The Express.
London, England, 1862-07-25 00:00:00

COAL MINES BILL.

This Lill was res—d;Thigl
COMPANIES, !sc., BILL.
This bill mood through committee.
POLICE ANC IMPROVEMENT (SCOTLAND) BILL.
This bill was read a third time ixt passed
CONFIRMATION OF SAT. BILL
• ••

This laWasTrad a second time, as were also the follow-
ing bills —Savings Banks (Ireland) Bill, Tunsoikes Act
Contioyanoe Commission Bill.

METROFIALIS LOCAL MANAGEMENT ACT
AMENDMENT BILL
Their lordships then went into committee on this bill.
Claws to 4 were agreed to.
On clause 5,
Lord EAVENSWORTH directed attention to an alleged
overcharge of 28,0001. on the parishes of the district of
Fulham sod Hammersmith, and contended that it was un-
just to burden them with= expense from which they did
sot derive any benefit. He proposed to add to the end of
the clause, words to the following effect :—Except such pre-
cepts as might be issued to parts of pariahs, in Fulham and
Hammersmith districts, which precepts should be amended
so that such parts of parishes should be charged according
to the actual benefit derived from there works.
After a few words from Lord EGERTON of Tarron and
Bari GRAXVILLI, the amendment was negatived without a
division, and thu clause was agreed to.
On the motion of Lord CHELMSFORD clause 110 was
omitted.

The other clauses were agreed to, and the bill with
amendment passed through committee.
The Indemnity Bill passed through committee.
The Jamaica Loan (Settlement) Bill passed through com-
mittee.

The Merchandise Minis Bill passed through committee.
The Windsor Castle Bakehouse Bill reused through oom-
mittee._

—The Parochial Buildings (Scotland) Bill was read a third
time and .
WEIS= AND MEASURES (IRELAND) ACT

.(11460). BILL

On the motion of the Esil of Sr. Gamest% this bill was
read • saved time.
PUBLIC OFFICES EXTENSION BILL. _ _

On the motion of Lord STANLEY CI ALDI2I2; this bill
was raid • second time.
COUNTY SURVEYORS (IRELAND) BILL.
. .

On the motion of the Eal of 9i. Gzamehithie bill wee
raid • sexed time.
DIVORCE COURT BILL

The LORD CHANCELLOR moved the second reading
of this bill.
The Earl of DERBY said that before their lordships
sweated to the second reading of this bill, be would present
to them a petition which he had received that day, sigoed
by 296 perNYOS to the neighbourhood of Norwich, praying
their lordships to reject the bill altogether. The parties
stated that they only received notice of the bill on Satur-
day Let, and observed that it was beteg harried very rapidly
through the house. The present act expired ors the filet of
this month, and whilst he could not support the prayer of
the petition, because he did not think it desirable that no
end should he put suddenly to the coma, he yet thought it
would not be unreasonable that rather roots time than
something less than a fortnight should be afforded for con-
sidering the propriety of prolonging the bill or making it
permanent It certainly did appear, as the moult of
experience, that the bill had failed to fulfil
all the objects which its promoters bad in view. Its effect
certainly was not greatly to diminish the scandal arising
from the publication of very many indecent cases. Indeed,
for one such ease previous to the passing of the act there
were now at least twenty which were just as freely pub-
lished as before. He was not expressing any opinion as to
the necessity or expediency of coatinuing the Divorce Court
as it cloud ; hot, before an act of such a doubtful descrip-
tion was made permauent, he would suggest to the noble
lords opposite whether it would not be better to pass a
short continuance act of two or three years' duration, and
to allow a general inquiry into the working of the measure,
which was very much needed, to take place. He did not
propose to offer any objection to the second reading, but
hoped the government would consider the suggestion he had
made. . .

The LORD CHANCELLOR explained that the object of
the bill was simply to make perpetual a temporary act
passed two years ago for giving power to the Queen's Proctor
to intervene in •rder to prevent collusion when such inter-
vention was considered necessary. That act was now about
to expire, and as the power was a very desirable one, and
had worked advantageously, it was thought right that it
should be made perpetual
Lard REDESDALE expressed his individual opinion that
the Divorce Act was prejudicial to the morals of the
country.
The Earl of DERBY was satiated with the explanation
of the noble and learned lord, which he believed would re-
move an erroneous impression that prevailed.
The bill was then read a second time, and their lordships
adjourned at 25 minutes to 8.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—TutUDAT, JULY 24,
The SPEAKER took the chair at 4 o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The Dolan Valley Mineral Railway Bill, and the Water-
ford and Limerick sad Linseriek and Ennis Railways Bill
were read a third time and passed.
Corbet's Estate Bill was read a second time.
MILITARY RESERVED FUND.
General PEEL wished to know what decision the govern-
ment bad arrived at with regard to the Military Reserved
Fund
Sir G. LEWIS replied that • decision had been arrived at
with the concurrence of his royal highness the commander-
ia-chief, that in future an officer retiring from the army
should not be entitled as a nattcr of right to 100/. for each
year's service, but that each ease should be considered on
eta merits with refereeee to the services of the officer and
the circumstances under which he left the army--for in-
'tattoo, owing to ill health originated during active service.
It had also been thought that first commissions should as
far as possible be granted to non-purchasers.
METROPOLITAN TURNPIKM,
Mr. WHITE asked the Secretary of State for the Home
Department what progress bad been made towards effecting
the abolition of metropolitan turnpikes
Sir G. GREY said the 'object was under coloblere.tion,
and he believed a bill would be submitted to parliament at
an early period next 401"1041 with regard to the question.
EDUCATIONAL DISTRICTS.
Viscount ENFIELD wished to ask the Viee-President of
the Cormittee of Council on Education whether be would
consider the advisability of making the districts connected
with the Committee of Council on Education smaller ; and
whether there was any intention of promoting the masters in
these crbools to tho post of examiners?
Mr. LOWE replied that both questions were being consi-
dered, but their deliberations were not yet in • state of
harmony to enable them to give a definite answer.
THE GENTLEMEN AT ARMS.
Sir DE. L EVANS asked the Secretary of State for War
on what principle it was that gentlemen who had pur-
chased appointments in the Corps of Gentlemen at Arms
were to be compensated for the price of their appointments
out of what is termed the reserved fond, a fund created

altogether by contributions from the officers of the regular
army ; and what were the intentions of the government as
to the continuance or rectillatious in respect to that fond?
Sir O. LE V Li replied that the arrangements now in exist-
sole were made by his predecessor. There was a desire on
the part of thecrowa that the corps should cease to be a
purchase corps, and that commissions in it should be given
as ri reward to meritorious officers in the regular service.
With regard to the other question he could only say that
each cane would be considered un its own merits.
COLLEGE OF SIAYNCX)TIf.
Mr. WHALLEY asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland
whether be was prepared to give effect to the recommends-
tine contained in the report of the commiuioners appointed
in the year 18.1.3 to inquire into the nratisgerneat and
government of the Collage of Mayitooth, that "a calendar
be annually published by tits college, stating the names of
the several students who have left the college after the com-
pletion of the course, and their respective destinations ; its
alumni at the time alive, cud the places in which they are
severally performing their functions."
Sir R. PEEL said he saw oo reason why tbe recommen-
dation of the committee should not be adopted as regarded
the publication of the calendar, but the government had no
authority to call for returns from the Roman catholic
Liahops.