The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-04-25 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

In the ll,uw! Commons, u Apt il 20, on the motion for
going Into comnlttee of supply, :Mr. Siveilett rose to call the
attention of tie House to tho very unsatisfactory manner in
efftafejoint.stoek rompamir e have for the lest eight
}elm perforce,' the functions entreated to them of supply-
his irrigstire to Tubb,: lands in India trim their own finds,
so isr as tic pecuniary rt sults of their operations have been
comMuelisted to nolianient, and moved that the system
adopted ty the late Seeret,ry of State for India, Viscount
ifoff,,a, mil continued by the present Secretary of State for
mini, Ot supporting In their present petition these corn-
S ti 'venturers in enterprises sustained by private
credit !trough means if enormous giants of public money
dray it ton i the Indian Treasury is hullo:UM and should be
diseonilmud.
. . . . _

u7;l7..si,;;;lwote justified the course taken by the Govern-
smut, and urged that the measure. which they had sanc-
tioned had been productive of benefit. For lns own part, if
the eiestion, were to be brought nefore him as a new ones-
Mu no should certainly not sanction the system of granting
suns to adventurers for the irrigation Of lands iu ludia, with
a gate guarantee.
the discustion was Ccrithricti by lx. Khstird and Mr.
J. 3. Smith.
leo motion was then withdrawn.

The House then went into committee on the Civil itervlce
Eitimates wiun the following votes were agreed to :
The Chail mcli put the question that a Baia of £50,520 be
...lid to complete the suin necessary to defray the charges
payable Arming the ensuing year for British consulate slid
anba,sybllers at Constantinople, and consular buildings in
China and Japan.
Sir. Monk objected to the amount of £0,920 for British
consulate and embassy houses at Constantinople, for which
sonic thousand pounds had licen annually voted for 101110
)tars past. Tat iity years ago the immense Bunt of s:80,000
hail been expended hi Imilding a new palace at Pere. and
shut that time thousands more had been spent upon keep-
ing it Ia repair. Ile thought a new palace at Therariia
wholly unnecessary, and should move the reduction of the
vote by ...:6,000, the sum proposed for the embassy house at
Therapla
col ucl sykes said this was but a alicro.eople reduction of
all 111,111e11,10 Increase which was taking place in this claim
of votes.

Mr_ Labonchere said the building at Therapin, to far from
belng a palace, was a speaks of shed—an old farm-house in
extremely bail repair. It hail been his miefortime to lit oin
It. nit ho tumid he could not sleep from the great number of
savrptoaatwhbh came out at night. , A laugh Instead of
epending some hundreds every year in repairing ruinous
buildings, it was certainly better to build a new house. The
Sultan bail given the British embasay apiece of ground, with
frobtage to the Bosphorus, mid Sir ii. &diver proposed
that this frontage shoui,t be sold, and ant w house built with
the proceeds. The only objection made to thin was that the
state wag the gift of the hultan ; but many of these estates
were gifts, anal the custom of the country was to sell them
when it was •teemed expedient.
After some observations from Mr. Kerelake and Lord
Stanley, Mr. Powell said he could state from personal
eaperienca that the house at Therapla was in a scandalous
.....11tian

... ....-..
Mr. Alderman I.utk objected to the maintenance of the
house altogether, because It they built a country house one
Year for 110,000 they would require Lett year Ehy.,oo for
remnant

Alter a further Illseusslon, Government had their own way
hy a majority of 17.
Colonel Sykes wished for some information respecting the
Week's, for consular buildings in China and Japan.
Alderman Lust thought £40.000 an enortnons turn for
China. and he ,limbted whether it was worth while to spend
so much money in Japan. Ile hoped the noble lord would
give some explanation on the two item.
Some discussion followed, when Alderman Lost moved
that the item of £ll,OOO for Japan should be struck out of
the vote.

the anienilmeht wt., however, negatived without a
diVieloll, owl the vote agreed to.
It was then agreed that the awn of fB,OOO should be granted
to complete the sum of 1:10,000 for the establishment and
maintenance of a tire brigade for the metropolin
the question that 0,000 he granted for the purchase of
ground for the erection of a house for her Majesty's mission
at Teheran, Mr. Alderman Lust said he decidedly objected to
the vote, because if It were agreed to, no doubt it would
lie followed in future years by several votes in reference
to this matter. Ile moved that the vote be disallowed.

On a division, the nnmliers were—tor the vote, 70; against
It, 25. The vote was, therefore, allowed.
On the vote of £103,075 to complete the sum of
/L 114,675 to defray the expenses of constructing certain
harbours of refuge, and on account of the new packet
harbour and harbour of refuge at Holyhead, of
l'ortpatrick Harbour, and at works at Spurn Point,
Siri; raves said, with respect to the item of X 50,000 for the
expenditure at Alderney, he thought it desirable some ex.
tdanation should be given of that constantly increasing vote.
He found that that harbour could only hold four or eve
tirst-class ships, and would require a garrison of 10,000 to
defend it.
After a short discuulon the vote was agreed to.
. . . . . . .

A vote of 42,31.0 for erecting and maintaining lighthouses
abroad for the year, was agreed to.
The next vote was for 1256,23 S for the maintaining and
repairing of Royal palaces throughout the year.
Alderman Lusk thought It was peculiar that all their
votes should have increased, and this one showed an Increase
of i:14,293 as compared with last year.
Mr. Childers said there was one item In this vote to which
be wished to call attention. They were asked to pay the
expenses of reconstructing a lock on the Thames. The
origin for this item PM to be found In tho fact that this
lock, falling isle ruins. Interfered with the water arrange-
ments at the Castle.
Mr. lloldney said that, In consitierat',in of the amount
granted in anticipation of the passing of the Conservancy
pill, a power was given to the conservators to impose a rate
to infra), those expenses Now, did not the amount upon
the estimate represent the cost of the drainage down at
Windsor, and whether in that case was it not being paid
tor twice over? . . .

Mr. C. llentinck took exception to a charge for cleaning the
pictures at Hampton Court Palace.
Labouchere drew attention to the cost Incurred for
gardeners, workmen, kr., at Ilampton Court, and moved
that 1.5,000 be deducted from the vote.
. . . _ .

.....
After some explanation from Lord John Manners, Mr.
Yaw nett said he could not lee any object in maintaining St.
James'. Palace when her Majesty did not reside there. Ile
moved that g 5,600. the expense of Maintaining St. James's
Palace, be deducted from the vote.
The amendment was, however, lost, by a majority of
Mr. Labouchere then moved that the vote item with regard
to Hampton Court be reduced by £5,000.
Tile amendment was negatived without a division.
Sir Serieent C melee repeated his motion to reduce the
vote by the sum of £15,000.
The Chairman said the motion could not now be put. It
had been already proposed to omit certain items, and it could
not now be proposed to reduce the vote itself.
Mr. Bentinck said his noide friend had not answered the
puha to which he had called his attention, as to the item
of grAQO being proposed for the cleansing and framing of the
pictures at Hampton Corn t, which were the property of the
Crown. He wished to know whether these pictures were to
he considered as belonging to the Crown or to the public.
. . . .

Mr. Ayer°n wished to call the Chairman's attention to the
question of order. Ile had never before heard it suggested
that otter the discussion of particular items In a vote it was
incompetent for any hon. member to reduce the amount
of the vote Itself. Ile thought this of so much consequence
that he should move that the Chairman report progress, as
he thought the committee could not go on under such a
rule.
The Chairman said that by the resolution of the House
passed on the oth February, 1858, when It was proposed to
nmit or reduce items in a vote, after these were disposed of,
the question must be put on the original vote or reduced
vote, as the case might be, without amemlnient.
Mr. Fawcett wished, before the motion for reporting pro.
gross was put. that some notice should be taken of the re-
marks he had made relative to St. James's and Buckingham
Palaces.

aor.ea.
Lord J. Manners said It was quite obvious that the qustions
put by the hon, member could not be answered without
ottu Me and careful investigation. It was impossible to say
offhand whether Buckingham Palace could be so arranged
as to admit of courts being hell there, or what price might
he obtains d for the site of Sq. James's Palace, If it were toll.
With respect to the question put by the lion member for
Whitehaven, he apprehended that there could be no doubt
that the pictures of Ilarnpton Court Palaoe were the pro-
petty of the Nation.
!Pune further discussion ensued, after which Alderman
Leek moved that the committee report progress, which was
agreed to without a dictator, and the House resumed.
Some other husineaa was disposed of, and the House ad-
journed_
- -•— •

. -------
In the House of Common% on April 21, Mr. Watkin gave
notice that on a future day he should ask on what grounds
Thomas Maguire, a private in the Marines, who was sen-
tenced to death for participation in the death of Sergeant
Brett, at Manchester, was unconditionally pardoned and
honourably reinstated in the army.
Mr. Shiew-Lefevre asked for leave to bring in a bill to
amend the law with respect to the property of married
women, and in doing so said the bill he proposed to bring in
was similar to that brought in in 1557, but the bill did not
go to a third reading, and since that time the question had
not been raised.
Mr. Mill seconded, and leave was given to bring in a MIL
2 he Lord Advocate salted for leave to bring In a bill to
confirm a provisional order under the General Police and
Improvement scotland Act, Ise!, relating to Broughty Perry,
which was granted.
I in the order for going Into committee on the Capital
Punishment within Prisens Bill, Mr. 1;11pIn made an affect-
ing and powerful appeal to the House in favour of the total
abolition of the punishment of death, and moved an amend-
nient declaratory of the opinion of the House to that effect.
The amendment having been seconded by Mr. Leeman,
11r. Gregory reminded the House that the question before It
was not that of softening the heart or saving the soul of an
assassiii, but preventing the Queen's subjects being murdered;
and he argued that the balance of all authority was on the
side of the conclusion that the punishment of death was
the only effective deterrent of crime.
After some discussion, the amendment was negatived.
The bill was then committed, and after a lengthened dis-
cussion of the clauses, was ordered to be reported with
an,
The Religious Buildings Sites Bill was passed through
committee. Ihe Legitimacy Declaration (Ireland) Bill was
read • second time, and the House adjourned.

-
In the house of Common', on April 2,M;. Monsell moved
the second reading of the Burials Ireland Bill.
After some discussion Colonel Stuart moved that the bill
be read a second time that day six months.
The House divided, and there were—for the second read-
itiff, 74 against it, 61: majority, 23.
Mr. T. Hughes moved the second reading ef the Sunday
Trading Bill, which bill was similar to one which went to a
amid reading last year.
After an amendment, that the bid should lie read that
day sin months, had been proposed by Mr. Graham, and
meconded by Sir. P. Taylor, the Douse divided, and the
numbers were—For the second reading, GS; Against, 81,„;

......
Majority for, 37.
The bill was then read a second time.
The Home then went into oinunittee, and the Metropolis
Subways Bill passed through.
Afterwards, Mr. Al 'Laren moved the second reading of the
eanougate Annuity Tax 1011, which was seconded by Mr.
erne:, Ewing, and a long discussion followed, in which Mr.
11111cr, Mr. Moncrieff, and other Scotch members, took part;
after which adi vlsion took place—for the second reading, 69 ;

against, sc.. Majority against, 1/.
'the Legitimacy Declaration Ireland) Bill ,Lords) passed
through committee, and the Hoo he adjourned.

REPORTED ATTEMPT TO BLOW UP
BUCKINGHAM PALACE.
(From the Morning Star.)
on Tuesday alight, shortly after nine o'clock, the most ex-
traordinary and startling rtmours, which completely placed
In the shade all former ones in connection with Fenianhim,
began to float through the metropolis. It was in the neigh-
bourhood of Pimlico that the affair first got wind, and there
It assumed the mild form of an attempt to injure the Palace
by throwing a number of hand grenailee through the
tower windows—a feat which it is needless to say, no ;
one could perform from without the railings which
eorround the Palace, on account of the distance it would
be necessary to throw the grenades. Besides, so well
guarded by sentries and police is the enclosure In front and
at the sides of the Palace, that no rational man ought to
have believed that though "Turk, Jew, or Atheist " might
enter those massive gates, a Fenian could. However, the
Pimlico version of the story was believed ; hitt already it had
assumed another and a deeper complexion at Vestminster
There, people were told that a considerable number of
Fenians sonic e ighty or a hundred hail surprised
the sentries, settled their accounts satisfactorily with six-
shot revolvers, overcome the police with little resist-
ance, serf, having gained access to the Palace, poured
into it the fatal Fenian compound, elreck-fire, which
Instantaneously enveloped the building in unestin-
guishable flames. some parties asserted most positively
that the first part of this story, with respect in overpowering
the soldiers and police, was correct, but that gunpowder
was used, tint a wing of the Palle(' had been blown down,
and that some menitiers of the very sparse retinae of
le•riranta kept at Buckingham Palace hail fallen victims to
this worse than Clerkenwell outrage. It Is • fact that this
actual report wineezed itself through the crowded lobby of
the House of Commons into the august chamber itself, where.
hen. members discussing in committee how beet they could
Improve artisans' dwellings in this country were startled at
the alltenattestuent that au 1090 Am WIPP; lAA Oceu

me-So on one—and the least faveared--cd—their7
Royal mistsess's palatial dwellings Otlteisla of high
position in the Mouse put off for the moment their
most incolevenient and antiquated official costume, and
rushed to the nearest police-station for authentic Informa-
tion, and were happy, on retureing, to be able to reassure
the over-nervous members of the Lower Mouse. In the
midst of all this alarmlog contradictory Intelligence, it was
Impossible to arrive at the truth without seeking it oneself,
and the result ot that search la that the following facts ac-
count for the excitement of the people of the Went-
mid on Tuesday bight and the Ile less terror mid amaze-
ment of people at a diet Alice to when the exaggerated
Intelligence was coo,* ed. At an early hour on Tues.
Jay morning Information was received by the lathe.
Mies at Scotland-) ard that diming the afternoon a
qaautity of Creek lire would lie conveyed from the City side
in the neighbourhood of Bindleo. Aeceilugly, plffin clothes
'Mears were stationed in that part of Pimlico which is close
to Buckingham Palace, having orders to stop mot question
all suspicions-looking p, mom who might bw seen conveying
any mysterious bunches or packages in the direction of Pim-
11.u. Several of those otticen extended their ground of
observation along and around the Palace railings, watching
parties coming from the direction of the Mall, as well as from
Itirdcege-walk. Serjeant _Langley and Constable AP Donnell
*treed the party,and about hal f-pastbight on Tuesday evening
they saw three men of the In'iouring class carrying, or rather
dragging, along a large and apparently heavy hamper close
to the Palace on the side. The lights at this por-
tion of the park near the Italsce, unlike the more dangerous
parts, are very numerous, and the officers had full opportunity
of watching the movements of the three men. The latter
laid down the hamper ire quently, changed sides, talked,
looked up at the Palace, then went on, and then laid the
hamper down eitain. All this helped to make up the minds
of Langley mid Sl'Donnell that all was far from being right
All,l probably haviog the dearly-bought lesson taught by
clerkenwell—that delays are dangerous—before their eyes,
they at Once went up to the nien and asked them their
WIMP, businem, and destination. Tiesatisfactory replies
were given, and, after a parley, the officers seized the
men—ar Donnell taking ono, anti Langley two. A
tierce struggle ensuel ; the men attacked the polies
with desperate violence, and the latter as desperately
held their prisoners. Sergeant Langley knocked down one of
the men with a blew, which had the effect of giving him a
chalice of escape, which ho was not stow to profit by, and
scampered eff as fast as his lege could carry him. The ethic
Iwo men were seemed, and with some assistance brought to
King-street Police-station, Westminster. 'lke hamper was
also brought to the station. It was found to be eased with
tin, waterproof, and nearly filled with water. In the water
wore two large Jars or bottles containing what, upon exemin•
ation, proved to be Creek tire. The prisoners when at the
station refused to give their names or any account of them-
selves. They are poorly-clad Irish labourers. No charge
was entered against them on the charge-sheet, pending in-
structions from Str Richard Mayne.