Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-02-18 00:00:00

REAL AND PERSONAL ESTATES

Mr. Locke King moved for leave to introduce a bill for
the better settling of real estates of intestators. His
object was to remedy the anomalies of the present
law, which, in case of real estates, gave entire
property to the eldest son, while in the case of
personal estates, the widow and children obtained
a share. The incongruities of the present law were
very numerous, as he proved by citing a multitude
of instances. He disapproved of any compulsory division
of property left by will. This measure only applied where
there was no will. He proposed to assimilate the law
relating to real estates to that relating to personal
estates.

The Solicitor-General, doubting whether it would be

possible to deal successfully with- the difficulties of the
subject, offered no objection to the introduction of the
Bill.

Lord 11. Vane denied that there vas any wish on the
part of the public to alter the existing law, which was in
conformity to the general feeling of the country. •
Mr. Miller defended the bill. The principle was simply
that, when a man had omitted to make a will, the State
should interfere and make a will for him. He believed
the feelings of the country to be in favour of the principle
of the bill.

Mr. Hadfield supported the abolition of the distinction
between real and personal estates.
Leave was then given to bring in a bill.
NEWSPAPER ACTS, &C.

Mr. Ayrton moved for leave to bi:inc, in a bill to repeal
certain acts and parts of acts relating to newspapers,
pamphlets, and other publications, and to printing type
founders and reading rooms. These laws were the off-
spring of evil times, when the feelings of the legislature
were against the restriction they imposed, and utterly
unsuited to the present period.

Mr. M. Gibson seconded the motion.
The Solicitor-General admitted that many of the laws
in question were such as could not be now enforced,
and which certainlyought to be removed from the statute-
book. When the bill, was laid on the table, to which he
offered no opposition, they would be able to judge which
of the laws referred to came under this category. Leave
was then given to bring in the bill.

THE EDUCATION MONEY

Viscount Melgund moved a resolution to the effect,
that the annual vote of money for education in Great
Britain, be henceforth divided into two votes, one vote
to be taken for England, and another for Scotland.
Mr. Adderley opposed the resolution, as tending to
produce a diversity of system between England and
Scotland, and calculated to produce erronous impressions
on the subject.

Mr. Buchanan approved of the resolution, which, how-
ever, was negatived without a division.

MINISTERS' MONEY

Mr. Black moved for leave to introduce a bill to
abolish ministers' money in certain parishes in Edin-
burgh.
The Lord-Advocate did not approve of the bill, but
would. not oppose the introduction.
Leave was then given to bring in the bill.
JURIES IN IRELAND.

Mr. J. Fitzgerald obtained leave to bring in a bill to
alter and amend the laws relating to juries in Ireland.

REGULATION OF VOTERS IN SCOTLAND.

Mr. E. Colebrook moved for leave to introduce a bill
for the amendment of the law relating to the regulation
of voters in Scotland.

The bill was substantially the same as that of last
session.

After some observations from Mr. Blackburn, leave
was given to bring in the bill.

MARRIAGE LAW AMENDMENT BILL

This bill passed through committee

Mr. Hope intimated his intention, to withdraw all
farther opposition to it.

The House adjoftrned at ten minutes past seven o'clock

CORK AS A TRANSATLANTIC PACKET STATION. -On
Saturday, a numerous, influential, and most respectable
meeting of the citizens of Cork, was held at the Chamber
of Commerce, in pursuance of a requisition, in order, to
use the words of that document, "to consider the best
means to secure the calling here on their outward or
homeward voyages' of the magnificent fleet of steam-
ships owned by the North German Lloyds, of which the
Weser, sailing on the Ist of March next, under the
management of Messrs. C. and W. D. Seymour,
formed the pioneer ship." It was, however, under-
stood that the views of the meeting were not
limited to the ostensible object put forward in
the requisition' but had a more comprehensive scope,
being intended to advocate the superior capabilities of
Cork harbour generally as a port of call, and Transatlantic
Packet Station. The assemblage was numerous, com-
prising the most distinguished of the commercial classes
and gentlemen from the vicinity of the city. A series
of resolutions was adopted, and the Cork _Reporter
thus sums up the result :—" Some very] impor-
tant and highly interesting extracts were read from reports
of former commissions of enquiry of Transatlantic
Packet Commissioners. These extracts must com-
mand attention as decisively establishing the superior
capabilities of our harbour. But after all, the mere fact
of our admitted superiority either as a port of call or a
packet station, will gain us neither if we do not work,
and work with energy and perseverance. Galway, far
inferior to us either in natural or artificial advantages,
has by dint of unweared perseverance and activity made
enormous strides in attaining the object of her aspirations.
We do not seek to depreciate Galway's pretensions—we
are not afraid of competition, for we know there is
' ample scope and verge enough for all.' As Alderman
Scott properly observed, a permanent and active organi-
sation is necessary, and we sincerely hope that the
' Transatlantic Packet Committee' will be true to the
trast reposed in them, and realise the anticipations which
their fellow-citizens will expect from their zeal, energy,
and practical talents."