The Sun.
London, England, 1860-07-25 00:00:00

Nobody proposed, for exaa nple, that when the Admiralty
bought timber, coal, or other stores for the navy, they should
come down and ask the ; house by resolution to authorise
them to enter into a con: ract. There was another set of

contracts, fortunately of not very frequent occurrence,
namely, contracts for pubL• 7c loans, with respect to which it
was absolutely necessary t o obtain the express sanction of
that house. Yet he belie red he would be borne out when

he said that there was n•) class of contracts which were
entered into with greater scare on the'part of the Govern-
ment, with greater publici or a greater desire evinced by
the Executive to secure ti to most favourable terms possible

for the public, than contracts for loans. (Hear, hear.) The

peculiarity of the contracts now under consideration was

:hat they were prospective— namely, for the conveyance of
the mails fora considerable term of years, and he much

questioned whether the Executive would not exceed its

powers if it entered into such a contract without the express
sanction of Parliament. Now, it was with regard to the
class of contracts intermediate between the ordinary con-
tracts to which he had referred and contracts for loans that

the machinery at present proposed was to be introduced.
They were not contracts merely for the delivery of a specific
quantity of goods, but contracts which pledged the national
faith to the payment of large sums of money for services to
be performed for a term of years. There was no reason to
believe that the publicity and the check of Parliamentary
control which these resolutions suggested should in any
way diminish the caution of the Government, but, on the
contrary, they appeared to him calculated to render the

Executive still more circumspect in its proceedings. (Hear.)

Mr. HOPE recommended that means should be taken
to guard against so important a matter as the Indian tele-
graph being again dealt with in a private Act of Parlia-
ment.
After a few words from Mr. DUNLOP in reply, the reso-
lutions were then agreed to.
PUBLIC MONEYS.

On the motion of Sir S. NORTHCOTE, a copy was ordered.
of the Treasury minute of the 23d day of December, 1858,
on the subject of public moneys.
SENIOR MEMBER OF COUNCIL (INDIA).
On the motion of Lord PALMERSTON (in the absence of
Sir CaWood), leave was given to bring in a bill to remove
doubts as to the authority of the Senior Member of Council
of the Governor-General of India, in the absence of the
President.
SUPERANNUATION ACT (1859) AMENDMESTT. •
Lord PALMERSTON (again in place of Sir C. Wood)
moved for leave to bring in a bill to extend in certain eases.
the provisions of the Superannuation Act, 1859.
Mr. ROEBUCK asked for some explanation of these
Indian Bills.
Mr. E. JAMES thought the Secretary of State for India
ought to be in his place to explain to the house what the
objects were of these bills, which belonged to his depart-
ment. (Hear.)
Mr. HORSMAN asked how it was that the introduction
of these bills had been delayed till the last week of July.
This session had been unusually protracted, and but the
other night the noble lord at the head of the Government
complained that a certain section of the house seemed to
think that it was to be eternal. After massacreing their
" innocents," the Government a few nights ago introduced.
two fresh bills relating to India ; but, fortunately, it being
very abundantly manifest that there would be a good deal
of opposition to them, they very soon withdrew them. To-
night, however, there were three new bills to be introduced,
and he was informed that there was yet one other intended
to be introduced, more important than all, of which no nor
tice yet had been given- This made six bills relating to Indite
introduced in the month of July. It certainly would bias
have been respectful and decorous to the house had Ole
Secretary for India been in his place to explain these Wile.
(Hear, hear.) [Sir C. Wood here made his appearance in
his usual seat on the Treasury bench.] He congratulated
the house on the return of the right hon. gentleman---.
(laughter)—and was glad to find that he was not dining at
the Travellers' Club, as he understood was the case last
Thursday, when his absence was complained of. (Oh, oh!)
Sir C. WOOD—I have to apologise to the house for not
being in my place. I was not far from it, however. I was fit
the library discussing an Indian question with a supports
of the right hon. gentleman; but I should certainly have
been here had I been aware that these bills were under dill.
cussion. (Hear, hear.) The right hon. gentleman gais
me notice the other evening that he intended to put a quoV
tion to me in reference to what he called my " mysterious"
disappearance on Thursday last, and, as he has referred 0
the subject to-night, I will explain how that happened. I
was in my place when the house met on Thursday, an 11
continued in it until the house went into committee on the
Bankruptcy Bill. I then went into the lobby and had
long conversation with the hon. member for Perth. Frame
hon. gentleman came to me and said that Sir Richard
Airey was waiting at the door to see me. I think ict wee
the member for Carnarvonshire. I went to the door., a 0
found Sir Richard Airey, who was waiting to see me on
some military business. I walked with him along the
lobby towards the House of Lords, along St. Stephen's-hall
and into Westminster-hall. There was nothing " myite"
rious ;" a score of members must have seen us. (HestO
We walked about Westminster-hall, and after that I did go
and get some dinner, having been absent from home,
day. There was no mystery about it. I did not go out at
the back door or the window—a crowd of members saw' I"
go. (Hear.) The right hon. gentleman sent me a not) tO
tell me that he meant to ask a question on the subject, and
I was here at a quarter past four o'clock to answer him,
but he was not here to put it. (Hear.) I was perfontli
ready to meethltn, as I always shall be. As to this bill, it°
simple object is to provide that in cases where civil Bere ent.
have been transferred from the India-office to ancrther
office, say the Admiralty or War-office, or from another
office to the India-office, their superannuation allovranoe
shall be charged on the Indian and home revenue, some
thing in proportion to the length of time they have served.
in each department.
Sir S. NORTHCOTE—I suppose it will operate both
ways ?

Sir C. WOOD—Certainly.
Leave was then given to bring in the bill.
ADMIRALTY JURISDICTION.

Sir C. WOOD then moved for leave to introduce a bOl
to extend certain provisions for Admiralty jurisdiction la'
the colonies of her Majesty's territelies in India.
Mr. HORSMAN reiterated his complaint as to the lao
period at which these bills were brought in, and asked for
some explanation of it. He also wished to know -whether
it was not intended to bring in yet another bill relating 0
India.

Sir C. WOOD said that such small progress had been
made with the bills introduced early in the session that he
had thought it more advisable to delay these bills until some
clearance was made of the list.
Leave was then given to bring in the bill.
The Votes at Elections Bill was read a second time.
The Local Government Supplemental (No. 2) Bill passed
through committee.
The Turnpike Acts Continuance Bill wasread a third time
and passed.
The Lords' amendments to the Local Boards of Health,
&c., Bill were agreed to.
MILITIA BILL."
This bill passed through committee.
POOR RELIEF (IRELAND) BILL.
The house went into committee on this bill, and after a
clause had been added, it was reported.
METROPOLIS LOCAL MANAGEMENT ACT
AMENDMENT (No. 2) BILL.
On the motion for the resumption of the adjourned de'
bate on the third reading of this bill, on the question that
the bill be "now read,"
The SPEAKER put the question, and
Sir J. SHELLEY rose to address the house, but Wag
called to order, not having risen in time.
The house divided—
For the third reading 23
Against it
Majority —6o
The bill was consequently lost.
SUPPLY.
The Report on Supply was brought up and agreed to.
MAYN 00TH COLLEGE BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
SHERIFF COURT HOUSES (SCOTLAND) BILL.
This bill, as amended, was considered and agreed to.
CLEARANCE INWARDS AND LIEN FOR
FREIGHT BILL.
This bill;as amended,was considered and agreed to.
A (IRELAND)
WEIGHTS AND Of'SURES BILL'
This bill was read a third time and passed.
CORONERS (No. 3) BILL.
This bill, as amended, was considered and agreed to.
RIFLE VOLUNTEER CORPS BILL.
On the order of the day for going into committee on WEI
bill,
Mr. HENLEY objacted to going into committee at that
hour of the morning (a porter is three o'clock).
Mr. SELWYN said that was the last day that the bill
ec;uld be entertained by the house, if it was to be passed
this session. If any delay took place, he would not bear
the respC,nsibility.
Mr. S. lIZRBERT suggested that it :would be better lel
postpone the bill till to-morrow (this day).
Mr. SELWYN agreed to this suggestion, and the order
was accordingly postponed.
POLICE AND TOWNS IMPROVEMENT (SCOT.'
LAND) ACT AMENDBLENT BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
STIPENDIARY MAGISTRATES BILL.
This bill was read a third time and pasaTd.
SALE OF GAS ACT AMENDMENT (No. 3) BILL'
On the order for going into committee on this bill,
Mr. CRAWFORD moved that the debate be adjourned'
The house divided,--
Fer the adjournment 2B
Against it
Majority
Mr. SHERIDAN, however, considering the lateness or
the hour, postponed the further progress of the bill till
day.
The Gas (Metropolis) Bill passed through committee.
The house then adjourned at three o'clock.

LONDON : Printed and Puiniehed by MURDO YOUNG,
of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at Ths Bun Office, No. 112,
strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the county
of
Middlesex, Wednesday, Ally 25, 1860.