The Sun.
London, England, 1865-03-22 00:00:00

BILL.

Mr. LONGFIELD moved the second reading of this
bill, the object of which was to protect the property of
married women in Ireland, in cases of divorce and judicial
separation, in like manner as under the Divorce Court in
this country.
The motion was agreed to.
RAILWAY TRAVELLING (IRELAND) BILL.

Sir C. O'LOGHLEN moved the second reading of this
bill, the object of which was to increase the facilities for
travelling in Ireland on Sundays, and to run at least one
train on that day. The bill also proposed to place third
class passengers in that country on the same footing as
those of a like class in England. There were various trains,
it was true, run on some of the lines, but then they were
despatched at such inconvenient hours as actually to amount
to a disregard to the orders of the Board of Trade. The
bill, it was true, was opposed by some gentlemen opposite,
who contended that it was a great hardship to run trains
on Sunday, because the Sunday traffic did not pay, but he
contended the act of Parliament laid it down that trains
should be run each day, and it was, he believed, for the
Board of Trade to say whether the directors of railways
were to cease to run trains whenever they felt disposed.
He was one of those who did not see why the comfort of a

few railway officials should stand in the way of a great
public convenience. He hoped the house would accept the
present measure, and thus serve a great public necessity.
Mr. BLAKE opposed the bill, on the ground that it was
a piece of ex post facto legislation, imposing on railway
companies new conditions which were contrary to the act
of Parliament by which they were governed. Many of the
great railways in Ireland when trains were run on Sunday
were very badly attended—in one instance the number of
passengers on one just amounted to three, whilst another,
a railway 74 miles long, run their trains without any pas-
sengers at all. (A laugh.) If the bill passed at least 800
officials would bo engaged on Sundays, and all for the
purpose of accommodating not a twentieth part of that
number of passengers. He moved that it be read a second
that day six months.

Mr. LEFROY seconded the amendment, and contended
that the hon. and learned gentleman had not shown the
slightest necessity for this bill. He had yet to learn that
800 persons, at a cost of £5,000 a year, were to be employed
on the Sabbath to accommodate some ten or a dozen people.
He hoped tho hon. and learned gentleman who had brought
in the bill would not put the house to the trouble of divid-
ing, but withdraw the motion for the second reading of the
bill.

Col. DICKSON condemned the manner in which the
opposition to this bill had been got up. Circulars had
been addressed to every member as late as eight o'clock
last night, whilst those who wore opposed to the bill were
not favoured with a copy of the document. On behalf of
his constituents he should give his hearty support to the
bill.

Sir H. CAIRNS observed that the bill raised an impor-

tent public question, altough it was not a Sunday ques-
tion. It was a question of interfering with the mode in
which trading companies carried on their business. If the
principle of the bill was sound, why did he confine its
operation to Ireland, why did he not embody the provi-
sions of the measure in a bill for the United Kingdom. He
counselled the hon. gentleman to withdraw the bill, and
introduce another of the nature he had mentioned.

Lord J. BROWNE said he was of opinion that the
people in Ireland were generally in favour of this bill, and
therefore he should support it.

Mr. ROEBUCK pointed out that railway companies were
not like persons carrying on ordinary trading, but were
possessed of peculiar powers granted by Parliament. It
was the duty of the Legislature in such cases to protect
the interest of the public against such companies. The
question here was whether the Board of Trade should be
intrusted with functions for the protection of the public.
Railway companies were not common carriers ; they were
very uncommon carriers—(laughter)—being in fact the
monopolists of the carriage of certain districts. He could
not believe that the interests of the railways affected by
this bill were in such a desperate state as to be utterly
ruined if they were compelled to run one train every day.
(Hear, hear, and laughter.)
Major GAVIN supported the bill. Railway companies
must not expect impossibilities. Owners of race horses
did not win every stake they entered for, and if the neces-
sity of the case required that a train should be run on Sun-
days, the railway proprietors must be content with the pro-
ceeds it produced.- He believed a great number of people
would be greatly benefited by such an arrangement, and
therefore he should vote for the second reading.
Mr. LONGFIELD though the " public" which the bill
proposed to accommodate consisted mainly of three or four
members of that house. (Hear hear, and laughter.) Es
would not touch upon the religious element introduced
into the discussion both as regarded Scotland as well
as Ireland. He thought a man might as well
go to Dumbarton on a Sunday and dine there, or stop at
home and get drunk. (Laughter.) He thought a man
might as well go to Limerick on a Sunday—although it
was one of the most melancholy places he was ever in—
(laughter)—and have his dinner there, or stay at home
and get drunk (loud laughter) which was the alternative.
(Loud laughter.) Seriously speaking, he did not think
that it had been shown the accommodation asked for was
required, and therefore he should vote against it.
Lord DUNKELLIN expressed his intention of voting
for the second reading.
After a few words from Major Hamilton, Captain Stack-
poole, and Mr: Robertson,

The houso divided, when there appeared—
For the second reading
Against it 42
Majority —3
The bill was accordingly lost.
WAYS AND MEANS.

The house then went into committee of ways and means.
Mr. BRAND moved that, towards making good the
supply granted to her Majesty, the sum of £15,000,000 be
granted out of the Consolidated Fund of the United King-
dom of Great Britain and Ireland.
The vote was agreed to.
The house resumed.
RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION FACILITIES ACT.
The second reading of this bill was postponed until to-

morrow.
The house then adjourned.

THE FLBL AT STANGATE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Six,---Referring to the accounts published in the papers
of this morning of the fire which occurred on my works
last night, I beg to say that the damage done is by no
means so extensive as is represented.
I have every hope of being able in the course of a few
days to be in a position fully to resume business.
As the reports published might induce customers to
withhold orders, I trust you will give insertion to this, and
oblige your most obedient servant,

GEORGE JENNINGS.

The ',curse of exchange at New York on London for bills it
tiO days' sight is about 249 per cent., and the premium on
gold 127 per cent. At these rates there is a small profit on
the importaion of go d tram the IJuited States.