The Sun.
London, England, 1865-05-10 00:00:00

BANKRUPTCY.

Mr. PAULL asked the Attorney-General whether it was
the intention of her Majesty's Governments at the earliest
possible period, to submit to Parliament a measure for the
amendment and consolidation of the bankruptcy laws; and
if so, whether such measure would provide for the aboli-
tion of the power of imprisonment of debtors, to compel
the payment of money under any judgment or order of any
court, including county courts, and other courts for the
recovery of small debts.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said it was intended,
at the earliest possible period, to submit a measure for the
amendment and consolidation of the bankruptcy laws, but
he feared it could not be done during the present session.
The committee had, as the hon, gentleman no doubt,was
aware, recommended the abolition of imprisonment for
debt. The whole of the recommendations would be well
considered by the Government, but he could not anticipate
the conclusion to which the Government would come.
An HoN. MEMBER asked whether the motion which
stood on the paper for to-morrow would be proceeded
with ?

Mr PAULL in reply said he should to-morrow move
the discharge of the order.
THE ELECTION AT OXFORD. •

Sir R. CLIFTON asked whether the notification issued
by a committee at Oxford promoting the re-election of a
prominent member of her Majesty's Government, that the
election wouldtake place in the second week in July next,
had been made on the authority of any member of her
Majesty's Government.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, in the
absence of his noble friend, would take the liberty of
answering tho question. He presumed he (the Chancellor
of the Exchequer) was "the prominent member of her Ma-
jesty's Government"—(hear, hear, and laughter.)—a com-
pliment for which he begged to return his best acknow-
ledgments to the hon. baronet. (Laughter.) The notifi-
cation had not been issued with the concurrence of the
Government of which he was a prominent member.
(Laughter.)
IRRIGATION WORKS IN INDIA.

Mr. LIDDELL asked the Secretary of State for India,
whether there was any objection to lay upon the table of
of the house a copy of his own despatches of Bth August
last, and of the minute of Lieut.-Colonel Strachey, late
Secretary of Public Works, upon the policy of the Govern-
ment undertaking the construction of the necessary irriga-
tion works in India, in preference to entrusting their con-
struction to private companies.
Sir C. WOOD said the letter had been received, but as
it had not yet been fully considered and answered he could
not, until that was done, lay a copy of the communication
on the table.

WRITS REGISTRATION BILL.
Mr. LESLIE asked the hon. member for Greenock
whether or not he intended to proceed witfi the Writs
Registration, &c. (Scotland) Bill on Wednesday.
Mr. DUNLOP said it was his intention to proceed with
the bill on that day.
MR. EDMUNDS'S RESIGNATION.

Mr. BOUVERIE moved that a message be sent to the
Lords for a copy of report of their Lordships' Committee
on the resignation by Mr. Edmunds of certain offices.
The motion was agreed to.
BREACH OF PRIVILEGE—THE AJEEM JAII
PETITION.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved that the order of
tho day be read for resuming the adjourned debate on this
matter. Having stated the reasons that led him to move
tha adjournment of the debate last night on the
motion of Mr. Foster to commit one of the parties
to prison, and the others to the custody of the Ser-
geant-at-arms for affixing fictitious signatures to
some petitions that had been presented to that house
in favour of the case of Ajeem Jah. After the fullest consi-
deration he had come to the conclusion that it would be
butter, as Mitchell said he had evidence to meet
that given against him, and when he had
not had an opportunity before the extreme step was taken,
to refer the matter back to the committee, when the evi-
dence Mitchell said he had could be produced.
After a few observations from Mr. HENNESSY,

Mr. DENMAN said he thought it right that everything
connected with this matter should come out. It might be
there were other persons, much the superior of Mitchell,
concerned in the matter, and, therefore, he thought it
would be well to allow Mitchell the privilege of cross-
examination, as by that means the real offender would
more than likely be reached.
. _

The motion that tho report of the committee be recom-
mitted was agreed to.
On the motion of Mr. AYRTON a select committee was
appointed to inquire into tho complaints of the coal miners
of Great Britain.

The house adjourned at a quarter before eight.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

GREAT NORTHERN.

A special general meeting of this company was
held yesterday at the King's-cross station, to con-
sider certain bills now before Parliament ; Colonel
Packe, M.P., in the chair.

The CHAIRMAN said that the first bill he had to
submit was to authorise the Great Northern Rail-
way Company to construct a railway from Hornsey
to their Hertford, Luton, and Dunstable line, near
Hertford. It was of great importance to the com-
pany, as it would give them a loop line to take off
traffic from the main line between London and
Hitchin.

Mr. LEECH, the solicitor, read the heads of the
bill. The capital was £650,000 in shares and
£216,000 by borrowing. The new line would start
from the Wood-green station, passing through
Southgate, Winchmore-hill, Enaeld, and other
places to the company's line near Hertford.

A formal resolution approving the bill was carried
unanimously.
The next was a bill to authorise the Great North-
ern Railway Company to construct a railway from
Sleaford to Bourn. It would be a single line, and
enable the company to fill up the gap between those
points. The capital was £190,000 in shares, with
power to borrow £63,000.
The bill was approved,
The CumnuAN said the next was a bill to autho-
rise the Edgware, Highgate, and London Railway
Company to construct two short lines of railway to
connect their railway with the Tottenham and
Hampstead Junction Railway.
The Solicitor read the heads of the bill, which
authorised the company to raise £72,000 and to
borrow £24,000. The Great Northern Company
were authorised to subscribe £50,000 in shares to-
wards the undertaking, to work the traffic on the
line, and to purchase or lease the undertaking,
The bill was approved, as was also one for the
further improvement of the drainage and navigation
of the river Witham.
The CHAIRMAN then moved a formal resolution
approving a billfor making railways from the North
London Railway to Alexandra-park, and to the
Edgware, Highgate, and London Railway.
The motion approving the bill was carried unani-
mously, and the meeting was adjourned to that day
fortnight to consider any of the remaining 22 bills
on the list that might then be ready.