The Express.
London, England, 1861-05-30 00:00:00

RAILWAY COMMITTEES.

The following bills for new railways were passed
on Tuesday in Mr. Massey's committee : Bognor Railway,
and Leven and East of Fife Railways (Extension). A new
committee, to 'wander bills in the South Wales district,
is appointed to bionic' into the ;South Wales Mineral Bill,
the Swansea and Beath Railway, Swansea Harbour Trust,
and Swansea Vide Railways ; and another on the following
bills :--Charing-erms Railway (City Terminus), West Mid-
land and Severn Valley Railway, and Victoria Station and
Pimlico Railway ; and in the Lords unlha email'York-
skis Railway (lCsadby Extension), and Sneyd's Branch
Railways.

TILUIWAYS OH STREW ItAILWAYM IN TEI MI TROPOLIM.—
The railway department of the Board of Trade, in report-
ing on this subject, state that the introduction of tram-
ways to be worked by animal power in streets of
populous towns has been attended with advantage,
as they afford increased facilities in speed,convenience, and
cheapness in conveying passengers, and especially goods or
tannic, between certain points, and particularly to or from
the terminal stations of railways, which in a large city are
generally situate at a considerable distance from its centre
and each other ; but where the streets are narrow, turns
suddeo or frequent, cross streets numerous, and the traffic
large, the advantage mity not eo much outweigh the in-
evitable inconveniences as to render it desirable to permit
the construction of the tramway, or at least the use of it,
at a rate of speed exceeding that which vehicles can main-
tain on the ordinary road. In any case where statutory
power are given for the construction of a tramway along the
apes streets of a town, it would be proper that the greatest
haot and depth of the train above or below the surface
of the road should be limited.

HOW CHURCH-RATE WAS ABOLISHED IN

IRELAND, AND TEE RESULTS.

A clergyman, writing in the Compass—a new
Evangelical Church newsrper—supplies the following verY
useful information :—" he Irish ',ranch of the United
Church, at the cornmencemeut of the present century, bore
a series of attacks such as those with which the English
branch is now threatened. Among other things, opposition
to church-rates was carried to ii great extent. It was
not coufiued to speaking and voting at vestries, but both
passive and active resistance to the levying and collecting
of the rate wore resorted to out-of-doors. The church-
wardens even, through fear or favour, very generally re-
, fused to do their duties. The consequences were that
the churches were mouldering bite decay, and were
neither heated nor lighted. The requisites for divine service
were very iustdequately supplied, and the church officers were
left without their alarms, unless when they proceeded by civil
bill at quarter sessions against the churchwardens, who in law
were responsible for them. To remedy the many evils atten-
dant upon such a state of things, an Act was gamed in 1833,
whereby an annual tax was substituted for first-fruits in Ire-
land, compulwryeasessmente by vestries in certain cases abo-
liabed, and the revenues of ten suppmesed bishoprics, as well
as the above annual tax, were to be applied to the building,
rebuilding, and repairiug of churches, end other such eccle-
sisatiad purpoees, and to the augmentation of small livings,
sod such other purposes as might conduce to the advance-
ment of religion, and the efficacy, permanency, and stability
of the united church of England and Ireland. By it, also,
the tenure of church lands was to be improved, and by the
purchase of this tenure • fund was to be raised, which
was to be addod to the one before mentioned and for the
same purposes. The annual tax was to be imposed
upon all incomes above 300 f. per annum, and in the
ease of benefices varied from 2i to 15 per cent., and in the
case of the retained bishoprics from 5 to 15 per
Dent. This fund has realised the expectations of the
designers of the measure, and now out of it the churches are
kept in thorough repair, well heated and lighted, all requi-
sites' for divine service sufficiently supplied, and the church
officers well and punctually paid. At first sight it seems
unjust that eoclesiastics should bear the whole bunko of
church expenses, which should be equally diffused through
all the members, and no doubt it is en. Almost one genera-
tion of the clergy felt the injury and the Ives, but all are at
length become reconciled to the alteration, having been re-
lieved from painful and unprofitable contests, from malty
fears and anxieties, and from distress at not being able
to have divine service conducted with decency and re-
spectability."

CHURCH RATES SSD rue " POOR MAN'S
Causca".—A correspondent of tho Nei-M.44 (Cheshire)
Guardian gives the following particulars, which afford an
apt illustration of the argument that church rates must be
'maintained for the benefit of the " poor man" :—" John
Whitney, of Hartford-lone, • poor but bard-working men.
baring it wife and six children dependent upon him, and
who toils the week through at the salt.ren, lied • demand
made upon him for church rate to the amount orTd., which
he did not refuse to pay, until the coat of summons was
added to the rate and a warrant issued authorising the
" policemen" to enter his dwelling and seize his dock and
drawers, which for ode custody were deposited, first, in
that worthy functionary's owe dwelling, and afterwards
taken to the public house and sold by auction. The pro-
ceeds of the male were some 2mri. to 30s. ; the expense added
to the rate made the whole 365. 9d. The church official,
whose connexion with that venerable establishment should
have taught him to be tender-hearted, merciful, and kind,
made • second demand, I am told, for the expenses not
covered by side. Pour Whitney, having a wish to get back
his drawers, proceeded to Northwich on Monday morning to
parches* theme, and was told they had been sold for 30s. '
THI COMMAS ATI VI LARD SOL: IRTY. --Tho two
seats ea the board of directors, vacant by the retirement of
Mr. B. H. Adams and the Rev. Dr. Worthington, have
been filled by the election of Mr. H. W. Curtis, of Norfolk.
street, Park-lane, and Mr. C. E. Newconien. of Ovingtoe-
square. Brewton, who are now members of the executive
committee.