The Express.
London, England, 1866-06-13 00:00:00

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Tile, who moved its rejeceson, Mr. Bamford Hope, Mr.
,Msrton,, Mr. Cowper ((Chet Commissioner of Woods and
:Works); Mr. C. $. Butler, Mr. Alderman Lm & Mr.
Henley, and Mr. Alderman Lawrence ; and supported by
Su' J. Trellope, Mr. Paull, Sir H. Peel, Mr. J. T. Miller,
and Mr. Locke Sing. A diviaMn followed, whisk resulted
in the report being adopted by 169 to 138.

THE REFORM BILL.
Lord DUNEELLIN gave notice that in committee on
the Reprecientation of the People Bill, on clause 5, which
refers to the borough franchise, he should move an amend-
ment to the effect that the principle of the borough fran-
chise be a rating and not a rental qualification.
CHIEF JUSTICE LEFROY.
Mr. MAGUIRE gave notice that on Tuesday, the 26th
inst., he should move for a select committee to inquire
into certain allegations as to the incapacity of the Lord
Chief Justice of the Queen's Bench in Ireland for the satis-
factory discharge his duties'.
PIRACY IN THE CHINA SFAS.
Colonel SI'ILES gave notice that on Friday, the 29th,
he should call attention to the parliamentary paper, No.
262, relating to the surrender to the Mandarin authorities
by her Majesty's naval officers in the China seas of
pirates, and ask the Secretary to the Admiralty b;11a
what
act of parliament, order in council, or other instruction,
naval officers serving on the coast of China held direct
communication with the Chinese authorities, and surren-
dered crews of junks alleged to be pirates without the
intervention of the consular authority, the only legal com-
munication with the Chinese government.
ALDERSHOT AND COLCHESTER.
Mr. P. WYNDHAM asked whether it was intended to
make further withdrawals of troops from country quarters
and concentrate them in larger numbers than at present
at the military stations at Aldershot and Colchester ; and
whether any further enlargement of the barracks at Col-
chester, or of the buildings oonnectedwith their, was in con-
templation.
The Marquis of HARTINOTON said it was not the in-
tention of the commander-in-chief to increase the number
of troops at Aldershot beyond the number usually quar-
tered there; neither was there an intention of increas-
ing the number of troops q at Colchester or to
erect further barracks there.

THE RECENT FIRE IN DUBLIN.
Lord NAAS inquired whether it was the intention of the
government to institute a rigid inquiry into the causes of
the late lamentable loss of life by fire in Dublin, and into
the conduct of the fire brigade, and the condition of the
escape ladders. Almost immediately after the fire broke
out five persons appeared at the upper windows of the
house, but the two fire escapes which were sent to the
spot thoroughly and completely broke down, and it was
then too late to take any steps to rescue these unfortunate
persons. It was further stated that the supply of water
was totally inadequate, that the fire engines were ex-
ceedingly badly managed, and that the steam fire engine,
which arrived a considerable time after the outbreak of
fire, fell all to pieces.
Sir J. GRAY wanted to know whether the Chief Secre-
tary had received from the Lord Mayor and Corporation of
Dublin a request that there should be a most searching
official inquiry into this lamentable event.
Mr. C. FORTE3CUE intimated that instructions bad
been given to the law adviser of the Chief Secretary to
attend the inquest about to be held upon those who
perished in this lamentable catastrophe, and it must de-
pend very much upon what was disclosed at the inquest
whether the government might think it right to institute
an inquiry such as that which had been applied for by the
waterworks committee of the Dublin corporation.
Sir J. GRAY asked whether the government had re-
ceived a requisition from the Lord Mayor and Corporation
and the Waterworks Committee of the Corporation request-
ing an investigation, not only of all the circumstances that
occurred in connection with this calamity, but also with
the origin, constitution, and efficiency of the fire brigade,
and also whether it was not true that the corporation hail
taken all the means in their power for the purpose of con-
stituting an effectual brigade.
Mr. C. FORTESCUE stated that the government had
received each an application, and it was couched in lan.
guage which showed a desire to have all the facts in-
vestigated.
THE COAL SUPPLY.

Mr. H. VIVIAN rose to move that an humble address
be presented to her Majesty, praying that she will be gra-
ciously pleased to issue a royal commission to investigate
the probable quantity of cool contained in the coal fields
of Great Britain. and to report on the quantity of such
coal which may be reasonably expected to be available for
use ; whether it is probable that coal exists at workable
depths under the Permian, new red sandstone, and other
superincumbent strata, and whether they would
recommend that bore holes should be sunk in
any and what localities ; to ascertain and report
on the quantity of coal at present consumed in the
various branches of manufacture, for steam navigation,
and for domestic purposes, as well as the quantity ex-
ported, and how far and to what extent such consumption
and export may be expected to increase ; how far the
increase of population must necessarily accord with the
increawd consumption of coal, and the relations which
one is likely to bear to the other ; and whether there is
reason to believe that coal is wasted either by bad work-
ing or by carelessness, or neglect of proper appliances for
its economical consumption, and whether they would
recommend legislation with a view to avoid such waste.
At great length, and in • speech full of valuable and in-
teresting matter, the hon. gentleman discussed the ques-
tion of supply and consumption, and argued that there
was evidence to show that the English coalfields were prac-
tically inexhaustible. He disputed, therefore, the asser-
tion of Mr. Jevons, that our native resources would be ex-
hausted in the course of a century from the present time.
By going only one foot deeper than the prescribed 4,000
feet, beyond which it was alleged that it would not be safe
to 40. a sufficient quantity of coal might be raised to
maintain the present rate of supply for the
next :100 years ; and ho held that there were neither
physical nor scientific difficulties to prevent shafts
being sunk to that additional depth. All calculation)
by geometrical ratio, he observed, were delusive, and
broke down when tested by plain facts. Moreover, I
America contained 196,000 square miles of coal-fields, and
Russia 11,000; and both these vast territories would, in pro-
cess of time, and as labour became more available, be worked
for the benefit of mankind. In Silesia, Spain, Austria,
India, China, Japan, New Zealand, and in almost every
other country, there were also extensive coal fields, from
which our supply could be drawn, even supposing that our
own resources were entirely exhausted. But he repeated
that we had by no means exhausted, much less ascertained
the extent, of those resources, because there was reason
to believe that coal was to be found in almost every part I
of the British islands, and that immense deposits lay
under the metropolis itself.
Mr. LIDDELL seconded the motion, and whilst depre-
cating the alarm which bad been awakened in the public
mind by the recent writers and speakers on the subject of
our coal supply, nevertheless urged the importance of I
availing ourselves of every scientific appliance in order to I
economise the consumption of fuel, both for manufacturing
and domestic purposes. The course which the inquiry
ought to take was the preparation of • complete and
accurate geological coal map, which would show the
area, number, depth, and inclination of the various coal
bearings, and the extent to which they had been worked.
Then the evidence of practical men might be brought to
bear on the facts. The first step, therefore, was to set
the geological surveyors to work.
Mr. MT. TORRENS, thinking it preferable to refer the
inquiry to • permanent scientific body, moved, by way of
amendment, that a special report as to the extent, quality,
and cost of working coal in the United Kingdom be
directed to be made by the persons charged with the con-
duct of the geological survey, and that the same be laid
before parliament with the least possible delay.
Sir G. GREY said it was impossible to doubt the im-
portance of the question, and the government were quite
willing to concur in the motion for • royal commission,
omitting, however, the last clause which related to legis-
lation on the subject of waste. It was desirable that the
inquiry should be an impartial and a searching one in
which the country could place confidence ; and to this end
it was necessary that the commission should be • mixed
body, including scientific men like Sir Roderick Murchison,
who had consented to serve, and gentlemen connected
with the Geological Society.
Sir R. PEET. hoped no time would be lost in oommencing
the labours of the commission.
The discussion was continued by Sir G. Bownta and
Mr. BAZLIS, who expressed their gratitude to Mr. Vivian
for the service he had done by his motion, and the facts
and arguments he had adduced in its support.
Mr. SAMUELSON considered that the inquiry would
be better and more usefully carried on by • permanent
scientific body, whether • department of the government
or not.
A few observations having also been made by Colonel
SIKES and Mr. PeAsE.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said be had
never given expression to any alarm that our supply of
coal would soon be exhausted. What he had stated was
that, so dependent as we were for superiority as • nation
on our manufactures, it behoved us to provide, if possible,
against increased cost in the matter of fuel
The amendment was then withdrawn, and the original
motion, altered in the sense indicated by Sir G. Grey, was
agreed to.

Mr. Muses moved for a select committee to con-
sider the importance of creating a harbour of refuge at
Newhaven, on the Sussex coast ; but the motion being
opposed by Mr. GIBBON, on behalf of the Board of Trade,
was withdrawn.
Leave was given to Sir C. O'Logblen to bring in a bill to
regulate and improve the tenure of land in Ireland between
landlord and tenant.
Mr. MORRIS called attention to the state of the " law
of removal" from Great Britain to Ireland of persons.
receiving relief, and to the injustice of maintaining a un-'
tent which is applicable in favour of Great Britain only,
and moved that the subject was one which required the
immediate consideration of the government.
Mr. VILLIERS &omitted that many cases of hardship
had occurred under the law as heretofore administered ;
but he reminded the hon. member that an amended law
had been in operation since March last by which no re-
moval could take place after one year's rondense in Eng-
land.