The Sun.
London, England, 1858-06-23 00:00:00

for the abolition of church rates had passed the House
of Commons, and entreated their lordships to give their
ready and cordial sanction to the measure. The noble
earl added that it was only fair to say that the principles
of the petitioners were equally opposed to the payment
of tithes and any mode of supporting an established
church.

The question having been put that the petition do lie
on the table,
The Earl of CARLISLE said he understood from the
clerk that the petition was informal, inasmuch as it did
not contain the word "humble." He was convinced that
the petitionerti did not intend any disrespect to their
lordships; but, as the petition was informal, he would
withdraw it. The noble earl presented similar petitions
from congregations in Leeds, Otley, Halifax, Todmor-
den, Thirsk, and several other places. Also three peti-
tions from the synods of Dublin and Coleraine, praying
that no change may be made in the national system of
education in Ireland, and for an extension of the system
of middle education in that country.
The Bishop of OXFORD presented a " humble" peti-
tion—(a laugh)—fron. Exeter against the abolition of
church-rates, and similar petitions from Aylesbury,
Oxford, and many other places. Also petitions against
the Jews being allowed to legislate in a Christian nation;
and petitions praying their lordships not to pass any
law for special services which would allow one elergy•
man to officiate in a parish without the leave of the
clergyman of that parish.
The Bishop of LONDON presented petitions from
Barking and West Ham against the unconditional aboli-
tion of church-rates.

The Earl of CLANOARTY said the noble earl who
had presented petitions on the subject cf national educa-
tion in Ireland, and who had left the house, bad some-
what misrepresented the nature of those petitions. Only
one of the petitions related to national education. The
others were in favour of the formation of upper schools.
A. strong feeling prevailed in Ireland that great injustice
was done, not only to the Protestant population but to
the whole of the country, by the practical exclusion of
the poor population from access to the Scriptures in the
national schools. When the noble earl stated that these
petitions were in favour of national education, no doubt
the mistake arose from his not having properly ex-
amined them, but they ought to be entered on the
minutes in accardancs with their prayer.,
Lord TALBOT de MALAHIDE understood his
noble friend the Earl of Carlisle to have stated that one
cf the petitions was in favour of the present system of
national education, and the other in favour of the educa-
tion of the middle classes.
Their lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—YESTERDAY.
Tho SPEAKEa took the chair at twelve o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The Lords' amendments to the following bills were
considered and agreed to :—Luton Gas, Salisbury and
Yeovil Railway, Blyth Harbour and Dock, Chiswick
Improvement.
The following bills were read a third time and passed :
—Stockton and Darlington Railway (Durham Lines),
Stockton and Darlington, Wear Valley, So., Railway
Companies Amalgamation.
The following bills were read a second time :—Sun-
derland Dock, Westminster Palace Hotel Company
(Limited.)
FOUR COURTS (DUBLIN) BILL.
Lord NAAS moved that, in the CABO of the Four
Courts (Dublin) Extension Bill, the examiner of peti-
tions for private bills have leave to sit and proceed on
Thursday next.— Agreed to.
NEW WRIT.

On the motion of Sir W. HATTER, a new writ was
issued for Cornwall in the room of Michael Williams,
Esq., deceasei.
MEDICAL PRACTIONERS' BILL.

On the motion of Mr. WALPOLE, this bill was com-
mitted pro forma, for the purpose of introducing certain
amendments, and the bill was ordered to be recommitted
on Thursday week at twelve o'clock.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT BILL.

The house then went into committee on this bill.

Clauses 1 to 8 inclusive were agreed to.
On clause 9, which gives the power to determine
whether the act shou:d be adopted or not in town cone-
oils and improvement commissions,
Sir M. FARQUAHAR said he thought that this
power ought to be in the bands of the ratepayers, and
not in town councils. If such a provision as the one
laid down in the clause was agreed to, the bill, in his
opinion, would be a dead letter. He moved an amend
ment to effect his suggestion.

Mr. BAINES supported the clause. He thought
the town councillors, who were the ratepayers•selection,
were the proper parties to determine whether or not
they would adopt the provisions of the bill.
Mr. ADDERLEY said the clause provided that
two-thirds of the town council must consent to the adop-
tion of the act before it could be put in operation, and
then there was an ample power of appeal given to the
ratepayers against the decision of the town council.
After a short discussion, the amendment was nega-
tived without a division, and the clause was agreed to.
On clause 10, which proposed that the petitions of
the ratepayers and others against the decision of the
town council in favour of the act be addressed to one
of her Majesty's Secretaries of State,
Mr. COWPER proposed that the petition of those
opposed to the adoption of this act should be sent to the
committee of Privy CJuncil, or in other words, to the
President of the Board of Health. In tffact, such pe-
titions would go to the Howe Office, which was already
overburdened with business.

Mr. ADDERLEY said he felt disposed to adopt the
amendment of the right lion. gentleman merely for the
purpose of expaditing the pas,ing of_the bill, the male
object of which was to get rid of the, existing Board of
Health, and to leave local authorities to their own
action, under the direction of the Secretary of State.
But with this desire he felt he must adhere to the clause,
being desirous of keeping separate and distinct: the
medical and sanitary action from mere matters of police.
The latter, be contended, ought to be under the
direction of the Home-office, but the former under the
guidance of the Privy Council.
Mr. PALK thought the best way to expedite the bill
was to refer it to a select committee. (ob, oh.)
Mr. WESTdEAD said his constituents had a great
objection to approach the Privy Cornell, but such was
not the case with respect to the Secretary of State for
the Home Department.
The amendment was negatived.
Sir G. PECHELL objected to the pluralty of voting
as laid down in this clause, and such being his opinion,
he should move an amendment to abolish such a pro-
ceeding, unless the hon. gentleman altered the bill to
meet laisi views.

Mr. ADDERLY said the gallant admiral objected to
give the owner and bona fide occupier a vote, but
he diffsred in opinion with him, and he felt it his duty
to stand firm to the provisions of the clause.
The clauAe was agreed to, as were the other clauses
up to 28, with a few verbal amendments.

Oa Clause 29,
Sir A. ELTON moved the insertion of words direct•
ing that in this act nothing should be held to affect the
rights of landowners to make private roads on their own
property.
The amendment was negatived, and the clause
agreed to.
Clause 30 was under discussion at four o'clock, at
which hour the sitting was suspended.
The House resumed at six o'clock

MAIL COMMUNICA.TION WITH AUSTRALIA,
Mr. H. BERKELEY asked the Secretary of State
for the Colonies whether any representations had been
recently received from the Legislatures of New South
Wales or Victoria with reference to the irregularities in
the performance of the steam postal service between this
country and Australia, and whether the Legislature of
Victoria had not, by a formal resolution, recommended
that the existing cletract should be annulled.

Sir E. B. LYLTON replied that the Australian colo-
nies had made repeated complaints of the irregularities
in the performance of the service between this country
and Australia. In December, 1857, Sir W. Denison
sent forward a representation from the Legislature of
New South Walee, and subsequently a resolution of the
Chamber of Co amerce on the same subject. No repre-
sentation had been received from the Legislature of
Victoria, nor any recommendation that the existing
contract shall be annulled. So great agrievance, how-
ever, ha I not escaped the attention of the Colonial.
office. Teey had been in constant communication with
the Treasury, and he bail the satisfaction of stating the
existing contract would be immediately dissolved. He
was informed by the Treasury that tenders for the new
service woull be invited without delay. The terms
would be modified in such a manner as experience had
shown t ) be necessary, and every hope was entertained
that the service would now be placed in all respects
on a eatisfactery footing. To obviate any inconve
nience that might arise from the sudden termination of
the prevent contract, the Treasury would take imme-
diate steps to enter into a temporary arrangement with
the Royal Mail Steam Shipping Company for the per-
formance of the service during the interval which must
elapse before the new contract ceinmenced. Oa the 16th
of June he wrote to the Governor of the Australian colo-
nies informing him that the existing c tntract had been
dissolved, and that a temporary arrangement would be
entered into at once.
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