The Press.
London, England, 1857-02-28 00:00:00

RAILWAY ACCIDENTS.

Mr. BENTINCK moved for a select committee to
inquire into the causes of accidents on railways, and
into the possibility of removing any such causes by
further legislation.
The motion was opposed by Mr. Hadfield and Mr.
Heyworth, and supported by Mr. Palk and Mr.
Waddington. _ _

Mr. fowE said the Government had no objection
to the appointment of this committee, which he
hoped might devise some means of lessening the
number of raiiway accidents ; although he did not
believe that this was to be sought by legislation.
The motion was agreed to.
CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATION (IRELAND).

Mr. DEASY called attention to the present mode of
conducting the examinations of candidates for ad•
mission into the civil senice in Ireiand, and moved
an address to her Majesty, praying that she would be
pleased to give directions to have such examinations
conducted, as in England, by examiners whose
character, acquirements, and experience rendered
them peculiarly fitted for the duty. He complained
not only that the examination was not a real com-
petitive one, but also that it was intrusted to a single
person, Dr. Ball.
The motion wss seconded by Mr. NAPIER.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he could
not accede to the motion. The Government were op-
posed to the establishment of an independent Board
of Commissioners in Dublin.

The house divided on the question, when the mo-
tion was rejected by a majority of 44 to 35.

AN ARCTIC EXPEDITION.
:‘lr. NAPIER called attention to the communication
which had taken place with the Government respect-
ing the Franklin Expedition, and enforced the claim
which was urged on the score of justice and
humanity for a further and cDmplete search, with the
view of discovering and relieving any survivors of
that expedition.
Captain SCOBEIL believed that some relics of the
crews of the Resolute and Terror might yet he dis-
covered, and supported the proposal for another
searching expedition. _ _ _

Admiral WALCOTT entertained a different opinion.
He was convinced that no chance remained of finding
any survivors of the ill.fated expedition, and no good
purpose could be served, either in the cause of hu-
manity or scientific discovery, by sending new ad-
venturers upon the track of the late Sir J. Franklin.
Sir C. Noon also believed that any further search
would prove entirely useless, and only risk the sacri-
fice of fresh victims without affording the slightest
prospect of a useful result. No further expeditions
would, therefore, he sent out, not from any notion of
economy. although 610,0001. had been spent in the
cause already, hut simply because the Government
were persuaded that no survivors would be found,
and no just motive existed to imperil the lives of
gallant men in new researches.
Mr. MONcKTON MILNEs and Mr. WHITESIDE warmly
supported the motion, which was ultimately with-
drawn.

The house having gone into committee,

The CH kNCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved for
leave to bring in a bill to amend the laws relating to
savings-banks, with the object of establishing banks
for savings under Government tecurity.
The motion was agreed to and leave was given to
introduce the measure.

HOUSE OF CO M NION S.—WEDNESDAY.
IRISH FISHERIES BILL.
Mr. M'MAHON moved the second reading of the
Seacoast Fisheries Bill.
Mr. Frrzoefloa,n, in moving to defer the second
reading for six months, observed that the bill might
be very good for Wexford, but for the rest of Ire-
land it would be most inexpedient and mischievous,
and he advised the house rather to trust to the pre-
sent laws.
Colonel DUNNE opposed the bill.
Mr. KENNEDY was at a loss to understand why an
assimilation of the seacoast fishery laws of England,
Scotland, and Ireland could be objected to.
Mr. NAPIER denied that this bill did assimilate the
several laws.
The bill was opposed by Mr. Grogan, Mr. G.
Butt, Mr. Meagher, Lord Naas, and Captain
Bellew ; and supported by Mr. Bowyer and Captain
Scotia.
The house divided, when the amendment was
carried by 185 to 10; so the bill is lost.
JUDGMENTS' EXECUTION BILL.
The house then went again into committee upon
the Judgments' Execution, &c., Bill, but, after a
division upon the first clause adverse to the views
of the framer, Mr. Craufurd, the chairman re-
ported progress, in order that that gentleman might
determine whether he would prooeed further with
the bill.
The report upon savings banks was brought up,
and agreed to.

FEBRUARY 28, 1857.

The Commons' Enclosure Bill was read a third
time, and passed.
Mr. FITZGERALD obtained leave to bring in a bill
to consolidate and amend the laws relating to bank-
ruptcy and insolvency in Ireland.

HOUSE OF LORDS.-TUURSDAY.
LAW OF LIBEL.

Lord CAMPBELL moved for a select committee to
consider whether the privilege now enjoyed by re-
ports of proceedings of courts of justice may be
safely exteilded to reports of proceedings of the two
Houses of Parliament, and of other assemblies and
public meetings.
Lord WENSLEYDALE briefly supported the motion,
considering that the present anomalous state of the
law on this most important question rendered in-
quiry into its principles necessary.