Northern Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-03-11 00:00:00

)5r the Cl, 3°° aliti A fraleU reniilt gore it ills n ot !;') ice th e itif eV, fel °' L., ark': th hi' whic h Oleo',' , keg!' of ife t lf) d go d the id for' sndo lt be 'P ar a 4er. ysP l4' , 9; aidi ng haI SS ' fee t t 9 f tIIo ~, 315nri lace' P • 0 0111! se all • isstT corr e '_, 2 fru' rttirss ion, 16 ree s $ Of ELECTION. otu - t tlo 1 f loe th° ioe 4 pe oli tbe: ine, 0 a .0- • tlf , g o 16,63 0 6°11 flill 0) 6 ith tile r !ani -. Ppli ape Frederick-street came up on his certificate 4ion Mr. Evans appeared for the bankrupt., and Lkr. Atkinson for the assignees. The case was adjourned th--e Ist of April, to enable the assignees to make an lt"llgement for giving up possession of the house. ..`° William 31 1finstrer: The bankrupt, a broker and Tputnission merchant, came up on his last examination. lit' r : Yates supported the bankrupt, and Mr."Eyans, for the 11311 . 'Pees, opposed. Mr. Evans examined the bankrupt at Dle length, as to the certain . speculations in joint account With hi, brother-in-law, in which it was alleged that the ante had sustained a considerable loss; and also as to of (personal and trade expenses. After a short amendment cii:cbataelance ~s heet had been made, upon the applicati h m e i ent tps solicitor the bankrupt was allowed to pass, and t lif meeting was fixed for the sth of p STEAMERS.—The British and North o A rth ril' American Royal Mail steamer Niagara sails for Boston, via . Halifax, to- n , ITlnt°rmw (Saturday) with the semi-weekly mails for the ed States and &nada. The letter-box at the post „l'ee will be open for the receipt of letters, &c., till 12, il7ti, with a late fee until 1 p.m., and on the landing stage (1 0 2 P.M. The screw steamer Indian arrived here yester tl4llll°rning, from Portland, having made the run in the re ays. She w ill sa il for Portland on W ednesday, I.:i23rd inst. Since the commencement of the present r the trade to North America in fine goods has been so ii r ts o k that the Cunard Company has had, on several occa -118. to despatch extra cargo steamers sailing on the same ,ofYtis their regular weekly mail boats, and the proprietors f t i e „, i e Canadian line felt compelled to accommodate their ye a ; ',2,b3 7 Putting on an extra vessel, at a season of the *o r - , '',Luea passengers are not plentiful. The next mails ve v — ,„ l l 'e United States to Liverpool should have been con zivsosyertehwe L s tverpo s o h l i New York and Philadelphia Com- Cit of ' Manchester, Captain J. of eli d l ae dY (this genih-ship the contract for the conveyance k it e United States' mails since the Collins line suspended), ka n ,, wl l , ng to the lengthened voyage outward of the City of tvLester, protracted by fearful weather in the Atlantic, e Briti sh deemed expedient to transfer the mails to Le o° an d North American screw steam-ship o s i i B°ani Ca p t ain Cook, which was to leave New York Lc) th e tir(l ay, the 26th ult. She is now due, but up eeiv ,i pour of our going to press no tidings h?,cl , been re crosse's:f her. The fearful gales . in the Atlantic and heavy Neil h s ' reported by the America steamer, are likely to s — b er passage. ti lata c au nt'n,With advice from New York to the 2n 110 011 41 I nay be looked for in the Mersey on Sunday after fro t The screw steamer Ethiope arrived here yesterday, taaih 3. lie west coast of Africa, with the regular monthly )44,, She reports the arrival of the steamer Armenian, at Sier,',. 4 , 0 11 the tad of March. The Athenin sailed from eir e ,:',"eone on the 18th February, for the coast. The iteetr k an, of the Galwa ' line, vi . as floated off the large ' 4 l dock, New York ) , on the 23rd ult. LATEST TELEGRAMS. THE NORTHUMBERL AND TheALNWICK, Thursday. dap nomination took place in the Town-hall to- Ld T via° O —ov a i ne Was nominated by Mr. C. W. Orde, the A sl3 ,, °k e highly of his untiring energy as a Lord of iuiralkr, Bryan Y. /11 Burrell seconded the nomi n ati on . W. ill:.es. ' Burnett nominated Mr. Washington Lo -E.dward Dawson seconded the nomination. R ° N'er l 'raine, in his address, said, when the Derby ralty li wa —i lt took office the first duty of the admi the won to place the shores of England beyond /rszr ,„,Cs er of inva s i on . W e h a d now such a fleet as Buell ' Preclud e t h e possib i lity of h ost il e at t ac k, and hi sh Prepar at i ons at our home ports as would fur the ne cessary reserve, should it be required. Ri k ef ended t h e withdrawal of the freeholders re thatni, i n bo roughs from the counties, and stated th ow t : e sPirit o f t h e government bill was that there Th e b e no difference between town and country (L they h a *"rnnient could no t w ith sa f e t y d o more th an d (lon e otr. • gov er 44 es) in an eloquent speech, condemned the and"lent R e f orm Bill as an insult to the country, tor o Zniplai ne d of Lord Lovaine's unfitness r eatt ers ' • e , bein g w i thout experience in business The show or hand s , w hi c h was apparent l y equa l, I,,,,„.e_clared b y the sheriff to be in favour of Lord Mr lk 11?Lt.linidst much uproar. wies declined going to the poll. SECOND EDITION MOLT ;ERN TIMES OFFICE, FRIDAY, 2 A.M. b 'ri 7 , 111 E REFORM BILL. '•eto 6 - , fr ne3 say IP 411 , if it be ~.•ord John Russel's amendment on the adopted, must be fatal to the measure. ,111,eetar,"",8 Reforms —The next scene in the drama of t Palia o - f 4 Lss e i l i. Aetorra We venture to anticipate. tilt 'olva 1°11 " 111110 11 good may it do the Go T ve h r e ninet that It Lhat last stake. telli- e 2)°,t r emarks that Mr. Walpole was compelled to tkor °4 the Y erY principle which the Cabinet, in the first as jetitift °f„dirficulty, have thrown overboard. Mr. Disraeli "alp o l: 4 ° l e when it was merely a question of savinV e. . eore es -) Did he readily gives way the instant that it b w. qer it question of saving himself. Mr. Disraeli, ltus ' sofets rid of only half his difficulty, for JohnLord .n Alle boron aMendment includes the question of a reduction i Th.,.. ()ugh franchise kent: -tteratd, ng Lord John Russell's amend verdie,B4Ys the Sooner Lord Derby is enabled to obtain the T ile ' or the electors, the better will it be. L li are r2,, ,, i 1 Y Nowa say it ispossible that Lord Derby may 17Nr...u1),.1ii. niia to take his stand on the ten pound lit 14 ,uaufieation, and struggle for its mainte . n . ance. Itti 4 "to presence of a large adverse majority, Ministers 4tc llY resort to a dissolution of Parliament. —__ I 4 a th e COMMERCIAL. Per cent abse nce of alarming rumours, a rise of nearly 1 I b il'el tn; Was tee attained under the . force of the bo r t e r:F l o ts tl i t s t elY made. As soon'as it tranired that the latter Rail yester a O pened at a decline,. less buoyancy was shewn, quotations were still a a r b k o e u ts t , per cent. above that for British e , lartils `lay t s tock _y. In the other p . tact i l :vas the firmest in character, owing to the to z ' 0- day,: h r ed by the general increase ßentes isnhetwheatrfaaffince. of of d Percent,P e Three per Cent. the Di 1 lui. Funds. In At Vienna and Frankfort, yesterday, a fall than bis e u r o "; „,,cent. took place in the Austriar.J. o ..ef ( 1 ) a - C e ' 41viarket, the supply of money . is less liberal h. t i t le b egt ) 1 ,,a , d 21 per cent. may be considered the rate 8 - z: rt. di . oi il rp e i. . n, e T s h t ere wer p e e n ra o w bu il l l li t o a n ke o f p e e r ra ß ti e o ra ns h a ay t the lar gest Y -.384,925 i e n am si e l r ver, all on private account, h Ateorpufittances to that port during a lengthened period. 'for . 4 ,1 V1 to M r. b Satt thwaite's weekly report, the deniand tc) it 'ler erica "' sec tiritie e s r in London for investment continues Nease.---liaily News City Article, Thursday Evening. s )I, 34rse ite a d, f , J quotations of last evening from the Pari s tr) ,•day . -a nsed the English Funds to open with firulnes ' ‘ .° /tl4 L an d owing to the announcement that Lord lolly ue 's been entrusted with counter propositions, Mc market thought likely to be favourably entertained, aok e ',rot subsequently showed increased strength. .By 'will Persons it is believed that the propositions in qnestir pz.44:clude a reduction of the existing armamen in ts eh i t n s tluld Ond Austria, without which any a7 l ang i e ri ay Oven • ' ahnost valueless.—Times City Artie e, d, 4 ing ' torigiktiwAY TRAFFIC RETURNS.— : Th e week an Lancashire increase and f t a,833 re Railway return shows this o k aileit ; the East Lancashire, an increase of £1 221 ; the t 1, 33 ester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, 6 an . increase of C o 4 2 ; the Midland, an increase of £2,17 , the Eastern Mi es) an increase of £1,620. . Th e I)re aerit. gar reports that Lord Clyde will not return home at T he 1 444 r t eration i n th e postage of newspapers to I n di a an d of a j i ll t, which was to have come into operation on the Ist postponed to the Ist of January next. this _e mail steamers have recommenced running between tio,! °llll ty and Sweden. The mails will in future be put ri,'ard at Hull, instead of Grimsby, as in former years. ge IsTEAPOLIT AN EXILES.—The Ti mes recom mends a Artisubscription in favour of the Neapolitan exiles who . tit ie ' e d at Cork, and says that in the whole history of con founOital turmoils, since 1815, there is not an instance to 1) la lt4 ,°' of men who have suffered such grievous wrongs with i ps so entirely is clea.n. 111/01ENTILItY REFOR M IN l EELAND. —A meet i ng o f 'hi.. 31.1. iberal of t4 e members was held on Thursday afternoon in committee rooms of the Rouse of Commons, to take into consideration the subject of Parliamentary Reform as effecting Ireland. Resolutions were passed condemnatory of the English bill, and depreciatitt'9; the application of its principles to Ireland ; also, one in favour of the ballot, and another urging an additional number of members for Ireland. HIRD EDITIC N. NORTHERN TIMES OFFICE, FRIDAY, 10 ♦.M. THE PHCENIX CLUB PROSECUTIONS. TRALEE, WEDNESDAY The examination of Daniel Sullivan was resumed this morning. He said: He came from Bantry to Skibereen on a Sunday, in the first week in December, and slept in the Phoenix room, at Murty Downing's where he saw about ten men, members of the society, being drilled by Mnrty Downing On the 10th or 11th of October the witness was in Killarney, and met Florence Sullivan in Doctor Lenni gan's shop, and asked him how the so-Aety was getting on there. He said it was getting on very slowly, as the clergy would not allow them to take the oath. There were several meetings at F. Sullivan's, at Kenmare. He heard from the prisoner that there was a large meeting there, and that two young men came from Killarney. Saw the prisoner at several of the meetings which were generally held at night, and at which there was always speeching about the society and the Americans coming over. The room in which the meetings were held was always locked or bolted ; and if any one, not a member, came in, the conversation ceased. Saw J. Sullivan in the room during those meetings. Cross-examined by Mr. O'Hagan : I went on the 20th of August to Bantry, and the next mornin g proceeded, with five others, to the Priest's Leap, about five miles from Bantry. The two prisoners, John Connor and Patrick Hennessey, were also at the Leap. Altogether there were eight people there. I had a pair of pistols. No one had arms but me. The pistols were not loaded by me that day : don't know whether Cullimane loaded them or not : they were not discharged by me. I sometimes carry pistols with me through the country. I think Kerry is a peaceful country. Don't know whether people generally go armed or not. We stopped at the Leap about two hours. The drilling that day lasted about ten minutes. We marched down the hill two deep. Were again drilled on the high road, near Lord Bantry's gate, at Glengariff. The drillinc , would have continued longer only that a woman passed, and it was stopped. I don't think we were ten minutes drilling. This occurred about five or six o'clock in the evening, on a bye piece of the road. On my second visit to the Priest's Leap, there were about twenty persons there. We remained about four hours at the top of the Leap, for we waited a long time for the Bantry men. When returning home, we were drilled on the Kerry side. The drilling lasted about half an hour. All who were at the Priest's Leap on the second day were members of the Phoenix Club, except Leary, who had only taken the oath of secresy. [The witness stated that he had taken an oath of secresy and brotherhood, and had broken them.] The cross-examination was going on at three o'clock, when the post left. There is no excitement in the town, or any thing to indicate the existence of feeling in reference to the prosecution, except a placard which is posted soliciting subscriptions to the Fair Trial Fund, which is being raised throughout Ireland, for the defence of the prisoners. FOURTH EDITION. NORTHERN TIMES OFFICE, FRIDAY, 1 P.M SUCCESS OF LORD COWLEY'S MISSION. The Vienna correspondent of Le Nord reports the success of Lord Cowley's mission. The basis of an arrangement of a nature to be favourably received by all the great Powers have been decided upon. THE NEAPOLITAN EXILES. The Piedmontese Gazette announces that Baron Carlo Poeiro and the Neapolitans, who have landed at Queenstown, have invoked the protection of the Sardinian Ambassador in London. STATE OF THE BANK OF FRANCE. PARIS, Friday.—The Moniteur of this morning publishes the monthly balance-sheet, made up to last night. The coin and bullion have increased £131,000, and now amount to £22,280,000 sterling. The bills discounted but not yet due, which in the February return showed an increase of £914,700, present a large decrease amounting to £1,470,000. The notes in circulation have further decreased. The decrease was £1,186,000 in February, and in the present return £750,000. The balance shews an increase of £940,000. ITALY. A telegraphic despatch in the Univers announces that the Carnival had concluded without the slightest disturbance having taken place on any point of Rome. The Piedmontese Gazette publishes a royal decree prohibiting the exportation of forage and oats by the frontier of Lombardy. TURKEY. CONSTANTINOPLE, March sth, via Trieste.—The Intendant of the Mosques, Hassib Pasha, recently appointed Minister of Finance, has annexed a council to his ministerial department : it includes Fuad Pacha and three European members. The Wallachian deputation has been directed to refer its demands to the Conference to be convoked on the affairs of the Principalities. ASTOUNDING ACCIDENT IN RUSSIA 3,000 PERSONS DROWNED. The following extraordinary statement we take from the Cologne Gazette, but without in any way pledging our own belief in it : The Russian journals announce an unexampled catas trophe at Taganrog, on the Sea of Azoff. Allured by the mildness of the temperature, and by the purity of a cloud less sky, about 3,000 inhabitants of Taganrog followed the fishermen upon the ice. In that country, fishing is the favourite occupation of all, young and old, rich and poor. The air was so calm, that all advanced, without mistrust, farther and farther upon the ice, in the hope of obtaining a richer booty. Suddenly a warm wind rose from the east, which insensibly rose higher, whirled masses of snow, and finished by detaching from the shore the ice which adhered to it. In a few instants the vast sheet of ice cracked, rose, broke in several places, and the unhappy people who were upon it saw themselves carried out towards the open sea. Two hours afterwards not a trace of life was perceived from the shore upon the surface of the waves. On the following day, the waves drove ashore a floe of ice on which were five of these unhappy people ; three were dead, and the others stupified by cold. The two last, a young girl and an old man. The young girl died some hours after. The old man survived, but from fright he had lost the use of his tongue. He gave in writing a narrative of the events of this frightful night. The number of persons who met death in the waves amounts to 3,000. THE PHCENIX CLUB PROSECUTIONS. TRALEE, WEDNESDAY The Attorney-General, in continuing his address to the jury, said, proof would be given of a meeting which took place near Skibbereen, where the strength of the society would appear to be about 900 —3OO persons were seen about a mile from Skibbereen, with pikes and suns, who were being drilled. lie submitted that the identity of the oaths used in different places would be a strong proof of the conspiracy. There was a mass of testimony of another kind, consisting. of documents found in the possession of the prisoners, which would leave no doubt as to the objects which they had in view. In a pamphlet, found in a house of one of the prisoners, the peasantry were instructed how they could attack and dispose of her Majesty's soldiers; and the difficulty of using artillery in parts of the country was pointed out. The primary army of Ireland must be composed, it said, of pikemen, and then came an elaborate description of the pike. Every pikeman was advised to procure himself a nine-inch revolver. The learned gentleman, in conclusion, pictured the consequences of foreign hvasien, and asked what had the Queen, the Parlia ment, or the Government done of late years to merit so foul an attack on the constituted authorities ? It was a malig nant conspiracy, and he had endeavoured to unmask it. If they could acquit the prisoners, in God's name let them do so. If, on the contrary, the evidence coerced the verdict, he trusted it would be one with which, for the rest of their lives, they would be satisfied, Daniel Sullivan's, the approver, examination was then proceeded with, on the part of the prosecution, which, itt to last evening, was IlOt COMIWIQd. THE NOittliEkiNi TIMES, FRIDAY, MA:fteil i 1 1859 IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS-THURSDAT, FORM OF PRAYER. The Occasional Form of Prayer Bill passed through committee MANOR COURTS (IRELAND) BILL The Manor Courts (Ireland) Bill was read a second time S INGAPORE Lord Stanley of Alderley, in presenting a petition from some merchants at Singapore, enquired whether any change was contemplated in the government of that dependency. The colony had already attained sufficient importance to deserve a separate administration, instead of being con sidered as a mere appendage to that of India. The Earl of Carnarvon said that some correspondence was in progress between the Home Government and that in Calcutta upon this question, but without as yet leading to any final result. Some discussion arose on the subject, in which remarks were made by the Earls of Ellenborough and Derby, and Earl Grey GRAND JURIES The Lord Chancellor called attention to the manner in which charges were brought, and indictments preferred, before the grand juries in the metropolitan districts. He asserted that the grand jury system was utterly useless in those districts where the magistracy presided so ably, while its actions were in many respects injurious, as af fording opportunity for vexatious and malicious prosecu tions, or, in the reverse case, by frustrating the ends of justice. He concluded by laying on the table a bill abolishing grand juries in the districts of the Central Criminal Court. The bill, after some debate, was read a first time. The house then adjourned at ten minutes to seven HOUSE OF COMMONS—THURSDAY. The Earl of March took the oaths and his seat for West Sussex on his re-election REFORM BILL Mr. Miles gave notice, that in committee he should intro duce a clause retaining the rights of freeholders in cities and boroughs to vote for counties, Lord John Russell gave notice, that on the second read ing he should move the following resolution :—" That this House is of opinion that it, is neither just nor politic to inter fere in the manner proposed by this bill with the freehold franchise, as hitherto exercised in counties in England and Wales, and that no re-adjustment of the franchise will satisfy this House or the country, which does not provide for a greater extension of the sufferage in cities and boroughs than is contemplated in the present measure." The Chancellor of the Exchequer observed that one of the principles of the measure which he had proposed was that no place and no person should be disfranchised. Previous to the second reading, he would place on the table certain clauses, which he should move in committee, which he trusted would reconcile the main principle of the measure, which was the identity of the suffrage between county and borough, with the recognised rights of those freeholders whose freeholds were within the limits at present of par liamentary boroughs. Mr. Wyld gave notice of an addition to the resolution of Lord John Russell, to the effect that votes for members of parliament should in all cases be taken by ballot. Replying to Mr. Bowyer, The Chancellor of the Exchequer said that the govern ment would declare their intentions on the landlord and tenant subject before Easter. FUNDING OF EXCHEQUER BILLS. Mr. llankey called the attention of the house to the late funding of Exchequer Bills, and moved that in future no funding of Exchequer Bills, held by the commissioners of savings' banks, be made without the special authority of an act of parliament. He dwelt at some length on the increase which was then made to the National Debt, and the abuses likely to arise, if they could continue to be done without the sanction of the legislature. Sir S. Northcote observed that the government, as trustee for the savings' banks, ran much risk, which could only be balanced by the control which it possessed over the funds of those banks, and which it was only justice to the public to use to its advantage. He explained the circum stances of the transaction referred to, which was altogether exceptional. The best and most economical mode of bor rowing, was by the funding of Exchequer Bills, a proceed ing which made no permanent addition to the debt of the country. Sir H. Willoughby contended that the powers of the Exchequer in this respect ought to be further limited by act of parliament. Sir G. C. Lewis objected to the form of the motion, as the government exercised its present powers under act of parliament, which a resolution would not repeal, and would only fetter the hands of the Exchequer. The proper course would be to bring in a bill repealing the act under which the government held its authority to fund Exchequer bills at its discretion. Referring to the transaction in question, he saw no advantage in it, either to the exchequer or savings' banks, and he wished to know the reason for it. .A t the same time he must remark th :t Exchequer bills were just as much a part of the national debt as consols, and this funding made no real addition to the permanent burthens of the country. Mr. T. Baring observed, that the motion, as a mere resolution, would not carry weight enough ; a direct act would be necessary. He objected to the unrestricted power now possessed by the Government of turning unfunded into funded debt; that power might bo used so as to damage literally the public credit. Mr. Gladstone said that no resolution ought to be passed by the House without further investigation. Without doubt the powers of the Chancellor of the Exchequer were too great, and required to be reviewed and limited. The power especially of funding deficiency bills had been used to the great detriment of the public interest. As to the question of the savings' banks, the Government, while it was responsible to the depositors, had the right, so far as they were concerned, to make any use of the money it thought proper. He suggested that all operations of funding Exchequer bills should be submitted to a committee of that House, which would act as a kind of parliamentary audit. Mr. W. Williams urged the repeal of the act empowering the Chancellor of the Exchequer to fund Exchequer bills on his own authority, an act which had done already much mischief. Mr. Henley said that the dealings of the Exchequer with the funds of the Savings' Banks did not, it was true, affect the principal of the depositors, but it did affect the interest they could obtain. The Chancellor of the Exchequer said that the real question before the House was an implied censure on him self for his conduct in the operation referred to. The reason of that operation was in part a complaint made last autumn by the Commissioners of the Savings' Banks, that they were incurring loss by the securities which they held, but the most cogent reason was, the large amount of Exchequer Bills then outstanding in the hands of the Commissioners. That amount, which both in bills and bonds was but a little above 3 millions in 1854, had risen last year to nearly 8 millions. This was a state of things dangerous and unsatisfactory, both to the Exchequer and the savings' banks. It was, therefore, necessary, in the interest of all parties, to make a change, so he must oppose the motion, while he admitted that the state of our un -1 funded debt was not satisfactory, and required further reduction. Mr. Wilson could not see any advantage in the transac tion while it had the disadvantage of removing a large sum of money from the control of the Exchequer and the cognis- ance of parliament. Mr. Hankey, after a brief reply, withdrew his motion, MILITARY AFFAIRS. Captain Vivian moved for a select committee to inquire into the effects of the alterations in military organisation regarding the War-office and :Board of Ordnance, which, were raadg in the yeAr 1855, and 49, to inquire wiaetim: any chstigti are required to secure the utmost efficiency and economy in tile administration of military affairs. General Peel assented to the cc,.mmittee, after some re- marks' respecting the present military c jganisation. Lord liotham complained that the rect. nt amalgamation of our military departments had not produeet; the expected advantages. After some remarks from Sir Wm. Codrington, air De Lacy Evans, and Sir F. Smith, the motion was agreed 0, CHURCH RATES Sir A. Elton moved the following resolution?... That this House, considering that church-rates are productive of frequent strife and litigation, and have ceased to be levied in an increasing number of parishes, deems it advisable that they should be wholly discontinued, except for payment of existing charges thereon, and that the maintenance of the fabric of the church be confided to the zeal and liberality of the clergy and laity. 2nd. That in order to afford facility for the free exercise of that zeal and liberality, it is expedient that in every parish the incumbent aid churchwardens should form a co-operation, with power to take hold and manage all property given or appropriated for purposes relating to the parish church, and to administer the income thence arising. 3rd. That the authority of the present vestry in every parish with reference to the parish church, should be transferred to a new vestry to be termed the " Church Vestry," to consist of the incumbent and churchwardens, and those owners and occupiers of property in the parish, who give not less than a fixed yearly sum to the parish church funds, the present vestry retaining its authority in secular affairs. 4th. That the churchwardens should be chosen exclu sively from the members of the church vestry, and their purely secular duties be' performed by the overseers. Mr. S. Estcourt objected to abstract resolutions when serious bills were before the house, and did not see the utility of providing a substitute for Church Rates, before they were actually abolished. He trusted that the :hon. baronet would be satisfied - with having pointed out the mode which might be adopted if the rate was actually destroyed. Mr. Cowper thought that the resolutions suggested an efficient machinery for the management of the Church fabrics Mr. Newdegate objected to the limitations of goodwill towards the, Church on the part of dissenters, contained in the resolutions Sir A. Elton withdrew his motion NEWFOUNDLAND FISHERIES, Viscount Bury called the attention of the 'house to the Newfoundland Fisheries, and moved an address to her Majesty, for copies or extracts of any correspondence between the English and French authorities in Newfound land, or between the government of Newfoundland and the Secretary of State for the Colonies, or between:the "English and French governments, which may show the construction placed by the French authorities upon the treaties which now regulates the Newfoundland Fisheries. His object was to discover whether the pending negociations were intended to end in the making of new treaties on the subject, or in the explanation and modification of the old. There were many chances of collision under existing circumstances, between the fishermen of this country and those of France, mainly owing to the violation by the latter of existing treaties, and the injudicious privileges conceded by England in 1856. Sir E. B. Lytton said that a mixed commission had been appointed for the purpose of making enquiries on the spot. Meanwhile the captains of vessels belonging to both nations were instructed to act with the greatest forbearance. While the negotiations were thus going on he was pre cluded from giving further explanation, and he trusted that he should not be asked for the production of papers which at present would not be advantageous to the public service. Mr. Labouchere said that the difficulties of an agreement with France were complicated by our reciprocity treaty with America. The negotiations now on foot could only lead to a satisfactory arrangement by mutual concessions. Mr. M. Gibson hoped that the rights of the people of Newfoundland would not be abrogated without first con sulting the local legislature. He condemned strongly the convention of 1856. After some observations from ➢ir. Wilde, Lord Bury repeated his inquiry as to what were the in structions of the commissioners. Mr. S. Fitzgerald said that one of the British commis sioners was to be nominated by the legislature of Newfound foundland. The commissioners were to proceed to the spot, and ascertain the actual rights or all parties under existing treaties, and how far these had been exceeded, but they were not empowered to make any definite arrangement for the future. As to the papers, it was not desirable to pub lish them at present. THE HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY'S CHARTER, Mr. C. Fortescue moved an address for copy of any cor respondence between the Colonial-office and the Hudson's Bay Company, with reference to the charter, or to the license of trade, of that company, since the 22nd day of Feb ruary, 1858, being the date of the last returns upon the subject. Sir E. B. Lytton promised the production of the papers at the proper time. The motion was withdrawn, THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS BILL The Municipal Elections Bill passed through committee A division took place on an amendment moved by Mr Divett, raising the penalty for bribery from 40s. to £5O. The amendment was negatived by 261 to 13. A second division took place on a clause, moved by Mr. Hadfield, reducing the residence qualification from three years to one. The clause was negatived by 187 to 99. A third division took place on a clause, moved by Mr. Fox, abolishing the property qualification. The clause was negatived by 181 to 108. Mr. Berkeley proposed a clause enacting that votes should be taken by ballot. The chairman ruled that it could not be then entertained. Mr. Berkeley gave notice that he should move the clause on the report. CHURCH BATES ABOLITION BILL. Sir J. Trelawney moved the second reading of the Church Rates Abolition Bill. . . . Mr. Hope, urging the lateness of the hour, which was twenty-five minutes to one, moved the adjournment of the debate. _ Sir J. Trelawney said that he had postponed his. bill to suit the convenience of the Government. The subject had been exhausted, and he appealed to his opponents to allow the bill to proceed. _ Mr. Hope persisted, and the motion for adjournment was put and negatived by 173 to 108. Mr. Bentinck moved the adjournment of the house. Sir J. Pakington urged the postponement of the bill. Sir J. Trelawney postponed the bill till this day (Friday). The house then adjourned at one o'clock. HOUSE DEMOLISHED BY A RAILWAY ENGINE.—A very singular accident occurred on Tuesday on the East Lancashire Railway. The Hurricane engine left the Preston Station about three o'clock; with a tender and 16 waggons attached, and proceeded safely on the way to Blackburn till it arrived at the Bamber Bridge Station, when the engine suddenly bolted off the metals and ran against the gate at the level crossing there. It broke down the gate and posts, and then caught the corner of a house abutting on the railway, knocking the gable down entirely, and carrying away a portion of the front wall. The whole interior of the house was thus displayed to view. A woman who was washing in the back kitchen was unhurt ; and the engine driver, who shut off the steam as soon as possible, also escaped injury. The chimneyof the engine was crushed by the falling debris of the house, and was other wise seriously damaged; and the tender was smashed to atoms., Not a single waggon left the line, the eouplin• 0. chain next to the tender having broken. A bllffer laic , c ll ' was afterwards found upou.thc rails, and it is supposed 'that it had fallen from one cf the carriages of a previous. ..ran land that this obstac l e threw the engine of the ro3 is a occasioned the a ccident. The damage cif:Mq is not 420.—.Pred.31,0 1 6 ,401, 1 Less than THE WIRRAL WATER WORKS BILL. FROM OUR OWN REPORTER. HOUSE OF COMMONS, 'Thursday THE PREAMBLE PROVED. The following evidence was given on this bill alter the dispatch of my parcel yesterday : Mr. William Webb was called and examined by Mr. Calve= t, Q.C. He said : lam an estate agent and account ant, h av ;:ig a place of business at Liverpool. For the last 1 7 years h2ve resided at Tranmere, the population of which is about 10,000. It is, however, a rapidly incteasing township, and reqni :es many sanitary improve ments, r was not acquainted with the provisions of the Local Government Act of last year until a few months ago. Upon examiiiing it, I thought it was a very good act, and that it was desirable to put it in operation in Tranmere. There are at present neither gas nor water works at Tian mere. I have made calculations showing the expense of supplying Tranniere with water under the Local Govern ment Act, and also , und,er the bill now before the committee. I find that under the Local Government Act the township would be supplied with water at an expense of £15,000; but under the company's bil2 the expense would be upwards of £17,000'.. If the works were established by tho township, the money could be easily raised, at 4or 4 per cent., on the security of the rates. There are no baths and wash houses in Tranmere ; bnt we look forward hopefully to their establishment. Very extravagant statements have been put forward by the company, and others, with regard to the enormous expense of adopting the Local Government Act as compared with the adoption of the company's bill. At the meeting of the 4th March, everything that could be said in favour of the company was said. The majority at the the bill was certainly eight to one. Ti meeting MP -whit against it were mixed up with the scheme in some way or other. With regard to the character of the meeting, it was com posed almost entirely of ratepayers. I saw one or two who were not ratepayers, and I turned them out myself. I have been informed that the subscription list of the company is not filled up, and that Mr. Gill has found it impossible to fill it up. Mr. Rodwell objected to evidence of this nature from a witness who had taken an active part against the company. His learned friend had had an opportunity of eross-examin _ ing the witnesses cal he. promo' bat point, the promoters had very studiously ab- stained from calling any witness from whom any fasts re specting the position of the company, could be obtained. The Chairman said the committee would only take the evidence for what it was worth. At the best, it only a statement of what the witness had heard Examination continued ; If the present bill were sane- tioned by parliament, and the company were unable to onsequence would be ruinous to complete their works, the Tranmere Cross-examined by Mr. Rodwell : In 1842 I was a bank rupt, and since that time I have been in an attorney's office, and I am now an accountant. I have interest in land, at Tranmere, to the extent of £B,OOO, of which I have already paid £3,000. The meeting at Tranmere was not different in its character from ordinary meetings there. It was somewhat noisy, but so are all Tranmere meetings. I had a water scheme of my own some time ago, but I gave it up because I could not see that it could be rendered a profitable speculation. I did not abandon it because there was a total absence of local support. We propose now to construct works for ourselves, at a cost of £15,000. We could raise that sum for 4 or 41 per cent. on the security of the rates of the township. No burden would fall upon the ratepayers in consequence, because we believe that the works would be completed in nine months, that the sub sequent quarter's rent would pay the interest of the borrow ed capital, and that if it was insufficient the £15,000 would leave a margin from which the surplus could be supplied. At the meeting on the 4th instant, an amendment was re jected and declined to be put by the chairman, because it was contrary to the act. Mr. Lloyd advised the chairman, that the amendment was irregular. I have been asked to sell shares for the company, but I decline to mention the name of the gentlemen who made the request, as they are private friends of my own, unless I am pressed. Mr. Rodwell insisted u.on having an answer, and Witness said : M-. George Atkin told me that I might as well sell some shares for the company upon a com mission. A rinillar request came from Mr. Dobson. Mr. Thomas Dockwray, examined by Mr. Johnson, said : I have been a contractor for the sinking of wells, and I sank. the well !'or the IV-Icenhead Dock Company. I have no doubt that a supply of water to the extent of a million gallons per day could be obtained at the site selected by Mr. Fulton in Tranmere. I should have no objection to com plete the works within the estimate of £15,000 furnished by Mr. Fulton. Cross-examined by Mr. Rod*ell : I am acquainted with the district in which Mr. Fulton's site is situated. It is in the red sandstone formation, which abounds in water. I think it very probable that a well within a mile of the Birkenhead works would perceptibly diminish the supply of of water to be obtained from those works. Re-examined : I would undertake to sink a well. in Tranmere within eight months, and I think it would be done in less time than that. At this stage of the proceedings, the committee adjourned until to-day at twelve o'clock. The committee re-assembled to-day, at noon. Mr. Ker Seymer in the chair. The following members of the com mittee were also in attendance: Major Stuart Knox, Sir Graham Montgomery, Mr. Whatman, and Mr. R. J. Bagshawe. Mr. Thomas Henry Fulton, examined by Mr. Martin. lam a civil engineer, and have had much experience. I have been , engaged by many of the metropolian water companies. I surveyed the Wirral district, with a view to a water supply, in 1858. I prepared a plan. That was before the Local Government Act came into operation. I have no doubt, looking at the area of the district and the population of Tranmere, that Tranmere is able to support a water works of its own ? and I think that to supply Tranmere along with other districts, by a private company, would be a - - tax upon Tranmere. I have made an estimate 'of works, which I consider would be necessary to supply Tranmere. My estimate is £15,000. I believe £40,000 is the estimate of the proposed company, which I think would be quite absorbed. The working expenses of separate works for Tranmere would be £650 per annum. They would be self-supporting, and would. leave a balance for the purposes of the township. Cross-examined i I have never erected any works myself, but have made estimates. I made one for Leeds. , I never made any estimates for works that were afterwards brought into parliament. The estimate I made for the Wirral district, in 1858, was for the supply of water to all places in the district, with the exception of Stourton and Noctorum. The estimates included Tranmere. I have not altered my views. If the inhabitants want a supply, they ought to have it under conditions. The conditions are, that the parties who take the water should pay for it. That is the test. Their taking shares is a good test. In the pro-- posed works at Tranmere, I propose a pumping-engine of thirty horse-power. The proposed works would be one mile and a half from the Birkenhead Commissioners' Works. In the working expenses of £650 per annum, I do not include interest. That I put down at £950 per annum, making £1,700- per annum. The rental I estimate at £1,960, on the assumption that all the existing houses take the supply. If my proposed works are carried out, under the local government act, the estimated rental assumes that every house pays for the water, whether they. take it, or not. Should the rental not cover the expenses,. the difference would have to be made up by a. rate upon the township ; but I do not think there would be any necessity. for a rate, because, according to my calculations, the rental. would exceed the expenditure. I selected a site, with a view of my well not affecting the Birkenhead,Commissioners' well ; and, in order to supply Tranmere, amile and a• half from the Birkenhead wells was as. far • as I considered I could go. Re-examined: It is a very speculative question as to how far one well will affect another. Eselected my siteas much with a view to a supply by gravitation as from any other source. This was the case on behalf of the Tranmere opposition. Mr. Calvert addressed the committee in support of the Tranmere petition against the-bill,.and said, that fromclear the evidence which had been adduced,uced, it was perfectly that this was an attempt on the part of the promoters of the bill, to force an act of parliament for the benefit of a private company, upon an unwilling township. The people of Tranmere wished to avail themselves of the local government act of last year, and under it to supply them selves se lves with water. That a ct held out very great advanta g es to townships like Tran mere, where there was now an or ganisation going forw ard to avail themselves of it s plivi leges. He (Mr. Calve rt ) ho p ed that the co would not discourage such an organisation, a n d encourage far the it own advantage —he did not a body . of speculators who wished to establishrawmateeerr: He works blame them i w fo l r iic i h it wv sit that a w ci b ro i ey idt , te es would r , a o t bh u l l ae d t t em her b e ra w ce er t e he nu t m own ere sh us ip i of Tranmere. water works sho u ld b e established on a greater guarantee to a regu l ar supply, cheaper supply, but this was antral saynstdem also a u s affording g g a a not one of those cases. The argument did not at all apply to the red sandstone formation, because the red sandstone measures contained such an abundance of water that it was easy and beneficial to establish works in many individual cases. The learned counsel endeavoured to shew that in sh t e h u i l s d p notosits Tranmere etrheaton, and urged upon the em powers to supply Tranmere gi w v i e th tht theywas water, he the inhabitants and and ratepayers of that township of the ' advantages of obtaining a Sll ppik ,for thehiseltA under the provisions of the Local Goverthheiit Act, The learned counsel concluded by stating that the promoters had notishown themselves to be a substantial company, nor that they could complete the works for the sum named, ar d he therefore hoped the committee would strike Tranmere out of their bill. Mr. Hope Scott, Q.C., then addressed the committee in reply, on behalf of the promoters. He said no one had ventured to come forward and say that there was a sufficient suppy of water in the district named. There was an ad mitted necessity, and the only question was, who was to supply it? Now, wh en th e proposed company was pro jected, no one—no body of men —had attempted to avail themselves of the Local Government Act, and there fore it might be assumed that it was only by a company that the wants of the district could be supplied. The question which the committee had to consider was, whether an opposition, got up as this opposition had been, in Traninere, was to prevail as aganst the other districts, such opposition having been got up rather to defeat this bill than to supply Tranmere with water at all. The learned counsel then cited the provisions of the Local Govern ment Act, with the view of showing that under it a township could not necessarily supply the inhabitants with water. They had compulsory powers, in so far as tegarded tene ments, which they could charge twopence per week for the supply, and for public purposes, but no further, and in order to supply the inhabitants of a township generally with water, it was necessary that they come to parliament like a private company. _ _ _ The Chairman : There is no power given in the Local Government Act preventing a private company from com ing into a district. Mr.- Hope Scott : No, not a word in the act. It never was the intention of parliament that local boards should have the power of supplying water to'the public generally. They had, as he had already observed, compulsory powers as to small tenements at a charge of t*opence per week, but if they proposed to supply the inhabitants of a district generally, they could effect that object only by coming to parliament for a special act. He named this more parti cularly because regardinc , this point there Was a general error prevailing in the mind s ' of the public. as' regarded the powers possessed by loc a l b oar d s . ihey mast either come to parliament for special power, or otherwise must have purchased tke rights of a , company already in existence. Now this oppositibti on the, part of certain parties in Tranmere, had not riseti.out of any well defined plan for supplying Tranmere with water, for `Thad - not shown any plans or proposal with which they hut, in fact and g3VerTIT the )een put in motions for" purpose of tnrowmg ant tins nut in order to make way for some other project by Mr. Webb, or Mr. Perrey, ar other parties who were acting-with them. The opposition - was not commenced until atter the bill was in the house, anci'when it was plain that the decision of the ratepayers could not be known before the billhad been investigated by that committee. The opposition, indeed, was a mere sham, and he felt quite sure that parliament would not listen to it for a mo ment, especially when, it was considered how the opposition. had been got up. If the opponents of the bill had been honest in their hostility—if there had been simply a desire to introduce the Local Government Act into Tranmere, they ought to have commenced their proceedincq long before the time they actually did; but their hostility did not com mence until the last moment, and that, he contended, was not a fair way of opposing a bill. From what the com mittee had heard of the people who were pulling the strings, and from what they had heard of the local politics and bick erings in the district,he repeated that the whole opposition was a mere sham to gratify certain parties in Tranmere, and not only to deprive that township of the supply of water, but also to do so at the expense of five other town ships. The ground of opposition preterred against the promoters was, that the capital was not subscribed, but who had prevented it ? It was the very opponents of the bill who had brought that about by their hallooing for the last few weeks in Tranmere. It wag they who had prevented the shares of the company from being taken into the market, and now they wiped their mouths as if they had had nothing to do with it, whilst, in fact, they were the very parties who had prevented that of which they complained. But let the> decision of the committee be given in favour of the bill, and tlAn they -would see that the shares would be soon taken up. Having alluded to the opposition of the Birkenhead Commissioners, and contended that the evidence showed that it was unfounded, he concluded by saying that he had every confidenq that the committee would give the bill a favourable consideration on account of the unreason able opposition which had been set up. With regard to the Tranmere opposition, they knew its history and its origin. And they also knew this, that if the pre , sent issue was adverse to the bill, it would involve the re- opening of a fresh agitation next year, either on the part of this company, or in favour of another bill perhaps by Mr. Webb or his friends. In any case an application to Parlia— ment must be made, for otherwise they could not obtain power to supply the district with water. Putting aside the factiaus opposition which have be e n offered, he hoped the' committee would have no difficulty in passing the bill. The room was then cleared, and on the re-admission of strangers, The Chairman said : We find that the preamble of the bill is proved, but we shall limit the time for the completiOn of the works. The committee then proceedad to the con— sideration bf the clauses. On arriving at clause 28, which fixes the site of the proposed well at Prenton Valley, ➢Zr. Webster moved that it be struck out and another clause introduced, placing the well at a greater distance from the Birkenhead works. Some discussion took place, in the course of which Mr. Rodwell protested against the proposal, as re-opening the whole question of the preamble. The Chairman • I have consulted the committee, and we" are unanimous of opinion that this an attempt to unsettle a decision to which we have already come. Major Stuart Knot : Have you agreed as to the time roc the completion of the works ? The dhairman: In Owning to their decision, the com— mittee took into consideration the desirability of an early completion of the works at Tranmere. After a conversation with the promoters, ➢Tr. Rodwell said they undertook to complete the works as regarded Tranmere in two years, and the works in the other districts in three years. LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN RAILWAY: AND OTHER RAILWAY COMPANIES (WORKING AND TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS) BILL. HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMITTEE .ON PRIVATE; BILLS.-GROUP SIX [FROM OUR OWN REPORTER.] HOUSE OF COMMONS, THURSDAY. The committee re-assembled at eleven o'clock, Air. in, the- chair, for the purpose of considering clauses. Clauses in accordance with the resolutions of the com— mittee of the day before were submitted and agreed to. After some discussion and alteration the other clauses were agreed to, and the commtttee, shortly after two o',clocki adjourned. THE REPRESENTATION OF SOUTH LANCASHIRE. Yesterday, a deputation consisting of Mr. Thomas Brocklebank (president of the• Refortn Association), acconi aSlioaumthterrnowdinv.isiou a accom panied by Messrs. William Earle, James. MuHellen"-, T. B. Barclay, J. H. Macrae, 3 R. Jeffery, W. F. Macgregor, T. S.. Raffles, S. G. Rathbone, Thomas Gair, Ch ar l es . Moeley, &c., waited upon. Mr. J. Pemberton Heywood t ok upon him, to nominated for m for r. t ir he receive his reply to the. requisition calling elread in Mr. lieywroo- reply the , following 1 t which t a h ll e ow county hims himself f i t t o li the be he handed to Mr. Broaklebank : e ter-, “ T o WILLIAM BROWN.ESQ,, M.P, A. TURNER, ESQ., M.P., AND , OTIMs you have presented. to me," Liverpool, M arc h 10, 1859. ~ Gentlemen,--I feel highly flattered by the requisition and by the warm expressions or have nu" occupation reg , a 4 ti d by which it w as accompanied. Mupation which I cannot at once relin quish, am quite unaccustomed to take part in public life, and have no ambition to enter Parliament; but, encouraged by your good opinion, and understanding that my firm, although moderate, opinions in favour of steady progress may prove acceptable to a majority of the electors of South Lancashire, I , place my services at your disposal, and shall hold myself i readiness to become a candidate for our county whenever a dissolution takes place. " In the event of my becoming your representative, I eau only hope that my habits of business and strict attention to the details of my duties may in some degree compensate for my want of ability in other respects.—l am, gentlemen, your's faithfully, J. P. Hsywoori. Mr. Brocklebank expressed in warm terms thertah:riaofitali tion with which, he felt sure, Mr. Heywood'srep y m y r e . ar ß s ro wi w t n h , likely to be wasbe received hap py to b yoai think k parties tha t there; an remarkedd wase y especiallyobability that the hiyesteemed throughout the occupied by a Liverpool gent leman, such h h eposition satisfactionfi l led by3 t i o r. hi ßrown his coconstituency tf.otvwureehrsnooc,pyrmlwiakanesy was so well known and highly country. Mr. Heywood stated that since the presentation of th• requisition he had received many very gratifying assurances of support from gentlemen of conservative political opinions. The deputation again thanked Mr. Heywood, and retired.