The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-06-20 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMAONS.-YESTERDAY.

The morning sittii..g of the house wad devoted to tbe
sideratio:: in committee of the Irish Tenure and Improvement
of Land Bill of the Government. Un clause 10, giving a refe-
rence, on disputes respecting improvements, to Use courts of
quarter sessions, Lord Naas moved an amendment giving the
reference to the lneumbered Estates Court. The Governmeat
consented to adopt this amendment. It was opposed by Lord
Fermoy, but after a division and long discussion, ultimately
earned. Clauses up to 20 were then agreed to, with amend-
ments necessary to make them consistent with the above
alteraCou.
At the evening sitting, in reply to Mr. Finlay,

The Loan ADVOCATE said that a bill would be introduced
extending the Wine Licenses Bill to Scotland, though not its
identical provisions.

Mr. AYaTON asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether
the means proposed by him in the Budget will be sufficient UP
meet the supplies required for the current year, including the
war in China, and any other contemplated expenditure ; and if
the means are insufficient, when he intends to make a state-
ment of the manner in which he proposes to make good the
deficit

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he could not, at
the moment, give a decisive answer. The supplementary
estimates for China were still under consideration, and
the Secretary-at-War had stated that a further vote would
be asked for fortifications. No determination had been arrived
at with regard to the amount of that estimate ; ke could not,
therefore, as yet state the means whereby he proposed to meet
these additional expenses, but the Government would lose uo
time in framing the estimates, and it would be hia duty forth-
with to make the consequent financial statement.
Sir R. PEEL asked if it was yet decided when tke Congress
on the annexation of Savoy was to meet.
Lord J. 111;SELL replied that he had not yet received the
despatch of the French Government sionouncing• the annexa-
tion, but he expected to receive it during the present week-
Till then he could give no information.
Mr. LINDSAY moved a resolution that in the opinion of this
House it is the duty of her Majesty Government to adopt, at
the earliest possible period, the necessary measures to carry
nto effect the recommendations of the Commissioners,
appointed in 1858, to inquire into the formation of harbours of
refuge on the coasts of Great Britain and Ireland. lie urged,
at great length, the importance of uudertakins womits OH
which so much of the national safety depended, and brwhiett
greater good could be secured to the country than by any other
means and at a less cost.
Mr. FARRELL seconded the motion. -

Mr. BAXTER opposed it, as involving an expenditure befaN
which the commissioners themselves recoiled. That commis.'
iion, moreover, was composed of persons connected with ship'
ping, and was therefore not as impartial board. It would be fa
better to attend to the improvement of existing harbours than
to erect five or six vast harbours at great distances round the
seaboard of the country. It was shown that the greater nun,'
ber of casualties occurred not to large ships, but to anasil
coasting vessels, which would have to run for the nearest point,
lie protested against a proposal involving an expenditure of
three or four millions on five or six isolated points, and moved,
as an amendment, the previous question.
Mr. DODSON seconded the amendment. . _

Mr. TALBOT cited the enormous losses occurring from year t'"
year to prove the paramount necessity of harbours of refuge•
Mr. IL VERNEY contended that our brave seamen, in wbo
lay the strength of the country, ought no longer to be exposa
to their present perils. No better means could be devised, in
an economical point of view, for the national defence than the
establishment of these harbours.

After some remarks from Mr. Beecroft,
Mr. D. SEYHOUR supported the motion, both from motive°
of humanity and upon considerations of economy.
Mr. H. TAYLOR also supported the motion, knowing by
experience the importance of establishing harbours of refuge,
especially on the east coast, for the purpose of saving the live;
of seamen and the property of merch ants.
Mr. KENDALL enforced similar conclusions, which he applied
are particularly to the Cornish coasts.
Mr. A. SAIITU maintained that the proposed harbours would
involve enormous costs, and would not prove of much utilitY
in preventing shipwrecks.
Sir J. PARINUTON contended, on the other hand, that the
amount required, namely, L 254,000 per annum, was a very
moderate insurance to pay for the preservation of life and
property from the risks of losses at sea .
Mr. M. GIBSON referred to returns, showing that a large
per tentage of wrecks occurred, even in parts of the coast
where harbours existed. In justice to the common interests
the Government was called upon to limit the expenditure of
public money on such objects. They were, however, engaged
in completing many works belonging to the place which the
commissioners had recommended in their report, and had
besides imposed a bill for the purpose of effecting many need-
ful improvements in the existing harbours.
Further remarks in support of the motion. were offered by
Sir A. Smith, Mr. Liddell, Mr. Paul, Mr. Pinto, Mr. Bentinek,
and Sir J. Elphinstoue.
Lord YALIIERSTON denied that the Government were indif-
ferent to the subject, or wished to shirk their duties. lie
observed, however, that there were many differences of opillOu
touching the manner in which the recommendations of the
Commissioners for the Construction of harbours of Refuge
could be most expediently carried into effect, and he trusted
that the House would be satisfied with the a:, • that her
Majesty's ministers were giving to the subject their EU°
ssuranee
it
serious consideration.

Mr. LINDSAY, in reply, persisted in pressing his motion; "61
After a few words from Mr. Gladstone,
The House divided,
when the previous question was negaticei
by a majority of 145 to 12g.
Mr. Lindsay's motion was then put and adopted. . 'Jiro
Mr. GRANT DUFF moved for a select committee to mg into the present condition of the diplomatic service, 411 d st,
best means of increasing its efficiency.
Lord JOHN itussrm. opposed the motion.
lOW
After a few words from Mr. M. Milne, the motion was
drawn. Aye

The house having gone into committee a resolut!oa nits
passed, on the motion of Mr. Spooner, giving leave to brioa
a bill for regulating the business of dealers in marine stofetl'or
Mr. Da.tsv, for the Chancellor of the Exchequer, noted of
leave to bring in a bill extending to Ireland the provisions
the Wine Licenses Act.
On the motion of Mr. Lowe, a select committee was ordered
to inquire and report what buildings arc necessary for the
South Kensington Museum.
The other business was then disposed of,
adjourned at 1,35 a.m. and the 00.
11