The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-07-30 00:00:00

the Judicial Committee Bill w;;;;:tit a third time.

_
The Coomions' amendments to the Lords' amendments to
the Irish Land Bill were then considered. On Clause 8,
enabling the Court to deal with certain cases of ejectment
for non-pay ment of rent,
Lord Granville accepted a suggestion Irons the Duke of
Richmond fir the settlement of the matter In dispute.
It was then agreed that the Lords insist 011 the amendment
to which the Commons objected in regard to the words
" particulars or characier," which, it as pointed out, should
run " p irticulars and character."
Lord Granville said that as the papers rtspectirg the ne-
gotiations preliminary to the war between France and PI uula
wei e misty, he would make a statement on the subject on
Thursday, and their lordships adjourned.
In the House of Commons, Mr E F. it uverie gave notice
that in committee on the Prayer Rook (Table of Lessons) BM
he should move to omit the words "with the ci.,nsent of Con-
vocation "in the preamble.
Mr. Percy Wyndham rwkeit the Secretary for War whether
the amount of ammunition of all kinds now in stock was up
to or below the average quantity maintained in past years ;
and whether the Government had means at their disposal for
increasing the supply at short notice if necessary.
Mr. Cardwell said that it was not thought expedient to
keep a very large amount of ammunition in stock, but the
means of production were very great.

THE ALLEGED TREAI Y BETWEEN FRANCE
AND PRI.S3IA.

Mr Disraeli Intervgated the Government about the au-
thenticity of the projected Treaty between France and Prussia
published that morning in The Times, dlscl timing all desire
to embarrass the Government, he insisted on the importance
in the public interest of asking for information, looking to
the Impending close of the Session, the immense scale on
which the peace of Europe hail been broken, and the dis-
cordant statements of statesmen and Sovereigns as to
the causes of the war, which he raised a laugh by
attributing to the imperfect means of communication cha-
racteristic of the present scientific age The startling project
on which he wished to question the Government, Mr.
Harnett remarked, involved considerable alteration In the
present settlement of Snrope, and it contemplated the mili-
tary occupation and final conquest of Belgium. Such a
design he regarded as a misfortune to Europe and an injury
to England ; and, while earnestly hoping that it would never
be attempted, he reminded the House that, if it were, the
engagements which had been entered into by this country
in contemplation of such an event would require the gravest
consideration. He asked the Government whether they could
lay any information before the House which would throw
any light en the document published by The Times whether
the offer it contained had recently been renewed; and
whether the policy it indicated was likely to Influence either
Of the belligerents?
Mr. Gladstone commenced his reply by regretting the
delay in producing the papers, which Inc explained had been
necessary and unavoidable. With regard to the document,
of which it was imposible to exaggerate the importance, It
was not in his power at present to give any detailed infor-
mation, nor was it within the limits of his duty to niche any
remarks on Its contents, nor could he give any opinion as to the
lode in which it had been on mmunicated to the world. But
its publication could not fail to draw from she spontaneons
action of the two Powers concerned all the declarations
necessary for it. elucidation. The timo most be close at
hand when the surprise which this document had created
most be cleared up by full explanations, and then Mr.
Disraeli would be justified 10 repeatitig his questions.

The Ll•nuie went Into C..unrulttee of Supply on the Civil
Service &Invites. . . .

Clare I (Public Buildings', containing 41 votes, Wall agreed
; and Class 11. (Puffilc Offices), of wriich some half dozen
votes had been left over from the lat Committee, NM also
complete!.
The I mffipikes Ac's Continuance, ctc., Bill was considered
hi Committee, and several other bills were forwarded a stage
and the House adjourned.

In the House of Lords. July 26, Lord Houghton moved the
second reading of the Clerical Disabilitlee Bill, which was
read a second time.
•• • -

-
Lied Northbro• k. in moving the second reading of the
Arms Itelletment B:II, explained that it fixed 12 years as
the Limit of enlistment, six of which might be served with the
colours and six in the Army of Reserve. Ike bill provided
tor the establishment of a Reserve Force which might be
called into active serkice in a time of emergency ; and, as ex-
perience had shown that quite as large a proportion of old
soldiers were retained in the army under limited enlistment
asunder the old system, he believed the bill would add to
the military strength of the country.
The Deka of Cambridge recommended their lordships to
pass the meesere.
Lord Grey said that recent events .bowed the importance
eta large and effective Res— .e in connection with the repl-
ier army. The danger to this country would be in the first
week after a declaration of war, for no one would ma,niain
that our Militia were fit to take the field ag dnst such troops
as miglit be bre ught against them from the Continent. The
principle of a Reserve was to allow trained soldiers to
leave the ranks of the regular army, nut to keep
such a held upon them that they could be summoned
to the ranks within a week Recommending that the
army should be a great Industrial school for the popula-
tion, he maintained that until we had an effective Reserve—
not on paper, but in reality—it was most inexpedient that
the ranks of the regular army should be very largely
diminished. If it were true that the regular army had been
reduced by 20,000 men during the last two years, the effect
must be to leave it in a state of perilous weakness. The
information received within the last Iwo days bore singu-
larly on this subject, and justified the alarm which these
reductiors were calculated to excite.
After remarks from Lord De-la•Warr, Lord Longford, Lord
Dalhousie, and Lord flartlinge,
Lord N, rthbrook replied to onjections, and asserted that at
no time since ISIS had the army or its supplies been in a
sounder or more effective condition.
The hill was read a second time, and their lordships
adjourned.
In the !tense of Commons, Mr. M'Cullasth Torrens asked
the First Lord of the Treasnry if it wan true, aa publicly
stated, that overtures recently matte by the Gtvermnent of
the United States for a resumption of negotiati•dis regarding
the Alabama Claims were declined by the late Secretary of
State for Foreign Affairs, and inquired when further
pepers on the subject, in continuation of those presented
by command of her Majesty In February lan, would be laid
Upon the table
Mr. Gladstime Paid that he had not been aware that this
Statement had been publicly made: and the statement itself
won incorrect The general question remained at present as
It was, and was contained in the papers laid before Parlia-
ment This country made an offer nearly Ri month. age,
and it now rested with the United States to make any pro-
posal for the resumption of negoCittions.
Mr. Chichester Forteseue mOVed the second reading of the
Glebe &tans (Ireland Bill, the object of which is to empower
the Irish Public Works Lommlesloners to lend money to Irish
perishes for the build mg of !glebe houses, on the lame terms
as they would advance money to any other public works.
Mr Candlish moved the rejection of the bill, which was
defended by Mr. Gladstone ass corollary of the Irish Church
Act, which ought to have found a place in it it there had
beers time, and an necessary for completing the work of re-
ligious equality.
On a division the second reading was carried by 161 to 59.
The House went into Committee of eupaly, and about a
di sea votes in Class 111. (Law and Justice) of the Civil
Service Edimates were a.:reeil to.
'the Census Bill was next taken in Committee, and Mr.
Bass again impressed On the Government the importance
of making the information more complete and reliable.
In clause 4.
Dr. Ball proposed to Insert words requiring a census of
religious opinions, and took the opportunity of delivering a
vigorous philippic against the prejudices which opposed the
acquisition of this information. On a divielou the Com-
mittee decided against a religious census by DO to 77.
Several other Bills were forwarded a stage, and the House
adjourned.
In the House of Commons. July 27, on the order of the
day for the second reading of the queen Anne's Bounty ;Su-
peranne ation) Bill,
Mr. Rylands moved that the bill be read a second time
that day three months. The object of the measure was
practically to superannuate Mr. !Inchon, the secretary and
treasurer of Queen Anne's Bounty, who had held those
offices for fifty years. That gentleman's salary had been
increased to £1,350 per annum, and in addition to
this he had the site of a house valued at e.S6O.
Durlug the whole of his rervice he had been allowed to ...-
duct his private professional business as an ecclesiastical
lawyer and secretary to several bishops and archni•hops.
The hon member under these circumstances objected to a
hill being passed to allow lb.s officer to be !superannuated
from funds which would come out of the pockets of the
poorest incumbenta in the kingdom. The duties of Mr.
Hodson were of a reedit. and Inalgeicant character, and,
according to the report of the committee et 1800, were over-
paid.
After remarks from Mr Newdegate, Mr Dickenson, Mr.
11,rtst rd Hope, Mr. Whitwell, and Mr. R Shaw,
Mr. Stanetteld said that the Government had last year cen-
eidered the question, and were of opinion that they would
not be justified is objecting to the ibtroduction of • measure
of this description. If the bill should be got into committee
he would support any motion for the ensisslon of the clause
relating particularly to Mr. Hod:cues superannuation ; and
would also move an amendment which, while giving the
governors powers to grant suptraimuations where they
might think fit, would at the same time remove :ley
natapprehelaionS that a claim for superannuation could be
mede.
Mr. Petivere defended the bill intending to effect &reform
In the Bounty lace, and consented to accept the nicalitlca-
p.ns suggested by the Secretary Lathe Treasury.
After a few words from Mr. Monk, the House divided—
For the second readiog. 100; against, 43 ; majority, 67. The
bill was then read a second time.
ho the motion if Mr. Roger Rykyn, the Brokers .City of
Los d di) Bill WU read a second time
ltie adjourned debate on the second reading of the Ballot
Bill wee renamed by
Mr. Gladstone, who said that although the Government
were desirous to have passed a inellatire for the establish-
ment of secret voting, the pressure of public business had
hese, to ,reqt oil to can, its eiwil•4,emient doag the t