The Sun.
London, England, 1871-02-25 00:00:00

HOUSE OF LORDS.-FRIDAY.

Their Lordships met at five o'clock.
The Princess Louise's Annuity Bill was read a third
time and passed, as were also the West African Settle-
ments Bill and the Mines Act Amendment Bill.
The House sat 20 minutes.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—FRIDAY.
The Speaker took the chair at a quarter to four

o'clock.

NEW MEMBER.
Mr. Mitchell, Henry took the oaths and his seat for
County Galway, in the room of Viscount Bourke. The
hon. gentleman was introduced by Mr. Glyn and Mr.
W. H. Gregory.

HARBOUR DEFENCES.
Mr. GnEavEs gave notice that on going into committee
on the Navy Estimates he should move that, in the
opinion of this House, it is desirable to have additional
means of defending harbours by building vessels of light,
draught, armed with heavy guns, which could, in case of
necessity, be manned by local or other forces.
LABOURERS' DWELLINGS IN IRELAND.
Mr. W. H. GREGORY gave notice that on going into
Committee of Supply on Friday, the 24th March, he
should call attention to the necessity of prompt legisla-
tion on the subject of labourers' dwellings in Ireland, and
move a resolution on the subject.
THE ABYSSINIAN COMMITTEE.
Mr. CANDLISH gave notice of hirintention to call atten-
tion to the report of the Abyssinian Committee, and to
move a resolution upon the subject.

BIRDCAGE WALK.
Viscount ROYSTON asked the Commissioner of Works if
it was his intention to open the communication for the
public between Marlborough-house gate and Storey's,
gate, Birdcage-walk, and by the east end of St. James's;
Park.

Mr. AYRTON said, last session when a question was. put
on this subject, he gave his opinion that no change ehould
be made unless it was shewn to be necessary, in order to
assist naembers in obtaining access to the House. He
had not since heard anything upon the subject, and no
change was therefore thought necessary.
THE JUDICATURE COMMISSION.
Mr. NORWOOD asked the Home Secretary if a fur-
ther report would shortly be issued for the Judicature
Commission, and whether there was any o, ,e,tion to the
answers to questions of minutes and evidence taken before
the Commissioners into the county courts being laid on the
table without further delay.
Mr. BRUCE said the Commission could only meet once a
week, and the Lord Chancellor informed him that there
was no prospect of a report until after Easter. As to the
production of the evidence that was unusual, but if it
were pressed he would consult the Lord Chancellor on the
subject.

THE METROPOLITAN BOARD OF WORKS.
Mr. LOCKE asked the Home Secretary if he was
aware that the measure of last session increasing the bor-
rowing powers of the Board of Works was introduced into
a public bill of the Government, and that the three bills
introduced this year for furthor extending such borrowing
powers, are private bills promoted by the Board, and also
if the Government, after haying intimated their intention
to introduce a bill to amend the Loans Act of 1869, pro-
pose to allow private bills to go into committee before the
introduction.of the public bill.
Mr. BRUCE said the hon. member had misunderstood
his previous answer. The Government did not intend to
introduce a bill to amend the Metropolitan Loans Act•
What he said was that the Board had prepared a bil/
which was to be submitted to the Government, and this
had not yet been done. It was not the intention of the
Government to interfere with the other Acts before the
House. •