The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-17 00:00:00

PETITIONS.

The Marquis of BATH presented a petition against the
Irish Fisheries Bill.
ALTERATION OF JUDGES CIRCUITS BILL.

The LORD CHANCELLOR moved the second reading
of this bill, the object of which was to enlarge the powers
rf her Majesty in order that certain alterations might be
made in the circuit of the judges. The bill was rendered
necessary by the rearrangement that had been made in the
duties of revising barristers.
Lt)rd BROUG a AM. expressed his approval of the mea-

su*e.

The bill was then read a second time.
FISEIERIES (IRELAND) BILL

Lord S lAN LEY of ALDERLEY said Parliament had
already given increased protection to the salmon fisheries of
England and Scotland, and the object of the present bill, of
which he moved the second reading, was to assimilate the
law in Ire and, ag far as possible, with that of England. In
the event of the bill passing the second reading be proposed
to proceed with it in committee on Monday next, when he
should be happy to consider ary alterations in the several
clauses that n4ht be suggested.
After a short discussion, the bill was read a second time.
The Greenwich Hospital (Prevision for Widows) Bill,
and the Metropolitan Main Drainage Extension Bi 1, were
read a second time.
Their lordships adjourned at cLtht o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—Last Evening•

The SPEAKER took the chair at 4 o'clock.

GREAT WESTERN AMALGAMATION BILL.

On consideration of the Lords' amendments to the Great
Western, West Midland, and South Wales Railway Com-
panies Amalgamation Bill,
Mr. D. GRIFFITHS moved that the house do disagree
to new clause E, enforcing a revision of tolls whenever the
dividend of the united company's stock shall equal or ex-
ceed 6 per cent.
Mr. HODGSON sec nded the motion.
Mr. MA3-EY supported the new clause.
Mr. D. GRIFFITH withdrew his motion, and the
Lords' amendments were agreed to.
The f• llowingbills were read a third time :—Banff, Mac-
duff, and 'Tariff Extension Railway—Banff, Portsoy, and
Strathisla Railway—Date Valley Railway—Hammer-
smith and City Railway--and Uxbridge and Rickruans-
w rth Railway.

GREAT EASTERN RAILWAY (STEAMBOATS)

BILL.

On the order for the consideration of this bill, as amended
by the House of Lords,
Mr. A. EGERTON opposed the bill on the ground that

it was not good public policy to permit railway companies
to become steamboat proprietors in addition to their present
responsibilities. In the past the house had repeatedly re-
fused granting such powers to railway companies. Here
power was sought to run boats between Harwich, Flushing,
and Antwerp. The subject should be referred to a select
committee. He moved that the bill, be considered this day
two months.
Mr. WARNER seconded the motion.

Capt. JERVIS supported the bill. The house had
authorised the Great Eastern Railway to make a line to
Harwich at a cost of £25,000, and surely it would be mots-
wrong to prevent th( m from bringing traffic to their line by
means of a new and expedition, line of packets; (Hear,
hear:) Other railway companies had been permitted
to run boats, and there were the strongest reasons
why the powers sought should be conferred upon
this company. The transit of passengers and goods to the
north of Europe would be materially cheapened, so that he
was not surprised the General Steam Navigation Company
opposed this bill in order to perpFtuate a monopoly. (Hear.)
Lord STANLEY opposed the bill on the ground that it
would establish a monopoly over the sea traffic, which might
be worked at a loss so as to obtain traffic to this railwa
It would be well to refer the matter to a select committee,
and to take evidence upon the matter.
Mr. WOODD, as chairman of the committee, said the
company had made out a strong case to be allowed the
powers sought, but he objected delegating to companies
such extensive privileges.
Mr. M. GIBSON said there were precedents for the
granting of such powers as those sought by the bill. (Hear,
hear.) As the select committee of both Houses of Parlia-
ment had approved of the bills, he did not think the house
would do well to throw them out. No persons
having established steam communication between Har-
wich and Rotterdam, were they willing to forego
giving powers to a company willing to give the
public that boon, because it was probable that in the future
some person might come forward and seek power to do it?

Sir H. CAIRNS denied that this was one of the excep-
tional cases in which powers to run steamboats should be
granted, looking at the past practice of the house. The
company might so arrange its railway and steamboat rates
as to run off all other competing boat•.
Mr. CLAY said there were no boats to be run off the
route.

Sir H. CAIRNS went on to contend that the commit-
tee had not put before the house sufficient evidence, as was
usual in similar cases, to support the granting of the powers
sought by the bill.
After a few words from Mr. CRAWFORD, amidst cries o
"divide,"
Mr. MASS FY said public rolicy was materially con-
cerned in this and sindlar m. asuros. If thev gave
enormous and ambi'ious railway companies extra p
as in this case they had no security that they would not
virtually end '.w them with monopolies nimical to the public
welfare. In this case the railway company would
enjoy a virtual monopoly. The bill was not originated
in that but the other house, the standing orders of which
were not very strict with respeot to the introduction of such
bills. Besides, the select committee had net, as stated by
the hon. end learned gentleman opposite, adduced a suffi-
cient evidence why the house should accede to the bill.
After a few words from Mr. HENLEY,
Mr. COBBOLD, as connec, ed with the locality and its
railways, warmly supported the bill. This bill had not been
brought fo ward until every means had been taken to in-
duce existing stealer companies to put on a regular line of
communication, one having existed for centuries. (Divide,
divide.)
Mr. LOCKE said the real question was whether the
General Steam Navigation Company, which ran from the
Thames and occupied a long time in the passage to Rotter-
dam, should have the monopoly instead of the new company.
(Hear, hear.) Harwich was the natural port, and the
shortest and quickest sea voyage.
Mr. MALINS supported the bill.
Sir H. BRU .•E said the subject was thoroughly investi-
gated by the committee, who heard counsel at great length
on both aides: (Disidei divide.)
After a few words fromlsrs -sa.; d M
who trusted the house would
not acr unjustlyau
tro.
the
,
pro-
moters after the great expense to which they the
had
The SPEAKER read the standing order of
thedhobuseeen,paund
said, according to his interpretation, they had not in this
ge
case been complied with. He suggested that the bill should
be recommitted, with an instructions to the committee to
state their reasons for -
approving
they had not, done, and which was of
the
bill, which
to those orders. was imperative, according
Ultimately the Proposition of th
and the amendment withdrawn.e Speaker was adopted,
LONDON, CHATHAM, AND DOVER
The further consideration of this bill ' RAILWAY.
was postponed till
Monday.
The Morayshire Railway and the North British
(Steam-
boats) Bills were ordered to be recommitted.
HOLYHEAD HARBOUR,
Col. DUNNE gave notice that he would to-
-13
day) ask the noble lord at the head of the
Majesty's G°ornment
to-morrow
(this
whether it was the intention of herGovernmentGovernment
to pay any attention to the report of the Holyhead
commit-
tee, tee, and that subsequently he should bring the t-
subject be-
fore the house,
THE t ONSTRUCTORS OF THE NAVY.
Mr. FERRAND gave notice that he should on v Monda-
nest move for a return relative to the ages, services, Bof., of
the two construe ors of the navy, and also with regard to
the recent appointment of Mr. E. J. Reed, together will
his qu. ,lifications as chief constructor of the navy.
MISCELLANEOUS AND Cl VIL SERVICE