The Sun.
London, England, 1846-02-02 00:00:00

SUMMARY.

The Speaker took the chair at Four o'clock.
Toe names of Hon. Members exempt from sittiug on
Election Committees were read.

A new writ was moved for the borough of Ripon for
a Member to serve in Parliament, in the room of the
Right Hon. T. B. C. Smith, appointed Master of the
Rolls in Ireland.

After the transaction of private business,
Mr. SYDNEY HERBERT, in answer to a question, stated
that the Government hoped to be enabled to raise the
militia by a method less onerous than the ballot.

Sir IL PEEL in answer to a question from Mr. P. M.
Stewart said that, with regard to the duties on colonial
spirits and molasses, it was not the intention of the Go-
vernment to propose any alteration in those duties.
On the Order of the Day for the second reading of the
Drainage of Lands (Ireland) Bill,
Mr. F. FFRENCEL complained that the Bill gave powers
to the Commissioners for Drainage, with which it would
be highly improper to trust them. He objected to giving
to any body of men the entire superintendence of all
public and private works of experiment in Ireland. The
landowners were perfectly competent to decide in what
manner employment was to be given to the poor of Ire-
lani, on their respective estates.
Sir T. FREEMATTLE believed that the general impres-
sion throughout Ireland was that the members of the
Board of Works had performed their duties exceedingly
well and were deserving of confidence. He cousidered
that it would be almost impossible to carry out these
works properly except under the superintendance of th
Commissioners.

Sir R. FEacussort considered that in consequence of
the enormous powers given to the Drainage Commis-
sioners, a great number of landowners had been pre-
vented from taking advantage of the provisions of the
Drainage Act ; therefore he must object to any increase
of those powers. He considered the Bill as one of the
most objectionable that had ever been introduced with
regard to Ireland.

Mr. O'CONNELL supported the second reading of the
Bill ; but he hoped that in Committee various modifica-
tions would be introduced into it.

The Bill was then read a second time.

On the motion for reading the Order of the Day for
the second reading of the Public Works (Ireland) Bill,
Mr. FITZSTEXT FRENCH objected to certain clauses of
the Bill as giving too much power to the officers of the
Government.

Sir T. FREEMANTLE explained that he had before
given notice, that on bringing up the report he should
propose a clause which would obviate all the objections
of the Hon. Member.

Sir R. FERGUSSON would suggest the propriety of
leaving out the fifth clause altogether. It was necessary
to restrain the corn pulsory powers given to the authori-
ties under this Bill.

Colonel CONOLLY would be sorry to retard the pass-
ing of the measure, but be objected to the compulsory
presentments, as calculated to cast a stigma upon the
grand juries of Ireland.
Mr. O'CONNELL supported the motion.
The Report was then brought up, and several verbal
amendments were agreed to.

On the sth clause being proposed,
Sir R. FERGUSSON said that if it were persisted in, he
should take the sense of the House on it.

Sir T. FREEMAN TLE must press the clause.
Mr. F. FFRENCH hoped the clause would be withdrawn
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER trusted the
House would support the Bill, as a means of providing
employment for the people of Ireland in improving
existing public works, as well as in forming new works.
Mr. S. CHAWFORM disapproved entirely of the system
of compulsory assessments, but if it were to exist he
considered that there existed the same grounds for jus-
tifying it in this case as in other cases.
Mr. HAMILTON, lender the circumstances of the case,
hoped that the opoosition to the • clause would not be
ersevered in.

Sir R. FERGITSSON was determined to take the
sense of the House on the clause.

On a division there appeared—
For the clause
Against it .... 3
Majority for the clause —94
The report was then agreed to.
Mr. BRIGHT moved the reappointment of the cora.
mittee on the gamo-laws.—Agreed to.

Sir T. FREMANTLE moved for leave to bring in a
Bill to afford encouragement to the construction of small
piers and harbours calculated to extend the fisheries in
Ireland.