The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-03-03 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

THE CHANNEL TUNNEL
_ In the HOUSE Os' LORDS, Feb. 26, Lord Stanley of Alderley
?liked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he
nad given any intimation to the French Government that this
rintrY did not wish for the comttuction of a submarine
ii ll:eel between France and England, with a view to prevent
tt_ Possibility of disappointment, or of claims arising in
•ratice for money expended in that country in attempts to
.tonstruct a submarine tunnel under the misapprehensions
Ziused by the fact of a Lord o the Treasury being the chair-
aa of one of the tunnel companies
arl Granville said : I have to inform your lordships that
_,!ia proposed that a joint committee of the two Houses
'wall be appointed to consider this subject, and that a pro-
gral to that effect will shortly be made in the House of
ihh,lb,,ltl,cna. Under these circumstances, until the matter
I, "IA Emile been considered by the committee, we think it
fil,'eairable that any progress should be made with the two
p 'I% or that any communication should be made to the
reach Government on the subject.
The Marquis of Salisbury: I feel bound to say that I am
nonsiderably surprised to hear it stated by the noble earl
taat the iloVerument intend to refer this subject to a joint
ti,r An 9 other committee. I daresay that a joint committee
uld be as suitable an instrument as any other for
!onductiog an inquiry; but surely the question as to
nether it is expedient to make a junction between the
L.w° countries below the Channel is one which belongs to
;Tat class of political questions whf.ch, hitherto, the
cvertirnent have always beets held competent and been
allged to decide uPon their own responsibility. It is
MdDosslble that Any committee can have all the con-
e,raticitil before them which should govern the decisions
u Yvhfch this country ought to come. There are considers-
which are present, no doubt, to the minds of the
_.°reign Secretary and the Cabinet—considerations which
qePond upon the knowledge which the Foreign Office
Possesses of the conditions, of the intentions, and of the
tlicy of the various States of Europe, but which it is
Possible to produce in evidence, and which, therefore,
cannot exist for the guidance of any committee, however
!tble or well chosen. Ido not wish to discuss the matter at
ru.gth, but the course proposed is a constitutional pre-
;!utut of no little magnitude, and, therefore, I do not like
lc allovv even a Mention of it to pass by without protest.
I,karl franVille : I think it will be better to defer any
ralsoussion Until the proposal is made to the House. As to
knowledge which the Foreign Office may possess with
'Nat d to the state of Europe at any particular time, I may
tY that it appears to me that this is a question which must
decided very much upon its general merits,cand not in re-
gard to the particular policy of any foreign country at this
Particular moment.
- - - -

The Earl of Redesdale thoUght this was a question which
; Milt 'committee bould not properly consider. The re-
robsibility ought to rest with the Government. He trusted
fit 4 when the proposal was made the noble earl would tell
,nem that the members of their lordships' House who were
!e. be appointed to the joint committee would be named by
the Government.

THE EDDYSTONE LIGHTHOUSE.
Lord Sudeley, in answer to Lord Hardwicke and Lord
tount-Edgcumbe, stated that when the lightkeepers at the
ddystone Lighthouse were relieved on the 20th inst. they had
still in store some biscuits, flour, and water, but no fueL It
had been the practice to have a reserve of two months' provi-
-81°43 in the lighthouse, and the two months during which their
store ought to have lasted had not expired on the 20th. As far
ea was at present known, no signal had been made for pro-
rsions until the 19th. Trinity-house proposed to increase
the reserve stock of provisions, No telegraphic communi-
cation between the rock and the shore had ever been con-
templated for lighthouse service, and it did not appear that
n this instance the delay was at all attributable to want of
knowledge of the condition of affairs in the lighthouse • but
tile question of such communication between outlying light-
houses and lightships and the shore for other purposes,
Inch as signalling, was under the consideration of the Elder
Brethren.

Their Lordships adjourned at twenty-five minutes to six
°clock.

jn the HOUSE OF Common Sir S. Northcote having asked
Ilpetker the Government were prepared to give a day for
18 motion for a Select Committee on the Kilmainham
transactions, Lord Hartington replied that the Government,
bei
A,_-ng of opinion that these transactions had already been
,ueussed for nearly a week, and that the House had
Zlrtually pronounced an opinion upon them on Friday on
Gorses motion, were not prepared to assent to a Corn-
Inittee, which could have no effect but to reopen and pro-
10g a cohtroversy prejudicial to the interests of the country,
412 addition to these general considerations, he urged the
protracted nature of the present debate and the necessity
rr Making speedy progress with Supply, and said, finally,
.hat though there might be opportunities of which Sir S.
Northcote could avail himself, the Government could give
no portion of their time.
- -

-- -
Sir S. Northcote remarked that this mode of dea'ing with
the subject had been originally suggested by Mr. Gladstone,
but both his challenge and the challenge of Lord Harting-
ton. it appeared, were thrown out without the slightest in-
Lention of making them good. Under the unusual circum-
stances, he said he should take a short time to consider what
course he would pursue.