The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-04-10 00:00:00

In the HOUSE or Loans, April 5, Lord Morton took
his seat as a representative peer of Scotland.

ZEBEHR PASHA.

Lord Ribblesdale, in calling attention to the deten-
tion of Zebehr Pasha at Gibraltar, said he believed that
the confinement without previous public trial of a
foreigner by this country was without precedent. In
the case of Arabi Pakha there had been an open in-
vestigation, in that of Zebehr Pasha there had been
nothing of the sort; and, as he believed, because thera
was nothing but Kispicion against the latter. Ho
suggested that the services of such a Iran in the
Scudan at the present time might bo of great advan-
tage to that country. At Gibraltar Zebehr had seen
what was calculated to give him a good idea of the
naval and military strength of this country, and, as a
result of that experience, there would be less danger of
his engaging in rebellious designs. The noble lord
moved that in the opinion of the House the time had
come when under certain condition, the piesence of
Zebehr Pasha in the Soudan might prove va'uable in
theinterests of Egypt and tlaepacification of the Soudan
provinces.
Lord Dandonald hved that their lordships would
give no support to the motion. The antecedents of
ZebehT were as bad as bad could be. He was the insti-
gator nnd originator of the atrocious slave trade of the
Soudan, and whatever this country might do, it cer-
tainly never ought to allow that man to set foot in the
Soudan again. He submitted that we ought to recog-
nise our responsibility in that country, which had been
committed to our care.

Lord Fitzgerald pointed out that, though Zebehr
Pasha might have been guilty of rebellion against the
Khedival Government, he was not a rebel against
England. His original detention at Gibraltar might
have been justified by military necessity, but once the
danger had passed his detention on British soil was
contrary to English law.
Lord Rosebery informed their lordships that almost
immediately the Government came into office they
consulted the authorities in Egypt and those at the
War Office as to whether Zebehr Pasha could with
safety be set at liberty. They did so with an anxious
wish that the replies might be in the affirmative; but
the authorities so consulted were unanimously of
opinion that the military necessity for the detention of
Zebehr Pasha still continued. As soon as the Govern-
ment could do it with safety they would release him,
but it was difficult to imagine on what grounds anyone
could arrive at the conclusion that Zebehr's presence
in the Soudan at the present time might prove valuable
in the interests of Egypt and the pacification of the
Soudan provinces.
• The motion was negatived without a division.
• THE IRISH CHURCH AND THE UNION.

On the motion of Lord Courtown, the reading clerk
read a petition from the General Synod of the Church
of Irelani against any measure which should endanger
the legislative union between Great Britain and
Ireland.

SECOND READINGS.
The Compensation for Damages Bill and the Army
Annual Bill, which had passed the House of Commons,
were read a second time.
Their lordships rose at 10 minutes past six o'clock.
GREECE AND THE POWERS.

In the HOUSE OF COMMONS, Mr. B—r;-c-e, answering a
question from Mr. Ashmead Bartlett, said that the
Greek Government had not intimated their acceptance
of the advice of the Powers, and her Majesty's
Government had no information at their command
which would enable them to Bay whether Greece will
refrain from breaking the peace of Europe.

SELECT COMMITTEES.

In answering a question from Ur. Rylands,
Mr. Gladstone said that, considering the number of
Select Committees now sitting and the importance of
the Pr*sedure and Indian Committees. he was afraid

all hope must be abandoned of having a Committee on
the Spending Departments this year.

REGISTRATION.

In answer to a question from Sir J. Goldsmid,
Mr. Childers said it was intended to bring in a
Registration Bill, but how soor, , or whether it would
include franchise and qualificati )n, he could not say.

THE CROFTERS BILL IN COMMITTEE,

The House was again in Committee on the Crofters
Bill all the evening.
Clause 6, relating to the fixing of rent, occupied
several hours. A propose,' by the Marquis of Staffori
to extend it to leaseholders of not exceeding £3O was
discussed for some time, and ul imat,ely negatived by
230 to 121. At the instance of Dr. Macdonald and with
the consent of the Lord-Advocate, seven sears was
accepted instead of 15 as the term for which the rent
is to be fixed, and words were also inserted giving the
Commission power to deal with arrears. A proposal
made by Mr. Rogers that the rent should be in propm-
tion to the current price of agricultural produce was
discussed at some length, but ulimately withdrawn.
Clause 11 was added to the bill, and the Committee
adjourned.
Some other business was disposed of, and the House
adjourned at 20 minutes to three o'clock.

In the HOUSE or LORDS, April 6, on the report of
amendments in the Lunacy Acts Amendment Bill
certain amendments were proposed by the Lord
Chancellor, end, after a conversation, agreed to.
None of them affected the principle of the bill,
end some of them were merely verbal. Lord Mill-
town and Lord Hobhouse proposed amendments which
were rejected, and the report was afterwards received.
The Idiots Bill passed through Committee.