the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, with that Ingenuity, ot wnicb be was so great a master, ran rounu ine supjecsso peaiscuueo, snd left the publie interests altogether out of consideration; and the noble earl who had just spoken referred to tbe titioos of the inhabitants of Thames Ditton and the Coo serrators of the Thames. But the noble earl quite omitted to shew that the inhabitants ot Thames Ditton would hare any loan tiaudi before a Select Committee. If they would not. how could they protect the public' interests (Hear, hear.) But the noble earl said the publie interests would be guarded by the Conservators of tho Thames. Now.

if tbe Conservators of the Thames attempted to go outside the four corners of their petition, which bad reference solely to the nsvigatioa of the river, it would be the doty of tbe Select Committee to refuse to bear them. (Hear, hear.) He did not hesitate to say that, of all the able men in the body of parliamentary agents, tho ablest would not be able to drawnp a petition which would give .1 1 1 1 1 0.1. itA me puDiie a (uevi azauai ociore a ociect iaiiuujuico uu uui BilL There could be no doubt of tb injury the proposed erection would do to tbe Park at (Iampton Court, and, that being so, unless it was shown that the reservoirs could not be placed in at least as good a place as that fixed on by tbe promoters, he thought their lordship ought in this case to depart, from the usual course snd refuse to read the Bill a second time. Hisnoble friend (Earl Granville) laid down the hard and fast line that no private Bill ought to be opposed on tbe second reading. He could not tak that view, and therefore he had much satisfaction in supporting the amendment of his noble friend th nob! marquis.

(Hear, hear.) Lord BEDESDALE by no means laid it down as a rule that a prirat Bill ought never to opposed on th second reading. Oa th contrary, he thought there were occasions when a prirat Bui ought to opposed at that stage. It wss quit clear that a Bill ought not to pass, it would mnch better for all parties to reject it on the second reading. Th first objection against reading' this Bill ia second tun was furnished by tbe promoters themselves in their departure from the deposited plana, On the very spot selected for tb reservoir there might at any time be erected the most offensive manufactory. Still tbe feeling of the inhabitants appeared to be unanimously against the Bill, sad tb company had put thmselves io tbe wrong by laying themselves open to such great objections, lie had stated both sides of th cas as fairly aa could, and wished to dcclin giving a rot on th question.

Earl GRANTTLLE asked whether or not the nobl lord was authorised on the part of the company to say that they would alter their scheme so as to meet tbe objections taken to it. Lord F1TZWALTER waa authorised to say that if a modification of tbe achem was deemed requisite, they were quit ready to adopt tt. It would be impossible for them otherwise to go bcfortbe committee with any chance of success. The Marquis of SALISBURY remarked that if th Bill went before a oommitte there would be nobody whose interest or la whose power it would lie to enforce the proper fulfilment of the pledge given by the noble lord. Lord RED ESU ALE would remind their lordships that they would be able to reject the Bill on the third reading if it came back from the committee in an unsatisfactory shape, Their lordahips.tben divided, when there appeared Contents ..1 29 Not Coo tents 70 Majority agalnsth Bill 41 The Cere Chapel, Tiverton, Marriages Legalization BUI was read a third time and passed.

On the motion of tbe Duke of RlcruioxD, an address was adopted to the Crown for a return showing the number of noncommissioned officers and rank and file on the 31st of December last. On the motion of Lord Eostbert, Lord Strathnairn was added to the Select Committee on HorseSj in the room of the Earl of Lucan. Their lordships adjourned at half past o'clock. HOUSE OF COMMONS, Thubsdat, Fzb. 27.

The SriAKJETt took the chair at 4 o'clock. CHAltlNff CROSS AND VICTORIA EMBANKMENT APPROACH BILL. Lord ELCHO ross, according to notice, to more that this Bill be referred to a Select Committee of. nin members, fire tb be named by the House; and four by the Committee of Selection. He regarded the question involved in this Bill not aa one of the character ordinarily dealt with in private Bills, but as on of iletropolltan and almost of Imperial importance.

He wished to treat this not as a question of art, or even of architecture, but simply as a question of Psrlismentary procedure. Ever since that magnificent work, the Victoria Embankment, had been completed, tbe Metropolitan lloard of Works nsd naturally desired to render it as useful as possible by making an approach to it from Chsring cross. Thst approach they had wished to maketthrough Northumberland House, but for a time they encountered great difficulty in obtaining the consent of the owners of the land. That difficulty had now however, been overcome, ami a Bill for carrying out the work had been brought io, and had passed the Standing Orders. 042,0002.

was required for tbe work, part of which would be recouped by the sale of land and the other part raised from the taxpayers of the metropolis and. they were told that the measure camabefore them as a private BilL He did not dispute the necessity of the work, but he desired to raise a question of procedure. He thought thst it would bo better sad much more convenient to adopt the curvilinear approach suggcited by the late Mr. Peanethorne, wjiieh would avoid Northumberland House altogether, and take only a small portion of tho garden. If, moreover, they swept away that ancient historic monument, Northum.

berUnd House, th hideous railway bridge near Char lef eross would mar the prospect from the finest sit in Europe. wished th JXO, therefore, to teat before a hybrid committee, who would consider th whoU question from a broader point of rkw thaa that taken by aa ordinary PriraU Bill Committee, Tb noble lord concluded by making bis motion. Th SPEAKER suggested a modification ia the terms of tho motion, owing to the Bill having been already referred to a Select Committee. rmiposaL thinking that, before they consented tho derU' fraction of on of th last of their old historic pelacetnfl 0f aa oroameat to th metropolia, they ought to quite cer. tain that a great would be effected.

OolanalHOGa asked tki Jou to reject th motloo. being directly oppoar.1 to the itsusl practice of the Houvi in regard to private BiUsand also a of tbe btanding Orders. A com'mitte of four members appointed by the Committee of Selection, and in no way in tercstedln the improvement, was mere likely to be satisfactory to the House and to the promoters of the Bill thaa a hybrid oommitte. The hon. and gallant member then quoted precedents in support of his view, and maintained that the Metropolitan Board of Works had effected a variety of improvements which met the spprovslnot only of their fellow citizens but of intelligent foreigners, lie defended the particular line chosen by the Board for that approach to the Embankment as being both th best and the cheapest that could be mads, and said it hsd been adopted after the fullest and most careful consideration.

He bore testimony to the noble conduct of the Duke of Northumberland in beinz ready to sacrifice an ancestral building for the benefit of tbe inhabitants of London. Ths scheme of Mr. Pennethorne bad been well considered, snd it was thought that it would not be at all wise to construct a street running south for the benefit of those who might afterwards want to go north east. As to the quest tion of procedure, be wss of opinion that it ought not to be raised by a side wind.and if the noble lord desired te io tro dnce It be ouznt in a ami so carry oui sue rewa; meodstlons of tbe Uommittee 01 low. Mr.

CRAWFORD supported the amendment, beiog ot opinion thst a committee such, as tbat proposed br tbe nooie lord could deal with the subject more satisfactorily than an ordinary committee. Mr. BERESFORD HOPE denied that the route through Northumberland House had been recommended by the Com mitteeof 1SGU. Dr. BREWER thouiht the House onrht to leave the matter in the hands of the Metropolitan Board of Works.

Mr. BONILVM CARTER trusted the House would not accede to the motion of the noble lord; The House then divided For the motion 73 Agsinstit Majority against 113 NEW MEMBERS. oir auujijui iiallau, ir. i juu, uu nr. Aoxew took the oath and their seats for Li barn, the Countror Armszh.

and nictonshire respectivelr. sbe bon. gentlemen were loudly cheered on coming to the table to be sworn. PETITIONS. Petitions in fsvour of maintaining the principles of the Elementary Education Act and relirious instruction were presented, by Lord Heurt Lxxkox, from Roman Catho icaof Chichester: by Mr.

Disiucu. from a meeting at Qawcott by Sir W. Wynx, from Llanrhaiadr and LoiFor by sit. alokcxo.v iocKTON, irom congrega tion or St. Mary'a It.C., Swinton by 3Ir.

i hitwell, from Kendal by Colonel Bkise. from Black Notley by Lord HEXRTScoTT.from Roman Catholics of CbrUtchurch; by Colonel liARTTELOT, from Vestbourne snd ilary, in West Sussex by Mr. AJirilLETT, from Redmsrley from the Church of St. Paul's Balsall heath, and from the manarer and teachers of the Balsall heath and Sparkbrook National Schools by Mr. W.

STAMtorE, from Hoy. Isndswslne; by Mr. J. LEOlt, from Uueadle iiulme; by Mr. PxASK, from Bishop Auckland and Staindrop, and from the managers of the Staindrop National School: by Mr.

E. from Tornoint: by Mr. HERMOM, Irom bt. Aogusllnes, iTeston: by Colonel KIJfCacoTZ, from Badminton and JIanbneld by tbe Earl of BcctlVE, from the clergy, National School teachers of Kirkby Lonsdale; by Mr. KSATCUBVLb HcOESSKX.

from Smeeth br Mr. from Wansford by Mr. CtfB'TT, from Thorpe, Surrey by Mr. F. S.

rowrxt, from Howgill by Mr.RjUKS, from Waverton; byColonel Rattlesden; by Lord Cols snd Wyfordby by Sir 0. B. AdderLET. from St. Luke's Leek; by Mr.

E. L. PKMBKRT09, from Hucking, and Egerton; by Mr. BR0MLET Datemobt, from BedwDrth. Warwickshire br Sir C.

DlLKE. from Nottisc hill by Mr. t. from Weymouth; and by Mr.flLL, Irom Urten oB tnc biU. Petitions for the repeal of the Contagious Diseases Acts were presented, br Mr.

FlXXIK. from Art lreibvterr of United Originsl Seceders; alao fromStewsrton; by Alr.ORB irom jtoseneatn and KUcreggan by jar xketxl rAir irom tbe rree unurch Presbytery pf Jedburgu by nr. JiORLzr, irom uotbam green unapei, tsmtoi and oy Mr. a. 1UC3IAKD, from Mr.

Charles James, Jlertbyr. Petitions against the Prison Ministers Bill from Metho dist Congregations were presented, by Mr. N. GROSVEXOR, irom at. Jonn street unspeL unester; oyjir.

seelt, from Arkwrisht street ChatteL Notlineham by Mr. Bai.ves, from Brunswick Chapel, Leeds and by Mr. Holt, from esley place, llaeup. Petitions were also presented by Mr. E.

Lrms. from Presbytery of London of the EogUah Presbyterian scainst opening tbe lint tab on the lxrd Day; alio by Mr. llAIKKs, from Wealeyans of St John street Chapel, Chester. with similarprarer by Mr. UxlXE from a meeting at Leeds.in favour of a Royal Commission to inquire into tbe loss ol Ute at sea anslng Irom nnaeaworthy ships, by Mr.

J. Holms, for the Henry Wimshurst claim for tb practical introduction of submersed propeUer vessels by Mr. CHARLET, from Keswick, in favour of the Bastardy Laws Amendment Bill: by Mr.lUEXDERflOX.from Durham, in favour of marriage with a deceased wife's slater by Mr.8TBCTT, from Chesterfield, for the repval of the Vaccination Acts by Mr. HexrtRicuakd, from Henry's Moat, Ystalyfora, LUnfibaugel ar artb. Tynycoed, wnos, and Pencader, in farour of International Arbitrstion by Mr.

Sclater Booth, from Newtown, Hants, praying that no other service but thst of the Church of England be permitted in any, pariah church or churchyard by ilr. TRITELY AX, from the South of Scotland Chamber of Commerce, against the Poor Law Amendment Bill and from Tarrant Hinton and district, in favour of household suffrage in counties'; by Mr. Ktlaxds. from Accringtoa, in fsvour of reduction of national expenditure, and of the concession of a free brrakfast tabl by Mr. Massxt, from James Bilney, complaining of as sesment of house tax and inpome tax by SlrC.

B. Adderlet, from Colonel Carruthers, for compensa lioa to officers of tbe Indian Army by Mr. Pembertox. from rural deaneries of Ospring and other places in Kent, and from benefioed clergymen, in favour of alteration in the mode of assessing tithe rent charg also from 1 th Board of Guardians of Favcrsham Union, praying for the repeal of the 40th section of the Mutiny Act, and from th Corporation of Faversham, Kent, praying for the repeal of th Interne tax; by Mr. J.

WiirrE, from the congregation of St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, Brighton, ia favour of denominational education by Sir C. DlIXE, from Kensington, in favour of Mr. Uinde Palmer' Married Women's Property Bill by Sir Irom iisddington, in favour ol women sonrage; and by Mr. J.

W. Barclay, from a meeting at Arbroath, to tbe same effect. NOTICES OF MOTION. Mr. Serieaat SIMON gar notios that when th herb member for Sunderland brought! forward his motion with respect to.

private property at sea, he would mora an amendment to tbe effect that any change in our maritime law which res trie tod our belligerent rights would be detri mental to our interests. Lord It MONTA QU gave notice that on the motion for the second reading of the Register for Parliamentary and Municipal Electors Bill be would move that it be read a second time that day six months. Mr. VERNON HARCOURT gave notice on Monday neat he would ask tbe Home Secretary a question with re ference to a conviction under the Licensing Act and the Vagrant Law Amendment Act THE SCARCITY OF. COAL.

In answer to Mri Stapletox, who asked whether the Government 'would move for the appointment of a committee to into the means of economising coal, with a view to prevent the unnecessary exhsustion of our coalfields, Mr. GLADSTONE ssid, I sm of opinion that the fact that this ilouae has already appointed a Committee to era minejnto the present price of coaiis a reason against the appointment of another Committee for examining a subject so very near to it as that indicated by my hon. friend's question. A Royal Commission has sat for the purpose of ascertaining, as far as can be ascertained, the state of our coal supply, and I think the report of that Commission, together with the labours of the present Committee, ought to be sufficient to produce tho results which my hon. friend desires.

THE MERCANTILE NAVY. Lord ENFIELD, in reply to Mr. Gochley, sail, There have been repeated negotiations with the United States on the subject of offences committed on the high sens in 1851, 1S7J, and ISO. The subject was one of much difficulty, as an Act of Parliament would be required conferring the necessary jurisdiction, and he did not expect the question could bo properly dealt with during the present Session. ROBERTS rOINT.

Lord ENFIELD, in reply to Sir J. nAY who ssked whether any arrangements had been entered into with the United States' Government to transfer: that portion of Robert's Point south of the 49th parallel of North Latitude to the Dominion bf Canada said, Some communication passed ou this subject between the Commissioners in 1850, but I believe that the United States' Government did not return any official reply on this point, and since that date the subject has not again been matter of. communication between the two Governments. NAVAL. CADETS.

In answer to Mr. Bestixck, Mr. G03CI1EN said be hoped It would very soon be in his power to issuo the new regulations as to the entry of naval cadets. THE MUTINY BILL. Mr.

W.JOHNSTON aked the Secretary of State for War whether be would omit or alter the clause usually inserted in the Mutiny Bill which provided that no soldier could bo compelled to maintain any relation or child, or pay lor in support oi any illegitimate atuic Mr. CARDWELL. I stated oh Monday that I intended to omit altogether the obnoxious provision in Clause 40 relating to the maintenance of illegitimate children (hear), and to substitute for it such precautions as the possible absence of the soldier on service may render neqessary, ia order to guard against either an oppressive or a collusive exercise of th power of proceeding against him. FIOHTING BETWEEN SOLDIERS. Sir W.

LAWSON asked th Secretary of StaU for. war what steps had been taken touching the proceed, ings reported to hare occurred at Dover oo the altereoon of Sunday, February 16, when it is stated tbat about 150 soldiers (sccorapsnied during part of the time by a garrison military policeman) attended for an hour and a half at a fight carried oa between two of their comrades, and ulti mately let one oi us combatants dying oa tha ground. Mr. CARDWELL. I am informed, that the princinal offenders are in th hands of the civil authorities, awaiting trial, and that th General.

hss been Instructed to bring to a court martial any other whom considers to deserve it fornedect of CENTRAL ASIA. Mr. MONTAGUE GUEST asked the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs, with regard to the Central Asian question, whether, it was the intention of Her Majesty's Government to call upoa the Russian Government to deans a lino beyond which they will not make a permanent advance towards the intermediate sone, or whether Her Majesty's Government recognised all the territory on the right bank of the Oxus as available for Russian annexation. Lord ENFIELD. Her Majesty's Government do sot intend to msde any such demand upon the Russian Government, nor can they undertake now to reeogniza aa available for annexation by a foreign State territory which has not been anoexed by such State, It would be dearly inconvenient and injudicious to lay down a course to be pursued in hypothetical cases.

(Uear, hear.) SOLDIERS' FAT AND RATIONS. Major ARBUTI1NOT asked the Secretary of State for War to explain verbally, or to lay upon the table, a statement a to the exact operation ot his scheme for granting free rations to soldiers, specifying the amount of pay previously received by the men of each branch of th service Household Cavalry and Infantry, Cavalry, and In fantry of tbe Line, ItoyaJ Hers Artillery, xtoyai Artillery, Uoval Eosineers. Armv Service Corps, ana the amount which they would now receive in addition to a free ration a a a 1. how non commissioned omcers would oe ana any oeessions or circumstances under which it was proposed that stoppages of pa should mad other than those at present existing. Mr.

CARDWELL. The stoppage'ofl which IJrpok on Monday was, as I said, that for th ration of bread and meat, which is universal throughout the army, and amounts to4d. The stoppage tar washing sheets la also intended to be abolished by the sf rangement It is intended to give to the Conner, Royal i Horse Artillery, Is. 4L driver, Is. gunner, Royal Artillery, la, driver, Is.

2Jd; Royal Engineers, Is. private Cavalry Line, la, Foot Guards, Infantry, and Army Service Corps, Is. 2d. Non commissioied officers will all be more or less benefited. As a rule, tie gain will be but in' some instances only M.

On ac inai of the exceptional position of the Household Cavalry regard to pay, it is not proposed that this arrangement sualL for the present at least, be applied to then). As I nstated the other evening, th re engagement money is included, so that a re engaged man in the Infantry will gain The occasions on which stoppages will be made other than those now existing, resolve themselves into stopping the whole pay! of a man when in hospital from causes due to his own. intemperance or vice. As I mentioned, if in any, case any class could upoa the whole lose'sny thing in the arrangement, which is a complicated one, thst result will be provided against (Hear, hear.) Msjor ARBUTHNOT asked whether there would be any stoppage with regard to the furlough. Mr.

CARDWELL. I stated the other evening that fur loush ray will be tbe regular pay, and tbat it is pot intended to make any allowance for th loss of rations during fariouch. In answer to Lord ELCno, Mr. CARDWELL added. I spoke only of th principal rations, for which 4d.

is deducted. What is called the grocery, or mess stoppage, is, as I understand it, on" a different footing. It is to supply the means Of msking the mess purchases through the Control Department, and is found to be a convenient way of enabling tbe mess to mak its purchases in the open market (Hear, hear.) ADJUTANTS IN THE YEOMANRY. Sir TL SELWIN IBBETSON asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention had been called to the present difference between the pay of Adjutants of the Yeomanry Cavalry and of the same officers in the Volunteer forces, and whether he would consider th advisability of increasing their pay and allowances, with a view to rectify the inequality. Mr.

CARDWELL. My attention has been directed to the difference between the pay of Adjutants of the Yeomanry Cavalry sod of the same officers in the Volunteer forces, and also to tbe amount of duty required from those officers respectively. Tbe Cavalry Colonels now about to be appointed to the new Cavalry districts will lie directed to renort unon tha oav and also noon the duties of the Ad jutants of Yeomanry, in order that we may be able to arrive at a satisfactory conclusion on tbe subject TRADE MARKS. In answer to Mr. WniTWTLL, Mr.

CHICHESTER FORTE3CUE said. A Bill for the registration of trade marks is prepared, and I fully intend to introduce it in ice course of tbe present Session. OFFICERS OF THE AUXILIARY FORCES. In answer to Mr. IL Samuelsox, Mn CARDWELL said, I stated the other evening the satisfactory progress which the improved means of education recently affordtd to officers of the Auxiliary Forces have already produced, and I anticipate greatly increased improvement from the education now about to be given at the several Brigade We have not yet taken into eon sideration the further question whether sod in what manlier the special advantages afforded by the Staff College to a limited number of officers of the Regular Army can be extended to the Auxiliary Forces but I welcome my hon.

friend's question as a significant proof of the great interest felt by thoso ia the subject of improved education. IRISH JURIES. Mr. BRUEN asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention bad been drawn to a report io a Dablin newspaper of incidents thst occurred at the Clare Spring Assises, showing the. operation of tbe Juries Act of last Session when the panel wss called over several jurons persisted in answering for others and hardly knew their own names, others understood only tbe Irish Isnguage, and' when the traversers were arraigned it was discovered that the foreman could neither read nor write and whether he had ascertained the truth of these statements and, if so, whether ha would nronosa a remedy for a condition of the law inconsistent with the due administration of justice.

The Marquis of HARTINGTON. I bar caused inquiry to be made into this subject, and I find thst the statements contained in the question are substantially coirect At tb Clare Assises th other day, when tha panel was called over, tha name of several Jurors were answered to, though after wards it turned out that these jurors were not present (A laugh.) In one instance, sf ter the verdict wss given, and it was necessary to sign the issue paper, it was found that tbe foreman was uuable to write, and in one instance it was ascertained that a juror was only acquainted with the Irish language (laughter), and he consequently wss not sworn. There has not yet been sufficient time to form a correct judgment with regard to the working of the Act Very careful inquiries are being made during the present assises as to its operation and if necessary, steps will be taken without delay to amend the Act I may mention that tbe BUI, when Introduced br the Government provided a much higher qualification for service, oa juries than was afterwards inserted. Between tbe introduction and the second reading of the Bill many suggestions with' a view to reduce the qualification were proposed. These changes wrre made in both Houses, and at tho rcquet of various influential person.

For instance, oa the sogestion of the Chamber of Commerce of the cit of Dubliu, and of many leading merchants, tbe qualification of sricml jurymen was reduced by one half, and the same was dnue in other cases relating both to special and 'common jurors. It is quite poMible, no doubt, tbat these dianges may have been carried top far, and that the amount of qualification may require revision. (Hear, hear.) If the experience of the preent Assizes should show this to be the wi, the change cn be very promptly nude. That some such revision of the Irish Act should be necessary need not excite surprise when it is recollected that in three Acts' have been passed snd four or five committees appointed, within tho course of a very few years, upon this very subject. UNIVERSITY EDUCATION (IRELAND): BILL, Mr.

GORDON asked the First Lord of the Treasury whether, before introducing tbe Univeriity Education (Ireland) Bill, he obtained information as to the number snd character of institutions in Ireland (other than the Magee College) which might, by the operation of tbe provi. aions of the Bill, become affiliated Colleges of the University of Dablin snd, if so, whether he would lay such information on tbe table of the House. Mr. GLADSTONE. In answer to the question of the right hou.

and learned gentleman, I hare to ssy thst our knowledge of such institutions in Ireland as may bo described ss affiliated Colleges is a general and not a formal or official knowledge, so that we have nothing tb lay upon the tablo "of the House upon the subject It waa not necessary, and it was not possible, for us, previously to the introduction of the measure relating to University education in Ireland, to make such inquiries as those to jbich the right hou. and learned gentleman refers. That which we did think necessary was to describe in clear anu emphatic terms the principles upon which the constitufioO of tbe Council was to be founded and I stated, on the paTtof my colleagues and with their assent, that in our view those whom I called the ordinary members of the Council ought to constitute the main force of the Council, and that any number of so called collegiate members wha may be introduced into tbe Council ought to be simply auxiliary and secondsry element. To that general principle the provisions of the measure ought in their details to be msde to conform where with the progress of information, we can see what precise ahai these provisions ought to sssume as regards the' constitution of the Council. Lord R.

MONTAGU, referring to thesnswer or the First Lord of the Treasury oa Monday, the 24th of February, asked whether by the second clause of the University Education (Ireland) BilL it was intended that all the Collercs to be affiliated to the University, under the authority given to the ordinary members of the Council (under Clause 31, ps6e 15), or by the ordinary and. collegiate members (under Clause 2). should be selected and named by the Council prior to the 1st of January, 1S75 or whether such nomine tion and selection might bo made at any period subsequent to the said date. Mr. GLADSTONE.

I don't understand that any power would be given by the Bill to' the ordinary members of the Council to affiliate CoUeges by their own act, and with regard to the power which the ordinary and collegiate members jointly would possess, I am not aware of any distinction between the two periods referred to except that which I pointed out the other evening. I wish to take advantage of this opportunity to state that when referring to tb members of the Magee College I gar th number as I aund them in the calendar of th College. It ia possible, however, that the figures included matriculated and eon matriculated members, and although I do not know what non matriculated members may be, I do not think they ahould be considered as members of a University; Lord B. MONTAGU did not understand the right hon. gentleman's answer, and put th question 'in another form whether the only affiUationa would bo those named ia th second schedule of the Bill, or whether tbe Council would abl to affiliate CoUeres la tiro to come; he wss to understand that the work of October, 1ST4, would not aa affiliation would there be aay affluatSoa subsequently 1 Mr.

GLADSTONE. Yea, I said so th other day. Mr. LEWIS asked whether tha Standing Committee ef th General Assembly of tb Irish Presbyteriaa Church oa th subject of Trinity Col ley a had coamuaieated their views oa tb Irish University Bill, aad whether th Government would lay such communication on th table, Mr. GLADSTONE.

No, Sir. I answered a similar question to this th other day a fax aa that day was concerned, and 1 hare had no communlcatioa with th body referred to sine that dsy. THE OALWAY PROSECUTIONS. Colonel STUART KNOX asked th First Lord of the Treasury whether his attention had been ealled'to a published statement of a speech made by the Irish Attorney General previous to the late Deny election, when, ia answer to a gentleman's remark that he was a priest hunter," he is stated to have said, No, no are you aware that the Archbishop ofTuam, the Bishop ef Gal way, and the Bishop of donfert had presented a petition 'asking that as a matter of right they should be tried And whether the Government was influenced by that petition in their institution of the' trials that arose out of the proceedings oa th Galway Election Petition. Mr.

GLADSTONE. My attention had not been called to th speech referred to by th boo. and gallant member until his notice appeared oa th paper but 1 am obliged to him, because his calling attention to the matter has given tho opportunity of reading a very gallant speech, fully worthy of the high character and reputation of the Attorney General. I bars no doubt th hon. and gallant gentle man himself, with his dispassionat mind, will bar formed exactly the same opinion cf that spejech.

(Laughter.) Tbe Attorney General in that speech made fully responsible for the procutions in que tion, and. I am sorry to say tbat announcement waa received with groans. The expression of feeling on the par of the audience, however, did not appear to change his views. The hon. and gallant gentleman asks whither tbe Government wss infineneed by the petition of the Roman Catholic prelate.

If so, I do not see that because certain Roman Catholic prelates wished to be tried, we should have been induced by their petition to try a number of priests who had made no such renuest Inereeive bv tha latter part of the question that the hon. and gallant gentleman is under a misapprenension, wnicb nas been snared by some Tho hon. and gallant member ought, as a member of this House, to know that the Government, ss a Government, did not. and could not, bare anything to do with the question whether these prosecutions! should be undertaken. Parliament committed the responsibility of determining such a question to the Attorney General, who, in the discharge of tbat statutory responsibility, exercises what may be called a ptari judicial ofiSee, and certainly one in which be is bound to be governed by considerations quite independent of the political views and intentions ef the Government That was the ground' assumed by my ben.

and learned friend now Baron Dowse when he advised that these prosecutions be commenced. But I am bound to remind the House tbat be sraa supported by the advice of the other law officers of the Crown, and that he acted, with tne entire approval ot the Government LAW OF EVIDENCE. Mr. STRAIGHT asked the Attorney General whether, in tbe new Bill he proroses introducing to amend the law of evidence, it waa proposed to make husband and wife re spectively capable of being called aa witnesses on for another in criminal eases. Tb ATTORNEY GENERAL said bad Bretwaad br uim dui to bum to jaw oniy, not to max any cnange.

AFGHANISTAN. Mr. OSBORNE asked whether tha Government would lay on the table copies of all correspondence with tbe late Viceroy of India relating to tbe northern boundary of Afghanistan ia connexion with Mr. Forsyth's misaioo to Mr. GRANT DUFF.

In reply to my hon. friend.1 have to say tbat the 'correspondence to which he alludes could not given without inconvenience to public interests. a a wmca my no a. xnena is, i am sure, to last person to wisa. COAL.

Mr. NEWDEGATE asked whether the Home Secretary would lay returns on tbe table showing th number of col lieries wnicn, daring tbe last six months, had been par tially or wnouy interrupted by tbe increase of. water. Mr. BRUCE said that from inquiries mad of tb Inspectors he had found that, with th exception of on dis trict, there had been no unusual quantity of water ia the collieries, la South Staffordshire, tb exception he had referred to, the increase wss due entirely to the absence of sufficient pumping power.

To supply the returns asked for would materially interfere with the ordinary duties of the inspectors, and he presumed tb hon. member would in thst case not expect him to lay them on the table. BAILWAY AND CANAL TRAFFIC BILL. On the matton that this Bill be read a second time, Mr. HUNT did not rise to object to the secoudeading, but to make a few remarks, upon its main feature.

Tbe right hon. gentleman on introducing th measure hsd said this was not the first time Parliament had been asked to transfer its jurisdiction to a tribunal. This wss no doubt so, but eminent members of ths Legislature bait expressed themselves adversely to it Lord Campbell had, upon a similar proposal being made in the House of Lords expressed the opinion tbt the duties it was proposed to lay upon the tribunal were such as the Judges, himself included, felt themselves Incompetent to discharge. Lord Campbell, as a lawyer objected to a court of law as the tribunal for th decision of questions which might arise under the Act but if that noble and learned lord bad Vera a layman he would probably hare objected to a lay tribunal. And what, after all, was a lawyer but a layman, with a knowledge of law lib right hon.

friend in introducing the Bill said that the failure was owing to tho nature of the tribunal. Now he ventured to think that it was not the! nature of the tribunal but of the subject matter which caused tbe failure and though ia th Bill th tiL banal was changed, the subject matter remained, the same. Under the Act which it was Intended to amend, a discre tionary power was given to th Court of Common Pleas. not only to administer the law but to lay down a code of regulations, and ia fact to ssy what tbe law was to be. The Common Pleas, however, proved unequal to the task, and now it was proposed that a tribunal should be created, composed of three gentlemen one of them a lawyer the very class of men condemned by Lord Cam nl ell another, a man possessed of practical experience ar.il as to the third it was not stated what lie was to be.

He admitted that if the companies werewillini to go before this tribunal forarbitra l. t.i i. i factorr to the companies and to the public Bat it arroeared to him that in order to have arbitrators to decide between tbe conflicting claims of companies it was bot necessary to pay them out of tbe publie money. If two companies. were uuurni uiio uwinwr count select IDein thmselve and pay them without coming to the public The principal functioss dtleated to this tribunal wer to decide questioas as to through rates and aa to proper facilities given to the public.

In bis opinion, the tribuusl would Save the aaui ilitficulty lu deci Uag what were proper facilities as the Court of Common had experienced. The tribuoal would hare to decide, what were the duties of those who managed those great commercial ondertakinsi me railways, i ceir oniy uuir, sucject so tbe conditions imposed upon ttem by Uw with regard to tb public, was to earn the highest dividend they could for their shareholders. But this tribunal might say, "Your regulations may well calculated to produce the highest possible dividend for your shareholders, but tbey are not well adapted for giving the greatest possible facilities to. the public; aod as the interesta of the company and the interests of tbe public do hot coincide, we shall force you to sacrifice the interests of the shareholders to those of the public." He wanted to, know what body cf directors would be able to carry on their duties if their action wss to be overborne by. tbe inter ference ot tuts tnbunsl Vi bat tbe etlect of.

sucli interference was to subtract a certain amount of dividend froui tho shareholders of Company A and to put it iota tbe pockets of the shareholders of Company Bl it might Iesn the dividends of both companies, while operating to the advantage of tbe public, lie propheainl that the tribunal would shrink from any such tuuetions. Where the interests of the public and of tbe companies were the same, wo wanted no tribunals where there was a wide divergence between them, the tribunal would not venture to interfere, because tbe outcry of those immediately affected would be so great.that the power of the Commissioners would soon come to an end. It might be asked, if such wss hit opinion why not move the rejection of the Bill on the second reading Tbe reason was because he was one of a small minority in the Joint Committee a minority of two on vital points. He was supported, however, by a gentleman ca whom the House placed tbe greatest reliance his right hoc friend the member for Sbore.bam (Mr. Cave), wbese absence tonight in consequence ot ill health they all regretted.

(Hear, hear.) Ilia right hon. friend was not only a man of calm judgment. Lot he had official experience in the department over which the right hoc. eentleman opposite presided. But then they had not only numbers, against them, but alo the weight Of official experience and men who were generally looked Up ii a so lor guuung me country in pufeie anairs.

in tbe teeth of this preponderance of authority he was not prepared to offer opposition to the Bill on the second rta hnj. lie was not sanguine as to the but let the eapcii ment be tried. Let tho Bill pass into taw with ssch modifications as might be introduced in this aad the other House of Parliament He wss anxious to give every opportunity for trying tbe experiment but he was tound to ssy tbat in his opinion this wss the last experiment that would be tried in the matter. We had before ths experiment of a court of law. and now we were going to ha ve the experiment of a special trilmnaL He was net prepared to say that the tribunal would be of to or, bat he believed that for the luain purpose it would be inoperative.

Another still greater question bad been suggested namely, whether in the progress bf combination the companies ia course of time might not become mf great and so powerful, as to render it expedient on political, not commercial, grounds, to change th relations between th railwsy and th State Now, the purchase of railways by th Stat was most strongly urged by uaptatn Tyler, who put it a very terse way. That gentlem an said, If the Stat does noftnanage tha railways, tha railways will soon manage the State." The difficulties of a State purchase were, no doubt, very for midable, politically and financially, and quit assented to the course which the Joint Committee took ia passing it over at the time. But he held that the of the question could not be very much longer deferred. Day by day public opinion was rrowiag mere and more ia favour of and ia Ids opaiiion th only way in which tho public could be fairly, properly, and advantageously dealt with was by tbe Stat taking over th ad miaistratloa of the railways. Ha was not prewired to say when that would be done whether It would be dm tl hisUfetim or not but that it would be don sk2d 2 doubt, and he held it to be th duty ef publk mea area to consider the mod ia which it might best about, (Hear, hear.) Mr.

PEASE sail that the order of referent confiaed tL. Committee strictly to the question ef amalgamation. even to the Amalgamation Bills brought before "ta2om? that but the Committee seemed to hare strain! th matter and to have gone very much beyond their iwuk A great deal of the evidence before the Committee wsssvn by men of great experience in railway and canal nuaattuMt? Th report was draughted on th eridaoc addaeudaadtS came to the conclusioa that it was impossible to UvdaW? caaracicr to say with refw. aueetag th dls for saaljv WWUBSI SB Bill dealt with existing railways rather tn with tb questai of amalgamation. With regard to th appointment of the Csss.

mission, os of the Commissioners was tobe a lawyer efctat emiaeace, another was to be a man of experience to irsi ways, and of the third they had no description at all. So wss the tribunal to which was confided a trust sJTscnsw tl. fiOCOyxatof capital which Pariiamrnt had nmn! any reneral rules determiniar tha future amalgamations, and they wen esc to the general position of raD public interests, that tbe introduction mation afforded opportunities for im companies which were desirable i the Mmn.ntM' maw. I tut lOTiiusaianers went. hare the full discretion of deciding all matters of fact iS law without any appeal whatever.

Being himself ariS in trad he depended very much oa the through rates raUwaya he very much doubted" bow far Parfianse! could sanction the powers which this Bill gav te reviU every special Act snd special toll, and to treat aa waata paper arruments between existing companies which been sanetwned by committees of both liouses, sad bvti. House itself. Ho would aot co into the detail. which could be dealt with ia Committee but the' trass fundamental principle of th measure which protoaeJ t. transfer the whole railway power ef the kingdom totkrsi Commbmers deserved th gravest consideration oasZ Sir H.

CROFT said there were three pomUtowhk4 he desired to direct particular attention. The first waa thst it appeared to him, th Board cf Trade had no pewtrt enforce th reports of their own. msrecters. It was th dat of an inspector of th Board of Trad togo down ss a place and inquire into the eomplaintsof corporations ewbdfc viduala with reference to level crossings or static as Lk4 were danserous. Th Cocrt of Quarter Sesxiona of th county of Hereford had applied that an inspector sbeuU seat down, because it wM consideredr that tw bf the three stations at Hereford were dangerous.

Some time afterwards they received a very lenrtar and exhaustive report from th inspectors, wtkh braa tr stating that th magistrates of the county had aubstastiaur made out their case, that two of the three stations were positively dangerous, and that the railway eompacit oagJit to make one good station for their who! paaieeser traifie. But what was the conclusion 7 It was this if raRwsy companies did not tak that start, he fgcoiim.1. the magistrates to present a petition to Parliasieat Hear, hear" and a laugh.) He, therefore, toped thaa Commissioners, would have power to act ou th report of the inspectors if railwat companies dii not da within reasonable time. The second point wss dearly mat terfer a rule of the Board of Trade. A year aad a salt ago had asked th Presideot of tha Board of Irad whether ho waa that oa the Great Westerasad other lines the practice prevailed of running trvas during th day time through long tunnel without ligbt ia passengers' carriages.

The answer he received wss there ss bo law to compel the" companies to light the carriages, Hereford was an inland county, and practically owing th squabble of" railway companies shat off from ths se, i although close to the coast, it took, nine hours to therau Ther bad' ta Im frnlt tunnels, and th whol Midland trarfie had. been pat aa the line, which was overworked and positively dangerous. He had letters from all parts of the country aa th sublet' On of these came from an eminent member o7 a firm, who waa in tho habit of travelling by the line sees a month, and who said that he had never gone through ik Box tunnel by a seeond dass carriage with a light Oa such occasions ladies suffered moat severely in. their nerve (a laugh), and took th most absurd era; cautious to protect themselves. Oa one occasion a miildle ared clergyman was.

travelling with two elderly ladies. Pawing through a tunnel he Lean! a match stnsear (a laugh), and one of the ladies immediately brought I bear upon him a bull's eye lantern (a laugh), while tbe other brandished a knife. (Much laughter.) Theexpiaaa tiou the ladk gave waa that they found' it necessary to take these precautions for, although he arpeaftd to be aa' inoffensive clcrryman, there were many woim. in sheep's clothing. (A laugh.) It waa not alaia thst excursion trains were lihted even at night Oa one occasion a number of Odd Fellows (a laugh) liad coca from Herefonl to Aberystwith, andes their rrtnre they ha.1 been huddled together in Udrd cUss carriares frets 7 p.m.

till 3 next morning, without llchta, lle4hoagfat that a most disgraceful state of things. Tbe tiwrl I 1 1 1 I j.uii. wu tuia. auerw uw occn a rauway accuaai at Hereford ia August last owing to some neglect signalman, who was overworked. He waa present at ta inquest The man was committed for trial.

There war many railwsy officials present to give evidence, but where was the Government railway inspector went do six weeks after to held his inquiry. Ha thought it unimportant that the Government railway inspector sbel present at the inquest He thanked the House far listening to the observations which a strong sens of ta duty he owed to his constituents had induced aim to mssa, Mr. WALTER waa by no means insensible to tl diS eulties which had been so well pointed, out by his right boa. friend opposite (Mr. Hunt) as likely to arise in th ing ef that BUI if it became law.

At lb san tira bs wished to draw attention to a particular class of grierasca -for which he thought it was high time that some rtoeJy should found The hon. baronet who had preceded kiaY had alluded to one or two 'grievance but bow deauej to refer to on of a more serious eharsctrr, becagsr.it seemed to involve something like 'a direct breach ef with thepublio oath part of aa important and powcrfsl railway company and he represented oa that occasion aos th railway interest but the publie at large. Th case, as believed, was on of the most flagrant which could bs feosd ttrcmj tout the length and breadth of th couatry. la ta year 1S4G an Act of Parliament sraa passed authorissg tb formation of a company called tbe Reading aodRcvU Railway Company. It hell the Act in his hsadt Tt company was to construct a railway from igato to KcsJ ior, with power and also aa obligation, to make a bcasca.

Un to connect that railway with the Sooth Werterefia at tbe Fro borough stttion. And aotruna ly diittae Lts Uture that day wish to express its sen of the neruy of proper correspondence between thoa lines the words of the Act, it declared that no ether per 3 tion of the railway should be oprscJ ivr public traffic until that portion bctweca Keoisg and the Famborough station of the Lundoa saT South Waitcrn Railway should firt be" eoaillcd sad opened for public traffic as aforesaid. It would, he tucegtt be difficult to find Ungual to express morejsieariy tie i tention of the Legislature In pssjing.that Act TbrrejrMS afterwarJl a supplementary Act was passtd givieg farts powers to the company, and not ouly takuu Ir gxtc4 that tbe said junction would be made, bat enafatniB' claasa prescribing what kiadof tolla should be levied a tbatbrsnctuTlietlouse would hardly believe it wheabesuW that although that lin waa uiads at tb time to which be had refr3, in 13 or theteabouta, it had nTr see. upon one occasion, amf ththtftoapt was when Hr 3ljesty once pnased along it TbaeM queoce waa thatin tho part of the country to which aCow, wbisli include.1 Bbck water, Wellington Coile. idiJ9rir and thit portion of Berkshire, pnuensers wboweresjw of proceeding from either of these stations, from fUr ton College or from Blackwaier to Lontiou, were obegrtt travel bv the South Eastern ltailway to aad tbea'inateail of being allowed, as tha Act iatewW, join th SoatB Western linw and get up to Lomiea by were taken on a circuitous route to London, lie haul tbe pleairoX oeca sioaallr travellijg by that line.

Iiog one of Wellington College he paid an annual visit to tht tssa tutioo, and be went there by tbe South tatera l1 It was a. charming and a cteap nwie, exteBer over GO miles tho proper distance Uioz ff (A laogb.) That was sn Instance of that want KBil harmuiiuMU action betWtt it railway companies which tbe Cotamittre of us. atrongty cwnmected upoti, and declared to bo sn incressm. evil an evil hich demanded the interference of rV isawi, and whjch he took it for granted was one obiectsof the present Bill to remedy. He that without the light thwwu on tho Bi ky the Board of Trad be ahoubi have bveu ablo to drjeoverm protuibes adeiuate power to redress that grievance.

would aaa iuie, bowever.tiiat tbo rigbt hon. gUeniaa as the meAiiinj of the iaagwe of lus own Bid better ua di.L and that ft would i fougd sucient to ease he had just described He gar hi hearty sarrV the second rea iinr, and Ulievtd, tluLtb House sire to provide an adequate for th vds sg whkh such a measure shoul be directed. HearJiear. Mr. BENTINCK regarded tte BiU as feebl ejlort is right direction.

The only department of which took any coznisanee of the proeeedrngs cf! way companies was th Board of Trede. Th. cowlurt fuceeasiv Boards ef Trad sis reference to rsilwajs slwajs neca very nucau i to the want cf adequate powers for deahng e.fectns3y the subject Tbat department had certain stoats, jurisdiction over raflwajs, but it sJJ jt 2 obvious aad glaring grievances. That Bill, lrws ver. stead of eaubliahiog aa efficient tnbanal ir "ff1, these matters, would only.

estaLSsh another feeble aa4 adequate tribucaL and would make th tXlnT thing rather worse than Utter. The power of tee raJj insneetors appointed by tb Board of Trade axoaa.dJ nothint. Tteyeould report oa tbe fJofcs or the duct of the compaainut tby had 'Tt ponuhmeat or to presence a remeuy wmw. rih3s lv n.iw.ivici At rresent tic PTi were at th mercy of tbeeoBpaies ad rv?" providasom eontrolliag power which cooU si'T kerf real protection to th iatarests of the ion referred to by the bon. member to waa a question of personal cooveow.

aid erred to the honVmember for Ucrrforishir 1 miscarrfag cf justice and or tse taruiness TrSnr the cau.es of accid nK But there wider questiearin connexion with that snow ly eomo before th House in a re oars; VJjoi express his resret that the President of the Edrt haTnTt gh much.larger power, fcttarparto fcth a Commission ia dealms; with the efr Aa unprecedented number cf railway accidents oocurred, which might have beca prevented ta stance hr swod maaaseawat and cothsuia amati. athepriuapsl wis snr.