The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-07-11 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

In the House of Lords, on July 6, Lord Campbell presented
two petitions from Nova Scotia, alleging the existence of
much discontent in the province in regard to a lull passed
last session under the title of the British North American
Act, and praying for its repeal so far aa Nova Scotia is con-
conned; and also moved that au Mituble address be presented
to her Majesty to appoint a esmunission to proceed to that
country for examining the causes of the alleged disaffection,
with a view to their temoval.
The Duke of Buckingham, while admitting that discon-
tent did prevail ill Novi Scotia in consequence of its an.
to Canada, denied that it was at all widespread or
general
The Earl of Carnarvon freely accepted the responsibility
of haying negotiated with the dekgates tor the passing of
the British North American Act. Ile could assure their
lord,hips, however, (hit the measure itself hail not been
passed without full consideration.
The Marquis of Normandy maintained that toe opposition
to the act had beers got Up unfairly and from interested
motives.

After a few remarks from Lord Lyveden, Lord Lytlelton,
the Earl of Aline, and the Marquise( Clanrirartle,
Earl Russell thought that after the reselution passed by
the Legislative Assembly id Neva troths declaring that a
confederation of all the North American Provinces ought to
take place, it was now too late to protest against the con-
federation a hen it had taken place. At the same time.
having regard to the loyalty sit the province, and the fact
that discontent exist, he hoped the Government would
cause steps to be taken to redi es any real grievance that
might be found to exist.

-iih;111-oifr; was then withdrawn, and the petitions were
ordered to lie on the table.. .

The Boundavi Bill passed through committee, and on the
bringing up of the report,
bed Ravensworth moved an amendment, the effect of
e lila was to rein-tate the recommendation of the
Boundary Ceminissioners, that the t ,wnship of Jarrow
should in future form a part of the borough of South
Shields.

Some discussion ensued, and the amendment was ultimately
injected by 27 to 9.
The report W&., then agreed to.
The report of amendments on the Representations of the
People 'Smitlatel) Bill was also brought up and agreed to.
Severs) measures were advanced a stage, and their lord-
ships adjourned.
In the !louse of Common., Mr. Secretary Hardy moved
that the orders of the day prior to the Registration Bill he
Potpone i, in order that the measure might at once pass its
final stage.
This was agreed to.
A very short conversation ensued, joined In by Mr. New-
dexrate, Sir G. Bowyer, am) Mr. Candlish.
'sine bill wm read a third time and nomad.
The dlscumb.ll on Election Petitions and Corrupt Practices
at Elections !re.conunitteil, Bill was resumed um clause 5.
Mr. Bouverte moved to leave out clauses Sto 18. Instead
thereof he desired to insert words providing that commis-
shiners chosen to try election petitions should consist of live
members of the House, that they should he presided over
by one of the judues of her Majesty's Superior Courts
of Common Law at Westminster, such judge to decide every
question of law only arising on melt trial, which should be
conducted in all respects in the same way as a trial at Nisi
Prins, or a criminal proceeding before a jury and that, in
order to provide for this extra labour, one additional judge
he added .0 each other Majesty's Courts of Common Law at
Weettniuster.
After a few words from Mr. Lopes, Sir R. P. Collier, and
Knatchluill-liugeown, who declared that her Majesty's
Government shiadd have his entire support in the present

measure,
Mr. Mill confessed that he wanted to see a tribunal which
would pronounce bribery tolerated by a candidate as bribery
committed by the candidate himself.
Mr. Gladstone thought the House ought to consider what
was best to be done under the circumstances ; but at the
same time, individually, he was inclined to the plan sugges-
ted by Mr. Ayrton to appoint attorneys of the House of
Commons to investigate the circumstances of every election
petition presented, and report thereon, prior to further
proceedings.
A short discussion ensued, In the course of which Mr.
Serjeant Gaselee declared that he would strike out all the
clauses of the hill, and insert vote ny ballot—a suggestion
received with cheers and Ironical laughter.
On a division the propositions of Mr. Beuverie were
negatived by 20.1 to 127 votes.
The clause was then agreed to.
The remaining clames up to No. I were agreed to with
several unimportant amendments. On reaching clause 10,
which provided for the appointment of two judges, with a
special and sep:trate jurisdiction in election cases,
Sir it. Painter revived a former discussion by objecting to
confer upon two individuaLs the power of pronouncing a
stigma amounting to outlawry, for seven years, without the
assistance of a jury.
The Solicitor-General defended the clause.
Mr. Lowe, who spoke against the clause, recommended the
appointment of three new judges to the fifteen already
engaged in the courts of common law to discharge exactly
the same duties as their fellow's in the different courts, the
whole body of common law judges to arrange among them-
selves the rotat• in which they should perform their
judicial functions in the case of contested elections.
Mr. Disraeli Wag not prepared to adopt this proposal at so
late a period of the session, though he did not deny its
Ju-tice, and perhate, its propriety. lie must, therefore, ask
for the opinion of On, committee 4,n the subject.
Ultimately the committee divided upon a motion to strike
the two ju-ges out of the clause, and the proposal was car-
oled by it to Ti.
Mr. Disraeli then moved to report progress, as the vote
!test arrived at rendered it necessary that the Goventment
should consider the circumstances of the cam and how to
meet the ditlikalty.
On the 11111111 C milwequently'resuming, the right hon, gentle-
man named Thursday for proceeding with the bill, though
he confessed he same 110 prospect of its conning on; but in the
interval he hoped to make some arrangement.
On the motion for going int,' committee of imply, Major
Anson submitted a motion, the object of which was to
insure economy in warlike stores, to prevent the manu-
facture of such articles from becoming a Govenonent imp
nopoly, and to insure accuracy of accounts. At the same time
Mr itayter moved a rcsolution for placing in store the
twenty rounds of ball cartridge carried by the 11011-0010-
missioned officers and privates of the army in time of peace,
and for serving (nut ball ammunition to the troops either
held in readiness or about to proceed on military duty.
After some discussion Sir J Pakington agreed to give the
returns, but renuuted that the case was one for further ini-
quities.
The motion was then withdrawn.
_Several measures were formaily advanced a stage, and the

--.-._... ,
Rouse adjourned. -
In the House of Lords, on July 7. the Duke of Buckingham
moved the second reading of the West Indies Bill, and ex-
plained that its object was to repeal a grant which had been
made before the abolition of slavery, for the purpose of
increasing the influence and effieiency of the (lurch in the
West Indies atnowst the slave population, and promoting
. .

. .
their moral and spiritual education.
The Earl of Carnarvon defended himself against the
stricture, passel upon him in a recent debate. All he had
dune was to ratify a proposal made to him from the West
Indies with a view to the abolition of the grant, which he
had consistently followed up by supporting the abolition of
the I hitroli in Ireland. Ile maintained that the circumstances
of the Church in the Weft Indies were exactly parallel; and
that it was the Government which was acting inconsisT •tly
by disendowing the Church in that part of the world and
assisting disestablishnient in Ireland. Ile contended tint
the statement of the Lord Chancellor was full of inaccuracies
and in strong term.. .complained of the unfair and ungenerous

attack upon himself.
L ..1 ihancellor justifled his statements, and con-
tended that a donation made on account of thedistressed
condition of the colonies could never be regarded as a per-
manent endewinent.
Earl Granville expressed his opinion that ths noble earl
had fully vindicated his accuracy.
Some remarks of a recrimatory character were indulged
in by the Marquis of Bath, Lord Chelmsford, and the Mar
quis of Salisbury.
he bill was then read a second time.
The Marquis of Clanricarde took the opportunity of the
motion for going into committee on the Representation of
the People Ireland Bill to criticise it somewhat severely.
To call it a Reform Bill, he said, was a perf cot mockery. An
extension of the franchise was not nearly so necessary as a
redistribution of seats.
The Earl of Longford said that the Government had
originally proposed a nioderate but very benellcient scheme
of redistribotion, and he regretted that they were unable
to pass it without running the risk of losing the bill this
session.
Earl Russell was inclined to accept the bill for the present,
ant probably, its a few years hence, a better scheme of ow
distribution would be po.iode.
The bill then named through committee.
The Reformatory Schools Ireland Bill and the Army
Chaplains Bill passed through committee.
The Registration Bill was read a second time.
The Army Chaplains Bill. the Vagrant Act Amendment
Bill. and the Boundary Bill were read a third time and
passed.
On the motion for the third reading of the Representation
of the People Scotland Bill, Lord Redesdale moved the
insertion of a new clause, to the erect that the boundaries of
the city of Glasgow should he extended, and rich and popu-
lous *idly lug districts enclosed within the limits of the
Parliamentary borough.
The Duke of Argyll expressed his entire satisfaction with
the measure.
The Duke of Marlborough said that the Government,
would not countenance any amendments materially altering
the bill
Lord Redemilale protested against the way In which their
lordships had teen trianed in being deprived of their I. giti-
mate rights of coosidering the measure. Ile nmst insist on
pressing his amendment to enlarge the boundaries of Glasgow.
On a division the amendment was negatived by a majority
sof 53 to 13. ihe bill was then read a third time and Passed.
Some tonna! business was transacted, and their lordships
adjourned.
The House of Commons met at two o'clock. The greater
part of the sitting was occupied in a discussion of the Public
Schoels Bill, which had beet. re-committed.
The majority of the amendments to the clauses were
agreed to, after some discussion, although without
At length Mr. Lowe moved an additional clause. pro-
viding that all boys educated at Eton, Ilarrow, Rugby,
Westminster, Winchester, Charterhouse, and Shrew shiny
Shollid be examined once a year by one of the inspectors id
the Committee of Council on Education in reading. ern tiling
from dictation, arithmetic, including vuLar fractions,
practice, and rule of three, geography, English grammar,
and history, and the report laid before Parliansent.
After a discussion, in which Mr. to allele, Mr. Henley,
Mr. Labouchere, Mr. Percy Wyndham, Sir. Acland, and
Mr J. S. Mill took part, the motion was ultimately with-
drawn.
Mr. Aytton moved a clause to the effect that provision
should I.e made for the education of any boy ma day scholar
who might be residing within three miles or the sele.ol, with
a parent or relative within the first degree of relati whip,
or consanguinity or affinity, or with his guardian, and who
might be proved, by a preliminary examination, to be in
other reapecta It to be educated at such school.
Mr. Walpole opposed the clause.
The Committee divided, and the proposal of Mr. Ayrton
were rejected by attn 40.
The bill then passed through committee, and the Assignees
of 5 arine Policies Bill was read a third tune.
The sitting was then suspended.
On reauming at nine ..'clock, Colonel Barttelnt asked the
Prime Minister for tin assurance that it w. intended by the
Government to proceed with the Foreign rattle-man ket Bill,
en that some definite issue might he arrived at respecting it
during the present session
Mr. De Gray Was of °Melon that the Government had
not used their legitimate endeavours to carry the measure.
After some reniarks front Mr. Ileadlara, Colonel Ninth,
and Mr. Baxley,
Mr. Disraeli had too high an opinion of the good sense of
the people of Norfolk to imagine that they shared in the
SUSlacif Ma entertained of the Government by their repre-
seetative. Ministers had .lone all in their power, to promote
the ; and if he declined then to fix an evening sitting for
its discussion, it was only because the state of public
Business rendered it impossible to 410 so. It was still the
earliest determination of the Government to advance the
measure as far as they could.
The Ilouse then went int,p.,committee of supply, and
Mr. Lowe moved the British Museum estimate, which
amounted to LIPS 3,50, being an excess on the vote of the
preceding year of x 3.934. The increase, he explained, was
caused by the expen.l it ure in the departnieet of antiquities,
including the collettion of a niiinher id lintel eating and valu-
able mmoneripta from Abyssinia The present method of pro-
COO ling was liter Ily absurd. The country was expending
large sums of money in accumulating extensive and vain-
able collections which, for want of space, were virtually
burled; and that because the House of Commons had not
made adequate provision for the exhibition of these treasures.
The vote was then passed.
After desultory discussion other sums, as estimated, were
tweed to. and progress was then reported.
ro Lunatic Asylums Ireland, Accounts Audit Bill was
discossed in crminittee.
The remaining orders of the day were disposed of, and the
House adjourned.
In the House of Commons, on Ally 8, on the order of the
day for the second reading of the Water Supply Bah
Mr. El-se ask! he fe.t compelled to move for the discharge
of this bill, partly OR the ground of opposition Sr the
Government, the opposition of the water companies, and
the advanced peri.xl of the session.
After a protest from ticitizigetwa Mille, the enter for
mad main was

---
The second reading of the Church Estes Abolition 11111
wee postponed till next week.
The Mouse went into committee on the Mines Assessment
Thllon recommitment.

After the preamble had been postponed,
Mr. 11. A. Bruce called the serious attention of the Govern-
meat to this bill It was of such importance that it ought
not to have beeu Introduced until the widest possible notice
bad been given. Though he had no objection to the principle
of the bill, the rating of mines, he believed it wouti be best
to postpone legislation on that question till next session.
Mr. Secretary Hardy agreed that there were great diffi-
culties in the way of passing We measure. It seemed to
hits that it would not be an unadvisable course to post-
pone the que,tion till a further session, though he could
not take charge out, as it did not belong to his depart-
ment.

11. Beach said the simplest method would be with
revect to the matter of mines and rutinnt that the word
mine in the old Act sh..uld refer to all mines.
Colonel Gray said if the clause under discussion Clause
I paused in the present form it would cause great dissatis-
faction.
After s.ime further discussion,

Mr. Percy Wyndham, the author of the hill, Bahl Its prin-
ciple had been tully conceded by a select committee, which
had taken a great amount of evidence.
Mr. linatchbull.Hugesaen said it would be a pity if the
labours of the select committee were to be entirely lust.
After sonic observations from Mr. Corrance, . .

Mr. Halbert said he agreed with Sir M. 11. Beach that It
would he better to pass a clause carrying out the suggestions
lie had made. . .

Mr. Ayrton deprecated the system of special rating for
different kinds of property. I hey ought to seek after some
general plan of rating, and for this rea,un ho objected to
sonic clauses of this bill. . . .

Mr. Liddell was willing to accept the principle that all
!Wiwi should be rated, but some mistake was made respect
nig the valuation of mines, tram which deductions shouid lee
mmle. .

After a long discussion, Mr. Wyndham declared his
williugness to accept the amendment of Mr. Ayrtun. Ile
chose this course in preference to losing the bill altogether.
The tuneiniment was to the effect that mines not HOW
liab.e to be rated by the Act should in future be liable to be
ratfid.
Mr. Wentworth Beaumont's proposed new clauses, as to
the rating of coal, clay, stone, salt, or ore inines after the
Ist of October, 1860, Was then put 2111 i negatived,
Mr. Ayrton's amendment, above alluded to. was then put.
A long, but desultory, discussion arose. Eventually, how-
ever, toe Home divided, when the numbers wee ..—For Mr.
Ayrton's amendment, 111.1; against it, C; majority for the
amendment, 103.
he amendment was accordingly declared to he carried.
tin clause 2, Mr. Ayrton said that his suggotien was, that
if his amendment were carried On it kid just been , all the
other clauses of the bill should be struck out.
Sir. Kendall protested against this course. The hon.
member opposite had drawn a large party with him into the
lobby who knew nothing whatever of the bearings of this
action.
The clauses up to 19 were then negatived wiatim, on the
understanding that Mr. Ayrton should bring up clauses
meeting the wishes of hon. members with respect to the coin-
plications of rating.
The bill then passed threngli committee rand the louse
resumed.
On the motion that the House go into committee on the
Promissory Oaths Bill,
Mr. Newdegate inquired of the Ilome Secretary whether
he saw any oujection to substitute in this mill for the (oath to
be taken by public officers the oath of allegiance to tile 11-own. !
which everyone of them as members of Parliament were '
bound to take, whatever their position. or creed.
Mr. Gathorne Hardy observed that the oaths had been set-
tled by a committee, which wont with great minuteness
into this question.
The House having gone into commlttee, Mr. Newrieg,ate
moved that Clause 2 be left out, and the oath of allegiance
Pmsed fly the ate: of train be substituted.
Mr. Sergeant Gaselee objected to all these oaths, and would
like to see the bill thrown over altogether.
Mr. Hardy reminded the hon. member that if he got rid
of tins bill he a mild still leave oaths behind.
Mr. Newdegate's amendment was negatived without a
division.
Mr. bouverie moved on clause 8, that the words relating
to the o th to be taken by clergy be sum.* out.
Mr. Gathorne Hardy opposed the amendment, which,
upon a division was lost.
It was ordered that the clause stand part of the bill, which
eventually passed through committee.
The Government of India Act Amendment till was re-
considered in committee.
Lord W. Bay proposed an amendment tc Clause affecting
the pension to life councillors in India ; but it a-as opposed
by Sir Stafford Nortlicote, and, after a discussion, it was
55 ithdrawn.
Mr. Otway moved to reduce the salaries of the councillors
of India from £1,500 to £1,200 as proposed in the bill.
Colonel llogg opposed the amendment.
Mr. Mill protested against the suggestion to hand over the
Government of India from the Council to the Secretary of
State 1.11.1 the subordinates in his office.
Mr. Ilankey thought the salary paid had not been too high,
and urged that the amendment would virtually reduce the
salaries of the councillors.
sir Stafford Northoute explained that this was not in any
way increasing the salaries As it was proposed to discon-
tinue the pensions, it became a question what was the fair
salary for the services_rendered.
After a few remark rfnun Mr. Sheridan, the 'louse divided
whon there appeared—For the amendment, 26; Against, 73 ;
Majority for Government, 47.
l'rogress was then o dered to be reported.
The Ecclesiaatictl Buildings and Glebes ,Scotland:Bill
was read a third time and passed.
he Court of Justiciary
•Seutland. Bill was read a third
time and passed.
The Lords Amendments on the Boundary Bill was con-
sidered and agreed to.
the llouse then adjourned