The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-08-14 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

In the HOUSE OF LORDS, August 9, the Duke of Somerset
asked Her gajesty's Government whether there was any
additional intelligence from India.
Earl Granville,—We have received the following telegram
from the Viceroy, dated Bth August, 1880 :
" Following from Griffin, 7th August:—' I believe the
withdrawal to Gandamak of our troops and Lobcrts's march
to Ghazni will, from arrangements now made with Anieer
and tribes, be without any opposition whatever. The
Gandahar news has necessarily caused much excitement, but
we have counteracted it, and yesterday I received most
friendly letters from Mooskhi-i-Alam and Mahomed Jan."
To-day there is this further telegram
"From Viceroy, 9th August, 1880.
"Major White, Military Secretary to the Viceroy, having
joined his regiment (92nd Highlanders) with Roberts's Divi-
sion, reports magnificent force; could go anywhere."
Lord Stanley of Alderley asked whether Her Majesty's
Government intended to take part in any naval demonstra-
tion against the Ottoman Porte, notwithstanding the general
State of affairs in India and China.
Lord Granville assumed that the question was put out of
friendship to Turkey; but refused to concede to the noble
lord who had asked it a monopoly in that friendship, and ex-
Pressed his opinion that there could not be a more ill-judged
/node of demonstrating a friendly feeling towards Turkey
than by saying anything at this moment which would en-
courage the Sultan and the Ottoman Government to resist
the wishes of Europe. He declined to say what her Majesty's
Government would do in a hypothetical event, but he
assumed the House that they would not shirk their just
l'esPonsibility. He further announced that, as far as he
could judge, there was a complete concert between the
Powers, and that he did not anticipate that Turkey would
resist their united wish.
The Earl of Dunraven having called attention to the
question of assisting emigration from Ireland, a discussion
followed, in course of whichethe Earl of Kimberley ex-
tressed some doubts whether emigration would be so great
a Panacea for the ills of the country as seemed to be sup-
posed. More than was generally understood could be done
,DY resident proprietors, and the first duty of the Government
vvas to see how the ordinary resources of the country could
be beat improved.
A number of Bills having been advanced a stage, their
lordships adjourned at five minutes past seven.
In the HOUSE OF COMMONS, Sir J. Hay (in the absence of
,Sir G. Goldney) asked the Postmaster-General whether,
!""ing reference to the proposal of the late Government to
by arrangement with the railway companies, a
nail parcels post, the present Government pro.
how up the subject • and whether, any pro.
en made in the mater.
cett : When I was appointed to the office I now
ind that negotiations had been commenced by
,ovornment with the object of establishing' in con-
with the railway companies, a parcel post through-
/lilted Kingdom. After giving the subject careful
ation, I came to the conclusion that the establish.

a parcel post would confer such important advan-
pon the entire community that I asked the Prime
rto allow the negotiations to proceed. His con-
% at once most willingly given. The negotiations
the present time going on, and Mr. Benthall,
*7,4° nas hitherto conducted the negotia *ions on behalf of
Post Office, is about to meet the repiesentatives of the
r• iwaY companies. I can assure the hon. baronet the
er• nher for Chippenham and the House that the advantages
would result to the entire community from establish-
Parcels post are so fully recognized by the Post Office
Orities that no exertions will be wanting on our part to
the negotiations to which I have referred to a speedy
Pilt, successful conclusion. It may, perhaps, interest the
°Use to hear that a Congress is to meet at Paris early in
yetober to consider the important subject of an inter-
Ll4tinlial parcels post, and Mr. Blackwood, the secretary,
-7,",t Mr. Benthall, one of the assistant secretaries of the
'est Office, will represent England at the Congress.
-4111 answer to a question from Mr. Broadhurst, Lord
--`,..artington said the Government would be glad to consider
'uty plan for bringing the sittings of the House to a close at
taidnight, but he had never yet heard of any feasible sug-
gestion. Mr. Broadhurst thereupon gave notice that he
• *Would move a resolution next session.
In answer to Mr. A. Balfour, Sir C. Dilke said that in
*June, when the Greek Government proposed to mobilize the
"AMY. Her Majesty's Government intimated their opinion
that the step was premature; and the other Governments
gave the same opinion. But towards the end of the mouth,
'understanding that the other Powers had withdrawn from
this attitude, Her Majesty's Government did not think they
Ought any longer to impose their opinion on the Greek
Goverrument.
.answer to a question from Mr. E. Stanhope, Lord
Li;artlngton said that the Government undoubtedly intended
evthdraw our troops from Cabul, notwithstanding the
_ents at Candahar, and this was in pursuance of a decision
'watch
and w,7l3,rrlved at long before the events at Candahar,
entire7o'tin they did not modify. This step, he said, had the
political
es from
_9lrr
mence of General Stewart, who was in supreme
passag
and military and • and to show this he read
rPriv
as the most atectoelemgram; from the General, as well
ecent telegrams from Mr. Griffin, through
the
step Viceroy, also expressing entire approval of the
.
the c t had no information confirming the rumours as to
t t. aP lie had
of Chaman.rm Replying to a long and argumen-
a.ive question from Mr. Aslunead Bartlett, the noble lord
Said, among other things, that the retirement from Afghanis-
tan would not be executed until it could be done without in-
jury to the health of the troops, and the march from Cabul
would not leave General Robert's rear uncovered, as it was not
9_onteraplated that he should keep up communications with
General Stewart. Ile denied also that the march was a
retreat from an enemy's country. In answer to other
questions, he said that General Primrose would have
Supreme command at Candahar when General Phayre joined
'um, but he could not say what would be the case when
°eneral Roberts arrived.
▪ Lord Hartington then drew attention to the business before
.14e House and stated the course which the Government
intended to pursue with regard to the various Bills, and the
'louse afterwards went into Committee of Supply, and was
engaged until a late hour on the Civil Service Estimates.,
5'5210n Mg the votes agreed to being those for the British
.),Inseu-m, Science and Art Department, Buildings, Chancery
Vjvision, Probate Division, Wreck Commissioners, Bank-
,- 9,_ teY Courts (London), County Courts, Land Registry, lie
-
ig Barristers, &c.
Some other business was disposed of, and the House
".Journed at ten minutes past three o'clock.

the HOUSE OP LORDS, August 10, a number of Bills on
'which there was no discussion were advanced, Lord Plunket's
itusuree itynTsltbae,inesg read a second time and passed through
niaini
th. ras?o.rcheste'r asked by whose nomination or authority
t ° 'e°4lllll:erar ee
and what utl a briga
eof Brigadier-General Burrows was made
The Ea of de of the British forces before Candahar ;
career.
134iTiriegesaetdiieofnerd.ofetallhs antecedents of that officer's professional
„,,„„ rl
er than
,e,Y, deprecating the question in the ab-
-"oe late disaster, declined to answer the
by saa ing that the nominatioh of the
Chief at Bonmearal ''ad been made by the Commander-in-
Bombay
Lords: a"
its confirmation by the Govenior of
Their
0!clock. Pa adjourned at five minutes before six
In the Him
aohn Rai" --SE OP COMMONS, at the Morning Sitting, sir
call atte gave notice that on the report of Supply he should
ntiou to the state of the Navy, more especially with
tinirefeer.enca to the ships building and fitting at the present
Mr. Fawcett, in reply to. a Mr. J. K. Cross,
Said that the the first six months of
the brquestion b
amount received during
v —esent Year by the Post Office for all postal matte' con
ieYecl to Australia by the steamers of the Orient Company
..,.uaa been £1,843. Of this amount £390 was paid to the Orient
•m k'anY, leaving £1,453 as the amount retained by the Eng-
au Post Office. The number of voyages between Brindisi
„and Botnbay which have been made by vessels of the Penin-
'ular and Oriental Company since the Ist of February of the
Present year, when the new postal contract came into opera-
tion, has been 21 outwards and 23 homewards. Of the 21
outward voyages all except three, and of the 23 home-
Ward voyages all except two, were made by ships which had
Incurred penalties for unpuuctuality during the time the
old contract was in operation. In 10 out of the 21 outward ,
Passages the contract time was exceeded. The excess varied I
from 60 minutes to 53 hours 55 minutes, and the average ex- '
Cess was 23 hours 34 min. In two of the voyages where the
contract time was exceeded by 25 hours 42 minutes and 58
hours 53minutes respectively, the vessels were detained by the
Government at Suez and Aden to take in stores for Afghan-
istan. In 14 out of the 23 homeward voyages the contract
time was exceeded. The excess varied from 50 minutes to
44 hours 15 minutes, the average being 18 hours3l minutes.
Sir W. Palliser having asked whether the Government
'Would consider the question of leaving a detachment at
Sherpur during the progress of General Roberts's expedi-
tion,
Lord Hartington replied that the Government would not
interfere with the competent military authorities, and
P,ointed out that it would take at least 6,000 men of all arms
Lo occupy Sherpur.
Sir W. Palliser thereupon moved the adjournment of the
Ilouse to enable him to protest against what he regarded as
deplorable decision, guided by political, and not military
considerations, and opposed to the opinion of the highest
lltary authorities, who thought that to deprive General
,eberts of a base of operations was a mistake which might
lead to disastrous consequences.
Sir W. Barttelot also thought that Lord Hartington's
kateraent at the previous sitting had failed to satisfy
Ihnhlic opinion, and that Sir W. Palliser's apprehensions
Were shared by many eminent military authorities.
nartington declined to enter into a military discus-
Von raised in an irregular manner, and assured the House
rat the Government was fully sensible of the heavy
[e_sponsibility which rested upon it. This responsibility
withbelieved they would best discharge by not interfering
, ey wou
cou— the military commanders, in whom they had full
11121ence. But he denied emphatically that the movement
itZZe, neral Stewart had been decided upon solely for poll-
and not for military reasons, and he added that lie had
thitt vi,ed from the Government of India a distinct assurance
G was most desirable. Moreover, if it were necessary,
jetir—aral Roberts would have a base of operations in the
'Valley more convenient than Sherpur.
ta•kiiefter some remark's from Sir G. Campbell, who excited
e
,
a.„nxietyd.i,BaPProbation by speaking of the u
inatiifested in the matter, and from ;fr.
,prett
z N iorthcote, who bore testimony to the wde-
-I:tpstmea-
dlf
r
bell'a iT,--in'"ngs of apprehension and reproved Sir G. Camp-
aB the7i'rePresentation of Sir 'W. Palliser's motives. Balt
_
tar„ 'roVernment was acting on the authority of its null-
krconitnanders, and not from political motives he sug-
ed that it was not desirable to press the matteifurther.
e Motion for adjournment was then withdrawn.
~„After some other questions had been asked and answered,
44.1' Chaplin started a long and animated conversation on
Zr Position of Parliamentary business, and, to put himself
order, moved the adjournment of the House. A lengthy
at times animated discussion followed, in which Sir H.
Zelland, Lord Hartington, Mr. Gorst, Mr. Dillon, Mr.
Zaford-Hope, Sir S. Northcote, and other hon. members
part. Eventually, upon a division, the motion was
negatived by 236 to 23.
the motion for going into Committee on the Hares and
:!,anbits Bill, Mr. Labouchere moved that it be an instruc-
!ell-3n to the committee to take power to extend the provisions
of the Bill to all game.
mr• P. A. Taylor seconded the amendment.
GabaSir W. Harcourt said the Bill proposed not to amend the
and e taws, hut to protect farmers from hares and rabbits,
if the amendment were carried it would be impossible
g 0 on with the Bill this Session.
a„.34-r51;6 Labouchere subsequently offered to withdraw the
_ment, but the discussion was continued until the sus-
, vension of the sitting, when the debate .was adjourned.
The Census (Ireland) Bill was read a third time.
talAt the Evening Sitting, the debate on the Hares and
115 its Bill was continued, among the speakers being Mr.
b.hapUl,n, Lord Elcho, Mr. Sclater-Booth, Mr. Bright, and Sir
.s ._prt H
hcote. The house afterwards went into Committee
the Bill, and some progress was made the House adjourn-
at ten minutes past two o'clock.

•
•