The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-04-20 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

In the HonsE or LORDS, April 15, 14)rd Cadogan stated, in
answer to Lord Kimberiey, that the lattest official despatch
received from General Thesiger at the Cape, was dated
March 12. It reported that Sanchlla was at the head of a
large force of Kaffirs in the bush, and that measures were
being taken to surround them until a esufficient force could
be collected to drive them out. Since that date there had
evidently, said his lordship, be en a good deal of bush-fighting,
but he was unable to give any official confirmation of the
telegrams which had appeared in the newspapers from time
to time. He had heard by telegraph that Lieut.-Colonel
Warren was recovering, and had not ()lied, as had been re-
Ported; and from the Transvaal news had been received
stating that reinforcements had been seat to the front, and
that there were no signs of improvement_
The Bills of Exchange (Acceptance) Bill was read a third
time and passed.
On the motion for the second reading of the Medical Act
(1858) Amendment Bill,
Lord Ripon observed that there were a number of distinct
bodies for giving a qualification for the insertion of names of
Persons in the authorized registers, and he believed that
such a system, when continued, would lead more or less to
'System by which some of those bodies would be tempted
!.0 underbid one another in reference to the examine-
lion for admission to the register. He therefore advocated
the establishment of a conjoint Board in each of the three
divisions of the kingdom for sanctioning admission to the
tegistir. He said there was great opposition to the measure
aS it stood throughout the country, and he hoped that the
poin ts to which objection was felt would be reconsidered
nY the Government, or the Bill would not satisfy either the
general public or the profession.
The Duke of Richmond and Gordon admitted the desira-
bility of providing a uniform and satisfactory test for those
Who desired to enter the medical plofession, and probably
the best mode of securing that object woild be by the esta-
blishment of a conjoint Board in each of the three
divisions of the Kingdom ; but the matter was not easy
'of accomplishment, in consequence of the various inte-
toe, ts concerned. In England and Ireland the difficulty
in effecting the object would not be so very great, and he
Pointed out that even under the Bill conjoint Boards could
oe established if the different examining Boards were pre-
Pared to enter into an agreement among themselves for that
PUrpose. He maintained that the Bill was a step in the
right direction.
The Bill was read a second time.
The Duke of Somerset moved for a return of the trials of
Shells against iron plates, stating the general result and
also the weight and shape of the various shells, and the
thickness of the iron targets; and he expressed his opinion
that both shells and guns might be made of a better metal
thaU at present.
Lord Bury said that until the returns were complete it
Wouldbe impossible to present them.
The motion was withdrawn.
On the second reading of the Railway Returns (Con-
tinuous Brakes) Bill,
Lord Ile La Warr said that though the Bill only dealt with
One of the suggestions of the Royal Commission, he willingly
aUPported the second reading. .
The Bill was then read a second time, and their lordships
lidiourned.

In the HousE or Common, Sir E. Watkin asked the Chair
tello lof the Exchequer whether, considering present and
future eventualities in the North Pacific, and the extension
of 'oast line and territory by Rus-la in that part of the
World sinoe the Crimean War, the Government proposed to
recommend that the harbour of Esquimalt be fortified and
blade a naval and military station.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer said the attention of the
%Ito, vernmeat had been called to the subject matter of the
40n- member's question. He did not think he should be
iastified in making any further statement on the subject at
Present.
t_Sir H. D. Wolff asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer
Were
three was any truth in the report that the Russians
w
I, ere preparing for the election at Philippopolis of a Prince
Of Bulgaria.
~.The Chancellor of the Exchequer said he was not aware
such was the case. Would the hon. gentleman repeat
'us question on Tuesday.
...In answer to questions as to the course of business, the
nancellor of the Exchequer said that the first business on
the meeting of the House after Easter would be Supply, and
after that the County Government Bill would have prece-
, 'knee over every other English measure. The Cattle Plague
Us expected to come down from the Lords towards the
end of May, and it will be taken up in fts turn; but as it
is a Lords Bill it will not require immediate attention. In
answer to Mr. Fawcett, Mr. Sclater-Booth said that the
Clovernment does not think it necessary to appoint another
auramittee on the Water Supply of the Metropolis, as ample
Materials exist for legislation when a favourable opportunity
arrives.
~, On going into Committee on the Customs and Inland
41-erenue Bill, a Resolution was moved by Mr. Hopwood con-
eraning the proposed employment of the police in the col-
ection of the Dog Tax. Sir H. Selwin-Ibbetson, in reply,
pointed out that the measure was proposed, not so muck
• ImPerial grounds as in the interests of localities, and the
ensPectors of Constabulary had reported unanimously in its
`a,your. sir G. Campbell, Mr. Dillwyn, and Mr. Dodson
„a Lao spoke, and the Resolution was negatived without a

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~„lii Committee on the Bill, a short discussion on the
4obacco Duty Clause was raised by Mr. Ritchie, who sug-
Rested that the increase of the duty on cigars should be 6d.
instead of 4d., in order to preserve the ratio of difference
tonween the duties on manufactured and unmanufactured
hue°, fixed in 1863 for the protection of the home manu-
ncturer. Mr. Fawcett, Mr. llohns, and others supported
41Lr• Ritchie, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, though
aatisfied that the clause was right and would cover the most
„eztreme case of hardship to which the English manufacturer
'4ght be exposed, promised to look into the matter again.
There was also a prolonged conversation on the Income
Clause, especially with regard to the allowances to be
ade for depreciations in machinery, B:c., in which Mr.
:uadwick took a principal part, and several minor amend-
nts were agreed to by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
ttPn the Dog Tax Clause' Mr. Monk moved the reduction of
tax on dogs from is. 6d. to sa. The object of the tax
;Lying to diminish the number of stray dogs, the object could
:Tas well accomplished by the police under a ss. duty as
e w as under a seven-and-sixpenny tax.
Mr. Hopwood supported tho motion.

The
.
Chancellor of the Exchequer could not doubt that one
l'st the effects of the change would be to diminish the num-
t'er of dogs, and when hon. members remembered the num-
er of remonstrances addressed to them on the dangers of
14qCs, not only by farmers and sportsmen, but by clergymen
'44 medical men, and fathers of families, they would see
that this was a desirable object. He had no desire to bear
'op heavily on those who kept dogs for necessary purposes,
and the committee would bear him out that when he made
the firtit intimation on this subject he was met by a good
cries that the tax should be doubled. (Hear, hear)
e had resisted those representations, and he thought tile
troDosal contained in the Bill was a reasonable one. (Hear,
ear.)
ljletnarks were also made by Sir G. Campbell, Mr. C. S.
Mr. Gourley, Mr. Assheton, and other hon. members;
after which the amendment was negatived by 122 to 30.
, 43-r• Parnell moved an amendment to exclude from the
irration of the Bill all dogs which did not belong to regis-
red voters. (A laugh,)
„_The Chancellor of the Exchequer said the hon. member
f'gilld scarcely be serious in moving such an amendment.
bear,) If adopted, it would impose a fine on voters
:VA discourage people from registering their names as
'Lectors.—The amendment was withdrawn.
aMr Chaplin moved an amendment to enable the keeper of
th'f go pack of hounds to compound the tax, by providing
person should be chargeable with duty to any
Water amount than £.30 for any numeer of hounds kept by
,rm„„ • He observed that foxhunting was a most popular
,rrt, and ought to be encouraged. Persons of all classes
oU equal terms in the same field, went over the same
411Ces, and often leaped into the same ditch. (Laughter.)
.2/le Chancellor of the Exchequer said he was sorry he
01,(1 not accept the proposal of his hon. friend. Ile cer-
CP,/ recognized all that had been said as to the merits of
..-ounting rad of hunting generally. It was undoubtedly
Erloiational sport and should be regarded very differently
earreo a class interest. At the same time, they should take
to be quite just in their proceedings, and in that point
of
"ew he could not see any sufficient reason for the exemp-
en the amendment might effect.
' h.4-„fter some observations from Mr. Beach and Sir. G. Camp-
the amendment Wag negatived by 129 to 40.
1%9n Clause 18, the Chancellor of the Exchequer moved an
giondreent to provide that dogs shall not be liable to taxa-
-4'lllmM they have reached the age of six months.
Thh.
pr,--e. was agreed to, and the Clause, as amended, was
%Wed to stand part of the Bill. -
Clans()
.19 was agreed to.
di, vision was also taken by Dr. Cameron on Clause 20,
the co exempts hound•pupples not added to the pack up to
tee of twelve months; but it was carried by 147 to 48.
40°11 Clause 21, as to the exemptions in favour of shepherds'
l!dr. B. Howard and Mr. Whitwell withdrew amend-
Ita's in favour of one proposed by the Chancellor of the
heZecluer, granting to shepherds with flocks of sheep nuns-
Upwards of 400, fed on common or unenclosed land.
tealdnytion for three dogs kept solely for the purpose of
140sifog the sheep. For docks numbering upwards of
eXemption might be obtained f •)r a fourth dog, and an
ional dog might be kept for every 600 sheep over and
ehte 1,000. No pennon, however, would be permitted to
exemption for more than eight dogs.
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tunendment was agreed to, and the clause as amended
'ed to the Bill.
The
Other clauses having been gone through, the Chancellor
tiaZe Exchequer moved a new clause, exempting from taxa-
kila dogs employed to lead the blind. This clause was
ed to the Bill.
The
teutee.Public Wonks Loans Bill was passed through Com-
aat •...e other Bills were forwarded a stage, and the House
4nrned at five minutes past one o'oclock.
THE RUSSIAN NOTE.
atek tlrther Correspondence" relating to the Treaty of San
tag Was laid before Parliament on Monday night, compris-
(lort..e Note and the Annex Pro DUmoria, written by Prince
th4chakoff in reply to the English Circular. To the text
tlie;:e!e documents, which have already been published,
Ia Prefixed the following despatch
he Marquis of Salisbury to Lord A. Loftus.

Foreign Office, April 11, 1878.
t01,.,17 Lord—The Russian Ambassador communicated
b0.,•41e this afternoon the substance of a telegram, dated
schi'3", which he had received from Prince Gort-
,a4toff, to the following effect t—
hi
a.,_l "Chat the complete text of the preliminary treaty
11,11;g been conilinunicated to the Great Powers, with
133,1diberty of appreciation, the statement forwarded
th 'eptr Iloory Elliot that Lis Highness had declared to
4„--'',Plrnanian agent that the Russian Government
btriu offer opposition to the article upon BBessarabial44llß broached (` aborde ') at the Congress, if it took
kv,el!. roust be founded upon a misunderstanding,
declaration would, moreover, be illogical, as no
7;er of the Congress could be prevented from
trea;llF forward questions connected with the
--Y• —I am, &c., (Signed) SALISBURY.

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