The Sun.
London, England, 1860-02-24 00:00:00

ORANGE-STREET WATERWORKS.

Sir J. SHELLEY moved for a return of the money ex-
pended on the Orange-street Waterworks, from their com-
mencementin 1844 to the present time; showin,g the total
amount, for capital and the total amount of interest thereon
during that period ; the annual cost incurred for mainr
ienance of works • and repair of machinery, &c. ;
the annual income received for supplying water ;
the several public offices, barracks, and other establish-
ments, fountains, and reservoirs, supplied from these works;
and the sums paid previously as annual water rents, or the
annual value of, the water now supplied, estimated accord-
ing to thi customary water rates charged to such establish-.
ments at the present time (in continuation of Parliamen-
tary paper, No. 143, of session 1851).—Ordered.
INCOME TAX.

Mr. STANHOPE moved for a return of the net assess-
ment of property to the income tax under schedule A, mid'
of profits of farmers under schedule B, and of trade under
schedule D, for England and Scotland separate, in the years
1842,1853, 1857-58 ; denoting also the increase per cent.
under each schedule, in Scotian.' and England separately,
for the period between 1842 and 1853, and the period
between 1853 and 1857-58.—Agreed to.
MESSENGERS AT THE CUSTOM HOUSE.

Mr. ASTELL asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer
whether there was any sufficient cause why the messengers
at her Majesty's Custom-house receive a lower salary than
the messengers at Somerset-house and other public offices
where similar duties are performed ; and whether their
case cannot be taken into consideration, with a view to
a re-classification of the same by an additional grant for the
purpose of £275 per annum.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he I
was not aware of any reason for the differences alluded to,
but he was acquainted with the fact. that there ere a
number of persons competent to discharge I
dthe-
duties required by these officials, who woul 1 iin-.
,
dertake them for the same remuneration. Ile mild
make inquiries at the Inland Revenue Office relative 3 the
salaries paid to the messengers at. Somerset-house rd if
he found that their duties were not-of a characle that
entitled them to a larger salary than the other messengers
he would take steps for its being lowered in futurd. (A:
laugh )

THE DUTY ON WINES.
Mr. B. WOODD asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer
whether, in the event of a further reduction in the duty on
wines taking place in April, 1861, the drawback will be
allow el on Portuguese and French red wines in stock at that
date, pursuant to the terms of the Excise orders of July 11,
1843, and July 20, 18i2, and the Excise letter of July 24,
1843 ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he had
not had an opportunity, when he made his financial state-
ment the other evening, of making so full an explanation
with reference to the subject, as ho would have desired. It
would not be desirable to make any statement on the pre-
sent occasion, but he would do, so in committee on the
Customs Acts. The Government did not propose that
there should be any drawback to the extent of the
difference between the present duty and the duty of 3s.
With regard to the Excise letter of 1813, it had been spe-
cially revoked eight years ago.
SILK GOODS IMPORTED INTO FRANCE.
Sir J. 'PAXTON asked the Chancellor of the ExcheqUer
if it was proposed by the new treaty to give the f'rench
Government the power of increasing the existing duties on
English silk goods imported into France, from their pre-
sent rate of 30 per cent. ad valorem?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, with
reference to the class of goods in question, as well as other
classes of goods, for which there was no provision made
' in the commercial treaty between the two countries
although there was no special engagement in reference to
such articles of commerce, it was understood that the French
Government would not raise the rate of duty OR such arti-
cles above the rate specified by the hon. member.
FOREIGN WINE AND SPIRITS.
' Major KNOX asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer d
liwhether, under the proposed change, foreign wines an
spirits would be allowed to be landed in inland towns ; and,
if so, whether the duties will then bo collected by the

Excise?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER searindmthenatt
it was not the intention of her Majesty's,
to eilublish a system of inland bonchni, in every
inland town, for it would not be practicable to do so.
KEEPERS OF EATING HOUSES, &c.
Mr. WYLD asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer
whether,
in the event of the keepers of eating houses and
refreshment room.; receiving licenses for the sale of wine
and beer in retail, any measure introduced for that purpose
would render them liable to have soldiers billeted upon
them' as licensed victuallers now are.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he
would prefer laying before the house all the
regulations which the Government proposed in reference
to licensing hereafter, to be adopted. He would state,
however, that it was not the intention of the Government to
interfere with the present licensing for the saleof beer with
which the interests of the licensed victuallers' trade were
complicated. At present, and until the whole question of
1 licensing was entered into, it was intended to confine the
license to the sale of wine.
SAVOY AND NICE.
In reply to Mr. KINOLAICE,
Lord J. RUSSELL stated that the papers completing
the guarantee treaties, which had Inenmoved for on Thurs-
day last, required for the purpose of the discussion respect-
ing Savoy and Nice, would be found hi the 3d volume of
the State Papers.
PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.
- • •

Sir J. TRELAWNY nominated the select committee on
Public Institutions :—Sir J. Trelawny, Mr. E. Yorke, Mr.
W. Cooper, Mr. Roupell, Mr. J. Tollemache, Mr. Gregsou,
Mr. Sclater-Booth, Mr. Kinnaird, Sir Brooke Bridges, Sir
It. Peel, Mr. Du Pre, Mr. Hanbury, Lord It. Montagu, Mr.
Slaney, and Mr. Cave : power to send for persons, papers,
and records—five to be the quorum—Agreed to.
CORRUPT PRACTICES PREVENTION ACT (1854).
Mr. T. DUNCONIBE moved that the select committee
en this act consist of 16 members, and that Mr. Berkeley
be added to the committee.
Some discussion took place, and when the question was
put to the house, the " nee.'" largely preponderated over
the " ayes."
Mr. BUNCOMBE then withdrew his motion.
CUSTOMS ACT—THE ADJOURNED DEBATE.
Mr. HUBBARD then rose to move the adjourned de-
bate on Mr. Du Cane's motion on revenue and expenditure.
He thought the commercial policy of this country should
always stand in one or two categories—first, that the ehange
proposed for adoption should either be plainly obvious as
good for onr own interest, or if there was a treaty, that the
concessions we made should find a counterpart and equiva-
lent in the engagements and concessions of the other con-
tracting party. Now what were the features of the Fi
ix:
of
treaty';? On the part of England he found a
ft°l that r brandy.
about one-half on two essential articles—Wine an
other
"d
There was, besides, an entire abolition dutiesof_.
sod
e event of
uarrtl
articles of minor importance. He was not d
with those concessions in the abstract, noirs
our ke them out of the surplus revenue of
the cbeing
ount able to make them out of the surplus revenue of
the country, or being able to e lace the deficiency by the
creation of some tax that woulrdPbe as little onerous as the
taxes taken off. But he did not think any one could justify
those remissions on the ground of a surplusrevenue,and
no one could say that thosesutbbsatnituttbedesem w
taxesi.r werehichmowree
expedient or less objectionable
were to be relieved. He would first draw thoeattention of
he house to the substituted taxes, and then pass on to
the consideration of the treaty in reference to the equi-
valents The concessions on the part of England might
no doubt lead to a considerable increase of our trade with
France, so far, at least, as silks, wines, and brandies were
concerned ; but he found that the equivalent conces-
sion of France was a virtual prohibition, although the
duties would be specific. Those duties, in the first instance,
were 30 per cent., with a prospect of a reduction of 5 l for