The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-03-29 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PAitLJAiYiENT.

In the Rouse of Lords, March 24, the Royal Astent was
given by commission to the Local Goverement Peorialonel
Orders MIL The commissioners were the Lord Chancellor,
the Mike of Si. Albans, and the Marquis of Aile:Merry.
The Poor Allotments Management Bill was passed through
committee.
The Marquis of Salisbury, on the order of the day for
going into committee on the Bastardy Laws Bill, drew atter,
tiou to the waist of codification of the low upon this rub.
Dee eras Act referred to clauses of the Act el 1815, which
clauses had long slice been repealed, lie moved that the
bill he committed pro forma for the lasertiou of certain
amendmesits.
The motion was agreed to.
Lord Chelmsford, in moving the second reading of the
Custody of Infants kid, said the law relating to the
tubject had often been atte uded with primal and ills
trembeg conaequericee, taitil an Act was 'meted by
which children could le made wards in Chancsry. But
even that Act worked most unsatisfactorily in many
cues, feud althomh a certain amount of relief could be
grunted by the Divorce Court few cared to take ad-
vantage silt, Ile proposed in bis that the
Court of Chaucery should be empowered to order that a
mother might have access to her children when under six-
teen years of age: and, seeoudly, that no agreement for
a separation deed should Ic deemed invalid in which a
father proposed to give up the custody and control of his
children-
The bill was read a second time.
he Supreme Court of Judicature Bill was, upon the mo
Mon or the Lord Chancellor, committed pro forma for the
Insertion of amendments, and will be recommitted on Tues-
day molt week.
'the House then adjourneeL
In the house of Commons, Mr. Cowper-Temple gave
metros that set the sth of April he would move an address to
the Crow,: for a censor:tenon to lequire into the expedency
of nicking it compulsory to furnish sit emigrant slaps with
lifeboats sulticieet to save the lives of all on board.
The Attorney-General gave notice of his intention to
bring in shill to amend the law of marriage, ALS alao a bill
to consolidate the law of evidence.
Mr. Gladstone slated what he proposed should be the
muse of public butluess before Beater. Thursday next
would be given up to those lion members whose motions had
been postponed. Next wee klt would be necessary to make
some progress with the estimates, and also to proceed with,
the committee ou the Railway and Canal truing Bill, no that
effectual progress might be rue, with that measure before
the }Suter recess. On Monday, the 7th of April, the Chan-
cellor el the Exchequer would make his financial statement.
The adjuernment tor the Easter recess would take place
either that rev or the text one, according to the general
coevenience of hon, member., and he promoted that the
House should reassemble on Monday, the elm of April.
In answer to questions from Mr. St. Aubeu cud esx Massey
Lopes, Mr. Stanafeld said it was intended to bring in a Lecal
Taxation Bill this seamen], and the abolition of the exemp-
tions now enjoyed by certain descriptions of real property
would form a part of it. But on the spur of the moment he
could not ex a day for its introduction, nor could he destine
now what would be the extent of the measure, though, speak-
le g for himself, he believed it would not be advisaele to deal
With the whole subject covered by the words Local Guyette.
meet and Local Taxation in one JAIL
In answer to a question from Mr. Vernon Harcourt, Mr.
Gladstone said It was not intended to make any provision '
for the payment of the Alabama Indemnity hethe Finance if
the present year : but the views et the Government would
be entailed by the Chaneellor of the Exchequer in the
Budget.
Mr. Goschen explained the Navy Estimates. The net
charge for the year, after making all deductions for
matters of account, he stated at en6e3 000, which is an
exeess et El 34 000 over the Estimates of last year. IV way ,
of apology for this Increase, Mr. Beechen pointed to the 1
various services, not connected with war, which the Navy
had to petforne remarking that if one Naval Expenditure
could be regarded merely in the light of an insurance it
would be possible tostrike ff hundreds of thousands from the
Votes. Besidea preperation for war, the Navy had to do
Coastguard duty for tie protection of the Revenue, to perform
the police of the Fisheriss, to carry on the eransport :serves°,
and to repress the :Slave Trade, and, in fact, we have 138
ships in commission engaged entirely on Peace ditties.
Moreover, we had our large establishments on shore, and
11 squadrons at sea with 226 ships in commission, of
which 114 are fighting ships—viz., 23 itonelads, 31
corvettes, and 00 sloops and gun brigs. Pwrsuing the
Inquiry whether it Is pie:sllle te make soy reduction,
Ida Goschen showed that over £7O 0 000 of the expendi-
ture is absorbed by the pereorkriel, which is comparatively
Inelastic and intractable. It was may stores and deckyards
Which eff.rdtd scope for economy. But here he was met by
the rise in prices sad wages. The Admiralty had been
°bilged to pay £50,C00 more for coals and 480,00 more ex
metals than they expected. and they had met this by delay-
ing contracts anti postponing wotk, which wouel have to be
made up this year. The shipbuilding programme of the year
emulate of 20,000 tons—of which 0,000 is ill Doucheis and
14,000 in Mearmoured shit • and before giviug further detail&
Mr. Goschen showed that a smaller programme Chau this
would not suffice by some remarkable Meares, from which
It appears that dtirieg the lest ten years the new ships added
to the Navy have been more than over.balanceel by the ships
which have disappeared because they were obsolete or worn
out. Since 1003 140 ships, of 220.000 tope-148 000 tons in
tronclads—have beets built: but his ships, of 215,000 tons,
have leen struck off the List. But the general result, Mr.
Gaschen mnintamed, replying to the criticisms of Mr. Reed
and others, had been to raise the comparative strength
of our Navy to a very satisfactory pitch. For instan:e,
we had twelve irouclads, which could not be matched by
all the rest of the Naval Powers put together. We were
strong enough now, not to suspend all shipbuildinge
but to take our time in forming a judgment as to the best
form of ship to build. Explaining In greater detail the
year's programme, Mr. Goschen diseussed at much leneth
the important question, what class of ironclad ships stall
we build, under the three heads— coast defence, linesof-bettle
ships, and cruisers, premising that in every class of ship we
must be ahead of the rest of the world In c. sat defence I
he thought we were already :WM:lenity strong, and no ships .
of this class wenld Ice built, lensier the next head, the ,
First Lord entered into an elaborate review of the con-
troversy about the Der.tation, with a history of her
trials and performances, the result of which was that the
Admiralty has come to the csnelusion that she is a perfectly
safe seagoing ship, said, while treating her entirely as an ex-
perimeutal ship, has decided to lay down another ship of the
class at Pembroke. Thus would raise the number of the
class to four, and U the Devastation succeeded it was pro-
posed to raise the number to she. No masted turret ship will
be built, but a masted broadside ironclad will be laid
down, the exact character of which is not yet de-
cided. Next he described the progress proposed to be
made with the Superb and I eiteraire and the Torpedo
slips, Instilled the nen-comeleti in of last yeses pro-
em mrne, sod, with regard to the unaimoured ship.,
stated that three corvettes, a new Bacchante, and elx
gunboats are to be built. Over the remaining Votes Mr.
O when prersed rapidly: but on Vote six he explained
tha: an increase of £130,000 is caused partly by an in-
crease in the number of men employed in the Deckyard.,
and partly by an t, crease in their wages of 3d. a day
or labourers and ed, for artificers, le the Store Vote
there is an increase owing to the rise of prices, and, white
the number of boy s is cut down by 500, there is no intentien
of redueine the Royal Marines. Mr. Goschen concluded a
speech of three hones and a half by narrating what has been
done ter the establishment of the New Naval College at
Greenwich.
Lord U. Lennox criticized the speech of the First Lord and
the Estimates g. neeally at some length, cs mplebring that
they disclosed e very feeble and inefficient policy and that
while the Estimates were increasing, the member of ships in
commission was smaller. L Henry was especially severe
on the Admiralty for its dilatoriness in completing the ship-
building programme ot next year.
A desultory conversation on var Sorts points In she Estimates
followed, in which Mr. Samuels, Mr. Beutinek, Mr. By Dude,
Mr. Scourfield, and Lord B. Scott took part. Mr. Sh.•
Lefevre replied, and Votes of 130,000 men and of £2,029,084
for their wages were agreed to.
'The Endowed Schools Address Bill was reads second time.
The War Office and Admiralty Rebuilding Bill was with.
drawn.
Several other bills were forwarded a stage, and the Rouse
adjeurnoet at 20 minutes past one o'clock.

In the House ot Lords, March 25, the Doke of Richmond
asked Earl Granville when It was proposed to adjourn the
House, and how soon afterwards it would re issembie.
Earl Granville said he proposed to adjourn on Friday
week, the 4th April, until Monday, the 21st April.
Upon the order for going into committee upon the Epping
Forest Bill, _ . .

Lord Redesdale hoped the Commissioner would inquire
into all cases arising out of disputed claims upon the forest
book, with encroachments made by private individuals and
sales made by the Government.
The Duke of St. Albans replied that the bill emp, wered
the chairman to inquire into all enclosures made during the
last twenty years.

. .
The till parsed through committee, and the House re-
mimed.

-----
Lord Brodrlek, In moving the second reading of the Mar-
riages (Ireland) Bill, .-aid it proposed to legalise marriages
In Catholic Apostolic places of worship.
• •• - •

The Lord Chancellor said there wee nothing to prevent the
bill applying to all other Chum es in Ireland. Ile considered
It would be better since the recommendations of the Royal
Commission upon marriage, that one general law should b
introduced, which would settle the law of marriage Instead
of bringing an Isolated measure like this, that olly intro-
duced new anomalies into the law.

The Duke of Richmond thought it wont' be great ad-
vantace if there could In some committee of their lordshiA'
Clouse who neuld review bills of this sort before their iutro-
duction.

The bill We then read a second time.
Lord Lauderdale rose to ask a question respecting the
Commission of Inquiry as to the condition of merchant
shipping. Ile Wit that suilect had been ably brought before
Parliament and thepublic by kir. Pima, 11, and he considered
11 important that there should be no delay in instituting the
Inquiry, as the loss of ships and lives was occurring every
day. lie enumerated among the causes of this loss the
practice of dedk loading, such as was carried on in the ease
of Canadian timber ships, imperfect manning, °Teri° tiling,
and rotten hulls, and he rezommended that a law should its
passed compelling the owner of a ship to be subject to one-
third the risk of insurame.
Lord Cowper replied that the Commission of inquiry was
wry nearly constituted, and Its hoped, before the reek was
over, that the names of the members would be announced.
With regard to the Canadian timber .hip., Lord Kimberley
was in communication with the authorities of Canada as to
the mode it which those ships were lw!en.
Lord klalmesbury said the greatest sensation had been
created by the public Aloe of Mr. Plimsoll's book, and he
therefore augg.ated, as the report of the commhalon would
not probably be made for a coo siderable time, that the
Government should meanwhile take steps for securing Ana re
accurate inspection of the ships sent to sea.
Lord Cowper explained that the Commisairn was to In-
quire relative to the seaworthiness and the nverloading of
ships first of all, and he did not see wily the report on those
two sui jects might hist be made in the present year.
The House then adjourned.

- -
In the House of Ctinmons. Mr. Goschen, in answer to Sir
.J. Lubiwck, stated that observations of the anproachlng
Transit of Venus will be taken, by British astronon erg, at
Alexandria, Honolulu, Christ Churb (in New Zealand), Ker-
guelen I-land, and gods how. Island. At the three stations
on British territory lialley's meth, ii will be practicable ;
but, acting in co operation with Russia, France, end Ger-
many, more importance was attached to Delisle's method.
The Astronomer Royal was acting is concert throughout
with Russia.
Mr. Atli triton called the attention of the Home to the
Ciirrency Syltem and moved :or a inlet Gornmis.ion to iii.
iii Ihte it, and to suegest remedies Inr a variety of evils
which, us he contended, flowed from it. Ile maintained
that the frequent fluctuations in the rate of discount, which
he traced iince 1344, were dangerous to commerce and pro-
ductive of panics, and he suggested a National Bendel issue,
free from Trade tidbit nee and Government control.
-• • - •

••‘l --•--•
Sir J. Lubbock moved, as an amendment, that a Select
Committee be ap doted to ',pare iot. the operation ol the
Bask Acts of the Gree kingdoms. Speaking venerally, Sir
John approved the operation of the Act, believing that It
Milgated pinks by retaining bullion Is. the Bank to meet
them, and that it did not prevent the development of trade.
Panics, he maintained, were the consequenc* a not the cause
of failures; they occurred here before the Bank Act, as w.ll
as in c. u,atrles where there were no such rt strictions. No
Act of Parliament e,,u1.1 regulate the rate ot intereat, the
Bank no more CC strolled it than Britannia ruled the wave.

After remarks from other hon. m.mbers, the Chancellor of
the Etchequer was glad to p ether from the dh caution that
the principle of the Bank A,t was generally approved, and
consequently deprecatKi a mediess agitation of the public
mind by an inquiry which Sir J. Lubbock, who suagerted
a committee, had shown to be unnecessary. But thiLking
that there was much in Mr. F wler's suggestion, that the
Government should be armed with a power to real the Act
at its discretion, he promised, if the motion were withdrawn,
that this point should ne c tisidered by tho tiovernrecot, and
after Ester be would state whether there might lor be an
inquiry or whether the flovernment would lost/Alto on thew
cci respornibility.
Mr Nlundelia nod Mr. if. Vivian strongly opposed this
Coarse, add advocated general inquiry; white Mr. Weguella

thought it impossible to prosecute it at this period of the
session, told thought it suffl .leut IC the limited luestion
suggested by the Chaucellor of the Exchequer were con.
Moored.

'Jr. Alderman Lusk thc ught Mr. Lowe 's proposal a fair
one, and

Mr. Gladstone pointed out t, at by accepting it the House
would be placed io re worse position, as when the Govern-
ment announced their decision there would be ample oppor-
tunity for discussion.
Mr. Laing made some observations in the sans serve, after
which the motion and the amendment were both with-
drawn.

Mr. Chadwick was moving fore Select Committee to in
quire into the incidence, cte., of the Income Tax, n hrn the
Rouse was counted nut at ten minutes past nine o'clock.
SIP

In the Home of Commons. March 26, Mr. Lea gave notice
that on an early day he would move a resolution declaring
that t the opinion of the noun, It would be h.r the aifsty
and convenience of the public, and for the interest 4.1 f com-
merce and manufacturts, that the railways of the Untied
Kingdom should bee .me the property, and under the con-
trol tont management, of the State.
Br RIAU BILL.

Mr. Disraeli presented 212 petitions againq this bill
Other petitious ogling t the some bill were presented by
several other members.

Mr. o,born Morgan, in moving the second reading, said
the opposition of which notice had been given was no com-
mon occurrence, and it gave the matter a party appearance
which he (Mr Morgan) had always endeavoured to disclaim.
It might be that the second gnat political battle of the sea.
sion was to be fought over the churchyards. This measure
hail been described as one of " spoliation '• and '' con-
fiscation," yet it had touched no part of the revenues
of the Church, nor any right except that of claiming
conformity. He contendet that an incumbent was only
the trustee of his churchyard on behalf of his pa.
rishioners, and that he hail no persmal right to its
occultation. A man in his lifetime could please himself
where he went to worship, but in the 12,403 parishes in
Which there was no place of burial but the parish church-
yard, he had no °llion as to where he was buried. It was
admitted by the Opposition that the DDsentert had a pie-
Vance, for they hail brought in two bills to remedy it. One
was that of Earl beauchamp, but that left a Dissenter to take
his choice between being buried Ike either a Churchman or
• dog. The cost of purchasing and enclosing ground
for cemeteries In the torch, a which did not yet
possess them wrath! amount to millions of motley. The
use of the church and that of the churchyard ePpended
upon entirely different considerations, and It was not
good generalship to attempt to retain a lead posi-
tion whit., there win a much better one that c old be held.
In !reboot, where party spirit can high, • far leas stringent
measure than that which he was advocating had prevailed
for seven peers, and in every ether country people of all
religious remadens terra aqowed to bury their dead in the
parish churchyard. England was the only country in he
world where such burial could not take place, and he asked the
House to mit an end to this single sloe. Don. Were the
clergy of the Clint eh of England opposed to this bill its
contended that they were 1101, and quoted the Dean of West-
minster and other clergy men in support of his view.

After an exhaustive speech from Mr. Disraeli, who opposed
the second resilibg of the bill, the debate was c.,ntinueil by
several other hon. members, sod on a division, the butubets
were—

For the second reading 28)
Against it 217

hisprity ....... ....... C 3
The other orders of the day were disposed of, and the
House adjourned.