The Sun.
London, England, 1846-03-18 00:00:00

'TIMBER DUTIES.

On the timber duties being proposed,
Mr. MITCHELL moved that the duty on foreign hewn
timber be reduced 10s. per load on the sth day of April, 18.16,
and other kinds of wood in proportion.
Mr. CARDWELL said that the principal object in taking
off the duty on an article, particularly the article of timber,
was to create benefits, not for the foreign producer, but rather
for the consumer of our own country ; and he thought that ho
might fairly take the authority of the Hon. Gentleman him-
self against the position which he had submitted to the House
in support of his amendment. The Hon. Gentleman had told
them, that if notice could have been given at an early period
of the winter, there would have been a. very large importation
of timber from Russia and Prussia into the English markets ;
but if he rightly recollected the Right Hon. Gentleman's ob-
servations, he must admit that large importations need
not be expected at the present moment, it the original
motion were carried. The House of Commons were now
called upon to determine at what period, with a due regard to
the revenue and the consumer of this country, they might abo-
lish the duty on timber; and he contended, that by the first
admission of the Hon. Gentleman, supported, and not im-
paired by the second statement which he had made, he h d
his authority for saying that the House of Commons was called
upon to resist the amendment. After a few further observa-
tions from the Hon. Gentleman and Sir John Hanmer in sup-
port of the original motion,
Mr. MITCHELL withdrew his amendment.
Lord G. BENTINCK suggested that the further considera-
tion of the timber duties should be postponed till Monday
next Cries of " Oh, oh," and'. Go on")—and then the de-
bate might he probably concluded next week.—(ob, eh," and
" Go on.")
Sir R. PEEL hoped that the prophecy just made would be
realised.—( Hear, hear, and laughter.) He believed then that
he might take it for granted that the debate on the second
reading would be concluded on Friday week. The question
was, whether they would prefer having six nights' debate upon
the tariff or the Ccrn Bill. He thought that the best arrange-
ment that could be made would be (as there was an important
motion with regard to railways, with which he would not inter-
fere)—(Hear, hear)—to take the timber duties on Friday,
and begin the debate on Monday, with the general understand-
ing that the speeches would be so shortened as to admit of the
realisation of the prophecy of the Noble Lord.—(Hear, bear,
and laughter.)
RAILWAY LEGISLATION.
Mr. PARKER, in consequence of a suggestion from Sir
R. Peel, consented to postpone the consideration of the motion
of which he had given notice relative to the subject of the
necessity of some further legislation in railway matters.
The Coalwhippers Act was then lead a second time, and
ordered to be committed on Monday week.
The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the
Muse adjourned at a Quarter to Twelve o'clock.

PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS.
From the rotes and Proceedings of the House of Commons.)
TUESDAY, MARCH 17.

The following petitions for Railways were reported, and the Bills
ordered to be brought In by the undernamed lion. Members :
Shrewsbury, Wolverhampton, and South Staffordshire (No. I)—Lord
Ingestre and Mr. E. Buller.
Shrewsbury, Wolverhampton, and south Staffordshire (No. 2—Coal-
brookdale Branch)—Lord Ingestre and Mr. E. Buller.
St. Alban's, Luton, and Dunstable—Mr. :Udell, Mr. Denison, and

Mr. C. Buller.
Admiral Dundas.
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STANDING ORDERS' CONIMITTEE,

The following resolutions were reported front this Committee :-
1. That, in the case of the Cornwall Railway petition, the standing
orders aught to he dispensed with:—That the parties be permitted
to proceed with their Bill, on inserting, in figures, on the cross sec.
tione of the roads deposited in the Private Bill-office, the rates of
inclination of the present and altered roads.
2. That, in the case of the Alliance Gas petition, the standing
orders ought to be dispensed with :—That the parties be permitted to
proceed with their Bill, with the exception of the clauses giving
power to the Company to sell or lease their undertaking.
3. That, in the case of the Wakefield Waterworks petition, the
standing orders ought to be dispensed with :—That the parties be per-
mitted to proceed with their Bill on depositing an amended declara-
tion in the Private Bill-office, stating the nature and amount of the
funds or surplus revenue, by means of which the works are to be made.
That the Committees on this and the two preceding Bills do exa-
mine, in the first place, bow far such orders have been complied with,
and do report the same to the House on the report of the Bill.
4. That, in the case of the Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway
petition, the standing orders ought not to be dispensed with.
5. That, In the case of the ,Lancaster and Preston Junction Rail-
way petition for leave to preaeit a petition for a sill, the sessional
order ought to be dispensed with :—That the parties be permitted
to present a petition accordingly.
t. That, in the case of the Berks and Hails (Hungerford Ex-
tension) Railway petition for leave to present a petition for a Bill,
the sessional order ought to:be dispensed with :—That the parties be
permitted to present a petition for a 14111 for making a Railway from
Hungerford to Westbury, and likewise a Railway from the Great
Western Railway to, or near to, the Radstock Collieries.
7. That, in the case of the Direct London and Manchester Railway
petition, the standing orders ought not to be dispensed with.
8. That in the case of the Edinburgh and Glasgow and Dumber-
tonshire Junction Railway petition, the standing orders ought not to
be dispensed with.
First, second, third, fifth, and sixth resolutions agreed to.—Report
to lie on the table.