The Sun.
London, England, 1865-03-21 00:00:00

THE WHITWORTH RIFLE.

Sir F. SMITH asked the Under-Secretary of State for
War if he would lay upon the table of the house the reports
of the officers of the Rifle Brigade in reference to the Whit-
worth rifles, with which the men of the brigade are armed.
The Marquis of HARTINGTON said there would be no
objection to lay the substance of the reports referred to be-
fore Parliament as soon as they had been received. Up to
the present time only five out of the eight colonels of bri-
gades poposed to be so armed had sent in reports.

MAIL CONTRACTS.
Mr. CAVE asked the Secretary to the Treasury when
the two new contracts with the West India and Pacific
Steamship Company, for carrying mails to Jamaica, &c.,
would be laid upon the table.

•
Mr:PEEL said there was no necessity for laying the
contracts on the table, as they were terminable by a six
months' notice.

THE CASE OF MR. EDMUNDS.

Mr. HODGKINS ON asked the Secretary to the Treasury
whether lie would lay upon the table of the house the offi-
cial report made to the Treasury in January last by Mr.
Hindmarsh, Q.C., and Mr. Greenwood, the commissioners
appointed to institute inquiries in reference to the Patent
Office accounts; and in the event of his declining to do so,
then, on an early day, to call attention to the case, and to
move that the above-mentioned report, and the evidence on
which it was founded, be laid upon the table of the house.
Sir G. GREY said there was no objection to the produc-
tion of the papers. There were other documents connected
with the matter that the hon. gentleman might have if he
wished for their production.

BRITISH PROPERTY IN THE SOUTHERN
STATES.

Mr. GREGORY asked the Under Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs whether any, and what, steps were being
taken to protect the property of British subjects, purchased
and paid for in the Southern States of North America be-
fore the commencement of the war, where proof had been
afforded of the bond fide nature of the transactions ?
Mr. LAYARD said he supposed the question referred
rather to property than persons, and that property was
cotton. With respect to foreigners having cotton in those
States, if it was destroyed for a bona fide purpose, they had
no right to complain, as they were aware of the risk they
ran. With respect to the second question, which he sup-
posed referred to the seizure of cotton at Savannah, no full
and reliable report had yet been received by the Govern-
ment.

WATERWORKS BILL.
Mr. FERRAND asked the Board of Trade when the
clauses for the protection of life and property, to bo in-
serted in Waferworks Bills, would be laid upon the table
of the house ?

Mr. BARING said he hoped to lay the clauses referred
to on the table before Easter.
THE RIVER THAMES.

Mr. D. DA3IER asked the Secretary of State for the
Rome Department whether he was aware that, at a short
distance below Hampton Court Palace, there was last sum-
mer hardly four feet of water in the River Thames, and
that when the waterworks near Kingston were pumping
the river ceased to flow over the weir at Teddington during
the period of such pumping ?
Sir G. GREY said he had no information in the matter.
The hon. gentleman had better put his question to the Pre-
sident of the Board of Trade. There ho was in his place.

GREENWICH HOSPITAL,
Sir 11. PETO asked the Secretary of the Admiralty wila

were the intentions of the Government with regard to

Greenwich Hospital.
Mr. CHILDERS said last session a corn flit sion :was
appointed, and amongst those gentlemen:one a ( rtunately
had been unwell, but a report had been-agri:d to and for-
warded to the Admiralty and Treasu: he hoped to
be able to lay the documents on the ta') nd also bring
in a bill to carry out its recommendations.
ROADS IN SCOTLAND..

Mr. LESLIE asked the hon. member for Haddington-
shire whether he indended to introduce during the present
session of Parliament a general road bill for Scotland; and
if so, when ?
Lord ELCHO said it was his intention to move for leave
to introduce such a measure.