The Sun.
London, England, 1864-04-29 00:00:00

MEDICAL OFFICERS IN INDIA.

In reply to Colonel SYKES,
Sir C. WOOD said that he had received no circular from
head-quarters addressed to British Army Medical officers
in India, calling for volunteers for the new line corps and
brigades of Royal Artillery, and he was not aware that there
was any such document in existence.

THE STATUE OF RICHARD CCEUR DE LION.
In reply to Mr. HANKEY,

Mr. COWPER said that the sculptor had sent in his
design for the bas-reliefs for the base of the statue, and it
was still under consideration.

STANDARD OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
Mr. LOCK asked the President of the Board of Trade
whether any communications have been received by her
Majesty's Government from the Astronomer Royal and
Comptroller General of the Exchequer as to the urgent
necessity for an adjustment and reverifiaation of
the Exchequer standards of weights and measures ;
and, if so, the date thereof : Whether any steps have been
taken for effecting such adjustment and reverification ; and
if so, when the same will be completed: Whether any
representations have been made with a view of re-
laxing the law against tradesmen for small de-
viations in their weights and measures until the
standards have been adjusted and reverified. And,
whether it is the intention of her Majesty's Government to
submit any bill to Parliament this session in reference to
the present state of the law relating to weights and mea-
sures.

Mr. M. GIBSON said that a communication had been
received on the subject from the Astronomer Royal in 1859.
Since then a report had been made by the committee ap-
pointed to inquire into the reverification of the national
standard of weights and measures, and the subject
was under consideration, but up to the present time
no instructions had been issued on the subject. With
regard to the last question, it was not considered advisable
to introduce any bill imposing pains and penalties for
infringement of the existing law.

ROYAL COURT IN JERSEY.
Mr. SCLATER-BOOTH asked the Secretary of State
for the Home Department whether he had any objection to
produce the correspondence between himself and the Lieu-
tenant Governor of Jersey, relative to proposed alterations
in the constitution of the Royal Court in that island.
Sir G. GItEY replied in the negative.
THE SHEFFIELD RESERVOIRS, &c.
Mr. FERRAND asked the Secretary of State for the
Ilene Department whether Mr, Rawlinson had sent in his
rhe eport on the state of the Sheffield reservoirs ; if so, whether
would lay it upon the table of the house; if he had yet
sent in his report on the Bradford reservoirs; end, if he
bad been engaged in inspecting any other than the Shef-
field and Bradford reservoirs under the authority of the
Home Office.
Sir G. GREY. repeated in substance the statement he
had made on a previous occasion, to the effect that Mr
Rawlinson had not yet completed his report on the subject
which heG. was endeavouring to make as perfect as possible.
He (Sir Grey) could state, however, that there was no
danger to be apprehended from the reservoirs at Sheffield
and Bradford.

NEUTRALITY IN CHINA
Mr. LIDDELL asked whether the attention of the law
officers of the Crown had been directed to the report of a
recent trial bofore the Consular Court at Shaughae, at
which a man named George White, charged as an accom-
plice in the capture of the Firefly steamer, was convicted
and sentenced for a breach of the Hong Kong
Neutrality Ordinance, No. 1, of 1855; and further, to a
statement made on July 1, 1863, by the Duke of Newcastle
then Colonial Secretary, for the information of Earl Russell,
to the effect that there is no ordinance now in force enjoin-
in the observance of neutrality by her Majesty's subjects
between the contending parties in China; and, if as, 'whether
that statement of the Duke of Newcastle was correct or in-
orrect ; and, if correct, whether the conviction of the said
eorge White can be held to have been a legal conviction.
The ATTORNE Y-GENERAL said with regard to the
first question, no authentic information had been received,
and therefore he was unable to afford any information as to
the circumstances connected with the case referred to; and
that answer would apply to the last part of the question.
There was ample provision made for the preservation of