The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-03-22 00:00:00

SATURDAY, MARCH 22, 1879.

iIMPERIAL i'LRLLAMENT.

In the HoUsE Or LORDS, March 17, the Earl of Redesdale
raoved a resolution declaring that before two bills authoris-
ing the constructton of narrow-guage railways in Ireland
Were proceeded with it was expedient that the Board of
Trade should report on the subject. After a discussion, in
'which the motion was opposed by both the Duke of Rich-
Mond and the Lord Chancellor, their lordships divided, and
rejected it by 36 to 28.
The bursting of the 38-ton gun in the turret of the
Thunderer was next brought before the House by the Duke
of Somerset, who complained that the report of the Com-
talttee of Investigation was not in accordance with the
evidence, and asked the House to consider what would be
likelY to happen in the turmoil of an engagement if such
failures in ordinary practice were possible.
- -

_
Lord &MEM' urged that a competent committee of
artillerists should inquire into the whole question of nitval
artillery.

Lord Elphinatone said there was ample evidence that when
Ms were simultaneously fired there was no means of
ascertaining by sound that one of them had not gone off.
The nature of the lever appliances which assisted in restoring
the gun to its position accounted for the absence of recoil
being unnoticed; and the use of the hydraulic rammer
'would not indicate from the inside of the turret that the first
Charge still remained in the gun. His lordship detailed a
variety of precautions which ills proposed to take with a
View to prevent such occurrences in future, and added that.
the Ordnance Department would inquire into the whole
subject.
Lord Cardwell having thanked the Government for this
statement, the subject dropped.
A discussion took place on the motion for the second read-
ing of the Rivers Conservancy Bill, and the Duke of Richmond
and Gordon, in reply, said the proposed alteration in the
constitution of Conservancy Boards would be adequately
'provided for by the bill. This measure and the Mutiny Act
Continuance Bill were read a second time, and their Lord-
ships rose at half past seven o'clock.
In the HougE OF COMMONS, in answer to a request from
Sir C. Dilke that a day might be fixed for the oommence-
tnent of the debate on the Zulu War, the Chancellor of the
Exehequer said that as it was imperatively necessary for
the Supplementary Estimates to be votgd before the end of
the financial year, he could not name any day earlier than
Thursday week.
Mr. M. Henry asked the Secretary of State for the Home
Department what progress had been made in the investiga-
tion of the case of William Hebron, a young Irishman, con-
victed in August, 1876, of the murder of a policeman at
Whalley Range, near Manchester, but now alleged to be inno-
cent; and whether, pending the investigation, the convict
bad been relieved from the severities of penal discipline.
Mr. Cross replied—" The House will remember that
I stated some time ago, that when this man was con-
Victed, I came to the conclusion, in which the learned
Judge who tried the case entirely agreed, that Hebron
was certainly not the man who fired the shot; but
circumstantial evidence was placed before the jury, and
certain expressions were used by the man himself, tending
to implicate .him in the murder, and therefore he under-
went the sentence. After the confession of the man Peace
It was necessary to consider very cal'efully all the circum-
stances again, and I stated to the House that owing to
that confession the qaestion would receive the most
anxious consideration of the Secretary of State how far-
the spntence should be allowed .to stand. At the same time
the confession was one which would undoubtedly re-
quire the most rigid scrutiny that could be applied
to it. I, of course, bad every assistance from the learned
Judge, and I thought it only right to lay the whole matter
before the law officers The result to which certainly I
nirielf have come is that the statement made by the man
Peace has been so entirely corroborated in the import-
ant points' that I shall feel it to be my duty to advise the
Crown to grant a free pardon to Hebron. (Cheers.) It
may be satisfactory to the House to know that in that
conclusion I have the entire concurrence of the learned
Judge and the Law officers of the Crown. (Hear, hear.)
Although it has not been the practice in such cases, however
Anfortunate, to make compensation, I may be allowed to
state that •can see my way to make certain arrange-
ments by which care will be taken that the future of this
most unfortunate and unhappy man shall be attended to."
Cheers.)
Mr. M. Henry gave notice that on Monday next be would
ask what compensation the Government proposed to make
to this unhappy victim of the fallibility of the law. (A
laugh )
Mr. W. 11. Smith, in answer to Mr. Gourley, gave detailed
Information as to the ample supplies of coal provided for the
service of the transports conveying troops and stores to
Natal, and mentioned that the delay at St. Vincent bad
occurred in consequence of the mail steamers and the trans-
ports arriving simultaneously and sufficient labour therefore
not being available.

Answering a question from Mr. Hopwood, Colonel Stanley
staid that the attention of the Government bad been directed
to the working of the Contagious Diseases Acts, and they in-
tended to appoint a Committee to inquire into it.
Mr. E Jenkins gave notice that, on going into Supply, he
will move a resolution calling on the Government to allay
the anxiety of the country by promptly stating its reasons
for maintaining Lord Chlemsford in the supreme command.
le House then went into Committee of Supply on the
Army Natimatea. The first Vote, £4,598,000, for Military
Pay and Allowances, was under discussion from half-past
five to half past twelve, and practically the whole eveninß
Was occupied by a series of trivial criticisms on the details of
the vote by Mr. Parnell, supported in innumerable speeches
by Mr. O'Donnell and Mr. Biggar.

At the commencement Mr:l'arnell endeavoured to obtain
S postponement of the Estimates on the ground that he had
not had time to compare them with the Appropriation
Accounts, and more than an hour was taken up with this
complaint. In the course of the evening, a suggestion made'
by Sir P. O'Brien that a regiment of Irish Guards should be
formed led to a lively scene of recrimination between him and
!dr. O'Donnell. Mr. Parnell deprecated any further allure-
Ments being hold put for Irishmen to enter the British
service, and Mr. Biggar took the opportunity of expressing
his opinion that if Russia and England were at war, a
majority of the Irish people would wish to see Russia
successful. (Oh, oh ) Lord Eicho severely repro-
bated this language, Mr. O'Donnell replied in a heated
!speech, and an amendment moved by Sir P. O'Brien to test
the opinion of the Committee on the point which he had
raised was negatived by 120 to 5. Among other
things the old "Stock Purse" controversy was renewed,
and after being discussed for some time a motion to strike
out the item was negatived by 148 to 7. After the vote had
been agreed to, Mr. Parnell objected to going further, and
the Chancellor of the Exchequer 3alled attention to the waste
of time which had occurred, and pointed out that if all the
Votes were to be discussed at the same length ond with filo
same repetitions it would be impossible for the House to get
PrOREOI Its business.

Mr. rf smell phallenged the Chancellor of the Exchequer
tO arraign bith'formally on a charge which, If it was true,
was a contempt ; atd Mr. Sullivan warned the .Committee
that what had occurred was a sample of what might be ex-
pec.,ted In the future, for every page and every item would
be discussed. Alter this several other unopposed votes for
the non-effective services were agreed to.

Several Bills were forwarded a stage, and the Attorney-
General brought in his Employers' Liability Bill. •
'The House adjourned at twenty minutes past two o'clock.

In the HOUSE OF LOMA, March 18, Lord Truro asked Her
Majesty's Government for an explanation of the message of,
sympathy and confidence transmitted by Her Majesty
through the Secretary for War to the Commander-in-Chief
and the troops in South Africa after the disaster at Isan-
dula. The noble lord did not object to the expression of
sympathy contained in that message, but he did to the. ex-
pression of "entire confidence," as unusual when applied to
4 commander who had just sustained a great reverse, and as
more especially out cf course when the Committee of In-
quiry had not closed its investigation. He wanted to know
whether the message had been duly considered by and had
met with the entire concurrence of Her Majesty's Govern-
ment.
The Earl of Beaconsfield, who on rising was received with
cheers, in reply said—My lords, I need not assure your
lordships who are acquainted with the Constitution of this
realm that nothing in the nature of a public action on
the part of the Sovereign is ever done except on the re-
eponsibility of her Ministers. (Hear, hear.) Therefore, I
Abell pot dwell on that point, except to make the re-
mark that I think the manner in which the noble lord
has made his inquiry is net one consistent with the
eeeeti utional usages which are generally observed.
(Hear, hear.) At the same time, I must remark that there
is one great peculiarity in the question. The noble lorct
makes an inquiry respecting a certain message, tip purport
of which he criticizes in general language, but totally avoids
placing beforo your lordships what that message which is
the subkct of his controversy really is. (Hear, hear.)
If the noble lord had only alluded to it, I might, perhaps,
have passed it over slightly, or even unnoticed; but the
noble lord in asking hes question has entirely misrepre-
• sented the question. The noble lord referred to a message
which was sent by Her Majesty, on tee responsibility of
her Government, to the commander-in-chief and the
troops in South Africa. Now, my lords, what was that
Message Her Majesty, on learning what had occurred,
unhappily, in that part of the world, immediately expressed
bar sympathy with ber army in the greet disaster and
loss which they had incurred and suffered, and at the
same time—to use, I believe, the exact language—expressed
still her confidence in the commander-in-chief and her
troops to maintain her name and honour.. (Cheers.) Such a
message was most becoming in one occupying the exalted
station of -Sovereign .of this realm, and that message was
transmitted under the responsibility of her advisers. (Hear.)
The custom time adherred to was one which had been puraued
in innumerable instances, and to hold that such an ex-
pression of feeling on the part of the Sovereign thus con-
stitutionelly expressed, should be submitted to the Cabinet
and even to the discussion of Parliament before it is trans- .
muted to the troops in whose sufferings it sympathizes and
in whose future exploits it expresses confidencewould be
to destroy all that spontaneous grace of consolation which
such messages to our brave troops in circumstances of
disaster are so eminently calculated to convey. (Hear,
hear.) There is nothing in whist has occurred but what
Is regular and constitutional, and the interpretation
. which the noble lord—of course, unintentionally—has
placed on this message—the language of which, I may
repeat, he never quoted—conveys to my mind, and I
should think to the minds of your lordehips, a com-
pletely erroneous impression- of the meaning which it was
intended to express. In the circumstances which existed
an expression of confidence by her Majesty, after an ex-
pression of sympathy with their misfortunes and disasters;
in the commander-in-chief and her troops to maintain
her name and honour was to my mind most becoming and
proper, and is not to be tortured into a formal expression
of unlimited confidence in the commander-In,chief In the
manner which it has been by the-nohla lord. (Hear, hear.)
The noble lord says that no expression of this kind on the
part of the Sovereign, even with the approbation of her
Ministers, should have been made in consequence of the
Court of Inquiry at that time sitting. That Court was not
holding an inquiry into the conduct of the commander-
It was a Court of inquiry instituted by the
, commander-in-chief himself in order to obtain facts which
might enable him to form an accurate opinion as to
the causes of the disaster, and which lie might transmit to
Her Majesty's Government, Was it t) be supposed that
in such circumstances an expression of the feeling of the
" •-•'•-et nersenage in the realm, which was calculated to
sustain our treopi lii „lab of no common character—an '
expresten of feeling which is looked forward to by Her
Majesty's trope cutter in triumph or discomfiture with the
greatest Interest ; waa tt i;e be _supposed that it should be
deleyed till the Court' Of Inqnify 'had pine to some con-
elusion se to facts in order ' that the commander-in-chief
should convey an accurate report to the Goveenniened
I am sure your lordships would never tolerate or
sanction such a course se that. (Cheers.) Nothing
occurred but what was regular as constitutional,
It has been in accordance with what has been the habit of
the country, and it has been done on the full responsibility
of the Ministry as ie every public act of the Sovereign. My
lords, I therefore think that the inquiry of the noble lord
might have been avoided on this occasion. (Cheers).
Lord Truro having explained that his purpose bad been
echeapletely answered by the terms of the reply, the subject
ah 4 their lordships rose before six o'clock.
• In the IleUeE OF Colimose lu azesvrer to Mr. Mundella, the
Chancellor Of the Excitequer said' that if the hon. gezelemen
igoma move lor it, ht 3 would cause to beilaid'on thelable bf
the Home a statement of the cost of the transport of the
Indian troops from and to Ilidia, together with the pay and
allowances, cost of provisions, tapd 'other expenses
Inci-
dental thereto.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, answering a question
from Mr. Richard, said the Government bad
tenotihne King
t.
information
-at cn liltimatum having been addressed
In answer to My. llibbeet, the Chancellor
deeisliorrabolef
ithheet Ex-
the
chequer said the Government thocif
sent of Bridgew4ter,
h
iteenptes created ley the dis rano')
Beverley, ligo, and Cashel shouldi::2lilled Up before the
next general election; but he edded, amid re. uch laughter,
"there is no immediate hurry."
In answer to Sir Be Peel, Colonel Stanley
said he bad 10
warded her Majesty's telegram of sympathy and confidenc
o le
Lord Cheimaford on the day or the day alter the receipe
a the digastrous news from Isandula consequently befog
the receipt ot his despatch and while 'the Court of Inquiry
was sitting. But he pointed out that it did not contain an _
reference to Lord Chelmaford specially in his capacity el
commanderein-chief and he added that he had not thought
it necessary to consult his colleagues, but WAS solely re-
sponsible for the transmission of the message.
Mr. W. Cartwright directed attention to the Report
her Majesty's representatives abroad respecting the
which duties are paid on wines i Varions
modes and rate under fromntro-
duced into foreign countries, and to the correspondence

respecting commercial relations between Great Britain and
Spain, aid moved the appointment olds Select Committee to
Inquire into the subject. • •

Mr. Bourke stated that the Government would be disposed
to grant the proposed Committee but he suggested the
withdrawal of the resolution until he had consulted with the
Chancellor of the Exchequer as to the terms of reference to
the Committee.

After a discussion, the Chancellor of the Exchequer ad-
mitted that the inquiry was desirable, and promised to con-
sult with Mr. Cartwright as to the terms of the reference.
The motion was, upon this understanding, withdrawn.
-

Mr. DelahuntY next brought before the House the incon-
veniences of a restricted circulation, which, by the alterna-
tions of expansion and contraction it entailed, was re-
sponsible, he contended, for much of the depression of trade.
He moved a Resolution setting forth the opinion of the House
that a free circulation of paper currency, together with a
full and adequate circulation of paper convertible into
specie on demand, is essential for the promotion and
development of manufactures and trade.
- - -

..
The Chancellor of the Exchequer expressed a general con-
currence in the principles of the Resolution, but reserved
his opinion with regard to any practical proposition which
Mr. Delahunty might propose to found upon it—viz., abolish-
ing one-pound notes or otherwise.
- - - • - •

Sir J. id:Kenna and Mr. Biggar spoke, and the Besolution
was then agreed to.
Mr. Sclater-Booth, in introdueing the County Govern-
ment Bill, after referring to the history of last year's Bill,
indicated the chief points in which this year's measure
differed from it. In the first place, he said it had been
determined to give up the complete fusion of the Quarter
Sessions with the new Boards then proposed. The magi,
trates would continue to perform their police functions,
and they would issue a precept for the necessary expendi-
ture to the County Board, with which would rest the levy
and assessment of the county rate. Owing to the Bills
which had been introduced this year the new Boards
would not be charged with the functions of river con-
servancy nor election of coroners; but they would have
the administration of the Highways Act, the management
of bridges and their approaches, the revision of work-
house accommodation, and the provision of accommoda-
thin for imbeciles and idiots who were not fitting objects
for the County Asylums. The Boards would be constituted
of one-third magistrates and two-thirds guardians, elected
by the guardians, and the electoral area would be settled by
the magistrates in Quarter Sessions. The election would be
by voting papers, and the term of office would be for three
years.

In the course of a desultory conversation which followed,
Mr. Stansfeld declared that the alterations of the Bill were
all for the worse, and predicted for it a strenuous oppo-
sition and feeble support. Mr. Rathbone, Lord E. Fitz-
maurlce, Mr. Cowen, Mr. Whitbread, Mr. Hibbert, and
Mr. Goschen spoke in the same sense; while Mr.
Gregory, Mr. Moyer Sir G. Bowyer, and Mr. Hicks entirely
approvea tne but In its aiterea goy..
to introduce the Bill, and it was read a first time.

Some other business was disposed of, and the House ad-
onrned at 25 minutes to one o'clock.

In the HOUSE OF COMM, March 19, Mr. Vans Agnew
moved the second reading of the Hypothec Abolition (Scot-
land) Bill. A discussion ensited, in which Lord Elcho (who
moved an amendment), Mr. B. Cochrane, Viscount Macduff,
Mr. C. D. Read, the Lord Advocate, Sir G. Balfour, Sir W.
Cuninghame, Sir G: Montgomery, Mr. Ramsey, Mr. Bailie
Hamilton, and several other hon. members took part, and
the House divided, when the numbers were—For the second,
reading, 204; against, 77; majority, 127.
The Bill was accordingly ordered to be reed a second
time.
The other orders were postponed, and the House ad-
journed.