The Sun.
London, England, 1865-05-17 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF LORDS—LAST EVENING.
The LOAD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack at
the usual hour.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The following bills were read a second time :—Rattrt.tams-
y's
Estate, Wynne's Estate, Weald of Kent Railway, G
borough Water, West Cork Railway, and Farnham Gas.
The following bills were read a third time and passed—
Glasgow and South-Westernßailway (KilrnassockDirect),
Gosport Gas ; London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway
(St. Leonard's Line and Deviation), Rastrick Gas, Glasgow
and South-Western Railway (City of Glasgow Union).
SEWAGE UTILISATION BILL.
Lord RAVENSWORTH, in moving the second reading
of this bill, said that the object of the bill was of great im-
portance in a sanitary point of view, and he adverted to
the reports presented to Parliament as confirmatory of
that statement. The population of the metropolis was
increasing at a given ratio, and it was a natural
result that the sewage should also increase in a correspond-
ing degree. The reports presented in 1861 showed a fear-
ful state of the impurity of the water of the metropolis by
the sewage discharged into it, which was stated to be at
the present time affected by the sewage of no less than
800,000 persons. The impurity of the water was not confined
to the metropolis, but extended to the great manufacturing
cities and towns of the country ; and he cited the dictum of
several scientific authorities who had analysed the Thames
and other great rivers, from whose statement it appeared
that several of those rivers would not sustain
fish, and the sequitur was that they would not
sustain human life. It could not be doubted that
the subject had attained a magnitude that enforced it
on the attention of Government, and called for some
remedy. The bill which he had the honour to propose
was not of a compulsory character, but merely pro-
posed to give to local authorities the power to adopt mea-
sures for the utilisation of sewage when such could be
practically carried out. He referred to China and Japan
to show the better system that prevailed in those countries
In respect to this question of sewage.
Lord REDESDALE said that he would not oppose the
bill, but at the same time he considered that it should re-
ceive careful attention in regard to its different provisions
before it received the sanction of Parliament.
Earl LONGFORD thought the bill ought to be passed.
After some further discussion the bill was read a second
time.
METROPOLITAN HOUSELESS POOR BILL.
Earl DE GREY and RIPON moved that this bill should
go through committee, and entered into some details to
show the necessity for legislation on this subject.
The Earl of CARNARVON believed that the act of last
session had in many respects worked satisfactorily, but, on
the other hand, he thought it was defective in some points.
When the guardians had shown a liberal spirit it had been
attended with good results, but in the many places where
the guardians had exhibited a churlish and illiberal spirit,
it had been almost a dead letter. There was even now the
great inequality in the relief given to casual paupers in the
different metropolitan unions. The meals given to them
in some unions were far better, both in quantity and qua-
lity, than in others. There was the same inequality in
the amount of labour exacted from the paupers. In some
of the unions no regular casual wards had been fitted up ;
and in numerous instances the ventilation was very defec-
tive. He also noticed that in some cases boards of guar-
dians had refused to give relief to persons belonging to
other metropolitan parishes. That was utterly unjustifi-
able. The natural result of this inequality of treatment in
different unions was that, while some of the casual wards
were crowded, others were nearly empty. He did not oppose
the present bill, but he trusted that the Poor-law Board
would carefully watch its working, and take care that it
was not rendered a nullity by the niggardliness of boards
of guardians.
The Earl of S HAFTESBURY bore testimony to the
satisfactory working of the act of last session, and said he
believed this measure, if efficiently administered, would be
a real and permanent blessing to the poor.
The bill then passed through committee.
The Commons' amendments to the Lords' amendments
to the Private Bills Costs Bill were considered and agreed
to.

The District Church Tithes Bill was read a third time
and passed.
OXFORD UNIVERSITY (VINERIAN
FOUNDATION).
The Earl of DERBY, in moving the second reading of
this bill, explained that its object was to enable the Uni-
versity of Oxford to alter one of the statutes regulating the
application of the funds of the Vinerian foundation. The
principal purpose in view was to obtain a resident profes-
sor of law.
The bill was read a second time.
The report of amendments on the Married Women's
Property (Ireland) Bill was brought up and agreed to.
The Isle of Man (Disafforestation) Compensation Bill
was read a third time and passed.
MASTERS IN THE NAVY.
The Earl of lIARDWICKE asked the First Lord of the
Admiralty whether it was the intention of the Government
to abolish the class of masters in the Royal Navy.
The Duke of SOMERSET said that it was the intention
of the Admiralty eventually to abolish the rank of masters
in the Royal Navy. The interests of the present masters,
700 or 800 in number, would have to be carefully consi-
dered ; and all that had at present been done was to stop
the entry of that class of cadets front which the masters
were taken. As soon as the scheme of the Admiralty was
matured ho would lay it on the table, in order that their
lordships might see clearly what was intended.
The Earl of HARDWICKE expressed his :disapproval
of the contemplated measure, contending that it was abso-
lutely requisite that there should be a separate class of men
devoted, under the orders of the captain, to the navigation
and pilotage of the ship.
The Duke of SOMERSET remarked that there would be
ample opportunity for fully discussing this subject when he
laid on the table the Admiralty scheme for dealing with it.
The subject then dropped.
THE METALLIFEROUS MINES BILL.
Lord KINNAIRD withdrew a notice of motion whi h
he had given for the production of certain papers in regard
to the condition of mines.
Lord VIVIAN appealed to the noble lord to withdraw
the Metalliferous Mines Bill. The whole mining interest
was opposed to it, and it would be found both impracticable
and injurious.
Lord KINNAIRD could not withdraw a measure which
had already received far more support than he anticipated,
and which would, he believed, work very beneficially.
The house adjourned at a quarter before seven o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—LAST EVENING.
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The following bills were read a third time and passed :
Crieff Junction and Scottish Central Railway Companies ;
Dunblane, Doune, and Callander and Scottish Central
Railway Companies; North and South Wiltshire Junction
Railway ; Port Talbot Company ; Solway Junction Rail-
way; Southampton Gas; West Bromwich Improvement;
and Wrexham, Mold, and Connah's Quay Railway (En-
tension).
METROPOLITAN MARKET BILL.
On the motion for the second reading of this bill,

Mr. COX objected to it on the ground that it would
convert several large buildings which it was proposed to
make into model lodging houses to other purposes.
After some conversation, in which Mr. Crawford, Alder-
man Sydney, and Mr Ayrton took part,
The bill was read a second time.
THE CHURCH OP ENGLAND.

Mr. WHALLEY brought in a bill for the better regu-
lation of the services of the Church of England with re-
spect to auricular confession.
MR. WILDE'S RESIGNATION.

Mr. FERRAND gave notice that he should move for
the appointment of a select committee to inquire into the
resignation of Mr. Wilde, the appointment of Mr. Welch,
and the intended appointment of Mr. R., Bothell to the
Leeds Bankruptcy Court.
ENFIELD RIFLES. . .

—.--
Mr. IL VIVIAN asked the Under Secretary of State for
War if the committee on converting the Enfield rifles into
breech-loaders had reported ; and if so, whether they had
recommended any plan for the adoption of the Govern-
ment. And whether it was true that an order had been
given, or was about to be given, for the conversion of
60,000 rifles on the Mount Storm principle.
The Marquis of HARTINGTON said the report had
been received, but it was not entirely favourable to any
system of conversion submitted for consideration. A cer-
tain number of conversions would be made, but it was not
true that 60,000Enfleld rifles had been converted to Mount
Storm's principle. When the report was complete he
would state its purport.

SINGAPORE.
Mr. MITCHELL asked the Secretary of State for India
whether, in the event of the transfer of Singapore from his
department to that of the Colonies, full provision wouldbe
made for the continued employment of naval officers hold-
ing command under him in the Straits of Malacca.
Sir C. WOOD said he did not quite understand the hon.
member's question, but if he would repeat it on another
opportunity, he would make inquiries, and give him all the
information he could collect.
CEYLON.

Mr. B. COCHRANE asked the President of the P d
of Trade to lay on the table a copy of all correspond::e
which had passed since 1854 between the Colonial Govern_
ment of Ceylon, the Board of Trade, and the Colonial-
office, respecting the lighthouse to be erected on the
Basses Rocks, Ceylon; and of any reports referring to the

same.
Mr. M. GIBSON said the whole correspondence relative
to the lighthouse which it was intended to erect was pre-
sented to the house in 1863. All he required would be
found in the correspondence.
Mr. B. COCHRANE said there were some reports not
contained in that return.
Mr: M. GIBSON said if the hon. member would state
which
was required it should be produced.
WAR IN LAGOS.
Lord STANLEY asked the Secretary of State for the