The Sun.
London, England, 1862-06-25 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVEN! G, JUNE 25, 1862.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF LORDS-YESTERDAY.

The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at the usual hour.

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.
The Earl of SHELBURNE brought in a bill for the
better regulation of Friendly Societies. The measure he
said had been prepared by Mr. Tidd Pratt. It was not
his intention to press the bill forward during the present

fession.
The bill was read a first time.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The following bills were read a second time :—Cheadle
Roads—Salford Improvement—Nene Valley Drainage—
Eden Valley Railway—Edinburgh and Glasgow and Cale-
donian and Dumbartonshire Junction Railway Companies
—Edinburgh and Glasgow, and Glasgow, Dumbartonshire,
and Helensburgh Railway Companies—Edinburgh and
Glasgow and Wellington, Drayton, and Newcastle
Railway.

THIRD READINGS.
The following bills were read a third time and passed :
Vale of Clwyd Railway ; Burton-upon-Trent Railway;
Hereford Hay and Brecon Railway ; South-Eastern Rail.
way (Tunbridge and Dartford) ; Lancashire and Yorkshire
Railway; Oldham, Ashton, and Guide Bridge Junction
Railway; Bridge of Weir Railway; Bala and Dolgelly
Railway; Corwen and Bala Railway; and Manchester)
Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Railway.
NEW ZEALAND BILL.
The Duke of NEWCASTLE moved the second reading
of this bill, the object of which was to clear up all doubts
relating to the powers of tho New Zealand Legislature. He
had intimated to the colonial Government the desirability of
bringing the provincial councils more in subordination to the
Central Legislature, but this was a matter in which the
Imperial Legislature could not interfere, as it had handed
over the administration of its affairs to the colony.
Earl GREY said it was understood, when the constitu-
tion was granted to New Zealand, that it should provide
for the cost of its owls Government. There was now in the
colony a military force of several thousand men at the ex-
pense of the mother country,whog she was responsible,ought
for her own protection to have control over
the affairs of the colony. He did not desire
the withdrawal of the Imperial protection, but
he did object to a vote of such a meagre description as the
present.
After a short discussion, in which the Earl of Desart,
Lord Taunton, and Lord Lyvedon took part,
The Duke of NEWCASTLE said he would give the
noble lord (Lyvedon) as many of the papers relative
to New Zealand as would, under the present circumstances,
be safe for the public service, and with respect to the
observations of the noble earl (Grey), he begged
to remind them that the present measure was
one merely to remedy certain local defects, and not one for
an alteration of the constitution of New Zealand.

The bill was read a second time.
PUPLIC HOUSES (SCOTLAND) BILL.

On the report of the amendments to the Public Houses
;Scotland) Act Amendment Bill being brought up,
The Earl of MINTO moved that the bill be re-com-
mitted to a committee of the whole house.
NEW ZEALAND BILL.
The Duke of NEWCASTLE moved the second reading
of this Bill, and stated that the object of the measure was
to correct certain mistakes committed by the General As-
sembly of the colony in regard to the New Provinces Act.
The Bill before the house gave increased power to the
Governor at the expense of the superintendents of pro-

vinces.
\- Earl GREY thought that Great Britain, who maintained
a large force at her own expense for the protection of New
Zealand, ought to have a more effective control over the
causes which made such an outlay imperative. He agreed
with the Duke of Newcastle that the system of elective
superintendents was mischievous.
The Duke of RICHMOND moved that two persons
named Isaacs and Preston be ordered to attend at the bar
of the house for having obtaining signatures to a railway
petition by false pretences, and for having, when examined
before the Select Committee, left little doubt on the minds
of the Committee that neither of them were speaking the
truth. _ .

The motion was agreed to.
The house adjourned at ten minutes to eight o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—YESTERDAY.
The SPEXBER took the chair at 20 minutes past 12.
POLICE AND IMPROVEMENT (SCOTLAND)

DILL.

The house went into committee on this bill.
Clauses to 14 were agreed to.
On clause 15,
Sir M. STEWART said he believed and hoped the bill
now before Parliament would never pass into law. He
would have opposed the bill going into committee, but he
thought he should have had no chance of success. Many of
the provisions of the bill were monstrous and thoroughly non-
sensical. His objection to the bill was that it tied proprietors
of land and occupiers in towns hand and foot, and placed
them at the mercy of a body of commissioners and magi-
strates. The only safeguard was that the commissioners
might have the good sense to throw away 200 or 300 of the
clauses, and to look for one here or there that might work.
He did not believe that Scotch members generally had read
the bill.
The LORD ADVOCATE said he could only account for
the strong language used by the hon. baronet by the fact
that he himself had not read the bill. He believed the bill
was regarded in Scotland as one of the most important sani-
tary measures ever introduced. If there were nonsensical
clauses in the bill he wished the hon. baronet had pointed
them out to him. He thought the bill was exceedingly
well drawn up, and that it would work well. The difference
between it and Lord Rutherfurd's bill was that Lord
Rutherfurd's bill could only have been worked as a whole,
whereas this bill might be adopted in parts.
Clauses up to 83 were agreed to.
On clause 84,
Mr. BLACK proposed to add "provided further, when
in any burgh, under the provisions of any Police Act, a
higher rate of assessment is now and has been in use to be
levied upon lands and tenements above a certain fixed rent
than upon lower rented lands and tenements, it shall be in
the power of the commissioners, in laying on the assess-
ment under this Act, to continue the same relative rates of
assessment, if they think proper.
The amendment was negatived and the clause was
agreed to.
On clause 88,
Mr. C. EWING proposed as an amendment after the
word "may," to insert "if they think fit, exempt from the
police assessment under this act all premises which shall
be let at a rent not exceeding £3, or such lower sum as they
may think fit for that purpose, and that in respect to pre-
mises let at any higher rent, they may also."
The committee divided—
For the amendment......
54
Against it
—4B
Majority
The amendment was lost and the clause was agreed to.
Clauses to 177 were agreed to.
On the motion of Sir M. STEWART, clause 178 was
struck out.
The remaining clauses of the bill, making 466 in all, were
then agreed to with some amendments.
Sir J. FERGUSSON brought up a new clause giving the
Commissioners of Supply power to petition the sheriff for
extension of boundaries, so as to be co-extensive with the
burgh boundaries.
The LORD ADVOCATE opposed the clause.
The committee divided—
For the clause
Against it
Majority
The clause was therefore lost.
The bill then passed through committee, and the sitting
was suspended at 10 minutes to 4. .

At 6 o'clock the house resumed,
CONDUCT OF PRIVATE BUSINESS.'
Mr. R. HODGSON asked the chairman of the commit-
tee on standing orders whether he intended to move for the
appointment of a committteO for the purpose of ascertain-
ing whether any alteration could be made in the conduct of
private business, so as to diminish the expense now in-
curred by promoters and opponents of private bills.
Col. W. PATIEN replied that 011 Thursday next he
would move] for a committee to inquire into the ex-
pediency of revising the standing orders, and he would
submit to that committee a proposal for the reducticn of
certain fees now paid in connection with the private legis-
lation of the house.

--....... „. ...._
CHURCH RATES.
Mf. S. ESTCOURT moved the folllowing resolution :
" That the law relating to church rate's may be benficially
settled by combining in one measure provisions for each of
the following objects-1. To enable vestries specially sum-
moned, and in which owners have a vote by proxy, to transfer
from occupiers to owners so much of their liability as re-
gards the repair of their parish church. and churchyard—
and to make such special rate, if voted by a majority, re-
coverable by the same process as a rate for repairs of high-
ways. 2. To repeal the existing legal process for enforcing
a compulsory rate. 3.. To give facilities for collecting
a votuntary rate. The right hon. gen ,tleman said he was
induced to bring that subject again ur Eder the notice of the
house because he felt persuaded that i t could not continue
in the very unsatisfactory conditien in which it at
present stood. The proposal he was then submitting
to their consideration was framed in perfect har-
mony with the resolution which Tao had moved six
weeks ago, and which had received ti‘e sanction of a ma-

jority of the house. lie could not approve of a scheme
which found favour with many people for establishing a
system of pew rents as a substitute for the existing church
rates, because under such an arrangement the burden of the
charge would not be in my way proportioned to the means of
the different contributors. The resolution he was propos-
ing would provide that there should be, in the first
place, a voluntary late ; and that if that rate
should not be adequate fir its purposes, the churchwardens
should be enabled to appal to the owners, and not to the
occupiers, in the different parishes in order to supply the
deficiency; and he believed that such a plan would afford a
fair and reasonable mode of bringing that difficult and
long-vexed question to a final settlement.
Mr. HODGKINSON moved, as an amendment to the
resoluticn, the omission of all the words after the figure 1,
and the substitution of the following words :—" To autho-
rise the levy of a rate or rent in respect of the appropriated
portion of seats in churches, but so that no appropriation of
seats in any church shall be made to a greater extent than
now actually exists."
Mr. BUXTON regretted that Mr. Estcourt had brought
forward the first of his resolutions, as he believed that with-
out it the Dissenters would have been prepared to accept
the two proposals which followed.
Mr. HEYGATE moved the following amendment, as a
substitute for Mr. Estcourt's resolution :—" That, in order
to effect a satisfactory settlement of the law relating to
church rates it is expedient, in the first place, to transfer
their direct charge, together with all powers of imposing
the same, from the occupiers to the owners of property."
It seemed to him that they could have no just settlement of
the question unless they gave compulsory powers of raising
the church rate, whatever might be the principle on which
the liability to the charge was founded.
Sir G. GREY said he believed it was idle to expect that
they should then be able to bring the church rate contro-
versy to a conclusion. He should add that he doubted very
much the expediency of their adopting the scheme embo-
died in the resolution of Mr. Estcourt, which he could not
help thinking would be calculated to create a great deal of
agitation and ill feeling throughout the country.
Mr. DISRAELI said that, in his opinion, it was the mag-
nitude of the questions involved in that subject whiCh had
hitherto prevented them from bringing it to a satisfactory
settlement; and he felt convinced it was' only through the
direct interference of the Government, proposing some
scheme on their special responsibility, that such a result
could ever be attained.
Mr. NEWDEGATE`insisted on the existence of a posi-
tive claim on the part of the parishioners of this country to
a portion of its property for the maintenance of the national
churches, and added that he would never be prepared to
surrender that right.
Lord R. CECIL supported the proposal of Mr. Hey gate.
Lord HENLEY said that the Dissenters in the great
towns at present paid no church rates, and they would
never acquiesce in any arrangement which would not place
their brethren throughout the country in the same position.
Mr. HEYGATE then withdrew his amendment, and
the amendment of Mr. Hodgkinson not having been pressed
Mr. S. Estcourt withdrew his resolution.
HULL CITADEL.

Mr. A. SMITH moved for a select committee to inquire
into the circumstances and grounds under which Hull
Citadel and adjoining premises were transferred from the
War Department to the Commissioners of Woods and
Forests, and report their opinion thereupon to the house.
Mr. F. PEEL opposed the motion. The Government
had acted in that matter upon the opinion of the law officers
of the Crown, and the subject was not one for the conside-
ration of a committee of the house.
After a few observations from Mr. Clay and Sir G. C.
Lewis, and a reply from Mr. Smith,
The motion was negatived without a division.
ATLANTIC ROYAL MAIL COMPANY.
Lord DUNKELLIN rose to call the attention of the
house to the position in which that company was placed
by the delay of the Government to return an answer to the
memorial of the company sent in to the Treasury so far
back as the 24th day of Aprand to ask the intentions of
il,
the Government with regard to the restitution of postal
communication between Galway and North America. The
noble lord, after having alluded to the circumstances under
which the late contract with the company had been re-
scinded, stated the efforts which had recently been made by
them to obtain its renewal. They had at present three
vessels, which would be ready in a few weeks to re-open
the communication between Galway and America; and on
the 24th of April last they had memorialised the Govern-
ment for the purpose of procuring that concession. No
answer, however, had yet been given to their application,
and the delay and uncertainty which had thus arisen had
led to a serious injury to their property. The noble lord
laa ovnoto.oto.‘, 0. oor-jr of any coorrooponac.uk,u
which had recently passed between the company and the
Treasury.
Lord PALMERSTON said that a formal statement had
only just been received from the company of the means
which they at present possessed of carrying out a contract
for the re-establishment of postal communication between
Galway and North America. The Treasury, having that
information before them, would take the application of the
company into their immediate consideration, and he had no
doubt that in the course of next week he should be able to
. announce their decision.
After a few words from Colonel FRENCIE,
Lord DUNK ELLIN withdrew his motion for the pro-
duction of the correspondence.
AFFIRMATIONS.

Sir J. TRELAWNY moved for leave to bring in a bill
to allow certain persons to make affirmations in all cases
where an oath was required.
Mr. M'MAIION opposed the bill, which, in his opinion,
was contrary to an established principle of English law.
After some discussion, the motion was adopted on a divi-
sion by 88 votes to 59.
In a committee of the whole house Mr. DILLWYN
obtained leave to bring in a bill to amend the law respect-
ing endowed schools. The hon. gentleman stated, however,
that he did not mean to proceed further with the measure
during the present session.
The house then went into committee on the Drainage
(Ireland) Bill, and several clauses were agreed to.
On the order for the second reading of the Roman Catholic
Prisoners Bill,
Sir G. GREY expressed a hope that the house would
not proceed at that hour of the morning (half-past one).
Mr. NEWDE GATE, who had attempted to address the
house amidst some impatience, moved that the order be
discharged.
Sir G. C. LEWIS suggested that they should proceed
to a division without dissuasion.
Mr. WHALLEY supported Mr. Newdegate's motion.
Mr. ESTCOURT appealed to the hon. member for War-
wickshire to withdraw his motion, but ho having refused to
do to the house divided, when the amendment was rejected
by 66 to 26.
The bill was then postponed to the 9th of July.
The other orders of the day having been disposed of, the
house adjourned at 2 o'clock.

LATV INTELLIGENCE.—June 24.

COURT OF COMMON PLEAS.

(Sittings at Nisi Prins, in-Middlesex, before Lord
Chief Justice Erie and a Special Jury.)
IDDIOLS V. WEBB.-FATAL ACCIDENT.

The plaintiff in this case sued as administratrix o
her mother to recover damages in consequence of
the old lady having been run over and killed.
Mr. Best and Mr. Butler Rigby appeared for
the plaintiff; and Mr. Sergeant Shee and Mr.
Needham for the defendant.
The plaintiff was a milliner and straw-bonnet
maker in High-street, St. Giles's, but having had
the misfortune to be paralysed her mother was of
great assistance to her, in fact doing all the hard
work ; fel although she was 69 years old she was
in good health and strong. On the 16th December
last the mother went out for some beer, and had
crossed the road so far that she was about stepping
on the kerb when a cart with bundles of wood in
it, and belonging the defendant, a timber merchant
at Deptford, came along at such a furious pace,
that although she saw it three houses off she was
unable to get out of the way and was knocked
down, run over, and so seriously hurt that she died.
The driver of the cart was a man named Davis, and
he was tried at the Old Bailey, found guilty of
manslaughter, and sentenced to three months' im-
prisonment. Since the death of her mother the
plaintiff had been obliged to employ her sister, and
to get other assistance at a cost of about 15s. a
week. The business had belonged to the plaintiff
and her mother jointly, and now the plaintiff had
the business to herself.
Mr. Sergeant Shee submitted that under these
circumstances there was no pecuniary loss for which
alone the plaintiff could recover under Lord Camp-
bell's Act, and that therefore there must be a non-

suit.
The Lord Chief Justice said that he should re-
serve the point ; but the ground of claim under the
statute, which was a
i very beneficial one in some re-
spects, was so very indefinite that it was extremely
desirable that those engaged in legislation should
turn their attention to .
t.
Some evidence was given for the defendant with
the view of allowing that there was no negligence on
, the part of his servant, or that deceased might have
avoided the accident if she. had been more careful.
The jury found a verdict for the defendant.
DREWETT AND WIFE V. THE LONDON AND BRIGHTON RAIL-
WAY COMPANY._THE CLAYTON TUNNEL ACCIDENT.
The first-named plaintiff was a working man, em.-
ployed by the Hove Gas Company, and he, with his
wife, and two of her daughters, was a passenger

upon the occasion of the accident in the Clayton
tunnel; and damages were now claimed as compen-
sation for injuries sustained by the wife. The de-
fendant pleaded payment of £lO in satisfaction of
the cause of accident.
The plaintiff's case was, that soon after the acci-
dent a medical man attended him on the part of the
company, and that three or four days afterwards
this gentleman compromised their claim by paying
£lO and taking a receipt for it. At this time, how-
ever, the male plaintiff believed from what the medi-
cal man told him that his wife was not hurt. So
far from this, however, being the case, it appeared
that she had received a severe shock, and she had
been getting worse and worse, until now she had
gone out of her mind. The witness having stated
these circumstances, he was cross-examined to show
that the action was brought at the instance of some
one else and without his knowledge.
The Lord Chief Justice made a suggestion to the
counsel in the course of the evidence, which resulted
in his asking the jury whether they believed upon
the plaintiff's evidence that the company paid £lO
in satisfaction of the claim of the wife as well as of
the others.
The jury replied that they did ; and a verdict was
thereupon entered for the defendants.