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

ROADS IN SCOTLAND.

The Earl of AI RLIE inquired whether the Government
intended to introduce any measure for the better manage-
ment of roads in Scotland ?

On the motion for going into committee,
The Duke of ARGYLL said it was found impossible
some two years ago to get a general measure on this subject
through Parliament, and suggested that the best waywould
be for each particular district to deal with the subject, and
apply for a local act for the purpose.
Lord ELLE NBOROUGH rose to present a petition
from some Indian officers complaining of the loss
of certain advantages they consider to have
been guaranteed them by Parliament. The
noble lord said he had some petitions to present
from a' number of Indian officers, all complaining
of the non fulfilment of a pledge given by
the Government that all advantages with respect
to pay, pension, and privileges, should be duly preserved
in the plan for the organisation of the Indian army.
Economy,lie considered, could houeo..yoiee velaer9 the
was one of justice, and ek‘hted thai4i*auld
be the view taken 1)3. her Majesty's Government. One
officer petitioned who was on the list of colonels. According
to the old arrangement he would have been entitled Ito
higher pay and allowance, but he was not entitled
by the new conditions. There were several other complaints,
but the real question which interested the whole army was
that of promotion. By the rules of the Indian service an
offer of promotion had been made to certain lieutenant-
colonels on the retirement of seniors, which had not
been fulfilled, but, however incumbent it might be that the
promotions should take place, as promised, it was clearly a
right to which the officers were entitled. Another cause
of grievance was the conversion of old regiments into one
or more new regiments. He was not prepared to say
whether such an arrangement was legal or not, but what
he proposed was, that a committee should be appointed to
search the records of both armies for precedents for such
conversions of olds, regiments into new ones. There were
great grievances connected with the staff appointments, but
the most galling of all and which the officers complained
of most was that of supersession by officers leav-
ing certain regiments as subalterns, and coming
back sometimes to overleap the heads of those who were
many years their seniors in the service. There was
however, a difficulty in regard to officers not on the
staff, but absent on special service, who had not: the
promotion they might expect on the staff. He
thought one of the remedies ought to be a
reduction of the number of promotions on
the staff, which were much too lavish in proportion to the
other departments of the army. The subject, he felt satis-
fied, was one of the greatest importance, and in dealing
with men, especially soldiers, the only honourable course
was that of strict justice, and it was also of the highest im-
portance that they should be convinced that they were not
unjustly treated,
The Duke of ARGYLL said the speech of the noble
earl opposite had been a great relief to his mind,
because he felt convinced that there was not the
shadow of a pretence for saying that the act of
Parliament referred to had been in any respects
violated by any act of the Government. He believed
that instead of being hardly dealt with, the Indian army,
as regards promotion, had been treated with the greatest
liberality.
(LEFT SPEAKING.)

HOUSE OF COMMONS---This Evening.
The SPEAKER took filo chair at four o'clock.
CAMBRIDGE—NEW MEMBER.
Mr, POWELL took the oaths and his seat for Cambridge.
PETITIONS.
FISHERIES BILL (IRELAND).
Mr. BAGWELL, from Clonmel, in favour of this bill.
Colonel DUNNE to the same effect.
FIRE INSURANCE.

An HON. MEMBER in favour of a modification.
Mr. COBDEN, from Rochdale, to the same effect.
SUGAR DUTIES.

Mr. ROEBUCK, from Sheffield, in favour of the
equalization of these duties.
Mr. W. S. FOSTER, from Bradford, to the like effect.
NOXIOUS VAPOURS.
Col. W. PATTEN, numerously signed from South
Lancashire, complaining of the effect of noxious vapours
from manufactories, and praying that the remedy might be
devised.

EPPING FOREST.
Mr. COX, from inhabitants of St. Luke's, Clerkenwell,
and Camden-town, complaining of the attempted enclosure
of the forest, and praying that it may be preserved intact.
NOTICES OF MOTION.
CHURCH RATES.
Mr. HOPWOOD, that on Monday he would ask her
Majesty's Government whether it was their intention to
introduce any bill this session for the repeal of church rates?
CHINA -ENCROACIIIIENTS OF RUSSIA AND FRANCE.
Col SYKES, that on Monday he would ask the Under
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any infor-
mation, official or otherwise, had reached the Fo-
reign-Office to the effect that Russian authorities in
China had made any arrangements with the
Tartar authorities to cede certain islands ; whether barracks
were being erected to accommodate 2,000 Russian troops ;
and whether the French, under French officers, were form-
ing an army of Chinese troops?

POSTAGE—PANAMA.
Mr. MAGUIRE, that on Monday he should ask the
Under Secretary of the Colonies whether it was proposed to
accelerate the colonial postal service by way of Panama,
and if so, whether ho had any objection to lay the parti-
culars before the house ?