The Sun.
London, England, 1862-07-05 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-YESTERDAY.

The SPEAKER took the chair shortly after 12 o'clock.
THE MERSEY, IRWELL, &c., PROTECTION
BILL.

On the motion for the second reading of this bill, which
came from the House of Lords,
Mr. WESTHEAD moved that the bill be read a second
time this day three months. This bill was of a most ex-
ceptional character, and such was the nature of it that after
it had passed a select committee of the Upper House their
lordships referred it back to the whole house, in order that
it might be discussed again clause by clause. The Lord
Chancellor described the bill as an opprobrium on
the legislation of the country, and be (Mr. Westhead)
considered that although the measure purported to originate
with the Mersey and Irwell River Navigation society, it
in reality emanated from Lord Ellesmere, who was a large
proprietor in the neighbourhood, and whose interests would
be materially benefitted by the measure if it were passed.
He denied that the bill would effect the object which it pre-
tended to promote, and, regarded in a sanitary point of
view, it would impurify the river which it was said it
would purify, and he made that statement on the opinion
of competent chemical authorities.
Mr. MASSEY said that the bill no doubt was one of
a very extraordinary character, and it was difficult to dis-
cover whether it was in reality a public measure in the
guise of a private, or whether the matter to which it re-
ferred was a subject for private legislation. If they as-
sented to the former their course would be to discharge the
order for the second reading of the bill. He considered
that, technically, the bill came to the house as a private
bill ; and he thought the proper course would be to refer
it to a select committee up stairs, who would be competent
to deal with the whole subject.
Mr. J. EWA ET considered legislation on this subject
necessary, and supported the second reading of the bill.
Mr. LAIRD opposed the bill.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL thought the bill should
be referred to a select committee, and, on legal grounds,
objected to the measure.
Viscount NEWPORT said that if the motion for the
second reading went to a division he should feel bound to
vote against it.
Mr. JACKSON considered that private interests ought
not to be permitted to interfere in a matter of such import-
ance as the present, for the commerce of the country must
necessarily be affected by the state of the river Mersey.
He would support the second reading of the bill; but if it
were referred to a select committee ho would not object to
some alterations being introduced.
After some further discussion the house divided, and the
numbers were—

For the second reading 97
Against
Majority
The bill was accordingly read a second time
MERCHANDISE MARKS BILL.
The house went into committee on this bill.

The bill passed through committee, and at 4 o'clock the
sitting was suspended.
At six o'clock the house resumed
TURKISH LOAN. _ _

Mr. GRIFFITH asked what progress had been made by
Lord Hobart and the Turkisk Loan Commission in extin-
guishing the paper money at Constantinople, by the appli-
cation of the capital of the loan to the purpose of paying it
off ; and moved for copy of any correspondence that had
taken place on the subject of the events occurring in Ser-
via, upon which he made comments.
Mr. LAY ARD said it must be obvious that the Govern-
ment could not state from day to day the progress made in
such a matter as the extinguishing of paper money in
Turkey; and, as regarded the events in Servia, it was
impossible to produce the correspondence while the trans-
actions were going on.
The amendment was negatived.
NAVAL COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF.

Sir J. HAY asked if it was the intention of the Admi-
ralty to make any increase in the pay and allowances to the
Naval Commander-in-Chief in India, in consequence of the
stoppage of the allowances hitherto paid as batta to the
Naval Commander-in-Chief by the India Government ; and
it any inconvenience had arisen in the selection of an officer
for that command, in consequence of the reduction of pay.
After some remarks by Sir M. SEYMOUR, _ - .

Lord C. PAGET gave an explanatory reply to the first
question ; and, as to the last, he observed that the command
was not a very desirable one, and one or two officers had
declined it on the score of health.
THE DIPLOMATIC SER VICE.

Mr. COCHRANE called attention to the report of the
select committee on the Diplomatic Service, and asked the
Government whether it was intended to carry out the re-
commendations of that committee, which he recapitulated,
with observations, especially upon the inadequacy of the
salaries and allowances of our Ambassadors and Ministers
abroad.

Mr. LAYA.RD said, as far as the Foreign-office was
concerned, there was a disposition to carry out the recom-
mendations of the Committee. But it was entirely a matter
of expense ; the Foreign-office did not hold the purse, and,
in the present state of things, it was not thought advisable
to ask the house to vote money for carrying out the whole
of the recommendations. Ile stated those which the Go-
vernment were prepared to carry out ; and if, he said, it
should be the wish of the house to increase the salaries in
the diplomatic service, he should be very glad, but this was
a question for the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the
11°c
-so of Commons.
conversation ensued, in which Mr. W. Williams, Mr.
DOA-
Air. S. Fitzgerald, Sir M. Farquhar, and Mr. J.
white took part, and the subject then dropped.

CAB AND OMNIBUS FARES.
Mr. DA'W SON called the attention of the Secretary of
State for the Rome Department to the system of extol.-
donate fares demanded by the drivers and conductors of
public conveyances
in the metropolis, and to the absence of
any proper limitation of fares,
in the present regulation of
omnibus traffic, which, he thought, should be subject to
revision by proper authorities.
Sir G. WILY said some of the suggestion made la