The Sun.
London, England, 1869-07-14 00:00:00

THE TELEGRAPHS BILL.

The bill brought in by the Postmaster-General for the
transference of the telegraphs to the Government was
printed on Tuesday. The preamble recites that by the Tele-
graph Act of 1868 the Postmaster-General is empowered
to purchase the whole or any part Of any
' telegraph or other company authorised to transmit tele-
graphic messages in the United Kingdom, except the
undertakings of the Atlantic Telegraph Company and the
Anglo-American Telegraph Company; that he is required
to make one uniforin charge for the transmission of
messages throughout the -United Idrigtion ; that a monopoly
should be granted to the Government; and thztt agreements
havebeen entered into with the several telegraphiccoszTanies
for the attainment of these objects. The biil gives power to
the Postmaster-General to have the exclusive privilege of
transmitting telegrams within the United Kingdom, with
the following exceptions :---Messages in respect of which
no charge is made transmitted by a telegraph
maintained or used solely for private use ; and
messaf,-es sent by a railway or canal company in conformity
with the provisions of the Tel.-graph Act 1 '6B. Any per-
son transmitting nny telegrams in contravention of the
exclusive privilege of the Postmaster-General will be liable
to a penalty not exceeding £5. The Commissioners of
her Majesty's Treasury may raise for the purposes of the
Telegraphs Act, 1868-69, any sum not exceeding in the
whole seven millions sterling, by the creation of termi-
nable annuities for any period of years not exceeding thirty,
or by the creation of Exchequer bills or Exchequer bonds,
or of £3 per cent, per annum capital stocks of annuities.
The amount so raised shall be placed to an account in the
Bank of England in the names of the Commissioners of
the National Debt, and shall be at the disposal
of the Postmaster-General. The gross revenue
received for the transmission of messages shall
be paid into the Exchequer to the account
of the Cmsolidated Fund, and the expenses in-
curred in working, maintaining, or extending telegraphs
shall be paid out of moneys to be voted by Parliament.
There shall be laid before both Houses of Parliament on
or before March 31 in each year an account chewing the
grosi amount received during the previous year ending
December 31, the amount of expenses, and the balance
remaining. Every written cr printed message delivered
at a post-office for the purpose of being transmitted by a
postal telegraph shall be a post letter within the meaning
of the Act passed in the first year of the reign of her
present Majesty, chapter 36.

PARLIAMENTARY AND MUNICIPAL
_ELECTIONS.

The select committee of the House of Commons in-
quiring into the conduct of parliamentary and municipal
elections resumed its sittings on Tuesday. The Marquis
of Hartington presided, and there were present Mr. Ward
Hunt, Mr. Gathorne Hardy, Mr. Leathern, Mr. Raikes,
Mr. Henry James, Mr. Brand, Mr. C. P. Villiers, Mr.
E. Egerton, Mr. E. Howes, Sir Michael Hicks Beach,
and Sir F. Heygate.
Mr. Francis Taylor, of Manchester, was examined, and
sated that he had taken part in elections both in
Manchester and Salford since the year 1832. He was the
chairman of the committee which took the "test ballot"
in Manchester at the last election, with regard to the can-
didature_of the late Mr. Ernest Jones. That ballot was
taken with the greatest order, although there was
considerable excitement as to the result. There was no
time to get a water mark on the voting cards, and they
were, therefore, stamped with a die. New circulars were
issued to the voters describing the plan of voting proposed to
be adopted, together with a paper giving the number of the
voter on the register, and the place where he ought to vote.
This paper the voter gave to the relieving officer to enable
him to refer easily to the register. The voter having
received a card, retired to a recess provided for that
purpose, and having struck off the card the names
of the candidates for whom he did net wish to
vote, he enclosed the card in an envelope and
returned it. The card bore the names of all the candidates;
and the marking was done in private, while the envelope
prevented any bystander from seeing how the matt voted.
At this test" election 11,475-persons voted of the whole
number of 18,589 entitled to vote. This ,was a fair pro-
portion of the number who would have voted at an ordinary
election. The higher class did not abstain from
voting. It was found that 200 votes could be
taken at one booth in an hour. 'There were
104 polling-booths at the last general election
in Manchester ; and had the Ballot been in use the whole
of the constituencies could have been polled in twenty-
five booths. Witness believed that under the system Of
ballot adopted on this occasion every precaution was
taken against personation. The Victoria plan was the
one used in Manchester. He did not think that a scrutiny
was necessary where the Ballot was used.
By Mr. Paikes : Where there was any intimidation
exercised it was more amongst the class of small shop-
keepers than amongst the working classes
After some further evidence the committee adjourned.

IMPERIAL £ARLI,4IIIEN T

3'o &

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-THIS DAY.

The SrBAKEn took the chair at twenty minutes past
twelve o'clock.
SUSPENSION OF THE MASTER OF ST. PANCRAS

WORKHOUSE.

In reply to Dr. BREWER,
Mr. GOSCIIN said he had received official informa-
tion of the suspension of the official named. The reasons
given were that he had made certain allegations to the
effect that some patients had been discharged from the in-
firmary before they were cured.
[LEFT SITTING.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.-7his Day.

THAMES.

INGENIOUS TOBACCO SMUGGLING.-Three seamen named
Thomas Fiddler, aged 62 years, Samuel Brown, 3S, and
James Beavis, 28, were charged with smuggling about
8 lbs. of tobacco on board the tobacco ship Chief Metro-
politan, at Brown-wharf, Blackwall. A Customhouse
officer, named Michael M'Nulty searchsd the prisoner's
berths and their persons soon after the arrival of the ship
yesterday with her living freight, and found tobacco con-
cealed, some in their bed places, and the remainder in their
boots. Brown only had 15 ounces, the largest quan-
tity was found upon Beavis. The officer seized
about 8 lbs. in all. There wore about 4 lbs. of
tobacco concealed on Beavis, and in his berth.
lle was fined 205., Fiddler 16s. 83., and Br.wa Ss. 6d.,
being the treble value and duty.
The prisoners paid the penalties, and asked for the re-
storation of the tobacco.

The Magistrate—Certainly not. The forfeiture of the
tobacco is part of the punishment. The tobacco is for-
feited to her Majesty. You have been very ingenious in
your smuggling. The tobacco was concealed in your
boots, and formed into cakes to fit the shape of your
bodies.

The Prisoners—Does the Queen smoke ? I f so, she is
welcome to tho tobacco.

The Magistrate—The tobacco will be sold for the benefit
of the Crown.

WESTMINSTER.

STEALING A CHILD.—A young woman applied to the
magistrate to know how she was to recover her child
which had been stolen.

Applicant said that sho left the child last night at the
house of her parents during a short absence, and it was
put to bed. On her return home she found it was gone:
Applicant said that her parents, not fearing any harm,
had left the infant in its bed, and to their wonder found it
bad been carried off.

Mr. Arnold inquired how any one could obtain access
to the house.

Applicant replied—Either by the rear of the premises
or the street door, which had incautiously been left open.
Mr. Arnold asked whether she suspected any one.

Applicant said that there was only one person whom
she could suspect, and that was the child's father, to whom
she was about to swear the child next Friday. She had no
doubt he had taken the child to prevent her succeeding-in
that course.

Mr. Smyth, solicitor, said that he had been instructed
in the case of bastardy, which was against a Mr. Brown
in Berwick-street, Charing-cross, and he now applied for
a summons against Mr. Brown, to compel his attendance
as a witness.

The summons was granted.
Mr. Arnold recommended the young woman to apply to
the police respecting her child.'

PRESENTATION OF 7'Hk. HUN?
TESTIMONIAL.

The hilarity and pleasure prevalent in the Camp at
Wimbledon yesterday evening, caused by the winning of
the Queen's Prize and the Spencer Cup, was greatly
heightened in the "Queen's" camp by the presentation of
a beautiful silver claret jug to Sergeant E. H. Hunt, of the
13th company, the champion shotof the regiment. The mess
tent was elegantly decorated for the occasion with exotics
and flowering plants, flags, &c., Captain and Adjutant
Tyler presided, supported by a camp crowded with friends
and visitors. The pleasing duty of makingOe presentation
was performed by Ensign Bocking, of the 11th company.
He said it was an unexpected pleasure that he had to pre-
sent to their respected comrade the elegant piece of plate
which then adorned the table. It had been subscribed for
in order that the loss Sergeant Hunt bad sustained some
time ago might be in some degree replaced, and also as a
testimonial of the esteem in which Sergeant Hunt was held
by the regiment. Although the loss of so many hard won
prizes must be vary sorrowful, yet he hoped their gallant
sergeant would, whilst contemplating the gifts of his
friends, at least feel a throb of pleasure and delight, and
although the medals accompanying the gift were but copies
of the original, yet the way in which they had been pro-
duced must be a source of pride and gratification. Ensign
Bocking then handed the testimonial to Sergeant Hunt,
and expressed a hope that he would locg live to look upon
the cup as a gift from old friends. (Cheers.) Sergeant
Hunt, in reply, said he could but faintly express the plea-
sure he felt at th:►t moment, but it made amends for the
poignant sorrow he experienced at being robbed of all those
honours ho so greatly valued. The Angel Cup merely
recorded the fact of a prize xrun, but that which he bad
received that evening ut.t only represented that, but also
tho kind sympathy and regard of his friends and com-
rades. He could only simply thank them for the elegant
present just handed him. The health of Ensign Henry
Backing of the 11th Company was proposed by Mr.
Hooper, who, ho said, was always readytb do a good ac-
tion or serve a friend. (Cheers.) Ensign;Bbbking thanked
the company very sincerely for the very flattering com-
pliment paid him. His greatest pride was the success of
the regiment and the friendships he had the happiness to
possess. The Queen's during the evening kept "open.
house," and a very brilliant company participated in the
pleasures of the evening, the mess tent being open, and the
hospitality extended to " all comers."

THE BRAZILIAN MAIL.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)
RIO DE JANEIRO, June 14.

The announcement of the arrival of General
M'Mahon, United States Minister in Paraguay, at
Buenos Ayres is false.
Adviccs from Paraguay to the 4th state that
active operations have commenced ; the Allies had
taken possession of the railway and 36 cars. Ceno
Leon had been taken, and the Allied troops were
making a reconnaissance on Ascurra.
Combats had taken place at Sargento Lomas,
north of the river Jcjuy, and at Lapucaia, near the
river Tebiquary. The Paraguayans were defeated,
and lost 500 killed, 300 prisoners, 10 guns, and
much cattle. Many Paraguayan families who have
been released have returned to Assumption.

Lopez has written to Count d'Eu, complaining
of the Paraguayan flag flying is the ranks of the
Allied forces. General M'Mahon has offered his
services as mediator in this question.
The Allied Powers have agreed on the establish-
ment of a Provisional Government at Assumption.
The revolution at Monte Video continues, and
the Northern Departments have declared in favour
of the movement.