The Express.
London, England, 1863-05-15 00:00:00

VOLUYISERS BILL_

On the motile for the mooed reading of this hal,
The Marquis of HARTINGTON, attar referring to the
origin and program of the volunteer movement, to the re-
port of the royal coouniesioo, noonunensling further assis-
tance by the government, and to the vote of the house of
a sum for that object, °leaned that it became necessary in
co seam for the war department to make provisions for
the diskihOhm of the grant, end to propose an alteration
of the existing law, ad be proceeded to explain the prin-
cipal petals in noised to which the bill would alter and
amend the law relating to volunteer.. He concluded by
giving a very favourable report of the condition of this
force, spontaneously raised, and now numbering upwards of
150,000 men. _ . _

Cursory remarks were made
...jor.yit.ealor EDWARDS Coisisa
YRiNCR, Sir J. Snout, aad Dusie, and the hi',
was read a woad time.

THAMES EMBANKMENT 'NORTH BIDES BILL

Upon the order of the day fre the nrcoramittal of this
nr. MAW FORD moved that the bill be re-committed
to the select committee, with instruction to take into COO-
sideratioa amain proposals made by the corionition of the
cr.ty of Leaden to her Majesty's Pint Coramissiooer of
Works once the date of the report of the select committ.e.
He cask this motion, he said, in behalf of the corporation,
who offered to make the proposed improvemeus, which, in
the hands of the Metropolitan Board of Works, would cost
a sum of 650,0001., for 300,t ill., paying the rest of the
cost out of their corporate Node.
Mr. COWPEU said the question was one of considerable
importance as regarded the practice of the house. It was
very undesirable that they should miconrage motions to re-
commit bills without serious and substantial grounds for so
doing. and he did not think it had been the practice of
the house to recommit bills without its being shown
either that the committee bad not adequately or satisfac-
torily dimharged their duty, or that some new facts had
come to light since the close of their labours. He was glad
to heir that no objection was made to the committee, for
they had listened with the greatest attention for is days to
the evidence brought before them, the corporation and the
Commisaioners of Hewers for the City being the only oppos-
ing parties. He understood the hon. member to sly that
the orwporstion were willing to make a present of 3.30,000/.
out of their corporate resources for the honour of making
the street. When he was informed that they had such re-
bitiZera, he said he was delighted to hear it, that they ought
by all means to be ecooaraged in spending it in
improving sod beautifying the streets in the City,
and that he was the but person to interfere in the
slightest degree with works of that hied ; bat he added,
'• Do tell me what those oorporate resoutoes are" (Rear.)
Yet ep to the pretest time his information on the point was
very obscure. What he understood them to mean by the ear-
'orate resources was the 4d. coal duty, which they
said was theirs; but so far from belonging to the corpora-
tion. it had cooly been granted to them by act of parlisineet
until 1872. Probably, at the expiration of that period they
would amen ea SWIMS right to levy 4d. on every e.haldron
of coals : but with that they had nothing to do. They were
sow dealing with the actual confirmation of the tax of 4d.
per ton, which, be could not admit, formed, in any
proper sense, a part of the corporate resources. (Hear.)
It was quite clear that the City could not give any money
whatever out of the extension of the fourpenny tax from
1872 to Iggi. because, with the assent of the committee, be
had inserted in • bin which stood Os the orders for a second I
reeding, a urovisioa by which that money was to he devoted
to raising the valley of Holborn-hill, for which it would
only be sufficient. It wee, therefore clear that nothing
would be left out of that tax for the new street, sad he
hoped that the hon. member opposite connected with the
City would explain what was meant by the corporate fowls.
He quite admitted that if the City made a serious prepaid
to devote funds which were not applicable to public -
improvements, and might be devoted to some parsintry
or other not very important purpose, it would be entitled to
consideratin • bet, at the same tints, he *outmoded
this vies net ease to hank to a select committee. It is- 1
edsod a mien* which could be mach better &cured in
a committee of the whole house. Being a highway bill,
this area sere had been carefully inquired into and sifted.
It west before the private bill committee in order that all
=whose interests were affected by it might be fully
and he considered that sow, any question of prisciple
which it raised could be meek better decided in a mini.
sates of the house than in a select committee upstairs.
Bet even amusing that this fend of 360,0001. was really
disposable, thin slam the gasifies whether the
loan should accept the ester el the City. whisk,
however, was not se offer to pay the mosey, but be raise
and expend it. No doubt any corpenties or other body
would like to haws the power et spindles 360,0001.. asd be
reedy to take it out of their neighbours' hands for that pur-
pose, bet, if they took that ism fres theMstropoline Board
of Works Ind gars it to the City, ether objectless might be
raised. When the government had to 110•11iCille the roes-
mires for eosins* the taxes as coal. they made a dines.-
hoe 111141111111111 thee d. Ned the ether taxes. The goalies el

THE

r these coal duties was of the greatest importaeos, because
they formed the fund by which all the improvements in the
metropolis had beep. or were likely to be made, and the
house said that they ought to be economised sod
distributed in the wisest and most efficient way. The 4d.
tax was, by the Continuance Act of 1861, committed to
the cue of the City, and the 9d. tax formed into a separate
food for the Thames Embankment and other metropolitan
improvements. This last fund, it was decided, should be
expended by the Metropolitan Board of Works. The reasons
were obvious The 9d. was intended to be spent on int-
provemei.ts for the benefit of the whole metropolis, such as
this great thoroughfare between the teat and wart of Los-
doo, and therefore it was proposed that the Metropolitan
Bused should be entrusted with the expenditure of the
money, instead of the corporation, and that the Cite should
become subordinate to that board. (A laugh.) lie knew
that was not a palatable phrase to the corporation, but
it was not his phrase, and would be found in
an act of parliament. The Metropolis Local Management
Act made them subordinate to the Metropolitan Board of
Works. It declared that the metropolis should include
the City, and the members of the Metropolitan Board corn-
pi:sed three representatives from the City. How, then,
could the corporation say they were independent and superior
to the board, when they were themselves represented upon
it? They could not have it both ways. If they asserted
their supremacy over the Metropolitan Board, ought they
not to withdraw their three members! At present, those
three members bad a share in the expenditure of the money.
Therefore the Metropolitan Board of Works as much
represented the City as it did the rest of the metropolis, and
it would be quite contrary to the principles of self.govere.
meet sod the principle that represeotatioo should go with
taxation, if they took awav from the representatives
of the whole metropolis die expenditure of the 9d.
duty, and gave it only to the City of London, which
was only one district of the metropolis. The 4d. doty
would still be administered by the City for the pur-
poses specified in the Continuance Act, for parliament had
wisely reserved to itself the discretion to say in each in-
'tame when these duties were renewed to what particular
purpose they should be devoted. He thought it was lima.
tenet whether the bill was sent back to the committee or
not., as he could not help thinking that the fund of
which the corporation spoke was a kind of ignis
(atous ; for, no.withatanchng all his exertioes, it
still remained concealed. He thought there must
be some delusion on that subject somewhere,
If the house shored seriously entertain the motion of the
' hon. member for London, they bad • right to have placed
before them some clear and definite information of the
fonds which the City possessed. He thought tFe hon.
gentleman had made out no case whatever for this !wormed-
Um). He had stated no new facts. But if hon. members
would read through the correspondence between the City
and himself they would see that the only thing to hen
cted, it the corporation should be entrusted with the
execution of these works, would be • postponement
of this mipeovement to an indefinite period, and be should
be so n 11 anything hapreocd to create delay in the open*
of the great new thoroughfare between the West end and
the City. He therefore should oppose the amendment.
The LORD MAYOR said the ci.7 of London considered
that it was • most destructive measure to Isis° funds in the
City and intrust their distribution to • foreign body. The
City had means at its disposal to effect the improvement in
the proper lime, it had never failed in any undertaking,
and would give a guarantee for providing the necessary
funds.

NORRIS insisted that the city of London bad means
to fulfil its engagements ; it had expended large sums in im-
provements, and felt naturally jealous of the intrusion of
the Metropolitan & .rd of Worts.
Mr. DOULTON observul that all the arguments urged
on behalf of the city of London had been considered by the
select committee- The principle of showing the Metropo-
lit...n Laird of Works jurisdiction in the city of London had
been greedy isanotioned by parliament and been conceded
by the corporation.
Lord .1. MANNERS thought the government might, in
the first instance, have int:tasted the work to the city of
London ; but, as a member of the select committee, he was
bound to say that the city did not establish their cue so as
to justify the committee in altering the bill.
The discussion, which was wallow I by Mr. Tin, Alder-
man SIDMIZT, and Mr. W. WILLIAMS, terminated in Mr.
CIAITTOILIN amendment being withdrawn.
The house then went into committee upon the bill, the
clarion of which underwent a few amendments.

Mr. CRAWFORD thought it highly desirable that before
this street were turned over to the tender mercies of the
Board of Works it should be named at once. He would
therefore move a clause to the effect that the name of the
street be called " Mansion.house.street." (No, no.)
Sir J. SHELLEY said that malty to hear his hon. friend
and the Lord Mayor talk about the Board of Works, it
would seem as though they fancied them a bet of red
Indians—(a butO)—forgetting that the City really formed a
very small portion of the metropolitan district. He would
rather the street were called "Crawford-street"—(a laugh)
"Mansicei-house-street," as he really thought his
boo. Mend was one of the most energetic and useful mem.
ben the City bed had for rrnetime, .

Mr. AYHTON protested against the name of " Mansion-
home-street." One memos. objection to it was that a great
part of the inhabitants of the City would not be able to
pronounce the name of the street properly. (A laugh.) The
name, moreover, would Le suggestive of the worst feature
of the corporation. One of the earliest writers on the City
said, mazy years ago, that what struck him as the meat
curious thug about it was the extraordinary amount of pro-
visions they had, and the wonderful powers of the citizens
in disposing of them. (Laughter.) The name of this
street ought not to be suggestive of that one faculty
of the corporation. (Hear, hear.) If his isnourable
friend the member for SZafford (Alderman Sidney) were
present he might have suggested • name, reminding them
of some old associations connected with the City. On •
former occasion he told them bow the corporation behaved
in tleir cups, a condition for which he believed they were
celebrated. Why not, for example, Whittington-West—
la laugh)—or Oat-street, in memory of Whittington's eat?
(Laughter). Or there was the noble lord the patron of
the improvement, who was so anxious that it should be
effected ; let him be put into the new street. Why should
not his name be identified with it! It would be • compli-
ment worthy of his administration. (Hear, hear.) But
Mension-house-street ! He had hoped before this to have
seen the Maimiondionse oonverted into a railway station.
(Loud laughter.) He sliould advise the withdrawal of
the addition, and suggest the substitution of the name of
the noble lord. (Hear.)
Lord PALMERSTON said that with every desire for

posthumoua fame he hoped ghat the right of biptiiiiUg the
street would be left to the proper glamors. (Laughter.)
The motion was then withdrawn, and the clause was agreed
to, as were the remaining clauses of the bilL

LONDON COAL AND WINE DUTIES CONTINUANCE
BILL.

Clause 1 was agreed to.
On clause 2,
Mr. COX proposed to insert after the word " by" in the
28th line, the words "the removal of Middle-row, 801.
horn." The inconverdence arising from the nermwoess of
Holborn in consequeoce of the 'redeem of Middle-row was
generally admitted. This obstruction to the traftic could be.
removed for under 50,0001., and in &few weeks. He might
be met with the objection that the corporatioe were not
bound to appl► any part of the fourpenny coal tax to the im-
provement of the metropolis outside the City. He thought
it would only be a graceful act on the part of the oarpoextion
to appropriate the small amount of mosey that would be re-
quired for this object. He thought it would be a greater
improvement than the improvement even of Holborn-bill.
Mr. CRAWFORD Bald be was not eoinmissioned on the
part of the City to do graceful acts—llaughter)—but as
the money—the produce of this tax—was to be employed in
the improvement of the City and the parte adjacent, he had
no doubt that they would pay proper attention to the sub.
ject brought under consideration by the boo. member. But
as between the improvement of Middle-row, Holborn, and
of Holborn-bill, be thought the latter bad the prior claim.
Mr. Alderman BALOMONEI believed that Middle-row
was in Finsbury, which might account for the preference of
the lice. member for Finsbury.
Mr. A YRTON mid the raining of Holborn Valley must
include the removal of Middle-row if the improvement wee
to be real, (Hear, beer.) . .

Mr. Aldermen IhONEY thought that the money should
be applied to improvements in the City in the first place.
Mr. COWPER said that the raising of Holborn valley
was of much greater importance than the rernovalof
row. It wart in hurt the gloated want of that part of Lon-
don, and it was therefore treated in the clause as the
P charge upon the 4d. duty. Whatever sum re-
reat7 after the completion of that improvement would
probably be expended in the widening of Middle-row. The
time had, he thought, arrived for effecting the contemplated
improvement in Holborn valley, and that the oorporation
should be invested with powers to negotiate with the ran.
way companies requiring land near Holborn valley, as they
could do au now on better terms than hereafter. (Hear.)
The amendment was negatived without a division, and the
bill paned through committee.
The Vardsation (Ireland) Bill likewise passed the con,
mittes.
The Naval Medical Supplemental Fund Society Winding-
up Act Amendment Bill was read a third time and passed.
The Salmon Fisheries (Scotland) Act Cootimmace Bill was
read a second thus.
The Sale of Mill Sites, Sic. (Ireland), Bill passed the com-
mittee.

On the easeideration of the revert of the Goers! Corn-
inittee of Elections on the withdrawal of the Lisburn elec-
tion pstitTa,_.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved that "the petition
of William John Lem and Moses Bullick„ complaining of
an nodes election and return for the borough of Liabero, do
stud referred to the General Committee o Elections, the
document withdrawing such petittos not having constituted
• withdrawal thereof under the Election Petitions Act,
1848."

Tl:ie motion gave rime to much observation upon the cir-
cumstancee of this extraordinary case.
Ultimately, attar a long conversation, the motion WM
Weed to,.

mites The &OA Mulch Simons Wales Bill Ina mom-
&

After a hog tine spent in discussing sod amending the
Ant emus. the Chairman was ordered to reprt progress.
Mr. BRUCE aid after this smeechnest had been intro-
duced he would withdrew (rota taking any 'art in passing
the Wee it rendered it entirely ringlets
Yr. WALPOLE thought that the amendment, instead of
soaking the bill turneries, would reader it more palatable.
Mr. AYSTON aid that tits timodusat awls the bill