The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-08-18 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

In the Horn OP Lorin Aug. 13, Lord Thurlow, in answer
to L ,rd Sidmouth, said that the Postmaster-General would,
as far as poskdble, have telegraph wire laid under ground in
great towns, but a general suns tuition of an underground
for the overhead system would be too expensive an under-
taking.
In Committee on the Scotch Agricultural Holdings Bill,
be Duke of Argyll moved as an amendment to the fir,t
Clause, that in estimating the value of any improvement in
the schedule, what was justly due to the inherent capabili-
ties of the soil should not be taken into account as part of
the tenant's improvements.
The proposal was objected to by Lord Carlingford, but
agreed to without a division.
An amendment submitted by Lord Wemyss, that the Act
should not apply to any holding under a contract or lease
current at the commencement of the Act, unless the land-
lord and tenant agreed in writing that the Act, or any part
of it, should apply to the holding, was also opposed by
Lord Carlingford, and ou a division negatived by 45 to 26.
Eventually the Bill passed through Committee.
The Trial of Lunatics Bill and the Statute Law Revision
Bill were read a third time, and the Corrupt Practices Bill,
from the Commons. having been read a third time, their
lordships rose at half past nine o'clock.

In the HOUSE OF COMMONS, Mr. Ashley, replying to a
question of Mr. Rylands, said the Government were not in
possession of any definite information respecting the post.
tion of Cetewayo, but they would not view with indifference
any attempt of his to use the Reserved Territory as a basis
for warlike operations in Zululand.
In answer to Mr. Cowen, Mr. Cross stated that a subsidy
of Z 12,000 was to be paid to the Ameer of Afghanistan, but no
treaty had been made with him, and no conditions had been
imposed on him. In answer to Mr. Onslow, he said that no
arms or ammunition were to be given to the Annex.

_
THE FRENCH IN MADAGASCAR.
Mr. Gladstone, in answer to a question from Sir S. North.
cote, said he was not yet prepared to name a day when he
could make a statement with respect to Madagascar. The
papers had only just come before him, and he was not
aware whether the French Government had received any
detailed information. With respect to details, he did
not think that any good purpose would be served
by going into them, but he believed it was the fact
that the French commander at Tamatave has issued a pro-
clamation prohibiting access there to all foreign soldiers,
sailors, and officers. Asked by Sir S. Northcote whether a
statement would be made before the end of the session, Mr.
Gladstone declined to give any undertaking.
THE HOURS OF POLLING.
Sir C. Dilke, replying to Mr. S. Smith, said the Government
fully recognised the importance of dealing with the question
of the polling hours, and he himself had on several occasions
proposed the universal extension of hours of polling in
boroughs. This proposal had generally been supported by
Liberal and opposed by Conservative members. In 1878 a select
committee, by the casting vote of the chairman, reported
against extension, even in the large towns, and universal
borough extension was not proposed to it at all. Since 1880 he
(Sir C. Dunce) had each year introduced a Bill for optional exten-
sion of hours, but it had each year to be abandoned in con-
sequenoe of the character of the opposition with which it
met. It was the intention of her Majesty's Government to
reintroduce the Bill at the beginning of next session, and he
had every hope that it would pass.

SUPPLY.
In Committee of Supply the first vote taken was for the
administration of law and justice in Ireland, and upon
this the Irish members warmly criticised the action of the
Executive.
Mr. Trevelyan, in reply, pointed to the reduction in the
number of murders and outrages; upon which Mr. Parnell
rejoined that the comparative restoration of law and order
was more to be attributed to the Land Act, the Arrears Act,
and a good harvest, than to repressive legislation.
Eventually the vote was agreed to, and other votes were
proceeded with, the House sitting until ten minutes to five
o'clock.