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

CHURCH RATES.

Mf. S. ESTCOURT moved the following resolution :
" That the law relating to church rates 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 voluntary rate. The right hon. gentleman said he was
induced to bring that subject again under the notice of the
house because ho felt persuaded that it could not continue
in the very unsatisfactory condition in which it at
present stood. The proposal ho was then submitting
to their consideration was framed in perfect har-
mony with the resolution which he had moved six
weeks ago, end which had received the sanction a a ma-

jority of the house He could not approve of a scheme
which found favoir with many people for establishing a
system of pew rentlas a substitute for the existing church
rates, because undetsuch an arrangement the burden of the
charge would not bin any way proportioned to the means of '
the different contrilottors. The resolution he was propos-
ing would provide that there shc.uld be, in the first
place, a voluntar3 rate ; and that if that rate
should not be adequte for its purposes, the churchwardens
should be enabled toappeal to the owners, and not to the
occupiers, in the difftent parishes in order to supply the
deficiency; and he beloved that such a plan would afford a
fair and reasonable mode of bringing that difficult and
long-vexed question tt a final settlement.
Mr. HODGKINSCNT moved, as an amendment to the
resolution, the omissiot of all the words after the figure 1,
and the substitution of the following words :—" To autho-
rise the levy of a rate o rent in respect of the appropriated
portion of seats in chuthes, but so that no appropriation of
seats in any church shtll 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. Esteout'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 stiratia ...,....v-
-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. Estceurt 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 ono 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 April, and to ask the intentions of
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 bad 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
moved, in conclusion, for a copy of any correspondence
which had recently passed between the company and the
Treasury.
Lora 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 ho had no
doubt that in the course of next week he should be able to
announce their decision.
After a few words from Colonel FRENCH,
Lord DUNK ELLIN withdrew his motion for the pro-
duction of the correspondence.