The Sun.
London, England, 1855-07-11 00:00:00

AUSTRALIAN POSTAGE.

The Earl of HARDWICKE rose to put the following
questions to the Government :—To inquire of the Post-
master-General whether he had not recently received
through the medium of the Lieutenant-Governor of Vic-
toria a memorial from the Melbourne Chamber of Com.
merce urging on him the importance of immediately re-
establishing postal steam communication with Australia,
and, referring to the large sums the Legislatures of:the
colonies interested are willing to place at the disposal
of the Imperial Government towards effecting the ob-
ject ; and to inquire whether he will have any objection
td lay a copy of such memorial on the table of the house.

Tisccuni CANNING said he concurred with the
noble earl in deploring the inconvenience to which the
Australian colonies had recently been exposed by the
withdrawal of steam from the mail service to that part
of the world, and he acknowledged the obligation that
lay upon the Government to supply the deficiency as
soon as possible. The memorial referred to by the noble
earl reached this country 4 or 5 days ago, but, owing to
some mistake, it did not come into his hands until with-
in the last few hours. It was generally to the effect de-
scribed by the noble earl, but it did not mention any
specific sum as that which the colonies were prepared to
contribute towards tl e re-establishment of postal steam
communication, although it dealt with the question in a
very large and liberal spirit, indicating that the colonies
were willing to act generously in the matter. Of course,
after what he had said as to the receipt of the me-
morial, he could not be expected to state what steps
the Government might resolve to take. He had
no doubt, however, that the proposition submitted
by the colonies, coupled with the desire of the
Government to re-establish steam communication as soon
as possible, would speedily lead to a practical issue. The
Government had already applied to the Oriental Com-
pany to ascertain at what cost they would undertake to
re-establish steam communication with the Australian
colonies, and the company had signified their inability
to give any specific answer until they had received some
information from Australia, and other parts, He need
not say that the delay thus occasioned had been a source
of much regret to the Government ; but he trusted that
not much more time would be lost, and he could assure
the noble earl that as soon as the Government received
an answer, they would proceed at once to make an
arrangement either with the Oriental Company or with
some other parties. The noble viscount concluded by
stating that he would lay the memorial on the table upon
a future occasion.
Their lordships then adjourned at ten minutes past
eight o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS--(YESTERDAY.)
The SPEAKER took the chair shortly after 12 o'clock.
The Lords' amendments to the Folkestone Improve-
Mr. Black-
burn, Bill were considered and agreed to.
Petitions were presented by Mr. Hastie, from Paisley,
against the sale of intoxicating drinks • by'
burn, from Caithness, against the Lord 'Advocate's Edu.
cation Bill ; and by Capt. Scobell, from 17 of the north.
ern ports, praying that vessels, when unseaworthy,
should be reported and condemned.
NUISANCES REMOVAL AMENDMENT BILL;
The house went into committee on this bill, com-
mencing at clause 16, which was agreed to, as were
also clauses 17 and 18.
Mr. HENLEY
theyhmagistrates be-
devvi°thndfra.
On clause 19 words were inserted b
t under the pro-
.
and Mr. Wiramrsorr empowering
fore whom complaints shall be brought
visions of this bill, to give costs to a partyafe
ragi taisilasatllwhhaovnie
or abandoned or •
complaints shall be ma
grounds,frivolous or unfounded
proceeded so far as to put him to expense in defending
himself.
Clause 20 was agreed to.
Clause 21, which cant
zi
against owners and ntd provisoes as to proceeding
On clause 23
hei occupiers, was negatived.
ditches Should be ng put, which proposed that open
covered or improved,
Mr, MlTca_
XI-Jia proposed that an exception should

be made in the cases of mills, mines, print works, bleach
works, or manufactories.

The hon. ii.ember's propOsition was withdrawn upon
the understanding that other words would be substituted
in the clause to carry out in substance the proposition
of the hon. member.

After some further discussion, the clause, as amended,
was ordered to stand part the bill.

On clause 24, which inflicted a penalty of 2001. for
causing water to be corrupted by gas washings, being
put,

IClr. ADDERLEY proposed that other nuisances be-
sides gas washings should be made part of the clause and
come under the provisions of the act, when they caused
pollution to streams, rivers, or ponds.
Sir B. HALL said, that in adopting this clause the
Government had only followed the provisions of all the
Gal Companies' Act. He would propose to the hon.
member to allow the clause in its present shape to pass,
and on the third reading, on bringing up the report, it
would be competent for him to insert a clause which
would carry out his viev.-R.
After some further discussion,
LordR.GROSVENOR hoped that his hon, friend the
member for North Staffordshire would persevere with his
proposed amendment. Nothing was more monstrous
than that parties other than Gas Companies
should be allowed to poison the pure streams
a 4 rivers of the country. They had had quite
enough of the pollution of the Thames by gas works, to
do all in their power to prevent the adoption of other
pollutions.
Mr. MACGREGOR believed that something ought
to be done on this subject, but he was convinced, if
the hon. member for North Staffordshire's amendment
was carried, it would injure manufactories over the
whole country, would have the effect of depreciating the
value of land in the country, and especially in Cornwall.
Mr. ADDERLEY then withdrew his amendment.

Viscount EBRINGTON defended the present drain-
age of London, and trusted that no measure would
be brought forward which by its stringency would
have the effect of putting a stop to the drainage as it at
present existed, and thereby render matters far worse
than they were at present. The best mode to promote
the health of a neighbourhood was first to purify houses,
next streets, and then rivers.

Mr. COWAN thought that great latitude ought to be
given on the subject of allowing poisonous matters to
flow into rivers and streams, as it would, no doubt,
greatly impede manufactures and agricultural improve-
ments.

After some further considerable discussion the amend-
ment was withdrawn, and the clause, as originally pro-
posed, was argeed to.
Clauses 25 and 26, relative to penalties against gas
companies and their recovery wore subject to much dis-
cussion.

Sir B. HALL defended the clauses, the amount of
penalties having been taken from the " model acts" of
Parliament.

Mr. CHAMBERS said he thought there was a faulty
principle and practice connected with their mode of legis-
lation, partaking too much of what he called "scissors and
paste." By that system, whether the acts be good or bad,
some person was set to work to search out public and private
acts, and to select such clauses as could be out out and
pasted on paper, and a bill of 150 clauses produced. He
must admit his ignorance of the "model acts" referred to.
He thought those clauses, which enforced a penalty of
2001. on a gas company for not complying with this act,
and 201. a-day for the continuance of the nuisance com-
plained of, too stringent.
Sir B. HALL said that the " model acts " were
those passed in 1845 and 1847, relative to gas acts,
water acts, improvement of towns, and the establish-
ment of police forces. The penalties above named were
always introduced into gas companies' acts. _ _ _

After some remarks from Lord LoTAINE and Lord
EBRINGTON,

Mr. J. M`GREGOR gave notice that on the bring-
ing up the report he should move that the penalties
should "not exceed" that amount, giving a discretionary
power to the tribunals before whom the complaints might
be preferred to avoid such penalties as they might think
commensurate to the offences committed.

The clauses were ultimately agreed to as proposed in
the bill.

Clause 27 was also agreed to.
On clause 28, which relates to the removal of nuisances
arising from manufactures and trades,
Mr. DILLWYN mows a proviso, that it should not
extend to the smelting of metals.
Some considerable discussion took place on the clause
the further consideration of which was postponed.

The house then resumed. _
BARON ROTHSCHILD.

Mr. WALPOLE gave notice that he should move
that Baron Rothschild be allowed to appear before the
London Writ Committee either in person or by counsel.
The house then adjourned.

The house resumed at six o'clock.
CENSURE OF THE GOVERNMENT.
Sir E. B. LYTTON gave notice that on Friday, on
the house going into committee of supply, he should
move that, in the opinion of the house, the conduct of
the Government with reference to the recent Vienna
negotiations bad been such as to shake the confidence
of the country in the present Ministry.
ARMY AND MEDICAL OFFICERS.
Mr. STAFFORD inquired whether Dr. Andrew
Smith had retired from the medical board, and whether
Dr. Hall after the publication of the report of the Se-
bastopol Committee still continued Medical Inspector-
General of the army in the East ?
Mr. PEEL stated that Dr. Andrew Smith continued
in office until his successor was appointed. Considering
the great amount of current business performed in that
department with which he was connected, it would be
very inconvenient that there should be any break in the
persons officiating as heads, and considerable time wa s
necessary in order to find persons properly qualified to
succeed Dr. Andrew Smith. With respect to Dr. Hall
during the time that Lord Panmure had been at the
head of the War Department no complaints had been
made with respect to the mode in which he had dis-
charged his duty ; on the contrary, most satisfactory
opinions had been expressed as to the mode in which
Dr. Hall had performed hia duties. He (Mr. Peel) was
aware that the Sebastopol committee had stated that
there was some difficulty in reconciling the letter of Dr.
Hall as to the state of the hospitals with their actual con-
dition ; the letter was, however, written in October,
and there existed therefore no sufficient grounds for his
removal by Lord Panmure.
Captain STUART wished to know whether the Go-
vernment was satisfied with the duties as discharged by
Dr. Hall ?
Mr. PEEL said that since Lord Panmure had been
at the head of the War Department there was no reason
to be dissatisfied with the performance of the duties by
Dr. Hall.
Mr. ROEBUCK wished to know why the fact of the
report having been made by Dr. Hall in October last
constituted any ground for the non-removal of Dr. Hall!
Mr. PEEL stated that the reason why Dr. Hall had
not been relieved in office was because, since the appoint.
ment of Lord Panmure, no grounds of dissatisfaction
had been shown with the conduct of that officer. With
respect to the removal of Dr. Hall, the question had no
doubt arisen from the circumstance of a letter having
appeared in the Times a few days since, relative to the
alleged inefficient supply of necessaries or the wounded
soldiers after the late attack on the Russian works.
Upon this subject he would, with the permission of the
house, read a statement which he had received from the
medical officers with the army, showing that such a state
of things could not by possibility have existed, and that
the statement that upon the 18th or 19th of July the
wounded soldiers were left the whole day without any
food, except some dry biscuit, was destitute of founda-
tion.

no reference
ferSeTnAceFrFelOatßivDe
troctsheetloetoterdre. which
rhicHis h
hadquaepsptn
eioaredhaind
the Times.
Mr. PEEL said that as the question of the hon. mem-
her was an exact repetition of a question put to him a
few days since, which appeared to discredit the state-
ments of Dr. Mall, he thought it not unreasonable that
the house should allow him to read the letter in vindica-
tion of the character of Dr. Hall.
Mr. ROEBUCK rose to order. The hon. member
for Northamptonshire (Mr. Stafford) had stated that his
question was not founded upon any letter such as had
been referred to, and the house had a right to put faith
in the statements of that hOn. member.
The SPEAKER intimated that as objection was taken
applyingon for it,
the
following day, addressed to the editor of the Times, and
to reading the letter, it was not competent for the hon.
member to do so.
Mr. PEEL would not persist in reading the letter ; he
would simply state that, as the writer of the letter in the
Times to which he had referred had stated that his name
a lwouldette letter he
aadt tbheeensesrevaitcefroofmantyneavv Departmentutharority
requesting, in order that the inquiry about to be made
might be conducted in a satisfactory manner, that the
name of the writer should be furnished. The editor of
the Times had, however, begged to be excused from
giv-
ingepartmentthe name
up to the d of the writer.
DEAN AND CHAPTER OF WINDSOR.
Mr. MURROUGS inquirad whether the Attorney-
General did not, and when, receive
instructions to file an
information against the Dean and Chapter of
an account of the disbursement of Windsor, for
the revenues belong-
ing to the military knights ; and in what state the pro-
ceedings taken under such instructionsATTOßNEy.GENEstated that he had
given were at present I
The
not received, but had ATTORNEY-GENERAL
that an information had
d instructions on the subject ;
by the defendants t o been filed, and time requested
plead. He also stated that hon.
members desiring • inormation on the subject of charity
suits instituted 3y f
him might be obtained at the office
of his
West • solicitor at the corner of Great George-street,
mmster, ,where a record was kept of the stage of
every suit.