The Sun.
London, England, 1863-02-13 00:00:00

PRIVATE BILL FEES.

Mr. HODGSON inquired if it was proposed to make any
reduction in the scandalously excessive fees demanded from
the promoters of private bills: These fees were so enor-
mous that they were sufficient not only to pay all the
expenses of the house, but to leave a large balance, which
was paid into the exchequer. He mentioned cases of bills
in whch the fees had amounted to £l,OOO and more.
Col. PATTEN admitted that the fees were far too ex-
cessive. He meant to ask the house to again appoint a
committee on the subject, and was not without hope that
he should succeed in inducing the Government to assent to
a material reduction in the fees.
After a few words from Col. FRENCH the subject dropped.

ACCIDENTS ON RAILWAYS.
Mr. BEN 1' INCK asked the President of the Board of
Trade whether, in consequence of the repeated occurrence
of railway accidents, it was the intention of her Majesty's
Government to introduce, during the present session, any
measure founded on the report of the Committee on Rail-
way Accidents, which was laid upon the table of the house
in 1858 ?
Mr. M. GIBSON replied that nothing had occurred last
year which, in the opinion of the Board of Trade, rendered
it desirable to legislate on the subject of railway accidents.
The railway accidents last year to passenger trains were
somewhat less than in the preceding year. Comparing
1862 with 1861 there was a decrease of 48 per cent. in
the number of passengers killed in consequence of accidents
to passenger trains. In 1861 46 persons were killed and
780 persons injured, and the number of passengers carried
amounted co 173,721,139, so that one passenger was killed
out of every 3,760,000 carried. In 1862 there were 51 ac-
cidents to passenger trains or 9 per cent. ; 24 were killed and
509 injured. The traffic had not yet been made up, but as
more new lines had been opened, and more passengers con-
veyed, the proportion would be more favourable than in
1861. At present the Government saw no reason for inter-
fering.

DELHI PRIZE MONEY.
Colonel SMYTH asked the Secretary of State for War
he cause of the delay in the payment of prize money for

- -
the capture of Delhi to the troops engaged in that service ?
Sir G. C. LEWIS replied that he had no special control
in his department over this distribution of pr ze money, but
he understood there had been no unnecessary delay.
ENGLISH AND IRISH CHANCERY COURTS.
Mr, LONGFIELD asked the Attorney-General when it
was likely that the English and Irish Courts of Law and
Chancery Commissioners would make their report, and

what had caused the delay in their so doing ?

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL replied that the inquiry
was a very large and laborious one, and considering the
avocations of the commissioners he did not think any unne-

cessary delay had taken place. He could not state the
exact time when the report would be ready, but there

would be no unnecessary delay.
PROMOTION OF CRIMEAN COLONELS.

General LINDSAY asked the Secretary of State for War

if it was true, as reported in a military journal, that he had
recently decided to make no alteration either in the position
or prospects of. the officers promoted to the rank of colonel
for distinguished service in the field during the Crimean
war, and who had been deprived of their relative rotation
in the list through the action of the warrant of 1858 ?

Sir G. C. LEWIS explained that the course adopted had

been in accordance with the report of the committee ap-
pointed to inquire into the matter, and to report thereon.
The gallant gentleman, it was true, who was a member of

the committee, had objected to that report ; but the War.

office was of opinion that the course now adopted could not

be departed from with advantage.
TICKETS-OF-LEAVE—THE CONVICT
REDPATH.
Mr, BUTLER asked the Secretary of State for the

Home Department, when it would be convenient to present
to the house the return ordered by the, house on t3d July,
_ _ .

1862, relative to ticket-of-leave prisoners : and, whether he
would object to lay upon the table a list of the cases in
which the conditions of the ticket-of-leave had been dis-

pensed with, ani the grounds for dispensing with such
conditions ? He also wished to know whether the convict
Redpath_ had been set at liberty, and could consequently

return to this country ?

Sir G. GREY replied that the return had already been
laid on the table. As many of the licences were revoked for
bad conduct, he did not see that any good could arise from
furnishing the information specified in the second ques-
tion. The convict Redpa•h had been sent out under a

sentence of transportation for life before the passing of the

Penal Servitude Act. He was sent out in August, 1858,

to Western Australia, and had since received a colonial

icket of leave. The Colonial authorities had no power

to permit him to return to this country; indeed, he could
only return on receiving a free pardon from the Crown,
which, he might add, he was not wry likely to receive.

INDIA.

Mr. LIDDELL asked the Secretary of State for India
whether there was any objection to lay upon the table a
copy of a memorandum of observations on the Administra-
tion of India, presented by Lord Canning before his depar-
ture by Dinker Rao, member of Council ?
Sir C. WOOD was not aware that such a memorandum
was in existence, but would enquire.
ARMY ESTIMATES.

In reply to a question,
Sir G. LEWIS said these estimates would be in the
hands of hon. members early next week.
FEES ON PRIVATE BILLS.

In reply to Colonel W. PATTEN,
Mr. M. GIBSON intimated that he should tonight or
,o-morrow move the appointment of a committee to report

on these fees, and if it was possible to modify them.
ILLEGITIMATE CHILDREN (IRELAND) BILL.
This bill, on the Motion of Sir R. PEEL, was read a
second time, after a short discussion.
DRAINAGE OF LAND (IRELAND) BILL.

The house then went into committee on this bill:
After some amendments the various clauses (except 55)
were agreed to, the house then resumed.
UNION RELIEF AID ACT.(1862) CONTINUANCE