The Express.
London, England, 1867-05-08 00:00:00

WANDSWORTH.

THE DISPUTE BETWEEN THE MAGISTRATES AND THE
POLICE COMMISSIONERS.

The long-pending dispute between the magistrates of
this court and the Commissioners of Police as to the ad-
mission of cattle into the metropolis with a justice's license
only, has at length been settled in the Court of Queen's
Bench by a decision in favour of the commissionen. The
judges hold that although a license has been obtained from
a justice, another license from the oommisaioners is
necessary before cattle can be removed into the metropolis.
A number of summonses stand adjourned until the
23rd inst. awaiting the decision of the judges, and as the
case is now settled they will be heard on that day, but a
nominal penalty only will be imposed. Mr. Dayman has
already adjudicated upon other cases, and has expressed
his intention of imposing a fine of 6d. without costs until
it is shown that some object is gained by having a second
license. There is also another peculiarity in the
case, and that is when cattle are removed into
the metropolis there is no power to remove
them out again. A case to point occurred
only yesterday at the Hammersmith Police-court. A cow
in calf had been brought to Kensington Railway Station by
rail from Bushey, with a justice's license to be removed to
another place outside the metropolis. There being no
power to allow the cow to be removed from the metropolis
the consequence was that neither the magistrate nor the
police could assist. The parties, however, were told that
in future they must avoidthe metropolis in removing cattle
from one part of the country to another.
Mr. Alexadder Budge was summoned for removing a
cow into the metropolis with a license from a magistrate.
The defendant did not appear, but was represented by his
servant.

Hr. Ingham add it had now been decided that a magi*.
taste's license was not sufficient. He fined Mr. Budge
last week, and he was afaid that unless a penalty was
inflicted he would not recollect the law. He fined him lie.
and 2s. costs, sad said the next time the penalty would
be U.

Tkonnu Wooife and Henry Oilmon were also summoned
for removing a oow in the metropolis without any licence.
The defendant Woolf. said he was " jobbing " a lady at
Clapham-common, and was showing her some horses,
when she asked him to buy the cow. He did so, and Gib-
son drove it home. It was the first oow he ever bought,
and he had no idea a license was necessary.
Mr. Wham—Have you never beard of the cattle plague!
Defendant—Oh, yes ; but I thought that lately no peas
was wanted.

Mr. Ingham—l remember an old saying, "A cobbler
should not go beyond his last." Now, you Irmo taken up
with this trade. You must pay 2s. 61. and meta ; and
your man Is. and coats.

REDUCTIONS AT THE INDIA OFFICE.—It is not
long since several changes and reductions in the above
establishment were announced. To these is now added the
abolition of the marine and public departments of the
India-office, the business being transferred to other de-
partment.. Mr. Mason, marine secretary, is pensioned,
after many years' service ; Mr. Bourdilloa, secretary of the
public, educational, and ecclesiastical department, is also
pensioned, together with several subordinate officials in the
secretariat.

THE DEFENCE OF INDIA —Royal commissions nro
not always successful, but never was there a more impor-
tant duty confided to one than would be the consideration
of the best strategic disposition of our troops in India, so
important to the welfare both of India and of England.
There are so many clashing interests, that only such a
commission could rightly undertake the task : and when
I see such officials as those mentioned underneath, who
might compose it. and smooth away by co-operation the
difficulties which surround each xinqle government, I can-
not but think that something might be done, and that
such a commission might strike out a course of proceed-
ing, which, with the final opinion of the Governor-Gene-
ral, would be satisfactory to both countries :—Take the
Commander-in-Chief of India, the Lieutenant-Governor of
Bengal, the Chief Commissioner of British Burma, the
Governor of Madras, the Commander-in-Chief of Madras,
the Governor of Bombay, tho Commander-in-Chief of
Bombay, the Commissioner of Bcinde, the Resident of
Hyderabad, the Chief Commissioner of Mysore, the Chief
Commissioner of Central India, the Lieutenant-Governor
of the Punjaub, the Chief Commissioner of Oude ; add to
the above a general officer or colonel of artillery, a general
officer or colonel of engineers, and a general officer of in-
fantry, all from England: anti they, with four secretaries,
—an artillery officer from Bengal ; a surgeon, ditto ; an
engineer officer from Bombay ; an infantry officer from
Madras, all of the rank of field officers,—would, under the
presidentship of the Commander-in-Chief in India, form
the working portion of the commission for drawing up a
report, after visiting each government, to be submitted to
the Governor-General.—Prseer's Magazine for May.