The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-04-26 00:00:00

SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 1879.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

The HOUSE OP LORDS reassembled on Monday, April 21,
after the Easter recess, among those present being the Duke
of Argyll, who received the congratulations of several of
their lordships on returning to his place after his rather
lengthened absence.
Earl Granville addressed a question to the Secretary or
India as to the reports, which he said were published almost
'daily, that an advance upon Cabul was contemplated. Al-
though the Chancellor of the Exchequer had given a re-
loisuring explanation on the subject last week, it would be
ebnvenient, Lord Granville thought, that their lordships
should be put in possession of the latest information re-
ceived by the India Office.
Viscomit Cranbrook replied that no advance could take
place on Cabul without application to the Home Govern-
ment, and no such application had been made.
Notice was given by Lord Stratheden and Campbell that
'Oil Monday next he will move for the appointment of a Select
Committee to enquire into the expediency of rendering the
Militia available for service in colonial garrisons.
Their Lordships read the Bankers' Books (Evidence) Bill a
third time, and having advanced several other measures a
I Stage, rose before half-past five o'clock.
In the HOUSE OF COMMONS, Colonel Alexander gave notice
that as an amendment to Mr. J. Holmes resolution on the
duration of Parliament he would move that the Septennial
Act is satisfactory in its operation and ought not to be re-
Pealed.
In answer to questions from Mr. Dillwyn and Sir C. Dilke
1 as to the advance of General Mantle's division, Mr. E.
'Stanhope said the Government had given no sanction to an
advance on Cabul, and that though General Maude might
hue advanced as far in that direction as Gandamak, it did
not follow that an advance on Cabul had been ordered.
Shortly before five o'clock the House went into Committee
Of Supply on the Civil Service Estimates, and was engaged
until 11.40 in agreeing to ten votes of Class 2 (Public
°Mee%) of the Civil Service Estimates. At that hour pro-
gress was reported, in accordance with an arrangement
Made in the early part of the evening, and
. The Chancellor of the Exchequer brought in his Bank.
Lug Bill. Premising that the alarm excited by recent
failures had opened the eyes of the public to the incon-
veniences of the present system, he pointed out that
the most important of these was the inability of Joint-
stock banks which had once registered themselves
411 unlimited to register themselves as limited concerns.
_ the main feathre of the Bill, therefore, would be the
1 removal of this disability; but it proposed also to create a
apeclea of liability intermediate between limited and un-
limited, and analogous to the liability created by the
charters of oertain colonial banks. This he proposed to call
a " reserve liability," and it would be a liability limited to
the shares and a certain multiple of them. The Bill would
enable unlimited banks to re-register themselves as limited
or reserve liability banks. He did not see his way
to dealing with the liability of trustees further than
bY facilitating this change from unlimited to limited
responsibility, nor did he think it desirable to weight his
._'Mli by dealing with the question of issue as he should
uave liked, but to amend the Overstone Clause of the
i Act of 1862 by making it clear that the assets of the
bank should be responsible pan i passu for the note issue
and the general liabilities of the bank, but that the
aaParate estates of the partners should be responsible for
the note issue. The Bill is applicable to all parts of
- the kingdom, but it provides that no banks of issue shall
i register as limited or reserve liability banks if they have
houses of business outside the country in which their head
office is situated, so that English, Scotch, and Irish banks
Will be confined each to their own countries. It also con-
tains provisions for publication of accounts, independent
audit, &C.
- ~ In the short conversation which followed, Mr. Anderson,
'„,tr- Ileygate Dr. Piayfair, Mr. Courtney, Mr. Rathbone
k 'lr. 8. Lloyd, Makin., Sir J. M`Senna, and others
'Doke, and a guarded approval was expressed of the measure
'talk whole. Leave was then given to bring in the Bill.
Some other business was disposed ef, and the House ad-
burned at twenty minutes to two o'clock.

„lb the Houn OF LORDS, April 22, Lord Kimberley asked
the Under-Secretary for the Colonies to make known to their
Lordships the latest news from Cape Colony.
Lord Cadogan read the despatches received at the
C°lolllal Office, referring to he rellef of Colonel Pear-
to ree column.

-----
Lord Bury 'subsequently read the telegram addressed to
the War Office, and having reference to Colonel Wood's
oolno2u.
Their Lordships were for a considerable time in Committee
oh the Rivers Conservancy Bill, which ultimately passed
through Committee after a number of amendments, most of
Which were proposed by the Duke of Richmond and Gordon,
Who had charge of the measure, and none of which affected
the principle of the Bill.
_Their Lordships adjourned at twenty-five minutes to
%Vat o'clock.
In the HOUSE OP COMMONS, Sir M. Hicks-Beach and
Colonel Stanley, in reply to a suggestion from Mr. W. E.
Porster, read the telegrams from Solith Africa jut received
by the Colonial and War Departments, relating to the relief
" EISOW6 and Colonel Wood a victory over the Zulus. The
news of Colonel Pearson's safety was warmly cheered from
both sides, and In answer to Mr. Forster, Colonel Stanley
said he understood the details as to Colonel Wood's engage-
Ment to refer to the events of the 29th, of which news had
Already been received by the last mail.
ict Answer to questions:from Mr. Fawcett and Mr_ Dillwyn
11,4 to the reported advance on Cabal, the Chancellor of the
-%zetiequer read a telegram from the Viceroy, dated the 3rd
°L April, in which be stated that no advance on Cabal was
contemplated without full reference home, but that to give
tile negotiations a reasonable chance of success, it was neces-
LarY that there should be a concentration of troops to the
l'rorit, and it might be necessary to move forward a portion
2t General Browne's force, 111 Jellalabad would be
too hot for the troops in summer. The advance to
vandamak, therefore, had been undertaken for sanitary
reasons, and no others. At this there was much cheering
tjctu the Ministerial benches, and the Chancellor went on
60 say that strict orders had been given that no advance
Should be made on Cabal without application home, and
that no such application had been received. With regard to
the present position of affairs he stated that Major Cavagnari
Was at Gandamak, and that communications were passing
Detween him and Yakoob Khan of which it was not conve-
silent at present to give the details.

Mr. Isa-ao called attention to the present system of nomi-
-114 ting members to serve on Select Committees, and moved
heappointment of a Committee of Nomination.

Mr. billwyns;ggested that the subject should be referred
a Select Committee, and the Channellor of the Exchequer
lll,Proved this proposal.
Mr. Isaac wished to withdraw his motion in favour of
Billwyn's proposition, but the House would not allow
to be done, and the motion was negatived without a
division.
„, The remainder of the evening was occupied In the discus-
"Lno of the motion of Mr. Ritchie for a Select Committee to
consider the question of Sugar Bounties, the House adjourn-
ing at twenty minutes past one o'clock.

In the HousE or COMMONS, April 23, Mr. Mpldon moved
the second reading of the Voters' Registration (Ireland) Bill,
and explained that its object was to assimilate the Irish to
the English law which regulated the registration of voters.
..11-r. Mitchell Henry supported the Bill, and after a discus-
'on. in which Mr. Blanket, Mr. Collins, the Attorney-
It'neral, Major Nolan, and other hon. members took part,
he Bill was read a second time.
Macartney moved the second reading of the Ulster
„ehant Right Bill, which also gave rise to a discussion, in
the course of which Mr. J. Leslie, Mr. Gregory. Mr Lowther
and other members spoke. Eventually the House divided,
and the Bill was rejected by 146 to 131.
The Mouse then adjourned.