The Sun.
London, England, 1854-06-20 00:00:00

ISIPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—(THIS DAY.)
The SPEAKER took the chair at 12 o'clock.
NEW MEMBER.

Sir G. GREY to the oaths and his seat, on his re-
election for the borough of Morpeth.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The Lords amendments to the following bills were
considered and agreed to :—Blyth Harbour and Docks,
Crystal Palace Company, Stroud, Painswick, and Glou-
cester Road,land the Surrey Gas.
The following bills were read a third time and passed :
—Chapel en le Frith Road, Londonderry Port, and the
Patent Solid Sewerage Manure (No. 2).
The following bills were considered, and ordered to be
read a third time :—Ambergate, Nottingham, and Bos-
ton and Eastern Junction (Amendments of Acts) ; Bor•
der Counties Railway ; and the Methwold Drainage.

PETITIONS.
Petit ureic presented by Mr. MAaartrann, Mr.
BAINES, and other honourable members against the
Police Bill ; Mr. FOSTER, from places in Staffordshire,
against the Friendly Societies Bill ; Mr. BROOK, from
places in the manufacturing districts, in favour of a Ten
Hours' Bill ; Lord BERNARD, from 129 clergymen of the
united dioceses of Cork, Cloyne, and Ross, against the
national system of education in Ireland.

WRECK AND SALVAGE BILL.
On the motion for going into committee,
Mr. JAMES' MACGREGOR wished to know if it
was proposed to make any change in the existing ap-
pointments of pilots to the Cinque Ports.
Mr. CARDWELL said the object of this bill was to
render the laws affecting wrecks and salvage uniform
throughout the three kingdoms. The intention was to
abolish the office of Receiver-General of Droits of Ad-
miralty, and the general business of the department
would be transferred from the Admiralty to the Board
of Trade. The duties hitherto discharged by the Re-
ceiver-General would be hereafter performed by the
revenue officers, which would be a saving of public ex-
denditure.

Mr. M•CARTNEY expressed his approval of the bill
if properly carried out ; but he disapproved of giving
the coast-gulrds the powers contemplated by this bill,
as he contended they ought not to have any interest in
wrecks and salvage.
Sir G. PECHELL thought it would be a very great
satisfaction to know that the Admiralty should no longer
have the appointment of receivers of droits of the Ad-
miralty, and that the whole department should he under
the Control of the Board of Trade.
Mr. M'CANN thought persons totally independent
of the Customs would be the proper persons to entrust
with the duties of receivers.
Mr. BENTINCK hoped that this bill would have the
effect of preventing the recurrence of those disgraceful
and barbarous scenes which occurred at wrecks in this
country.
Mr. CARDWELL said that was one of the principal
objects he had in view in training the bill. (Hear.)
Mr. HILDYARD also thought steps ought to be
taken to prevent the depredations of wreckers. He
mentioned an instance where a French ship laden
with wine got ashore on the coast, and the people, in-
stead of trying to assist her off, endangered their own
lives by getting drunk upon the wine, and otherwise
plundering the vessel. The captain of the ship, who
was also part owner during these disgraceful proceed-
ings, went up and down the deck tearing his hair, and
exclaiming " Is this England"
' Mr. V. SCULLY concurred with the hon. member
for Drogheda (Mr. INl`Cane) that persons unconnected
with the Cu-toms would be preferable for performing
the duties of receivers.
Mr. LINDSAY differed with the last hon. member,
and thought the bill would effect a most desirable change,
by tran,ferring the duties of receivers to officers of the
Customs and of the Revenue. At the same time, he
thougi.t it woull not be just to take their offices from
the present holders of them, who 'had hitherto discharged
their duties well. He would offer no opposition what-
ever to the bill going into committee.
Sir J. TYRELL said, from the situation of his
estat..ls, on the east coast, where he was the lord of the
manor he was interested in having the largest possible
amount of wreckage washed ash re, but at the same
time he was fully alive to the existing abuses, and he
hoped the tribunal to be established under this bill
would be so constituted as to secure a vigilant super.
vision over all wreckage.
Mr. CARDWELL said it would.
Mr. HORSFALL thought the bill was a great im-
provement on the existing law.
After some further discussion the house went into
committee.
Mr. CARDWELL said he was happy now to be able
to reply to the obServations of several hon. members as
to the objects of the bill. He could state that one of
the most particular objects of the bill was to prevent the
recurrence of those scenes at wrecks which were a scandal
to so great a commercial country as this.
LEFT SPEAKING.