The Sun.
London, England, 1847-02-17 00:00:00

DUTY ON COPPER ORE.

Mr. MUNTZ presented a petition from Birmingham com-
plaining of the present high rate of duty on copper ore, and
praying fur its repeal.
RAILWAYS (IRELAND) BILL.
Colonel CONNOLLY presented a petition from the magis-
trates of Kerry in favour of the measure for promoting rail-
ways in Ireland.

POOR REMOVAL.
Mr. BURROWES presented a petition from some place
(the name of which we could not catch) praying the House
to amend the existing Poor Removal Act.
DESTITUTE PERSONS (IRELAND).
Mr. HAMILTON presented a petition from Tulamore oh
jetting to the proposed system of out-door relief in the pro-
visions of the Bill for the Relief of 13,,stitute Persons in
Ireland, recently brought before the attention of the House.
EMPLOYMENT OF HER MAJESTY'S NAVY.

Mr. S. CRAWFORD presented two petitions from Glas-
gow, praying the Government to employ her Majesty's navy
for the purpose of importing provisions into the country.
LECTORAL DIVISIONS (IRELAND).
Sir T. ESMONDE presented a potition from Enniscorthy,
praying the House to adopt some measure compelling the pay-
ment of poor-rates from the unions, inztead of the electo-
ral divisions.
DEVELOPMENT OF FREE-TRADE PRINCIPLES.

Dr. BOWRING presented a petiti4A from the inhabitants
of Bolton praying the House to adopt some measures calculated
to develop the principles of free trade to their utmost extent.
WASTE LANDS IMPROVEMENT ISILL.

Mr. V. STUART presented a petition in favour of the
Waste Lands Improvement Bill.
TEN HOURS' BILL.

Mr. BROWN presented a petition, nuo:erou,dy signed by the
inhabitants of Liverpool, in favour of the Ten Hours' 13111.
RAILWAYS (IRELAND) BILL.
Sir B. H ALL presented a petition in favour of the measure
introduced by the Noble Lord the Member for Lynn, for faci-
litating the coastruction of railways in Ireland.
TEN HOURS' BILL. -

Mr. WAKLEY presented a petition from Lancaster, signed
by Dr. Fletcher, in favour of the Ten Hours' Bill. Also a
petition, signed by ninety workmen in the employ of Messrs.
Barnes and Son, of Rochdale, in favour of the Ten Hours' Bill.

LIGHT DUES.
Mr. FOSTER presented a petition from the shipowners
of King's Lynn, praying for the abolition of the light dues.
RAILWAYS (IRELAND) BILL.
Mr. J. O'CONNELL presented a petition (on behalf of
the Hon. and Learned Member for Cork), signed by several
noblemen, Members of Parliament, landowners, and gentry of
Ireland, in favour of the Bill for facilitating the making of rail-
ways in that country.
REDUCTION OF T u r•-• rlrrTv ON TEA.
nc aiEmßEit also presented a petition from the in-
habitants of Kilkenny, praying for a reduction of the duty
on tea.

'MINISTERS' MONEY.
The HON. MEMBER also presented petitions, signed by
upwards of 17,000 persons, praying for the abolition of the
impost of ministers money.
REPEAL OF THE UNION.
The HON. MEMBER also presented a-petition from the Mayor
and Corporation of Weerford, praying for a repeal of the union.
ISLES OF ARRAN.
The IloN.Emsze. also presented a petition, signed by the
Rev. Patrick Harvey, of Galway, stating that the Isles of Arran
had recently been formed into a distinct barony, but that no
baronial sessions had been held for that barony, and praying
the House to cause baronial sessions to be held for that barony.
SUPPLY OF FOOD FOR IRELAND.
The same HoN. NEWER also presented a petition from
Dublin, signcd by 11 peers, 3 high-sheriffs, 28 deputy-lieuten-
ants, 40 magistrates, and a number of other gentlemen, praying
the House to adopt some measures calculated to ensure a speedy
supply of provisions for the people of Ireland.
Mr. COLLETT presented a petition from Athlone, also
praying the House to adopt some measures to feed the people
of Ireland.

TEN lIOURS' BILL.
Mr. TUFNELL presented a petition in favour of the Ten
Hours'

LIGHT DUES.
Mr. HUME presented a petition from the shipowners of
Montrose, calling attention to the report of the Committee
which sat on the Light Dues the session before last, and pray-
ing for the abolition of the Light Dues.

ECCLESIASTICAL COMMISSION.
Mr. EVELYN DENISON gave notice that he would move
for a Select Committee to examine into the working and con-
stitution of the Ecclesiastical Commission on Thursday, the
23th instant.

SINDE.
Mr. HUME gave notice that he would call the attention of
the House to the present state of Sinde on this day fortnight.
IMPORTATION OF FOREIGN PROVISIONS.
Mr. SHARMAN CRAWFORD gave notice that in Com-
mittee on the Navy Estimates he should move that an humble
address be presented to the Queen, praying that all the ships-
of-war that were at present unemployed- in the naval service of
the country should be placed at the disposal of the merchants
for the importation of provisions, the produce of foreign
countries, into the United Kingdom.
GREECE.
Lord JOHN MANNERS gave notice that, on Thursday,
the 25th instant, he would call the attention of the House to
the state of Greece.
COMPENSATION FROM RAILWAY ACCIDENTS.
Colonel SIBTHORP gave notice that in Committee on the
Railway Bill he would move the insertion of a clause com-
pelling railway companies to give compensation for personal
injuries that may be sustained on railways, as also compen-
sation to the widows and orphans of those who may have lost
their lives by such accidents.
HOUSE OF KEYS.
Dr. BOWRING moved for copies of memorials presented
to the Government, with correspondence, or extracts of cor-
respondence, on the subject of the reform of the House of
Keys (in continuation of the return of the last session).—
Agreed to.

IRISH MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS.
Captain LAYARD gave notice that, on Thursday next, he
would ask the Right Hon. Gentleman the Secretary for Ire-
land when it was the intention of her Majesty's Government
to bring forward the Irish Municipal Corporation Act.
SUNDAY TRAINS.
Lord LINCOLN presented a petition from Falkirk, stating
that the stopping of the trains on the Edinburgh and Glasgow
Railway on the Sabbath was a great grievatnce to the poor, and
praying that the Houe would
vision to prevent the cessation oft
rainsnnon that
aeptoand"taaiy.ne any
in connexion with that company without a pro-
POOR REMOVAL BILL.
Mr. HENLEY presented a petition complaining of the
operation of this
POOR-LAWS (IRELAND).
Mr. POULETT SCROPE wished to put a question to the
Secretary of State with reference to the existing state of the
law relative to the legal obligations of per-law guardians. He
did not mean to bring any charge against the guardians of the
Castlelear union, though he did consider that it was very
desirable that the House should inquire into their conduct in
order to ascertain whether they or the Poor-law Commis-
sioners were in fault. It was necessary to state to the House
that the Castlebar board of guardians had closed the doors of
their workhouse against the destitute poor; he would, there-
fore, put the following questionst—Whether there is at present,
and, if so, what legal obligation or responsibility upon boards of
guardians in Ireland, to relieve the destitute poor in their unions?
If there be, whether any proceedings, by indictment or other-
wise, are about to be instituted by direction of her Majesty's
Government against the board of guardians of the Castlebar
union, for having for several months past denied relief to num-
bers of poor, as to whose absolute destitution no doubt could
exist, closing the workhouse against them, although not half
full ; whereby it has happened that very many of such desti-
tute poor persons have shed of starvation, as the verdicts of nu-
merous coroners' inquests lieldi,Nsithin the said union attest?
If no effective legal responsibi ity or obligation to relieve the
destitute rests at present on Irish boards of guardians, to ask
whether her Majesty's Government da not intend to introducee
some effectual obligation of this nature into the Poor Relief
(Ireland) Bill, whereby security shall be taken against such de-
nial of relief to the destitute poor of Ireland of all classes in future?
Sir GEORGE GREY said that the best answer he could
give to the Hon. Gentleman would be to read the provisions of
the Act under which they were appointed. (The Hon. Baronet
then read the sections of the Act, the substance of which was,
that When once the Commissioners had declared a workhouse fit
for the reception of the destitute poor, the board of guardians
were at their discretion to admit such as they deemed proper
subjects to the approbation of the Commissioners. Their was
a legal point raised as to the compulsory power vested
in the Commissioners, over the guardians, and
he had only to observe that the Commissioners had exercised
all their power over the Castlebar guardians, fur the purpose of
compelling them to afford relief. Their efforts, however, were
unavailing, and they were then about to dissolve them as a
board by the powers vested in them under the Act.