The Sun.
London, England, 1860-03-16 00:00:00

ELECTION COMMITTEES.

The committee appointed to try the merits of the peti
Lions against the sitting numbers for the borough of Ber
wick-on-Tweed were sworn at the table.

CHURCH RATES.

An unusually large number of petitions were presented
in favour of and against the abolition of church rates.

CITY OF NORWICH.

Mr. T. DUNCOMBE gave notice that, on Monday next,
he would move for a writ for the eleetion'of two burgesses
to serve in Parliament for the city of Norwich.

THE SHIP FAWN, &c.
Lord A. CHURCHILL asked the Secretary to the Ad-
miralty whether her Majesty's ship Fawn, which had re-
cently sailed for Australia, had been sent there as an aug-
mentation to the squadron at present on that station, or for
the purpose of relieving another vessel ordered home ;
whether the attention of the Government had been
called to the fact • that France had, within the last
year, reorganised her military and naval establish•.
ments at New Caledonia, and had now made it her princi-
pal station in those seas : and whether it is intended to
place oar naval commanding officers upon a more equal
footing with the French, by creating the Australian station
into an admiral's command ?

Lord C. PAGET said that the vessel in question was
not sent out for the purpose of augmenting her Majesty's
squadron, but merely to replace another war ship. With
regard to Australia, it was intended to send out a commo-
dore, but not an admiral, to the station in question.
NEWSPAPER PROPRIETORS.
Sir S. NORTHCOTE asked the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer whether newspaper proprietors who may have in
their possession any stamped sheets on the day when the
proposed new regulations for the abolition of the impressed
stamp take effect, would be allowed to use them, and to re-
tain the privilege of sending them free by post ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that
some arrangements would be made to prevent newspaper
proprietors suffering loss under the alteration proposed. In
consequence of the illness of Sir Rowland Hill it was im-
possible to carry out the alteration in question at once, but
it would be shortly effected.

RESTS FOR P ORTERS.
Mr. SLANEY asked the Secretary of State for the Home
Department if provision could be made for rests for porters
and others carrying heavy burdens, on or near the great
lines of public thoroughfares, in plaeo and in addition to
those removed.

Sir G. darEIVIS could not give any information
.on
the subject, for neither the Secretary of State nor the police
had any authority in the matter.

LICENSING.
In reply to Mr. HARDY and Sir S. N ORTHCOTB,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that
the second reading of the Licensing Bill would not be
brought forward before next week, and to-morrow he would
be able to state the day when it would be moved. The
wine merchants of the country were considering the
subject, as it was calculated to affect their interests, and in-
tended to call a general meeting of the trade. Withregard
to that body, he could •not make any communication until
after the meeting.

CHINA.
*ln reply to Mr. BAILEY,
Lord J. RUSSELL said that he would make a short
statement on the subject of China to-morrow. (Hear, hear.)