The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-02-22 00:00:00

XMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

In the Rouse of Lords on Feb. 1;, the Marquis of (jaunt.
garde, who had a notice on the paper relating to the question
of land tenure In Ireland, hatianated that In consequence of
the absence, through indisposition, of the noble Premier, he
should postpoxe his motion on the abject 1,•!I II that day
week.
The East London Museum Site Bill passed through com-
mittee.
The Bishop of Oxford introduced a Bill to amend the
Consecration of Churchyards Act 1067, after which their
Lordships adjourned.
In the House of Commons, Mr. E. Hamilton asked the
Chancellor if the Exchequer whether any representations
have been made to Imo as to the hardship and distress
Which the ltholition of the composition of rates mailer the
Reform Act of ISti; is calming to ocenpiers of small rated
houses in a great number id Evalisla parliamentary boroughs.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer said that no representn-
thine of any kind hail been smite to him as to the hardship
and distress which was supposed to exist. There had
Woulitleew et.ell ill which overseers hail initapprelooelett
the menhing of the Act in salishury. for instance, they WO
done PO, and hardship hail been entailed on some people in

tleirne asked the Chief s, cretary for Ireland ishether
ho intended to introduce any Wu for the improvement
on the law of landlord avid teuaut hi Irelaud during the
present sesbion and, If lie does, whether he will nuw flea
day for that purpose
irl Mayo inwlendomil that a discussion was likely 1.,1 come
nu shortly is In ohit,l, anti Inn thought it would lie totter for
him then to stale the intention of the loyercnn.ent with
reference tin that country.
et:lintel North gave notice that, minlons seine definite date
were fired for the totroduction of the Irish Reform hill, he
should divide the House when the Scotch measure was
brought forward !laughter
. . . . . . .

_..„
Earl Mato gave notice that he should leing forward a
Reform Bill for Ireland on the sth of March.
On the seceed re..ding of the bill to continue the Inc.
pension of the Habeas Cornea Act in Ireland, Colonel French
remarked that if this bill were wanted for Ireland it was
equally wanted for Eogland
Mr. Forteseue planted that they should 10 put to
the painful necessity ed passing this nit attire without its
tieing accorapanied by ally refllollll.l measure, or the an-
nouncement of :my remedial measure. They had been told
Li night that there was to bo au Irish Reform Bill, but on
the three cardinal points id the Irish proliluna—naniely,
land, education, awl the Irish church—they were in total
ignorance of the intent iOl.l id the ii,iverunient.
sir 11. Barron remarked that they had hail three rebellions
In Ireland, and he did not know how male coercion acts,
hut all hail failed to reconcile the people of the country to
the extend this House. The reason was that the vast majority
of the Irish people hail not any portion of the Government
of the country in their hands. They were a catholic people,
, but they were not represented in the calmed or in the offices
ot state. They bad an alien State church which was the
choral of oily onweighth part of the population, Ile denied
that that was equality, and said they *mild never get
trelawl to submit tin It. Nor would Ireland 110 9141,410.1
Witholli all equalisation of the lax a of the two countries
regarding 131111.
.1110 bill was then read a second time.
The Lord Advocate moved for leave to bring in a bill to
emend the representation of the people In scolland Ile
said the franchise given by the bill was the ammo aa that
given le the English a Accordingly iii horoughs every
henseleilder auted and paying rates would be etilitled to a
tote. Thelon! did not contain any pro cash in with regard to
lodgers. In seatiand they had always recognised the right of
hate, rs to be registered as tenants. Then as regarded the
moody franchise they proposed hi reduce the property qualifi-
cation from ilea year Loeb, and that the occupation franchise
Monte' be a holding of at el 2 rateable value An regarded
the distribution of seats it was not proposed La take away
the right of representation fr m any exlttilig constituenee,
but it was proposed to give seven additional mem-
bers to Scotland, increasing the timelier of the mem-
bers of the House by So many. Of these, two would be
given to the universities of Scotland l one to each of
the three large counties of Lanark, Ayr, awl Aberdeen
One to Glasgow, upen the same footing as the third member
was given to Liverpool, Manchester, and Birmingham and
Vile to a group of burghs comprising Ardrossan, Coathridge,
Wishaw, Barheati, Johnstone, lielensburgh, Kirkitabilloch,
mid Pollockshaw, in Lanarkshire, Renfrew/shire, and Dum-
barton, containing in ISM an aggregate population of 50,35 I.
Then they proposed that the burghs of ilawick and
fialaahiels should he added to the Haddington district of
burghs.
A debate, in which Mr. Baxter, Sir. Smollets, Sir J. a ',Riley,
Mr. IPLaren, Sir E. Colebrooke, Sir J. Fergusson, and Mr
tirahatu took part, was concluded by the Chancellor of the
Exchequer, who described the measure as the largest and
nmst mnnitivent increase of the constituency in Scotland that
had ever beee offered to the consideration of Parliament.
Its great principle ems the extension of the franchise, and
the propositions with which it was associated he believed to
he such as would give satisfaction to the Scottish people. He
urged the House to pass a moderate measure of reform in
the present Session if possible, and, with that view, to eon.
attire the bill with candour lie undertook that, whatever
suggestious might bd matte should receive the careful alien.
t ion ,d the Government, with the one desire of making the
repretreutation of Scotland as efficient as poseible.
Leave was then given to bring in the bill, and the House
adjourned.
In the House of Lords on Feb. lil, the Lord Chaucellor
neared the second reading lif the Promissory oaths Bill.
Few persona hail arty idea of the number of these oaths re-
neared to be taken on entering an office, which occupied no
less than :4011 pages of the report of the commissioners, and
come of them were exceedingly frivolous. In 1060 a
commission was appointed to inquire into this stair
ject. Some of the commissioners would have all
these oaths abolished as useless and detrimental to
morality. He dial not go no far as that but he
thought that the ,oaths should be sparingly used. This
bill, therefore, preserved live oaths—the oath of allegiance,
the judicial, the onkel, the military, and constables' oaths.
Lord Lyre!en complained that the noble and learned lord
hail not adopted the recommendations of the commissioners
In their integrity.
Earl Russell believed that the hill would effect a great
ireprevement but he suggested some alterations in the
provisions of the bill_
After some observations from the Bishop of Oxford and
Tired Westbury, the bill was read a second time, and referred
tea select e.unmittee, after which their Lordships adjourned,
In the House of Commons, Mr. Schrieber asked the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer, with respect to the “inhabitant
occupiers" of parishes in which compounding Acts are now
in force, but the whole or part of which it is preposed for the
future to include within the limit. of Parliamentary
burougha, from what time the personal liability of suds
eccephrs to the mow rate will commence; whether. Ita his
opialion, they will be in a position to avail themselves of the
flint registration of voters Imam the Reform Act of last
an salon ; and whether the repeal of a conmoutailibg Act in
one part of a parish will entail its repeal in the remainder.
lie Chancellor of the Excheiner said that the tint two
questioas were
.noticed in the report of the trundary
. .

r'aiNsiellers lately laid t.aa the table of the Houst:.,eiel the

I ;overturn:id -considering the points contained therein.
ith mpeet to the third opiestion, the Conipontiding .Net
if repented in one part of a punch would be repealed iu the
rein tinder. . .

.....
Mr Fawcett welted the Secretary ol State for Ind;n,
"

whether oar position will not be k'reatly complicated in
Abyssinia, if it be tree that the Egyptian troops are
advancing into that country; mid further to ask whether
high Indian oiiticials, viz ,err If. Durand and Air W. Mans-
field, did Mt emphatically warn the Governnient, before the
war wan deCiIICII 111.011, that the national (tubing of
IVOIII.I be united against its, if it appeared that we acre
obtaining any aid or support front TuroP-Eoptian alliance;
and whether, considering these warnings, the Government,
before commencing the war. obtained any assurance front
the Sultan and the Viceroy that they would abstain front all
interference.
sir Stafford Northeote sail that they had carefully al,
stained limn canting any advanc,s towards the Egyptian
Government, or asking them to act as tithes. That Goren.-
cleat, however, had allowed them to itse their territory for
e..rt dri purposes lit conseipience of a request made to that
effect. At one time Egyptian soldiers were Rapp sod to be
advancing into Abyssinia, but immediately it wea represented
to the Viceroy that such a step might be misunderstood, he
promised to order the 11111111eflike return of the trm mi. he
rat advices rom Colonel sir Robert Napier led him to be-
lieve that there NAS abundance of water.
' ' "

.........
Nle Seely, in a speech of some length, called attention to
the correspondence relating to the eo,l of budding the
Vo deo,* Witham, and of repairing the Eri,k and the
codonis, and after criticising with notch minuteness the
dockyard acconnts, from which be concleided that waste and
extravagance characterisml our naval aihninistration, moved
for the appointment of a select committee to inquire and
report, first, as to the application of monies voted by Par-
liament for the lute of the Admiralty and, secondly, as to
the accounts id the department: and more especially AS to
the method in a hich they should be prepared for presenta-
tion to the House.
Mr. Corry ileteieleil the administration of Ida department
against the attack of Mr. Seely, spoil w hot) Ito retorted that
Ins statements were exaggerated, his censor- unjust, nuiriliis

Mores " liguins run mad." To the motion tor a select
committee, liowever, he was ,iiiite willing to acce.te, prim-
ski tlin inquiry were booted to accounts that did not
"- '`

intend to the expenditure of the navy.
After a short debate the motion for a select committee,
untended by the ittuertion to the tint tart of the resolution
of the words •• in the budding and repairing of ships," was
a,:reed to.
'

io the motion of Lord Enfield the select committee of last
year to impure into the law ea to CWIIIIIOII and special Janie
was re. appointed
Mr. Coleridge, in committee I f the whole house, moved
fir leave to be ghee to brunt in a hill to repeal certain tests
arid alt.:r certain statutes effecting the constitution of the
l'ulversit) of tusk rd, and the colleges In that university
The rnoti ~,, was agreed to, Mr. aeerelary nerdy intimat-
ing that he should offer the hill all the opposition in his
power at the future stages.
he Ilaheas Cori us anspension ~Ireland) Act Continuance
II iii passed through committee, and the House adjourned.

In the house of Commons, on Felt 19, In answer to Mr.
Brute, Mr. Hardy said that be was not in a position to say
as yet whether a 101 l would be brought in by the Govern-
ment for the rigid/y*lon of coal mines, nor could he Inform
the hon member whether it would be considered desirable
to appoint additional inspectors. The matter eon still in
abeyance, as there wan some difficulties connected tvith
Sir C. erhoghlen, in moving the second reading of the
Hank Holidays tilt, explained that its objects were three—
that the day after Christmas-day should be a hank holiday ,
oil over the country, that the Queen in Council should have
the power of proelaimine a hank holiday, without, as at pre-
vent, the necessity of an act of Parliament, and to make bills
of exchange and promissory notes failing due on such holi-
days payable the day after Instead of the day before. The
first two objects alone, he believed, generally conceded
and the hon baronet proceeded tit arsine that the third
provision would prove convent, fit, and pointed out that,
except in England and France, it was universally in force all
oVer the l'ontinent.
After a short discussion, the bill was read e second time
and referred tin a select committee. •
Mr. Shaw Lefevre moved the second reading of 1110 I''
Policies Nomination Bill, the object of which wan to 011:0.10
persous effecting policies of insurance I nit their lives to
nominate in the p diey the persons whom they wished to
secure the benefit id the slummy after their death : the nomi-
nation to have all the legal validity of an ante or post-
nuptial settlement.
Alderman Liwrence opposed the bill ofevarious grounds,
hut chiefly because it would enable persona to provide for
their wives and fandliea at the expense of their creditors.
Mr. if trnett said that strong objectiona were entertained
to the bill by the majority of atialiralice often.
After a few words front Mr. Neale and Mr. Denman, the
Attorney-General, while not opposing the bill, pointed out
tint at present no difficulties were found in /miming
policies : hut under the bill a new mode of effecting this
old, et was proposed, as by the ith clause the nominated
policy was to be absolutely beyond the reach of creditors.
unless the norninstion was niche one year before the bank-
ruptcy of the nominator. The clauses would minim careful
consideration in committee.
The bill was then read a second time.

fiVuistone, upon moving the —second reading of the
Compulsory Church Kara holitiou Bill, said it was intro-
duced in the hope of effecting a settlement of the ifuestion
thst Would be generally satisfactory by means of mutual
concession. But if it failed, he, for hie own part, would no
longer worry the House with any attempt to effect a settle-
m out, but would leave thc matter iu the hands of the hon.
member for Bury 11r. flardcastle . The principle of the
bill was the abolition of compulsory church rates, lie
misled that the 1411 would ultimately secure the sanction of
teif sti.: dist it would also In Accepted by the other
1,. e. h of Ult.: legislattury., -

I. -Belsky thougot th it the proposals in the 1,111 would
only aggravate tire inconveniences attending the 10,011th/A
oi cnaren rates. If the fabric of the church MtLi to be
,mintained by voluntary subscriptions, he wanted to know
mm 0.4 way the position of the ministers of the Established
'bur Ai would he butter, whether the bill passed or ohethur
c did matt
,•oboiel Ilarttelot hoped that the blll would it read a
second time, and then be carefully reconsidered or amended
in committee, in order to remove Its present defects RIO to
~tford the opportunity of a satisfactory settlement.
Mr. \ cwdegate agreed with his right hon. friend !Mr.
lirolei, that the bill of time hon, member for bury Mr.
!itrictstle. was better than this measure, to whlth he oh-
mm various grounds, but orin,ipally because it would
deprive the laity of the property abet had been theirs for
',donee, and woold take the management of the churches
out ml their bands, to vest it in those of voluntary lailealk-
% IQ., at whom they knew, and weld know, nothing.

Mr.
bill liarskustle intimated tins intention of supporting the

Mr. Hubbard opposed it.
Mr. Ayrtou spoke In favour of the measure, condemned
the unreasonable opposition that had been made to it, and
expressed the hope that some care would be taken to pre-
vent the hill being made the means of wealthy persons get-
ting possession of the parish churches for purposes and
practices contrary to the views and opinions of the
parishioners.
. .

The debate wat continued by Mr. fteourtield, who opposed
the bill, by Mr. Pesch, and by Mr. P. liqlur, who sup-
ported It.

•
Mr Sergeant fiseelee regretted that this bill had been
brought forward by the leader of the I.tb rad party, rather
than
otte.h,r total abolition.
. .

The hill was then re-;,1 second time, and the com-
mittee was lined for the 11th March.

The Ilabeas I orpns .treland, suspension Continuance Act
was read the third time and passed.
Mr. Hewn:km moved the re-appointment of the committee
of last session to consider whether any alterations eau he
made IR the arrangements of the 11,0111 of commons, $O RS
to enable a greater number el members to hear or take part
in the

the Wo-tTOU ' t;:8-ittmeed to, mot the Home adjourned.