The Sun.
London, England, 1867-02-22 00:00:00

THE SUGAR DUTIES.

Mr. CRUM EWING asked the Secretary to the Trea-
sury if he would state at what date the now regulations as
to the amount of drawback ou sugar, to be allowed by
Franco, Holland, and Belgium respectively, as provided
for by the recent Convention, were to come into opera-
tion.

Mr. HUNT said as soon as the resolutions were passed
by the house the three Powers interested were at once
made aware of the fact, and requested to fix a date for the
reduced duties to come into operation. Onlyß.3lgium had
yet replied fixing the Ist of March, and in the event of the
o her two Powers not signifying their intention before
the day fixed in the English bill, a short act would bo
introduced, as it was most desirable that the action of all
the Governments should be simultaneous.
BIRTH OF A PRINCESS—ADDRESS TO HER
MAJESTY.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said ho rose
to move an address to her Majesty on the happy event
which had taken place in the royal family—namely, the
birth of a Princess in the direct line. The royal family
lived so much in the eye and the heart of the country that
any event that added to their happiness was a subject of
joy to the whole of her Majesty's subjects, and he felt
that the house would with all sincerity offer its congra-
tulations to her Majesty, and therefore he moved an a idress
of congratulation to her Majesty ow the Princess
of Wales having happily given birth to a princess. (Hear,
hear.)
Mr. GLADSTONE seconded the motion, and said that
the indisposition that her Royal Highness was suffering
under previous to the happy event was a subject of deep
regret. That Providence would, in addition to blessings
already enjoyed, grant her uninterrupted good health was
the desire of the whole country. (hear, hear.)

The motion was agreed te.
THE NEW COURTS OF JUSTICE.
Mr. BENTINuK called the attention of the House to
arrangements that were being made with respect to the
erection of the new courts of justice. He thought the best
mode to b 3 adopted in the selecting and carrying out the
work was most objectionable. He thought that a motion
of such magnitude should be in the hands of
persons responsible to Parliament. The manner in
which the designs had been prepared was very
far from satisfactory, and the cost that was attached to
some of them was enormous. He thought the
whole of the evil arose from the fact that
there was an irres2onsible body acting behind the
scenes, who pulled the wires without caring one straw for
the public, and where the funds were to come from was a
matter of the greatest indifference to them. He thought
the whole matter should be taken out of the hands
of the irresponsible body with which it now rested,
and placed under the control of a responsible
body amenable to Parliament. (Hear, hear.) The sum
oriinally spoken Of as required for the erection of thes",3
courtsg was £70,000, yet in some of the estimates at-
tached to the plans they amounted to two millions. The
sum at present disposable was £150,0 0, to which
Government proposed to add 210_0,000 by way of loan,
and if ono of these expensive plans was decided upon
he should like to know where the funds were to come from.
He moved the following resolution :—" That in the opinion
of this house it is expedient that all arrangements re-
specting tho building of the new courts of justice should
be effected under the sole responsibility of her Molest?,
Government." _ _

3tr. B. HOPE defended the architects from the charges
of extravagance.
Sir R. PALMER defended the constitution of the Com-
mission. They had taken pains to arrive at a satisfactory
result, and it appeared to him quite impossible to fix upon
a certain sum as the unalterable cost of buildings of such
an extent as the new courts of justice. There however,
was one thing that was quite open to be pursued, and that
was that the commission could reject the whole of the do-
sigus sent in.

Mr. CARNEGIE and Mr. DILWYN supported the motion.
Mr. BO WPER said when the sum of .£750,000 was voted
as sufficient, the buildings then required were not of so
extensive a character as had been found requisite. If the
accommodation was required to be enlarged, the expense
of course must, as a natural consequence, increase.
After a short discusssion,
Mr. BENTINCK withdrew his motion.
• [LEFT SITTING.]

HOUSE OF LORDS-LAST EVENING.
BOROUGH QUALIFICATIONS.
Lord STRATHEDEN moved a resolution to the effect
that it is not desirable that all boroughs should return
members by the same qualification, and explained that his