The Sun.
London, England, 1863-06-02 00:00:00

KINGSTON AND lIOLYIIEAD MAILS.

On the motion of Mr. LAIRD a return of the several
occasions upon which the steamboats conveying the mails
between Kingston and Holyhead have been delayed
or in any way affected by the occurrence of fogs,
either at or near Kingstown or at or near Holyhead, since
June 30, 1861, to the present time, and specifying the
amount of delay caused by the fog in each instance.—
Ordered.

PROPOSED RECOGNITION OF THE CONFEDE-

RATE STATES.

Mr. ROEBUCK intimated that he intended, on the 30th
of June, to bring forward his motion with respect to the
recognition of the Southern States of America.
Mr. CONINGHAM gave notice that he intended to
move a direct negative to the motion.
DISTRIBUTION OF ARMY PRIZES.

Colonel NOR:111 postponed his motion from the 23d to
the 30th of June.

THE COTTON DISTRICTS.

Mr. FERRAND intimated that, on Friday he should ask
the President of the Poor Law Board when the return of
unmarried women employed in the cotton factories would
be laid on the table, and when the works proposed by the
Government engin.er and sanctioned by the Government
would be commenced.
THE ALEXANDRA.
Mr. HOPWOOD asked the Attorney General when the
case of the Alexandra is to be tried.
The ATTORNEY GENERAL replied that he antici-
pated the case would be tried at the Middlesex sittings after
the present term—namely, on Monday the 15th of the pre.
sent month.

ELSWICK ORDNANCE COMPANY.
Sir H. W iLLOUGH BY asked the Under Secretary of
State for War if any sum or sums of money were to be paid
to tb.e Elswick Ordnance Company under any indenture or
agreement; and, if any sum or sums of money were to be
paid, out of what funds will the payment be made, and by
what authority ?
The Marquis of HARTINGTON replied that the Go-
vernment contract with the works was put an end to by the
late Secretary of War, Sir G. Lewis. The company made
a claim of £85,500, £55,000 of which was disputed. The
matter was referred to Mr. Fenton for arbitration, and the
result had been that the disputed amount had been paid,
and the Government had received stock to cover the balance,
to liquidate which a sum would be asked in the votes this
year.

THE STRUCTURE OF THE GREAT INTERNA-

TIONAL EXHIBITION.

Mr. GREG( ,RY asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer
whether a detailed estimate of the repairing and altering,
and eventually completing the International Exhibition
bui ding would be laid before the house ; whether any state-
ment would be made to the house of the object the Go-
vernment had in view in purchasing the building, and to
what purpose it was to be applied ; whether the two glass
domes were to replaced by two permanent structures
on the same design, and when the vote would be taken for
this embellishment of London and its (vicinity. (Hear,
and laughter )
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied
that the estimate which had been prepared, and which
would be submitted to the house, treated upon the cost of
buying, altering, and maintaining the building. The ori-
ginal cost of the building was £300,000, with an addition of
£130,000 to be paid to the contractors, making together
£430,000. The price which the contractors had agreed to
take, in addition to the payments already made to them,
was £BO,OOO. The site, including the refreshment rooms,
would cost £120,000—£200,000 in all, The value
of the property to be so purchased was £30,000, the
value of the refreshment departments was £28,000,
but £710,000 was the estimated value of the whole of the
property in the market, so that the public would get the
whole of it for £200,000. (Hear, hear.)
Lord R. CECIL asked if any estimate had been prepared
of the annual repairs ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied
that the cost of the annual repairs were included in the
estimate.

Mr. D. SEYMOUR enquired if the estimate would in-
clude the cost of endowing the Exhibition with a decent
appearance ? (Laughter.)
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied
that the estimate would certainly include the cost of giving
the building a "decent" appearance. (Laughter.)
VOLUNTEER ENGINEER CORPS.

Mr. PEACOCKE asked the Under Secretary of State
for War if there was any objection for the Government to
supply Volunteer Corps of Engineers with the implements
necessary for their duties ?
The Marquis of HARTINGTON replied that all the
requisite implements—upwards of 24 in number for each
man—had been readily furnished.
THE ROYAL SOCIETY AND THE BOARD OF