The Express.
London, England, 1862-06-17 00:00:00

THE CONSUL AT LAGOS.

In ratify to Coril
LAYAILD mid Ito was now in a position to answer the
question which he could not answer the other night. The
governor and consul of Lagos were the Nuns person, and
6001. of his salary was borne on the colonial estimates, and
5001. on the consular estimates.

TRANSFER OF LAND BILL.
On the motion for going into committee on this bill,
Sir H. CAIRNS rose to move that it be referred to •
select committee. He had no wish to impede the bill in any
way, but it was a measure of such gravity and importance
I that if passed, it ought to be pawl in as perfect • Amps as
I possible. It was supposed that the bill was permissive, and
that no proprietor need register his title if he did not wish
to do so. He wished to disabuse the minds of pares of
that impression. It wee true that no man was obliged to
come forward to have his title registered, bet if one pro-
prietor had his title registered, the surrounding owners of
property would not be at liberty to remain quiescent,
for there were generally undefined claims as to boundaries,
rights of road, drainage, and sporting, which they would
I have to 00010 forward to defend. Ho made this motion
because the bill was antagonistic to the report obit:011gal
COMMiIIOO of 1854, of which the present Toed
I the Speaker, and the right hon. gentleman opposite or,
Lowe) were members. It might oe alleged, that referring the
bill to a select committee would occasion delay and inom-
veniesoce at this period of the 'mini. He was anxious
that the bill should pass, and pass this session, but there
was • more important oonsiderthira than the mailing of •
bill, which was, that it should be made as perfect as
possible in its details, and• likely to prove as eM-
cnnt as possible in its working. But, independently
of that, be believed that time would be saved by the cowls*
be proposed, and if there was any danger to the bill from
delay the government should not rest on that, in opposition
Ito the motion, as the measure had come down from the
other house six weeks ago, and within that time • select
committee might have considered it and reported on it.
Mr. COLLIER said be hoped the house would not agree
to the motion of the hon. and learned gentleman. His in-
tentions might be friendly to the bill, but his act would be
fatal to it. He never remembered an Menem of a bill
being referred to • select committee at this period of the
year and being heard of again during the same session. The
present measure concerned every member of the house, and
he did not know bow far the house would be
disposed to delegate its duties to a select committee of
lawyers. Besides, it would be far more convenient to his
hon. and learned friends—who were engaged in their pro.
fsmional pursuits during the day—to consider the detaib of
the measure in the evening. (Hear, hear.) He would not
follow his boo. and learned friend into his minute criticism
of one of the clauses, but he put it to the house whether
any one of the matters brought under their notice could not
be clinewried as well in the house as in select committee.
There was nothing mysterious in the bill ; nothing that
, plain men could not understind, and as they were all inte-
: rested in it he hoped that tampon would not be the only
I hoe. members to take part in the discussion. He
believed the operation of the bill would decrease legal ex-
pense*, increase the value of land, and confer • benefit on
the community ; and be therefore hoped to see it pas
during the present session.
Mr. WALPOLE said he joined in the hope that the bill
would but he was confident that in order to insure its
poem it be referred to a select committee.
Mr.MALINS said that if the object of hon. members was
to strangle the bill it ought to be boldly declared. He had
before expressed his opinion that the bill was not of any
value, and be believed that no select committee could ever
make it worth passing. (A laugh.)
Mr. SCULLY and Sir F. Gotinein were in favour of the
bill being committed to the whole house.
Mr. ROLT urged its being sent to • select committee.
The SOLICITOR.OENEItAL said that the government,
being desirous to pass the bill this session, bad come to the
deliberate opinion that that end would be best attained by
referring it to • committee of the whole house, and not to •
select committee.
On a division, the motion for going into committee was
carried by 180 to 124.
The amendment was consequently negatived, and the
house went into committee on the bill.
The house was occupied till past midnight in debating
the first 13 clauses, when the chairman was ordered to
report progress.

SUPPLY.