The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-06-05 00:00:00

he Earl of Duman, followed ha the same strain, and de-
clared that there wee no reason why Sir E. Wetherell, as a
military man, should not occupy the Under-Secretaryship of
Ireland. Ile warned the House that occasions might be
nearer than some people imagined in which there would
be bloodshed in Ireland and it might happen that with
a Roman Catholic under-secretary action would be taken
against the Orange demonstrations very prejudicial to
peace.
gad Granville replied that Mr. liurke's appointment to
the under-secretaryship was permanent. As to whether a
military commission was an objection to this office, be re-
plied certainly not. It was felt by the Government that
the post required extensive civil experience, which Sir E.
Wetherell did not possess, and in removing him from that
office it was not intended in any way to reflect on his reputa-
tion as a soldier. .

-
The Earl of Derby said, with regard to Sir E. Wetherell,
there was very great care and discrimination exercised in his
selection in order that no objections should be taken on poli-
tical grounds. The noble earl added that a very prominent
Liberal who at the time was opposed to Sir E. Wetherall's
appointment, had since admitted that he never met a gentle-
man who had entered into his duties with greater energy
and ability than Sir E. Wetherell
After a few words in vindication of Sir E. Wetherall from
Lord De Roil, the subject dropped.
Lord Grey, in asking whether the Government intended in
the course of the Session to introduce a measure lor the re-
moval of municipal functionaries possessing magisterial
powers, when found guilty of misconduct, intimated his great
objection to bills of pains and penalties, including that winch
had been contemplated against the ex-Mayor of Cork himself.
But the conduct of that personage hail, he thought, suggested
the propriety of dealing, now that it could be dealt with
coolly, with the anomaly of the irremovability of these
especial magistrate.. Without wishing to dictate the proper
course to the Government, he suggested an Address of the
two Houses as an uninvidious machinery.
The Lord Chancellor, in reference to Lord Grey's insisting
that the proposed bill should be introduced In the present
Session, pointed out the danger of founding general legisla-
tion on local and individual incidents. The resistance to the
measure set on foot by the Government of the day on the
spur of the Graini conspiracy showed the strength of the
feeling of Parliament against such and the Acts the
repeal of which hail been the subject of Monday's debate
were themselves striking evidence how inexpedient and un-
just was hasty legislation. That the irremovability of
municipal officers who became magistrates as such hail not
proved practically inconvenient appeared from the his-
tory of the Loudon magistracy as exercised by the Alder-
men.
Lord Bandon dilated on the Uniform and continued trans-
gressions of the ex-Mayor of Cork as proof of the necessity of
such a measure as Lord Grey recommended, and their Lord-
ships afterwards adjourned.
in the Ilouse of Commons, almost the first thing done was
to adjourn till Thursday, in consequence of the Queen's
birthday.
The Park-lane improvement Bill was for some time antler
discussion, and the Marquis of Hamilton attempted, but
failed, to induce the House to recommit it, for the insertion
of a clause declaring the lessees and occupiers of houses in
Hamilton-place to be within the provisions of the Lands
Clauses Consolidation Act, 1845.
Sir 11. Verney raised a debate on the recent negotiations
between the Canadian Government and the IS udeou's Bay
Company, with the result of which he expressed himself well
pleased. He expatiated on the imperial advantages of the
scheme, and urged the Canadian Government to lose no
time in completing the communication up to the Rocky
Mountains.
Mr. RN. Fowler and Mr. Kinnard hoped that the Inte-
rests of the native Indians would be cared for iii their trans-
fer to the Canadian Government, and Mr. Sinclair Aytoun
asked whether the scheme contained an Imperial guarantee,
which by anticipation he strongly condemned.
Colonel Sykes also objected to guarantee., ard
Mr. Samuelson took a wider range, and protested generally
against the British taxpaper being involved in pecuniary lia-
bilities on account of the colonies.
Mr. Monsell replied that It was the policy of the Govern-
ment to call on the colonies to bear the cost of their own
defence, and wherever Imperial troops were left the colony
must pay for them. Formally, he believed, the arrange-
ment between the Canadian Government and the Hudson's
Ray Company had not been confirmed, but he under-
stood it was entirely satisfactory to the Canadians.
After pointing out the great advantages of the
scheme, as opening up a great tract of fertile land
which had hitherto been closed by the Hudson a Bay Com-
pany, he stated, in answer to Mr. Sinclair Aytoun, that the
bargain comprised an Imperial guarantee, but that matter
would be brought before the House in due time, and, as sonic
excuse for it, he pointed to the undoubted Imperial advan-
tages of the transfer. As to the natives, the Canadian Govern-
ment had given the strongest assurances that their rights
would be respected.
Sir S. Northcote, speaking for the Hudson's Bay Company,
defended their administration generally, and pointed out
that it had been impossible for them to colonise this tract,
because of its difficulty of access, their imperfect powers of
government, and, latterly, because of the uncertainty of
the Confederation scheme, lie cordially eulogised the skill
and temper displayed by Lord Granville in the negotiations.
A discussion followed in which several hon. members took
part, and Mr. Gladstone, who wound up the debate, declined
to give any pledge on the matter of guarantees beyond this,
that they should only be employed to put an end to the state
of relations between the colonies and the mother country
which made them necessary.
The papers which Sir 11. Verney moved for, relating to the
negotiations, were ordered to be laid on the table.
The Mail Contracts controversy was revived by Mr. Seely,
who called attention to the Report of the recent Select
Committee. The greater part of his speech took the form
of an attack on the late Government for concluding the
Cunard contract, into the circumstances of which he went
at length, maintaining that the Ex-Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer had been misled, and had committed a grave
blunder, lie ended by moving, in a string of Reso-
lutions, that contracts shoulil lie on the table thirty
days on which the House sits, and upon reference to
a Select Committee should be subject to the decision of the
House on its Report, that contracts for conveying mails to
the United States should only be made for three years, and
the payment be regulated by the number or weight of letters,
newspapers, ; and, finally, that negociations should be
entered into with the United States for the establ'shment of
a penny postage, which might be by elow steamers. The
motion was supported by Mr. Baxley, Mr. Candlish, and Mr.
Dent.
Mr. Graves, who gave the Resolutioes only a modified ap-
proval, defended the contractors, who, he said, regretted
more than any one elm that the contracts had not been fully
discussed.
The Martinis of Hartington defended the accuracy of the
Post Office statistics, and the advice of the Post Office
authorities, on which Mr. Ward Hunt, had acted. Though
he could not accept the Resolutions, he sympathised in their
spirit; but he showed, as to the first two, that in various
points in their present terms they would lead to practical
nconveniences ; and as to the penny postage, he held that
its feasibility and its advantages had been very much over-
rated. Among other objections he pointed to the possible
backwardness of the United States Government, and
to the certainty that, if once adopted for America. the rates
to other foreign countries and to our colonies must also be
reduced, and the consequent loss to the Revenue must be
considerable. It would also break through the system of
uniform rates—the great principle of Post Office reform.
Still we were bound by the convention with the United States
to consider of a reduction of rates at the end of the year,
and he held nuts hope that in a few years, with the present
contracta even—if the correspondence went on increasing—
the rate might be reduced to 3d.
At first Mr. Seely protested his Intention to push all Reso-
lutions to a Division, but after many communications with
the Treasury Bench he withdrew the first two on receiving
an assurance from Mr. Gladstone that the Postmaster. Gen-
eral is considering a plan by which a distinct vote of the
house will necessarily he taken on every contract. For the
third Resolution he allowed to be substituted one drawn by
Mr Ayrton, pledging the Government simply to negotiate for
a reduction of the present rates.
Mr. Gourley asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs if he had received any definite intimation that It was
the intention of his Highness the Viceroy of Egypt shortly
to visit this country ; if so, what arrangements. if any,
were intended to be made for his reception by her Majesty's
Governmenti
Mr. Otway said he believed it was the Intention of his
Royal Highness to visit England, and in such case suitable
arrangements for his reception would be made by the country.
Viscount Galway asked the Chancellor of the Excheimer
whether, under the Customs and Inland Revenue Duties Bill,
a farm servant living in the house of his employer will be
liable to be taxed to the amount of 155,
The Chancellor of the Exchequer said that living in the
house would make no difference whatever. If he were en-
gaged as a farrn-labourer, whether he lived in the house or
not, his employer would be exempt from the tax, but if his
labour came under the clam of skilled labour, the employer
would be liable. In reply to a question from the noble lord,
he wild that an under-gardener would come under the class
of skilled labourers, for he worked with a gardener.
One or two hills were forwarded a stage, and after some
other business of no public importance, the House ad-
',turned.

CHARGE OF USING THREATENING
WORDS.
At the Marylebone police-court, in London, Edward
Brennan, a gentleman, appeared to answer a summons for
unlawfully making use of threatening words to Colonel John
Kenneth Al'Kensie, whereby he apprehended grievous bodily
harm.
Mr. Lewis appeared for the defendant, and offered
an expression of regret and an apology for what had
taken place.
Colonel 111`Kenzie said : I cannot agree to it. I must
crave protection. He was then examined and said: I
reside at 17, Cornwall-terrace, Regent's-park. I am a
major on half-pay. On Saturday, the 22nd, about a
quarter to eight in the evening, I was sitting at dinner
with some friends. The defendant came into the room.
I may state that in February a letter was written to
defendant informing him that proceedings would be
taken against him if he did not desist his annoyance.
He came into my room in a swaggering way, and
flourished about an umbrella, and asked me to give
him the reason why I prevented him visiting at my
house. I gave him no answer, but only told him
to leave my house. He did not do 60 and I sent my
servant for the coachman. The defendant said, when
the coachman came, "By God, I will go to your club
and horsewhip you there." I took no further notice of
this, but told him to leave my house. He repeated
the expression he had previously used, and went into
the hall, followed by myself and my coachman. There
be turned round and looked at me, and I again told
him to leave. He again said he would go to my-club
and horsewhip me and give me an infernal licking;
and if I followed him into the street he would give it to
me there. He then left, as I declined to go out.
Mr. Lewis Has he not been on terms of intimacy
with you and your family ?_Complainant: I decline
to answer unless I am bound, so to do.
The Magistrate; I cannot see any harm in answer-
ing the question.—Complainant : Well, then, lie was
a visitor at my house.
Mr. Lewis: Was not Mr. Brennan engaged to your
daughter ! Colonel M`Kenzie : I decline to answer
such a question.
Mr. Lewis: I must call upon you, air, to compeD
because in this lies the gist of the matter.
The Magistrate : Mr. Lewis, it is a matter of in-
difference whether he answers your questions either
yea or nay. The refusal to answer only leads me to
the conclusion that you have good grounds for putting
the questions.
Mr. Lewis (addressing the complainant) : Was Mr.
Brennan engaged to be married to your daughter
Elizabeth?— Colonel M`Kenzie He was.
Mr. Lewis: And the wedding•day fixed?—Colonel
AI 'Kenzie : It was named.
Mr. Lewis And the marriage settlement fixed?—
Colonel M`Kenzie : So far as I am aware, no marriage-
settlement was named. It is a fact that I broke off
the marriage between the defendant and my daughter.
Mr. Lewis: For what reason I ask you?— Colonel
M`Kenzie : I did it from personal observations, and
from what I had communicated to me. I discovered
that he was unfit to he admitted into my honse.
Mr. Lewis: I again ask for what reason ?—Colonel
M'Kenzie I fancy I am the best judge of that. I
mean whether he is to be admitted into my house. I
find him to be unfit to enter my house. His language
VID '4 unfit tube used at my table.
Mr. Lewis: Do you think him immoral, or was his
language so?—Colonel M`Kenzie : His language might
amount to it.
Soma questions were then put to Colonel M'Kenzie
respecting his mode of life, which he declined to answer,
and in the result,
The Magistrate decided that the complainant had no
cause for fear, and dismissed the summons.

The number of deaths registered in London hat
wesk was 1,274 being lees by GO than the estimated amount.
The deaths ot seven persona killed by horses or vehicles in
the streets were reported. The mean temperature was 517,
or 8.4 below the average Of UN ISA fifty years