The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-03-13 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF C()IITAIONS.—WEDNESDAY
Tne SPEAKER took the chair at twelve o'clock.

PRIVATE BILLS

The Aberdeen Peterhead and Fraserburgh, and the
Deeside and Alford, Railway Bills were read a second

The Aberdeen and Scottish Junction Railway bill was

withdrawn

The Dundee Harbour bill and the Heywood Gas bill
were considered and ordered for third reading.

BOYS FOR THE NAVY,

Sir F. BARING in presenting a petition from the
guardians of the poor of Portsea, complaining of the ex-
clusion of workhouse boys from the navy, whilst they
were admitted to the army, gave notice, that he would
after the recess call attention to the subject.

THE POLICE BILL

Sir G. GREY, in reply to a question from Sir F. Baring,
stated that it was his intention to afford both the House
and the country, the fullest opportunity of considering
the Police Bill, as amended ; and he proposed, therefore
that they should go into committee, pro forma, on Friday,
and that the bill in its altered form might be printed and
circulated, before they came to a discussion of its pro-
visions after Easter.

The Commission of Supply (Scotland) Bill was read a

second time.

REFORMATORIES (SCOTLAND) BILL

On the motion for reading the Reformatory Schools
(Scotland) Bill a second time,
Mr. MAGUIRE complainedi:of the ,inefficient provision
made in;the bill for the religious education, in these refor-
matory schools, of Roman Catholic children, and that a
system of proselytism was performed by the managers. He
mentioned a number of cases of proselytism by compul-
sory means in houses of refuge in Scotland, referring
especially to the Glasgow Institution, and demanded from
the Government that Roman Catholic children should
receive instructionlin their own religion on certain days
of the week.

Mr. DRUMMOND did not see any objection to instructing
children in the faith of their fathers, but the moral prin.
ciples of Roman Catholics were so different, each member
of a Roman Catholic family being a spy upon another,
that he would have them completely separated even in
secular instruction and in prayer.

Sir G. GREY said there was no ground for the com-
plaints of the hon. member for Dungarvon. There was a
provision in the English bill for the removal of children
from one institution to another, in order that they might
receive instruction in their own religion.
Mr. A. DEASY considered the demand of Mr. Maguire
as most just and equitable.
Mr. A. BLACK and Mr. KENNEDY took a similar view.
The LORD-ADVOCATE, while agreeing that the power
given to reformatory schools would be abused by prosely-
tising, could not adopt the suggestion of Mr. Maguire, as
he felt that it would be unjust to force Presbyterian and
Protestant institutions to receive Roman Catholic minis..
ters. The question of removal to Catholic institutions
did not appear to tam objectionable, but it required
further consideration.
Mr. LIDDELL remarked that in schools with which he
was connected in the north of England, the principle of
admitting priests to Roman Catholic children was allowed,
but the priests scarcely availed themselves of it.
The discussion was continued by Mr . KINNAIRD, Sir
S. NOBVICOTE, Mr. A. I]ASTIE, Mr. SCOTT', and Mr.
DUNLOP.

The Bill was then read a second time

MUNICIPAL REFORM (SCOTLAND) BILL

The second reading of the Municipal Reform (Scotland)
Bill was moved by Mr. EWART.
The LORD ADVOCATE opposed the measure, on the
ground that the boroughs which it proposed to establish
were too insignificant to be allowed self-government.
Mr. G. ANDERSON supported the bill.
After a brief conversation,

The LORD ADvocarz give a pledge that if the bill
were withdrawn, he would, some time this session, intro-
duce a measure for the government of the boroughs in

question.
Mr. EWART acceded to' this arrangement, and the bill
was accordingly withdrawn.
BA.NREMPTCY (SCOTLAND) BILL.

The Loan ADVOCATE in moving the second reading of
the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Bill, stated its object to be the
consolidation of the Scotch bankruptcy law, and its
assimilation to the law of England.
Mr. A. HAsrro approved of the measure.
Tne bill was then read a second time.

ASSAULTS ON WOMEN AND CHILDREN

Mr. DILLWYN moved for leave to bring in a bill to
amend the act 16 and 17 Vic., chap. 30, for the better
prevention and punishment of aggravated assaults on
women and children. He proposed to limit the term of
imprisonment for such offeaces to not more than two
months, and not less than fourteen days, and that one
private whipping should be administered during the
term.

After a few remarks fromplr. BOWyER,

Mr. BOUVESUE would not oppose the introduction of
he bill, though he objected to the re--establishment of
he punishment of adults by whipping. He urged also
hat sufficient time had not been Niven to ascertain how
be act of 1853 had worked.
Mr. WILLIAMS defended the measure.
Leave was then given, and the bill was brought in.
The House adjourned at twenty minutes to four o'clock,

GREAT FIRE AT SCOTT RUSSELL'S
SHIPBUILDING YARD.

Yesterday afternoon, shortly after three o'clock, a most
destructive fire broke out on the shipbuilding premises of
Messrs. Scott Russell and Co., Mill wall, which, it is
feared, will prove most disastrous, the conflagration having
extended to numerous buildings, and is still fiercely raging.
The fire commenced at the sawing works and speedily
communicated to the engine-house. Of course, as yet, the
origin of the disaster is not known.