The Sun.
London, England, 1853-03-15 00:00:00

WESTMINSTER BRIDGE.

Sir DE LACY EVANS wished to ask the Commis-
sioner of Works, whether it be his intention to proceed
with the bill which was prepared by the late Government
for the reconstruction of Westminster Bridge ; and if
not, what is intended in respect to the ruinous and dan-
gerous state of the present structure.
Sir W. MOLESWORTH must admit that Westmin-
ster-bridge was in a ruinous and almost dangerous con-

dition. The late Government had come to a determina-
tion to pull down the bridge and to construct a new one
upon precisely the same site. That determination he
thought was wise and judicious, and it was his Inten-
tion to adopt it. At no distant period two additional
bridges would be required, one to pass from Charing-
cross, and the other from the centre of Lambeth, but at
present he was only preparing plans for Westminster
Bridge, which would be handsome,
.wide, and at right
angles to the new Houses of Parliament.
THE AUSTRALIAN.
Sir J. PAKINGTON called the attention of the house
to the recent return of the Australian steam-ship to Ply-
mouth, and reminded hon. members that the Melbourne,
belonging to the same company, which sailed in October,
was compelled to put into Lisbon, while the Adelaide,
which sailed in December, had to return in distress to
Plymouth. Under these circumstances, he wished to
ask what steps Government intended to take in the
matter for the protection of the public in future.
Sir J. GRAHAM said the manner in which the
Australian Royal Mail Steam Packet Company had
carried out their contract was most objectionable, and
both the late and the present Government had exacted
penalties from then in consequence. At present, how-
ever, a committee of the Government, with the Post-
master General at its head, was sitting upon this very
subject, and until he had the report of that committee
in his hand he should not be prepared to state what steps
ought to be taken in future.
RAJAH BROOKE.
Mr. HUME wished to ask Lord J. Russel, whether,
" as Sir James Brooke had petitioned the House of Com-
mons to do him justice, and had:applied to her Majesty's
Ministers for their support," it was the intention of the
Government to institute any inquiry into the proceedings
in Borneo, before Sir James Brooke left England.
Lord J. RUSSELL replied in the negative.
HOUSE TAX.
Mr. W. MITCHELL wished to ask the Chancellor
of the Exchequer whether it was his intention to intro-
duce, in the course of the present session, any measure
for the alteration or repeal of the Act 14 and 15 Vic.,
c. 36, relating to the inhabited house tax ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER could
give no answer to this question until the time arrived
for his making the financial statement. (Hear.)
REGISTRATIOF OF BIRTHS, &c., IN IRELAND.
Mr. COGAN wished to ask the Secretary for Ireland
whether it is the intention of her Majesty's Government
to introduce any measure for a general registration of
births, death, and marriages in Ireland, in accordance
with the recommendation in the third report of the
Registrar-General of marriages in Ireland.
Sir J. YOUNG said such a measure was in prepara-
tion, but he could not say when he should be able to
bring it in.