The Sun.
London, England, 1856-06-06 00:00:00

NENVSPAP.EN
51-11,41 41,4
441
dic • -
f',Nia 41.
DUBLIN, THURSDAY MORNiNa. "Z”.M.4
THE ElsfeerititEßED ESTATES COMMISSION. 1'
The Freeman's Journal warns the public and
the legislature—both apparently. ignorant of the
fact—that unless something be done in Parliament -
within the next weeks few to continue the powers of
the Encumbered Estates Commission those powers
will have lapsed, and the initiatory operations o
the most important of the Irish Courts will have
been cut abruptly short. This might be a very
agreeable oversight and happy consummation if the
admirers of the old legal tribunals were the only
parties concerned; -but t.) the public at large the
I:ipse would be regarded in a very different light.
Meanwhile it should be known that the last day for
receiving petitions for sale under the existing act
will he before the close of the ensuing month of
July.

THE PEACE.

The advices from Cork note a decline of 15,1. per
cwt. in the price of butter from Friday's to Mon-
day's rates, and later accounts show a falFof 20s.
within three business days. As the necessary con-
sequences of the peace and the favourable turn of
the weather, the prices of all kinds of provisions
are slowly but steadily coming to their legitithato
level.

FARMERS' PROSPECTS.

The following agricultural report for the north•
western counties is condensed from the Derry
Journal, a careful authority upon such matters :
"The extremely dry spring was beginning to cause
some uneasiness at the commencement of May, hut early
in the month we were favoured with a seasonable and
plentiful supply of rain, which has since continued with
alternate heat and sunshine. The effect, as might be
expected, has been most beneficial for every kind of
crop, and the season now is ail that could be desired
both as regards temperature and the requisite moisture
for vigorous growth. Every description of crop is look.
ing well, and fully up to the average degree of forward-
ness usual at the Ist of June. Wheat, of ►%hich we had
reason to speak well throughoat the year, .continues its
firm healthy coloitr. It is close in plant, and promises
early maturity; but the north-west of Ireland is so
liable to an excess of rain in the month of July that it
is never safe to predict anything of this crop till after
that period. Oats have already recovered from the cold
dry weather of April, and are now promising, and rather
early. A largo quantity of potatoes have been planted,
and, as far as we know, the seed has advanced well in
growth. It this district potatoes are earlier than they
were this time last year, but not so favourable as they
were at the same period on the two former seasons.
Flax sown in the beginning of April promises a good
yield, but what was sown at a later period, after the
rains in May, is net sufficiently advanced for an opinion
to be formed upon it. The moist weather has greatly
benefitted the pastures, and the le al ender grass is able
to bear as much stock now as we °Jet remember to see
it. Meadow and upland hay bar. rromise more than
an average yield, and, probably owi:eg to this favourable
change, the price of cattle has advanced consideral4
during the last month. Dry beasts aro not less than
255. a head dearer than they were on the Ist of May.
There is a tolerably good demand for labour, considering
the Reason, but there is no lack of hands for all farming
purposes. The occupation of sowing, which has done so
much for the female population in this part of Ireland,
is still carried on with activity and with great advantage
to the working classes."

BA.ILWAY 3.NTELLIGNSCE.

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES ON RAILWAY

BILLS.
CASTLR DOUGLAS AND DUMFRIES.

Mr. Fitzroy reported, front the committee on this bill,•
that the proposed capital of the company is 120,0001., of
which 60,0001. is to be held by the Glasgow and South-
Western Railway Company, and the amount of loans to
be raised is 40,0001. The number of shareholders who
may be considered as having a local interest in the line
(exclusive of the Glasgow and South-Western Company)
is 490, and the amount of capital subscribed by them is
54,1001. The number of other parties (inclusive of 10
who. have subscribed for the Glasgow and South-Western
Railway Company) is 57, and the capital taken by them
amounts to 51,3701., of which 45,0001. is subscribed on
behalf of the Glasgow and South-Western Company.
The length of the proposed line is lP Miles 3 furlongs
77 yards, and the steepest gradient is ; in 73. It is in-
tended to cross on a level tour public roads. The esti.
mated cost of the proposed railway is 120.0001:, and the
quantity of land required 1S9:1 acres. Mr. J. Miller,
jun.; was the engineer examined in support of the bill,
and the committee were satisfied of the fitness, in an en-
gineering point of view, of the proposed railway.

NORTH BRITISH.
Mr. Fitzroyreported from tho committee that the addi-
tional capital proposed to be raised by the company under
the bill for the work authorised thereby is 2,0001., in ad-
dition to the sum of 221,2721. for purposes already autho-
rised by Parliament, awl to a further sum of 1,117,7921.
to be raised by debenture shares or debenture stock, for
paying off existing mortgages, and tile amount of loan
they are authorised to raise is 50,000 g. when 152,0001.,
part of the ',aid additional capital of 221,2721., shall have
been subscribed, and onelalf thereof shall have been
paid up. The only new work proposed by the bill is a
bridge over a street in Edinburgh to connect detached
portions of the company's station. Mr. Jopp was the
engineer examined in support of the bill. It is proposed
that the rate of dividend op the debenture stock—which
,lock is to be applied exclusively in discharge of existing
mortgages—should not exceed .4 per cent. per annum,
which is less than the average rate of interest payable
upon the mortgage debt of the company.