The Sun.
London, England, 1865-02-17 00:00:00

ILLICIT DISTILLATION IN IRELAND.

Lord CLEMENTS moved an address for returns of the
names of the officers the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland had
considered it necessary to appoint for the purpose of carry-
ing out the provisions of the several acts for the suppres-
sion of illicit distillation in Ireland within the counties of
Clare and Donegal.
Lord GRANVILLE objected to the return that it would
be only a list of the constabulary in those counties, as the
whole of the foice were empowered to act in cases of vio-
lation of the revenue laws.

Lord CHELMSFORD thought the question deserved
consideration, as the intention of the Legislature was that
the revenue officers should have different duties and powers
than those of the constabulary.
Lord GRANVILLE defended the present system on the
ground of its superior economy and efficiency.
The motion was withdrawn.

Lord LYVEDEN deferred his question on the defences
of Canada till Monday next.

Their lordships adjourned at 20 minutes past 6,

HOUSE OF COMMONS—LAST EVENING.
The SPEAKER took the chair at 4 o'clock.
NEW MEMBER.

Mr. CHEETHAM took the oaths and his seat on his eleo-
ion for the borough of Salford.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The Standing Orders were declared to have been com-
plied with in the case. of several private bills.
CENTRAL WALES AND STAFFORDSHIRE
JUNCTION RAILWAY BILL.

On the motion for the second reading of this bill,

Mr. GREAVES said that this bill had been four times
before the house, which refused to sanction it on its merits.
He thought the house should reject Om bill, the standing
orders not being complied with, instead of allowing the
time of the house being further occupied with.a bill which
came before it under such circumstances. He moved that
the bill should be read a second time that day six months.
After a few words from Sir E. DERING, explaining the
manner in which the bill came before the house on each

occasion,

Mr. ROEBUCK said that the bill had been thrown out
in 1861, 1862, 1863, and finally on its merits last year. It
was now brought forward a fifth time, much to the incon-
venience of landowners in the neighbourhood where the rail-
way was to traverse. When the Chancollorof the Exchequer
brought forward the subject of a committee on railways the
other evening he (Mr. Roebuck) suggested the attention of
such committee should be directed to the initiation of such
companies. There were many sham companies brought
before the house, which were originated with engineers,
contractors, and solicitors. The lawyers got a large share
cf the plunder, but there was generally a man of 'fortune
behind who received a lion's share of the plunder.
Sir B. LEIGHTON considered that the promoters had
not been properly treated, and supported the second reading.
Mr. DODSON hoped the house would not take upon it-
self the responsibility of reversing the previous decisions.
The house divided, and the numbers were—
For the second reading B3
Against
Majority 29

The bill was accordingly read a second time.
LONDON, TILBURY, AND SOUTHEND RAILWAY.
On the motion for tho second reading of this bill,

Mr. COLLINS moved, as an amendment, that it be post-
poned for a fortnight.

Colonel FRENCH seconded the amendment.
Mr. JACKSON was in favour of the bill going to a com-

mittee.

Mr. DODSON trusted that the bill would be allowed to
go a committee, which would be more able to judge of its
merits than the house.

The amendment was withdraw; and tho bill was read a
second time.

PICCADILLY AND PARK-LANE NEW ROAD BILL

On the motion of Mr. TITE, the second reading of the
bill was postponed for a week.

PRIVATE BILLS.
Mr. TORRENS moved that on every private bill to be
considered by a committee of the house all petitions which
shall stand referred to such a committee be printed at
the expense of the petitioners, and copies of such petitions,
together with a copy of the bill to be considered, be deli-

• GI
livered to each member of the committee not less than two
days previous to its sitting. He believed that the expense
of this proceeding would not be great, and a practice was
proposed in regard to petitions in the other house similar
to that he suggested. If the expense fell on the promoters
it would be heavy, considering their number was limited.
Col. PEEL said he believed very few members would
trouble themselves to read these petitions, which in many
cases were not proceeded.with. He thought every altera-
tion in the standing orders should be referred to a com-
mittee and reported upon before the house was asked to
sanction any such change. A class of persons had arisen
who were called promoters, who received a gratuity to
promote certain undertakings, for the benefit of persons
interested. He proposed that for " petitioners" " pro-
moters" should be substituted.
Mr. M. GIBSON approved the motion,with some altera-
tion, to which Mr. Torrens assented.
Mr. CRAUFURD said he had heard nothing to show
him that the alteration proposed was necessary.
Col. W. PATTEN did not see what benefit could result
from the adoption of the resolution, although, with the
alterations agreed to, he would not oppose it.
The motion was agreed to without a division.
THE LATE MR. GREGSON, M.P.
Lord PALMERSTON drew the attention of the house
to the decease of this gentleman, and passed a high
eulogium on the services he had rendered for seven years
in his attendance on committees. lie took this opportu-
nity of alluding to value of the services of hon. members
on committees on public and private bills, which did not
attract that attention which was given to speaking in the
house, and which reflected so much credit on their pa-
triotism. The country had sustained a great loss in the
late gentleman, and ho deplored him on private as well as
public grounds.
OBSERVANCE OP THE SABBATH.

Mr. CLIFFORD gave notice that he would draw atten-
tion to the order in council, relative to the better obser-
vance of the Sabbath.

BRITISH SUBJECTS IN THE SERVICE OF THE

EMPEROR OF CHINA.

Colonel SYKES asked tle Under Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs, whether the Order in Council of the Ist
March, 1864, had been enforced, and all British subjects
withdrawn from the service of the Emperor of China and
that of provincial mandarins ?

Mr. LAYARD said that the Government had no power
,o enforce the order in question.

WRECKS ON THEI COASTS OF THE UNITED

KINGDOM.

Mr. CAVE asked the President of the Board of Trade,
when the " abstract of the returns of wrecks and casualties
on the coasts of the United Kingdom for the year ending
Dec. 31, 1863, which was laid upon the table last session,
would be delivered to members ; and whether there was
any necessity for the publication of these returns being two
years in arrear ?
Mr. M. GIBSON said the returns alluded to would be
shortly laid on the table of the house.
IRISH RECORDS.
Colonel DUNNE asked the Secretary to the Treasury
if the Government intended to proceed at once with the
publication of the patent and Close Rolls and other Irish
records ; in what form they would be published, and by
were to be edited ; and
whom and in what manner they
when the Bretean Laws would be published ?
his
s o d
uopt rireosces threeeaat
ies volumesacwt
oth.
Mr. P. PEEL said that these records had been placed in
d
the hands of a gentleman who was supposed to be
were printed, but the work was suspended because
qualified for thheadtans
task, and
performednd that
tThleieg:nnattiteeirriamil-a s referred to the Master of the Rolls, Nrvibyo.
exculpated him from any blame, and had undertaken to
supply an index, and the work would be
NEW
In reply to Mr. A. MILLS,