The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-07-21 00:00:00

THE NAVY ESTIMATES.

The House then went into Committee on the Navy Esti-
mates, and the following Votes were agreed to :—£937,400
for provisions and clothing for the sailors and marines;
£182,300 for the Admiralty Office ; £19,800 to defray the
cost of the cototguard service, Royal Naval Reserve,
and Naval Artillery 1 olunteers ; £113,100 for the
scientific departments of the navy: £1,556,400 to de-
fray the expenses of the dockyards at home and
abroid ; £71.707 for victualling yards at home and
abroad ; £64 9--,0 for medical establi-hments at home and
abroad; £22 350 for Marine divisions: £1,337,000 for naval
stores; £1,052,600 for machinery and ships built by con-
tract: £471,250 for new works, buildings, yard machinery.
and repaits ; £124,000 for miscellaneous services; £876,950
for military pensions; £330.180 for civil pensions; £228,200
for the conveyance of troop,.
The Sea Fisheries (Ireland) Bill, as amended, was read a
third third, and the House adjourned at five minutes to three
O'clock. -

In the Ilona OF LORDS, July 17, on the motion of Lord
Carllngford, the Lunatic Poor (Ireland) Bill was withdrawn.
The second reading of the Merchant Snipping (Fishing
Boats) Bill was ojected to by the Marquis of Salisbury on
the ground that a measure of so complex and restrictive a
character ought not to pass without a fuller inquiry than it
could obtain at this period of the Session, aad WE', postponed
by Earl Granville until Monday week.

THE SUEZ CANAL.
Replying to Lord Lamington, Earl Granville explained
that the composition of the directorate of the Suez Canal
was exactly the same as it was immediately after the shares
bought by this country were acquired. The canal was, he
remarked, made in spite of the opposition of England. For
the first ten years of its existence it was far from being re.
munerative, and those who embarked their capital in so
speculative an enterprise were entitled to xceptional profits.
Throughout the negotiations her Majesty's Government had
never made the slightest admission of M. de Lesseps' claim
to the exclusive right to construct a second canal, but they
were advised that the claim was well founded, and that
opinion commended itself to their common sense. The
Government were assured that the conditions which had
been agreed upon were the most favourable that could be
obtained.
The Marquis of Salisbury denied that any constructive
sanction had been given by the late Lord Beaconsfield to
the monopoly claimed by M. de Lesseps ; and, after some
observations by the Lord Chancellor, the subject dropped.
Earl Granville having stated, in answer to the Earl of
Fife, that two Consuls had been appointed in kgypt with
the object of assisting the Egyptian Government in dealing
with the slave trade, their lordships rose at five minutes
past six o'clock.

In the Housa OP COMMONS, in answer to Mr. Ashmead-
Bartlett, Lord E. Fitzmaurice said that no official information
of the news brought by the Tamteorth• Castle had been
received by the Governmekt, and the latest information
received was the telegram from Colonel Miles read by the
Prime Minister last Wednesday. The latest despatch was
dated June 14, and up to that date the conduct of the French
Admiral towards the Consular officials had been of a most
courteous character.
THE AGRICULTURAL HOLDINGS BILL

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The questions on the not ice paper being only six in
number the Mouse was enabled to go into committee on the
Agricultural Holdings (England) Bill at half-past four
o'clock.
The first amendment moved to Clause 1 (which gives a
general right of compensation to the tenant) raised the
queetion whether the improvements should be confined
to those enumerated in the schedule.
Mr. James [Toward moved a verbal amendment with a
view of subsequently striking out all reference to the
schedule: He was supported by Mr. J. Barclay and Mr.
Duckham, and on the other side Mr. Dodson said the
Government could not accept the amendment as it would
destroy the principle of the Bill—that the improvements to
be compensated for should be definite improvements—and
if it were carried, it would be necessary for the tenant to
pay compensation to the landlord for the detorioration o
the holdine.
On a division the amendment was negatived by 275 to 35.
Mr, Borlase then proposed an amendment to entitle the
sitting or continuing tenant to compensation on entering
upon a fresh contract of tenancy, or where his rent was
raised; but Mr. Dodson objected to the amendment that it
would in some cases prejudicially affect the tenant, whilst it
gave him no more protection than was already secured by
the Bill.
The Committee having rejected the proposal by 196 to 45
Mr. Arnold moved to omit the words which made the
quitting of the holding a condition of the tenant receiving
compensation, but this also was negatived by 87 to 39.
An amendment by Colonel Kingscote restricting the maxi.
mum compensation for improvements to the actual outlay
of the tenant upon the improvements was opposed by Mr.
Shaw-Lefevre on the ground that it would be unjust to with.
hold from the tenant the increased value of his improve-
ments, while requiring him to bear the loss in the case of
improvements which had deteriorated in value.
After a long discussion the amendment was negatived by
188 to 163.
Subsequently a proviso moved by Mr. A. Balfour, limiting
the maximum amount of compensation in respect of improve-
ments to which the consent of the landlord was not required
to the actual outlay incurred by the tenant, was opposed by
the Government, but on a division was parried by 141 to 133.
Sir M. H, Beach next proposed to add a provisio that, in
estimating the value of improvements in Parts 1 and 2 of the
Schedule, nothing should be taken into account that might
be due to the inherent capabilities of the soil or to any cause
other than the skill and expenditure of the tenant in making
the improvement.
Mr Dothou, in the altered cirmrnstances consequent on
the oivision just taken, required time for the c onsideration
of the amendment, and progress was accordingly reported.
The House adjourned at one o'clock.

Parts 1 and 2 of the Schedule hereto, there shall not be
taken into account anythiog that may be due to the inharcnt
cap dainties of the soil." He thought that ehatever limita-
tion the House af,rud to should he placed in this impoitant
clause.
After some discussion the amendment was agreed to
without a division.
Oe the question that Clause 1 stand part of the Bill, the
Committee divided :—For the clause, 211 ; against, 19 ;
majority, 222.
On Clause 2, which provides that compensation under the
Act shall not he payable in respect of improvements exe-
cuted before the commencement of the Act, except in regard
to enproverm nts executed under Schedule 3, to which the
consent of the landlord was not required,
Mr. Arn, ld moved an Amendment to include in the ease
of the sitting tenants, improvements executed under the
other parts ,f the Bill during the occupation. He proposed,
by subseqnent Amendments, to provide that in improve-
ments executed before the passing of the Act under Parts 1
and 2 should only come under the operation of the Act
where the tenant was in possession of the written consent of
the landlord.
On a division the amendment was negatived by 206 to Y 2.
Mr. Pell moved an amendment which would secure the
same compensation to the tenant for the improvement speci-
fied in the first schedule made with the approval of the land-
lord within ten years previous to the commencement of the
Act as the Act would assure to him for improvements made
after the passing of the Act.
Mr. Heneage thought the Amendment should include
compensation for past improvements in respect to drainage,
and he moved to amend the Amendment to this effect.
After some discussion, Mr. Pell agreed to the incorpora-
tion in his Amendment of the words moved by Mr. Beneage.
The Committee divided—For Mr. Pell's Amendment, 241;
against, 74.—Majority, 170.
Other amendments having been disposed of, on the
motion that the Clause, as amended, stand part of the Bill,
the Committee divided, and the Clause was adopted by 268
against 32.
The Douse then resumedl and the remaining Orders were
disposed of.
The House adjourned at fifteen minutes to six o'clock.