The Sun.
London, England, 1865-02-14 00:00:00

THE RAILWAY SYSTEM.

Mr. ROEBUCK asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer
if it was the intention of the Government to institute any
and what inquiry into our railway system, with a view to
future legislation, should such legislation appear practicable
and advantageous ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he was
aware of the motive which prompted the question of the
hon. and learned member, and he would furnish him with
as full information as he possibly could. It was the inten-
tion of the Government to recommend to her Majesty the
appointment of a royal commission to inquire into this
subject, but simply with reference to the economical ar-
rangements connected with railways in regard to the con-
veyance of minerals and other articles, but it was not intended
to interfere with the policy of railways, which had as much
right to be exempted from interference as any other inte-
rest. It was in no way proposed to compromise Govern-
ment or the house in any proceedings proposed by the Go-
vernment, and he impressed on the attention of the house
the difficulty of legislation on this subject.
TAXES LEVIED ON BRITISH SKIPPING.

Mr. CLAY asked the Under-Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs whether it is intended any longer to permit
her Majesty's Consul General at St. Petersburg VI supple-
ment his salary by a tax, known as agency money, levied
on British shipping, and received by him as agent for the
Russia Company.
Mr. LAYARD said that papers laid on the table last
evening, and distributed this day amongst members, were
quite explanatory on this subject. The gentleman in ques-
tion could not be deprived of the emoluments alluded to
without receiving a remuneration, but it was intended by
his noble friend at the head of the Foreign-office not to
allow the tax in question to be received in future.
Mr. CLAY asked the President of the Board of Trade
whether he could give any information as to the progress
of the inquiry promised by him into the taxes levied on
British shipping by, or in the name of, the Russia Com-
pany.
Mr. M. GIBSON said that from inquiries made at St.
Petersburg, and a report from the British Ambassador,
there on the subject of dues, it appeared that the mer-
chants at St. Petersburg were in favour of the present
system, and that, consequently, interference would be in-
jurious on the part of the Government. There was no
preferential duty imposed on British shipping, which wore
placed in the same position as the shipping of any other
country.
MEDICAL OFFICERS IN POOR-LAW UNIONS.
Mr. LONG asked the President of the Poor-law Board
whether he proposed to re-appoint the select
committee on
the poor laws, with the view of further inquiry into the
position and the grievances of medical officers of Poor-law
Unions ? . _

Mr. VILLIERS said it was not the intention of the
Government to renew the committee.

BRITISH KAFFRARIA AND THE CAPE OF GOOD

HOPE,

Mr. A. MILLS asked the Secretary of State for the
Colonies, whether it was the intention of her Majesty's
Government to introduce, during, the present session, any
measure for the annexation of British Kaffraria to the
colony of the Cape of Good Hope ?
Mr. CARDWELL said it was intended to bring in a
bill for the zurpose referred to.

TOLLS; FARES

IRISH RAILWAYS, &c.

Mr. SCULLY asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer ii
it was intended on the part of the Government to give any
notice or tr introduce any bill during the present session,
with a view to the revision of the tolls, fares, and charges,
or to the purchase of any railways in the United Kingdom ;
or if it was intended to institute any Parliamentary inquiry
into the policy of revision and purchase upon general and
national grounds, as contemplated by the act o; 7th and
Bth Viet., c. 8 ; and had his attention been directed to the
expediency of purchasing the railways in Ireland by way
of experiment, or for any reasons specially applicable to
that country ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said it was
not intended by Government to introduce a bill on this
subject, which could do no good ; but he admitted there.
were facilities for the purchase of railways in Ireland
which did not exist elsewhere.
VACANCY IN THE POOR-LAW BOARD.
Mr. A. SMITH asked the First Lord of the Teresaesury
whether it was intended to fill up the office of the outt.ngre
or
voting as a member of the Commons' H
tary of the Poor-Law Board, rendered Parliamentmoupasebloefof
v understood
member for Northampton.
to have been vacated by the hon
by the ninth clause of the Poor-Law Act, noN
e
resignation of his hon..friend the member Lord PALMERSTON said that ho
f health. It was not
particularly as it proceeded 111.1
fuocrhre
Northampton,giwtte d tli
thought desirable to fill the office occup'ed by his hon.

Lie nCi.:

FOOD FOR CATTLE.
m d
Mr. FENWIC.K. asked the Vice.tideexnpet
cotf
tthheemßtooarbde
of Trade whether the experiments recently t.t e under the
u1:1:111.1 tgthte.e)
direction of the Board of Tramdetiloe,nwtohueldreblaetaidmerits of
tbaabrllee
in the hands of members?
sef,oranfedediwnligen we might yofantldlemhaolut
Mr. M. GIBSON said he was not prepared to answer
question at present, but might do so to-morrow. (11.
EUROPEAN TROOPS SERVING IN I
Mr. VANSITTART asked the Secret
India whether anything- had been done Secretary
of State for
sanitary state of Calcutta ; if so, wheth •to improve the
jection to produce papers relating t el he had any
whether it it had been determined to o the same. And
troops serving in India by the relieve the European
whether any and what arrangements had been ' '
made for

Sir C. WOOD said that he had not received any report
on the subject.

PATRONAGE IN THE IRISH CHURCH.
Mr. SCULLY called attention to the recent exercise of
public patronage with reference to the benefices or parishes

priest, Farrahy,
movedthose and Carigeohane, in the county
of Clon • ------".."`"-------------—.or
returns
in a
tabular
form,
showing
as
sf
toCorek,aohandof
fbenneaficees or parishes the date of the
last presentation, the
value, including any glebe or of the patron, the annual
and learned member said that t-house, &c. The hon.
Ireland, one of whom Was desirousere were two parties in
abolition of the Established of the total
Church there, and
the other, who only wished for its reform. He
was not in favour of extreme measures, but
ti
that existed in the Establishment were sucllleasanomalies
remedy. He quoted statistics to show that required
ments to Protestant clergymen were, in thetheendow-
to which he referred,- in the diocese of Pareles
rk,
totally disproportionate to the duties they bad° to
perform. For instance, in a certain number of parishes in
the diocese of Cork, there were 2,729 Catholics-and only
251 Protestants, and the latter had three churches, includ-,
ing a cathedral with deacons and precentors and inferior
clergy, while the revenues amounted to £1,176 per annum.
In a parish in Cloyne, which contained only fourteen
ProtestantS, including the incumbent, his family, and
a policeman. He had been brought from Tamworth,
where he was paid a small amount, comparatively,
for the duties discharged ; while in Ireland he was
paid at the rate of £4O per head for his congregation.
The clergymen in question received from £5OO to £7OO for
his parish in Ireland. He mentioned other anomalies in
the district to which his motion referred.
Sir R. PEEL defended himself from any personal feel
in the appointmen of the clergyman in question, or any
favour in regard to other Irish clerical appointments
recently. With modifications he had no objection to the
production of the returns.
Mr. LEFROIr opposed the motion.
Mr. HADFIELD denounced the continuance of a State
Church in Ireland. .
Mr.VA •objected
NCE to bringing:this question of the
Church in Ireland before the house by a side Wind, as re-
garded the Establishment in Ireland.