The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-02-17 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

In the 11 iinseid Lords, Feb. It' the Royal Commis/loners
weir received, who were desired to express the Queen's
assent to the new Speaker of the House of Commons.
When the Pi iyal Commissioners had taken their seats, the
Lord Chancellor sent the IVOLIMI Uldier of the Black Rod to
desire the attendance of the Rouse of Commons. In a few
minutes he returned with Mr. Brand, the newly-elected
Speaker, who was supported by the Serjeant at Arms, and
his nominator and seconder—Sit Roundell Palmer and Mr.
Locke King—behind whom came • large number of members
of the Ruse of Commons. When these had arrived at the
her id this those.
the Lord CLancellor said My Lords and Gentlemen of the
Moo cc of Commons—lt not being convenient to her Majesty
to lie persenaily rdeecnt here at this time, a Commission has
been issued slider the Great Seal commanding us sad certain
ether lords therein rained to notify and declare her Majesty's
approliatiou ii. the ebrice of her faithful Commons of the
Right lion. Berry William Bouverie Brand to be their
Speaker, which COUlTllissioll you will now hear read.
The Commission having been read by one of the clerks et
the table,
------ -- • • •

The Speaker elect said My Lords,--I hare to acquaint
your lordships that her hialesty's faithful Commons, in obe-
dience tii her NI ajcisty's commands, and in exercise of their
undoubted right, have Proceeded to the election of a
Speaker, and that their choice has fallen upon me. I now
present myself at your bar, and humbly submit myself for
her Majesty's gracious approbation.
•• •

. -
The Lord Chancellor said Mr. Brand, we have it in com-
mand from her Majesty to declare her Majesty's entire con-
fidence in your talents, diligence. and efficiency to fulfil the
lunicvtant duties of the high office of Speaker et the House
of Commons, to which you have been chosen by that house;
and in obedience to the Commission which has been read,
and by virtue of the authority therein contained, we do
declare her Majesty's Royal allowance and confirmation of
you, sir, as Speaker of the House of Commons.
The speaker replied: I submit myself with all humility to
her Majesty's royal will and pleasure; and if in the discharge
of my duties, and in the maintenance of the rights and privi-
leges of the Commons House of Parliament, I shall in-
advertently fall into error, I entreat that Mame may he
imputed to me alone, and not to her Majesty's faithful
Commons.
'the right bon. gentleman then bowed thrice to the Lards
Commissioners, retired from the bar, and, together with the
other members of the Rollie of COMMOUN returned to that
chamber.

ciSSASSINATION of the VICEROY OF INDIA.
The Duke of Argyll, amid proteund silence, rose and said,
—My lords,—lt grieves me to say that I have a meet painful
Comm tnleation to make to your lordships' House. 'Ms
afternoon, at half-past one o'clock, a telegraphic message
was received from Mn Ellis. a member of the Indian CounciL
It is dated Sailor Island, February 15, and was, I believe,
seat this morning. This is the message t—
" I have to announce with the deepest regret that the
Viceroy was assassinated by a convict at Port Blair on the
Bth inst., at seven in the eveade lg. The Viceroy had Inspected
the several stations of the settlement, aml had reached the
pier on his way to the boat to return to the man-of-war
Glasgow, when a convict, uneler cover of darkness, sud-
denly broke through the guard surrounding the Viceroy
and stabbed him twice in the back. The Viceroy expired
shortly afterwards, The assassin was arrested at once, and
is being tried. His name is Sher All, a resident In foreign
territory beyond the Peshawur frontier. Ile was convicted
of murder by the Commissiouer of Peshawar in Ibo 7, and
sentenced to transportation for life. Ile was received in
the Settlement in May, latli."
lily lords,—lt is my duty on behalf of the Government
to express, in the first place, the deep sympathy which we
feel with the family of Lord Mayo lit a calamity and ass
affliction so unlooked for and so overwhelming. ;Sympa-
thetic cries of "Hoar,") As regards the friends of Lord
Mayo, this House is full of personal friends. I believe
no man ever lead more Mends than he, and I believe no
man ever deserved better to have them. (Renewed expres-
sions of sympathy., For myself I regret to say that! never
even had the honour of Lard Mayo's acquaintance ; but we
came into office at almost the same Mine, and I am happy to
say that from that time our commetuieations leave been
most friendly, and I may say ntostcordial. I think !may go
further anti say that there has not been one very serious dif-
ference of opinion between us on any question connected
wills the Government of India. I hope, my lords, it will
not lea considered out of place, considering my official
position, it, on behalf of Her Majesty's Government, I
express our opinion that the conduct of Lord Mayo in his
great office—the greatest, in my opinion, which can be
held by a subject of the Crown—amply justifies the choice
made by our predecessors. (General cries of " Herta') Lord
Mayea's Oovernor-Generalship did not fall in a time of great
trial or great difficulty, Irons' foreign war or domestic
insurrection, but he had to labour under conatant difficulties
and great anxieties which are inseparable from the govern-
ment of that mighty Empire. This I may say, I believe with
pert et truth, that no Governor-General who overruled India
was more energetic in the discharge of his duties and more
assiduous in performing the functions of his great office • and,
above all, no Viceroy that ever ruled India had more at 'heart
the gond of the people of that vast Empire. (Hear. hear.) My
lords, 1 think it may be said further that Lord Mayo has
fallen a victim to an uhnost excessive discharge of his public
t bulks. If Lord Mayo had t fault it was that he would
leave nothing to others. He desired to see everything for
himself. On his way to Burmah he thought it his duty to
Visit the Andaman Islands to see the convicts, and in what
manner the rules and discipline of a convict prison were
carried out there, My Lords, it was in the discharge of that
duty he slot his death. I believe his death wit' be a
calamity to India, and that it will be sincerely mourned
not only in England and in his native country, Ireland, but
by the well-affected millions of Her Majesty's subjects in
India. (Hear, hear.)
The Duke of Richmond.—My lords, I cannot remain 'silent
on the present occasion. If tier Majesty's Government feel
deep sympathy with the family and relatives of Lord Mayo,
how much more must 1 feel who have lived on the most ,
intimate terms of friendship and affection with him and
all those who belonged to him? (Hear, hear.) It will
be gratifying at nil events to Lord Mayo's family to
hear from the lips of my noble friend the Secretary for
India that lier Majesty's Government have appreciated his
conduct during the time he has been Governor-General of
India. He has, I believe, amply justified the anticipations
and hopes formed of him by Her Majesty's late Government
when they *elected him for that high position. I feel that
he leaves behind him a uame second to none of those Illus-
trious names who have gone bellies him ; and though it is
(Mishit to talk of consolation. however small, under such
circumstances, I believe that this must be some conaolation
to those who now mourn tor him. My lord!, I feel too much
to say more on this subject, but! could not renlailk altogether
silent. (Hear, hear.)
Lori Lifford, in moving for returns, complained of the
operation of the Irish Land Act, especially in regard to the
contacting decisions of the Assistant Earriaters and the Ws-
propel tionate compensation often awarded.
Lon! Dufferin de:lined to go into the cases cited, pointing
out that the variations in the custom of tempt right
rendered apparently conflicting decisions unavoidable. The
evil, however, was one which would cure itself.
Lord Middleton regarded the diversity of decisions as a
serums evil, and feared that the Irish Land Act had created
difficulty and heart-burniug greater than before.
Lord Beauchamp moved the second reading of his Burial
Grounds bill, which, he said, was identical with that of last
Session. After a few words of approval from the Bishops of
Lontlan and Winchester, the 'nation was agreed to, and their
Lordships adjourned.
In the House of Commons, ties House met at a quarter to
four o'clock, the Speaker-Elect taking a seat at the table.
At a fele minutes to four the Deputy Yeoman-Vaher tit the
Black Red appeared, and, advancing to the table, delivered
the following mesaage :
" Mr. Speaker,—The Lords, who are authorised by virtue
of her Majesty's Commission, desire immediate attendance
of this honourable House at the House of Peers."
The Speaker Elect and the members present accordingly
Dr... Adel to the liar of the Upper House, Ou their return,
The Speaker took the chair and said I have to acquaint
the House that the House has been to the limise of Peers,
and that the Lords, authorised by her Majesty's Com-
mission, have declared that her Majesty has approved
of the choice which the House has made of use as
their Speaker (hear, hear). I ant deeply sensible of
the honour confeetred upon me. Every faculty which
I possess shall be devoted to the fulfilment of the
duties of the chair, and I know I may rely upon the co-opera,
Hon of this House to maintain the high character of this
assembly second to none he the world (hear, hear).
The right hon. gentleman then retired, and after a few
minutes returned, wearing the Speaker's wig and gown.
Mr. Gladstone said it was his painful duty to acquaint the
Rouse that a telegram had reached him that afternoon,
of which he would read that, part whirls would be
communicated in public. The telegram was dated thee
Bth instant, and was Irons Mr. Ellis, a member of
the Executive Council of India. It was elated from an
island at the mouth of the iffloghly, toed stated that
he had to announce with the deepest regret that the
Viceroy was assaasintated by a convict at Port Blair on
the Bth inst., at seven o'clock in the evening. The Viceroy
had inspected several stations of the settlement, and had
reached the pier on his way to the boat tee return tel the man-
of-war. In the darkness a convict suddenly broke through
the sealants surrounding the Viceroy, and stabbed him twice
in the back. The Viceroy died shortly afterwards. The
assassin was at once arrested. Ilis name was Shier
Ali, and he lead been convicted by the Commissioners
of Peshawur of murder, and had been sentenced
Ste transportation for life. Mn, Gladstone added that
that was neither the time nor place for him to
speak at length of Lord Mayo, and it would be MOM effec-
tually and appropriately done by the Secretary of State for
India, who had had most intimate correspondence stith the ,
lamented nobleman, but he could not communicate to the
House this most painful and moat grievous intelligence aith-
out stating on his own part and on that of the Government
the grief that they felt, and the sense they entertained of the
heavy loss w hide this country had sustained. (Hear, hear.)
Lord Mayo had proved himself worthy of the distinguished
series of his predecessors. Ile had been outdone by none in
his zeal, intelligence, mid unsparing devotion to the publie
servit v. So far so it was ire their power to render any tee,
tawny, so far as they effbi Inc any degree give him credit,
Ice was bound to say that the whole of his policy and ceen-
duct had won for him the unreserved and uniform confidence
of the Government.
Mr. Disraeli said I think the House will bear withine for
one moment, whilst I refer to the intelligence which the
right hon. ventleman has Just conveyed to the House of one
of those calamities that sadden nations. Lord Mayo was
well known to this House, and I think I may say he wail
generally beloved. , Prolonged cheering.) I) he Queen leas
lost in him a devoted servant of inestimable value, and these
who had the great felicity of his private friellabhip may, I
think, be pardoned II they are silent on this overwhelming
occasion.
Colonel Sykes sail that the Viceroy was on his way to
Rangoon, and had to pass the Andaman Islands where there
wee a eonviet establishment. He landed to inspect the estab-
lishment, and having done so, he was about to re-e efflark
when he was stabled. The assaasain was a Mahommetlan
fanatic, who had not the slightest relations with any persons
in Indea. Me was undstr sentence of imprisonment for life
for murder, and had been cut off from communication
with his Mahenimeilan brethren in India for a consider-
able time.
Sir Bounden Palmer gave notice that, as an amendment to
If r. Cross's vote of censure on the promotion of sir R.
Collier, he will move " that this House finds no just cause of
censure '' in it; and Ste. Mowbray gave notice of Ids inten-
tion to bring under the notice of the liouse the recent pre-
sentatiuse to the rectory of Ewe hue.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer postponed hie Resole.-
times for facilitating public business until the following even-
(tic the second reading of the Parks and Gardens Bill being
moved, after remarks from several other home members,
Mr. Ayrton disclaimed all idea of lessening the privileg,es
of any portion of the population, and explained that his
object was to protect the well-dispesed against the violence
of the tadighs. The hill only extended to the Royal Parks in
a limited degree the principle which had been applied
to MI ether pal as established by Parliament. There had
been a Mistaken iffiw that the power Oi the Crown
was sufficient to protect these parks, but the Unit. Lad uo
power stall compared with the power of a local body era
private tiwner, Ile denied that the bill would put so rail
to the right of public meeting in the parks, it Would subject
it to regulations, and no regulations made by the Ranger
would. IT valid until they received the assent of the First

On a division the second reading was carried by 183 to 36.
Mr. Bruce next brought in his Min Regulation Bill, ex-
plaining in detail how it differs from last year's bill. It will
apply to all stratified Iron mines, to shale and tre-clay
mines, and e ill contain provisions for the employ.
ment and education of children on principles generally
analogous to the Factory Acts. To insure more strin-
gent discipline every mine-owner Is to appoint a respou-
sible manager, who Is to be registered, and who must
hovers certificate, which. that P.l
contd., marine, may be ror cked f neg, '
All future managers are to lie examined het ir oi cal
Boards. Additional "General Rules'. are to lie cuseted
for Increasing the security of the working, whieh
Will include regulatious for the more freonent lu
apection of machinery, the maintenance of roofs
and roadways, restrictions 611 the use of gunpowder, and
facilities for the men themselves inspecting the workings.
The bill does not propose any addition hi the number of
In per -1 orn, flit Mr. Brine intimated that he abould be pre-
pare.l to hoof ase the efficiency of the present system, though
ha had no !Whin the principle of inspection which would