The Sun.
London, England, 1860-04-24 00:00:00

IRELAND.

The O'D DNOGHUE asked the Chief Secretary for Ire-
land what day he intended to fix for the second reading of
the bill to amend the law relating to the tenure and im-
provement of land in Ireland ; also, whether he could name
an early day for the consideration of the other bills having
reference to the sa:ue sabjeet, and which were now before
the house ?
Mr. CARDWELL said he was extremely desirous to
bring forward the bill alluded to respecting the law of
tenure and improvement of laud in Ireland, as well as other
Irish bills, but no day was appointed by Government for
the second reading of the former bill. It would, however,
be brought forward without any unnecessary delay.
ECCLESIASTICAL COMMISSION BILL.
In reply to Lord J. MANNERS,
Sir G. C. LEWIS said that it was his intention to bring
in this bill during the present evening, provided the state
of business would allow him to do so before eleven o'clock.

ARTILLERY FOR CHINA.

Mr. PAPILLON asked the Secretary of State for War
what were the respective dates of the embarkation of the
two Armstrong batteries of Royal Artillery for China, of
their arrival at Alexandria, of their disembarkation there,
and of theirre -embarkation at Suez ; whether there was any
truth in the statement that the ammunition was seriously
damaged, if not entirely spoiled, owing to the defective
arrangements on beard of the steamer Himalaya;
and whether any steps had been taken in consequence to

ensure a sufficient supply of serviceable powder by the
time that the batteries can be required for action ?
Mr. S. HERBERT entered into an explanation to the
effect that with reference to the transmission of Royal Ar-
tillery to China, there had been a mistake in reference to
the message forwarded by the Government, which produced
some derangement in their plans. With regard to the
last part of the question, necessary steps had been adopted.
FORESHORES, &c.
Mr. A. SMITH moved for a select committee to inquire
into the rights of the Crown as connected with the fore-
shores, tidal rivers, estuaries, and bed of the sea round the
coasts of the united kingdom, and the manner in which the
Commissioners of Woods and Forests are dealing with the
same. He said that, on previous occasions, when he had
brought on this bill the house had been counted out, from
whichhe had inferred that the subject was not considered of
sufficient importance to command the attention of the
house, and he regretted that he had not the rhetorical abi-
lity to render the subject attractive. Notwithstanding
these circumstances, he felt that, having taken up this
question, and having received deputations from different
parts' of the country in reference to this subject, he
was bound to bring it again before the attention of the
house. He had presented a petition from a gentleman of
property and a magistrate, residing in South Wales, named
Reeves, and he would again draw attention to this docu-
ment. Mr. Reeves stated that there were fisheries is Car-
marthen which bordered on his estates, and that he had
been involved in serious litigation with the Commissioners
of the Woods and Forests with reference to certain claims
they had advanced of late years on behalf of the Crown,
with respect to these fisheries. He then proceeded to state
that great hardship, and, as he coasidered, injustice, had
been inflicted on the gentleman in question, and that this
case was by no means singular. It was most desirable that
this matter should be satisfactorily settled, and the rights of the
Crown clearly defined. At the present time there was no
certainty in reference to the rights which the Crown put
forward relative to its territorial possession as regarded this
description of property; and referring to an act, the 27th of
Elizabeth, he contended that the powers exercised by the
Commissioners of Woods and Forests were not legally con-
ferred. At all events, there could be no valid objection to the
appointment of the committee he proposed. He adverted
next to the Commissioners of the Woods and Forests having
disposed of several acres of land by virtue of the rights they
claimed in reference to these fisheries, to the detriment of
the public interest as well as individuals. He hoped that
the question would on this occasion meet with more atten-
tion than it had previously done, and he deprecated the
personal allusion made to him previously by the Attorney-
General as having an interest in these fisheries.
The motion having been seconded,
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that when the
house bad been counted out on former occasions
when this subject was brought forward, it was not
by the efforts of the Crown officers, who would have been
only too happy to have had the question settled, but by the
unaided agency of the hon. member himself. (Laughter.)
He thought the House should not be converted into an
arena for the discussion of a question that was brought before
a court of equity—viz., the case of Mr. Rees. He defended
the course pursued by the Commissioners of the Woods ant
Forests in regard to that gentleman, who wanted to act
without reference to the rights of the Crown. The ques-
tion at issue in regard to Mr. Rees was rela-
tive to high water and low water mark, and
tho Commissioners acted in perfect accordance with
the right with which they were entrusted, and which they
exercised for the benefit and not for the detriment of the
public. There was a very important constitutional prin-
ciple involved in the motion of the hon. member, and he
denied that the house had any jurisdiction or autho-
fity to inquire into the rights of the Crown, unless it
coold be proved that the commissioners had not exceeded
their inty. The fact was that they had acted very leniently
in enfot 'ling the claims of the Crown, as could be estab-
lished by Parliamentary documents extending over the
last 27 years. The right hon. and learned member quoted
from the papers in question, and was
(LEFT SPEAKING.)

LONDON GAZETTE -(THIS EVENING.)

BUCKINGHAM PA LACE, APRIL 23.

This day had audience of her Majesty :
The Commandeur Targioni, Envoy Extraordinary and
l'iinister Plenipotentiary from the King of the Kingdom
of the Two Sicilies, to deliver his letter of recall ;
To which audience he was introduced by the Right Hon.
Lord John Russell, her Majesty's Principal Secretary of
State for Foreign Affairs, and conducted by Lieutenant-
General the lion. Sir Edward Cust, K.O .11., her Majesty's
M aster of the Ceremonies.