The Sun.
London, England, 1862-03-26 00:00:00

PETITIONS.

Petitions were presented by Mr. LOCKE Rxrca and Mr.
WALPOLE and several other members against the Revised
Code of Education. _ _ _

Mr. SELWY.I4 presented a petition from the Society
of Lincoln's-inn against the removal of the Courts of
Justice.

WEIGHTS AND MEASURE.§I

Mr. W. EWART gave notice that on April 9th he would
move for a select committee to consider the feasibility of
establishing a uniform system of weights and measures.
REGISTER OF VOTERS BILL.
The house then went into committee on this bill.
On clause 1 being read, which provides for the compil-
ing an index to the election lists of the different parishes,
Mr. LOCKE KING moved, as an amendment, that each
index should only be regarded in boroughs comprising more
than six parishes, as in boroughs comprising less than six
parishes, and having only six lists, a voter could have no
difficulty or inconvenience in ascertaining without an index
whether or not his name was on the register. The borough
of Manchester contained only one parish, consequently
there was no use for an index there.
After some further discussion the committee divided,
when there appeared—
For the amendment 43
Against it
Majority against the amendment
The amendment was consequently lost.
The question was then put that clause 1 stand part of
the bill, upon which the house again divided, when there
appeared--
For the clause 64
Against it 2B
Majority for the clause
The clause was then ordered to stand part of the bill.
The remaining clauses were then agreed to, and the
house resumed.
SMALL HOUSES EXEMPTION (SCOTLAND)
BILL.
Oa the suggestion of Sir G. GREY,
Sir J. OGILVIE postponed the second reading of this
bill till this day fortnight.
CHANCERY REGISTRATION BILL.
On the order of the day being read for going into com-
mittee on this bill,
Mr. SELWYN opposed the measure on its merits, as the
effect of it would be to take away from the judges of the
Court of Chancery that discretion which they have been
hith,erfo in the practice of exorcising as to the manner in
which justice should be administered in their own courts.
It would give an advantage to the plaintiff in a cause which
the defendant could not take advantage of, while it would
fetter the action of the judges of the Court of Chancery, and
would give rise to much inconvenience as well as expense.
Should the bill be passed, the effect of it would be either to
compel them to increase the number of the judges of
the Court of Chancery, or to return to the old system of
Masters, or to the still.more objectionable one of delay.
Mr, HADFIELD approved of the principle of the mea-
sure, but was of opinion that they ought to establish the
existing rules or regulations, which prohibited barristers-
at-law and attorneys and solicitors to practice in the Court
of Chancery; and at the proper time he should move an
amendment to that effect.
Mr. ROLT defended the measure, contending that it
would prevent suitors being handed from court to court, as
they were at present. It would take away none of the dis-
cretion decreed by the judges of the Court of Chancery, as
they would still have the discretion of sending questions of
fact to be tried in another court, if they saw it would
be a saving of expenses, but as he considered that
that discretion having been already tried and found
wanting, they should now imposo on the judges of
the Court of Chancery the trial of all cases
which came within the particular jurisdiction, either
by jury or otherwise, and he did not think that the trial of
cases by such means would be detrimental to the carrying
on of the other business of the Court.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said he had several ob-
jections to the measure as it stood, but as these would be
obviated by an amendment which he had prepared and
would propose at the proper time, he had no objections to
the bill going into committee.
Mr. MALIN.; considered that the measure would bring
about a great improvement in the practice of the Court of
Chancery, and he should cordially support the motion for
going into committee.
Mr. WALPOLE said his opinion of the question was,
that while he agreed to the principle of the measure he
considered that the amendment to be proposed by the Soli-
citor-General would in a great degree neutralise its effect,
and he thought it would be better to leave matters as they
stood, unless they were prepared to take away all discretion
from the Equity Judges, and leave them to try cases in all
the stages and issues which properly came within their
jurisdiction.
Sir FITZROY KELLY considered the measure a
valuable awl important one, and hoped no further obstacle
would be put to going into committee.
The SPEAKEg then left the chair, and the house went
into committee on t 220 bill.
On clause 1,
Mr. HADFIELD moved an addition to the effect that
all sergeants and barristers-at-law, and all attorneys-at-
law and solicitors should, from and .after the passing of this
Act, be entitled to practise in the Court of Chancery, not-
withstanding any rule or regulation to the contrary, and
that the said sergeants and barristers-of-lavr should have
respectively the same rank and precedence as they were
now entitled to.
Mr. ROLT said the amendment was unnecessary, as there
was no rule or regulation which prevented any of the par-
ties referred to from going into and practicing in the courts
of equity.
The amendment was accordingly withdrawn, and clause
1 was agreed to.
On clause 2,
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL proposed as an amend-
ment that it be left to the discretion of the Judges
in Equity to send questions; of fact for trial before the
courts of law should they consider that they could be tried
there with greater advantage to the parties.
Mr. ROLT opposed the amendment, as it interfered
materially with:the principles of the bill.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL explained that the
object of his amendment was simply to create a uniformity
of practice between jury trials in cases originating in courts
of equity and those arising in courts of law. In the latter
jury cases are tried at the assizes or at London or West-
minster, as was most convenient, and all that he wanted
to do by his amendment was to place jury trials arising
out of cases in the Court of Equity under the same system.
Sir H. CAIRNS and Mr. MALINS MFR° tca the amend-
ment, which was agreed to without a division, and ordered I
to be added to the Disuse.
Mr_ HADFIELD next moved the followingamendment
—" That the Lord High Chancellor, the Master of the
Rolls, or one of the Lords Justices, or one of the Vice-
Chancellors of the said Court, shall bo empowered to pre-
side at the trial of any such issue, if it shall be deemed ex-
pedient to do so or the justice of the case shall require it,
or render it advisable."

Th© amendment was however negatived without a divi-
sion, and the clause as amended was ordered to stand part
of the bill.

The remaining clauses wore then agreed to, and the
house having resumed the bill wan reported with amend-
ments.

SMOKE NUISANCES (METROPOLIS) ACTS
AMENDMENT BILL.
This bill was read a second time, and ordered to be com-
mitted this day week.

WHIPPING (No. 2) BILL.

The house went into committee on this bill.
On clause 1,
Mr. STANLEY moved an amendment intending to
abolish the system of administeringpunishbmeenatdmbyintihsetecraetd,
and providing that whipping should only
with a birch rod.
The amendment was agreed to, as was also another to
the effect that in Scotland no offender for theft or for crime
committed against the person or against property, under
la years of age, be whipped more than once.
Mr. BLACK moved an addition to the clause in effect,
that in cases where the punishment of whipping was in-
flicted, the offender should not also be imprisoned for the
same offence.
Mr. HADFIELD opposed the amendment, on the
ground that it neutralised the effect of 64 clauses in the act
of last year.
After some discussion the amendment was withdrawn.
The clause as amended was then agreed to, when the
house resumed, and the chairman reported the bill as
amended.
TURNPIKE TOLLS EXEMPTION (SCOTLAND)
BILL.

On the motion for going L'to committee on this bill,
Mr. BLACKBURN moved a:at the house go into com-
mittee on the measure that day si3 months. The great
objection he had to the measure was, ,;,hat it extended the
exemption to tolls, as it provided that all clerjYmen visiting
in any parish should be exempted from paying
Mr. BUCHANAN said that at present parish 12ihisters
were exempted from tolls, but as there were now in aLI the
parishes another body of clergymen, the object of the me::.l-
- was to exempt those also from the payment of tolls
while travelling in their respective districts.
Mr. STIRLING opposed the measure. As, while under '
the present law parish ministers were only exempt from
tolls in their own parishes, this measure would exempt
Dissenting ministers from tolls in five or six parishes eoun,cl;
Mr. P. URQUHART also opposed the measure.
they extended this exemption they could scarcely
who were to be exempt, for amateur preachers were 7t-,
become so common in Scotland that they would
die turnpme
exempt mostly all persons who travelled on
roads. (Laughter.)
Mr. MURE considered that measure would be a great
improvement on the present law, and ho
bill going into committee. Would support the
hid he should move a
if the measure should
Mr. LESLIE would have no objection t° exempting the
clergy of all denominations, but d also have ex-
empted the medical practitioners,
clause to that effect in committee
reach that stage.
Major C. BRUCE objected to the measure, as he was
that the object of the measure
opposed to all exemptions.
en of all denominations to go
Mr. DUNLOP explained
in their respective districts free
simply was to allow elerern
about their pastoral duties
of toll. Let them
do away with the exemptions as to
parish ministers, and then there Would be no complaint ;
but as there seemed no intention of doing that, he would
press his measure.
Mr. STUART opposed the measure, and the house hav-
ing divided, there appeared—
For going int° committee
Amiot it
Majority ..
The Mills consequently lost.
LAW OF PROPERTY AMENDMENT BILL.
This bill was read a second time, and ordered to be com-
mitted this week.
DWELLING HOUSES (SCOTLAND).
OA the motion of Mr. MURE the following returns were