The Sun.
London, England, 1855-03-15 00:00:00

PUBLIC RECORDS.

Mr. MACARTNEY asked the Chief Secretary for
Ireland whether any and what arrangements were in con-
templation for the management and preservation of the
pablic records in the Bermingha►n Tower, owing to the
death of the Earl Stanhope, late keeper of said recorde?
Mr. HORSMAN said no arrangement had yet been
come to, but the sutiect was n3w under the considera-
tion of the Lord-Lientetiant.
FRIENDLY SOCIETIES BILL.

On the motion for eoine into committee on this hill,
Mr. P, SC ROPE raidhe had no objection to that
part of the hill which consolidated the la a 7 relating to
fi iendly societies, but he could not assent to the appoint-
ment of a cominis,,ion, which the bill proposed, fur the
regulation of these societies. Many of these societies,
which entered into distinct engagements, ought not to
have the prestige c inferred upon them of being sanc-
tioned by act of Parliament. His own opinion wtv,
that they ought merely to sanction societies affording
relief in case of sickness, and supported by monthly sub-
scriptions, but he strongly objected to lending the au-
thority of Parliament to societies which took money from
their members upon the condition of pensioning them off
at some very distant period. In the first case the loss
would be lightly felt if the society miscarried either from
defective calculations or mismanagement ; but in the
second case the loss would fall heavily indeed upon the
vast majority of the members.
Sir G. GREY thought the object of the bill was most
useful. It proposed to consolidate the law of friendly
societies ; it was not a new bill, because a similar mea-
sure was before the house last session, when it was re-
ferred to a select committee; and this bill was the re-
sult of that inquiry.
Mr. BRIGHT said he had been too late to present
some petitions in favour of this bill, but perhaps he
might be allowed to state what was the purport of the
petitions. One was signed by 1,700 heads of families
connected with three friendly societies in Manchester,
and they approved of the bill as a whole.
Mr. A. PELLATT said the bill had been some time
before the working-classes connected with these socie-
ties, who well knew how to take care of their own
affairs, and they cordially approved of the measure.
The house then went into committee on the bill.
Clauses from 1 to 5 inclusive were agreed to.

On clause six,
Mr. MICHELL said the clause proposed to establish
a Board of Commissioners for regulating friendly so-
cieties, but receiving no salaries the commissioners would
not be responsible to any one for the due performance of
their duties. It was quite sufficient that there should
be a registrar, and therefore he moved the omission of
this clause.

Mr. SOTHERON said he proposed so to limit the
functions of the commission, th:it its duties should be
confined to simply giving inf ermation to friendly so-
cieties as to their powers and the construction of their
rules. The commission knowing what had been done

by existing societies, would be able to advise the founders
of new societies as to the best mode of proceeding for
the attainment of the object they might have in view.
Mr. B NINES thought the bill would be just as good
without this clan.,e as with it, because it was exceedingly
doubtful whether an unpaid commissioner would effi-
ciently discharge its duties, even though they were con-
fined to simply giving advice and information. If,
however, the committee determined to retain the
spirit of the clause for the sake of establish-
ing a Board of Advice, the wording of the clause
should be regulated as to stop the duty of the commis-
sion with the mere giving of advice to those who might
choose to apply for it.
Mr. BARRO\V objected to the commission altogether.
He was opposed to flieudly societies, which undertook
life assurance or annuity business ; they should be con-
fined to mere temporary purposes, such as providing for
periods of sickness, and some table of rates should be
issued by the Government applicable generally to the
1 whole country.
Mr. HENLEY urged Mr. Sotheron, who had charge
of the bill, to withdraw the clauses relating to this com-
mission, with a view to a reconsideration of the subject
before bringing up the report.
Mr. SOTHERON accepted this proposal, and asked

leave to withdraw clauses 6,7, and S. .
Mr. MICRELL ob.erved that, as the question was
to be reconsidered, he would suggest that an actuary
should be substituted for thelcorninissions, with power
to give advice and regulate rates.
Mr. ADD ERLY thought the appointment of a Go-
Ternment actuary would be most objectionable.
Clauses 6,7, and 8,- were then struck out.
Clau=e3 10 018, inclusive, were agreed to, after a
brief discuzsion.
Came 19 was negatived.
The remaining clauses of the bill were agreed to with-
out any important amendment.

Thehoue then resumed.
CATHEDRAL APPOINTMENTS ACT CON-
TINUANCE BILL.

This bill was read a second time, and ordered to be
committed.
MEDICAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SICK
AND WOUNDED.

On the order of the day for bringing up of the report
of Supply.
Mr. STAFFORD said it had been his intention to call
the attention of the house at this stage to the present
state of the medical arrangements for the sick and
wounded iu the East, but under the circumstances, he
would ask the house to postpone the report until
Friday, in order to give him an opportunity of bringing
the matter forward.

On the suggestion of Mr. 'WILSON, and after a few
words from Mr. F. PEEL,

Mr. STAFFORD agreed to bring the subject forward
on the motion for adjournment of the house on Friday
night.

SUPPLY.

The report of the commissariat estimates was brought
up and agreed to.
DEAN FOREST BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
Some other business on the paper having been disposed
of, the house adjourned at six o'clock.

LA IV INTELLIGENCE.—March 14.

ADMIRALTY COURT.
THE MARE BREEDS.- COLLISION.

This was a suit promoted by the schooner Kezia, of
the burden of 127 tons, against the schooner Mark
Breeds, of the burden of 124 tons, to obtain compensa-
tion for the loss su4ained by reason of a collision be-
tween them, 15 miles from Flamborough•head, at 5 a.m.
on the 4th of December, 1853. The Kezia, coal laden,
was proceeding from Sunderland to London ; the Mark
Breeds, in ballast, was bound from Whitestable to Sun-
derland. The morning was so hazy that both vessels,
as pleaded, sounded their fog horns continuously, and
carried bright signal lights. The Kezia was on the star-
hoard tack when she descried, as she alleged, the Mark
Breeds on the port tack, a point on her lee bow. She
kept her course, but the Mark Breeds, instead of porting
her helm, starboarded it, and ran into her. The Mark
Breeds admitted that she had been in collision with a
vessel about the thee in question, but pleaded that it was
a brig, and that the occurrence took place 16 miles from
the place where the Kezia, met with the accident.
Dr. Bayford and Dr. Deane were heard for the Kezia,
Dr. Addams and Dr. Twiss for the Mark Breeds.

The learned Judge, after consulting with the Elder
Brethren, by whom he was assisted, said they were of
opinion that the identity was cota6lielled and that Lbe
Mark Breeds was to blame, and no fault was imputable
to the Kezia. He must pronounce accordingly.