The Sun.
London, England, 1867-05-22 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF LORDS.—LAST EVENING.
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack at
five o'clock.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The following bills were read a third time and passed :
—Poole Roads, Orkney Roads, Eton Gas, Ross and Mon-
mouth Railway, Middle Level Drainage, Heywood Im-
provement, and Mold Gas and Water.
PURCHASE AND SALE OF SHARES BILL.
Lord REDESDALE said that he had no hesitation in
putting this bill before their lordships, for they must all
see the advisability of adopting such a measure. The ob-
jection to the bill was that it would be a restriction, but it
was entirely different if they looked into the matter fairly
He moved that the bill should be read a second time.
TENURE (IRELAND) BILL.
Lord CLANRIOARDE moved the second reading of
this bill, which was agreed to.

The Duke of BUCKINGHAM, in moving the second
reading of the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Bill, after
giving an elaborate history of the recent and former out-
breaks, stated that the legislation of last session, enabling
the Privy Council to issue orders to meet special cases, had
been productive of great advantage. The bill now. pro-
posed would continue existing powers, and in some
respects would extend them as experience had shown to
be necessary.

After a brief discussion, in the course of which a general
assent was given, upon an understanding that it would be
referred to a select committee, the bill was read a second
time.

The bill for abolishing the office of Vice-President of
the Board of Trade was read a second time.

The sitting was closed at half-past six o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMINIONS—LAsT EVENING.
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.
THE ROYAL ENGINEERS.

Sir B. L. GUINNESS asked the Secretary of State for
War if ho would furnish to the house a return of the names
of the civil officers of the Royal Engineers who have died
tdenyears; and, why
to them, as was the
oatplhlaoestrtteofficers of the Royal
theirco f
an
s widows
i dhg
ontwh se servicehwa
ddon
widows
not pensions
during
o f t th he e
e
Engineers, and whether the Government purposed to make
them such provision in future ?
Sir J. PAKINGTOINT said ho would willingly furnish
the names required. The reason pensions were not al-
lotted to widows of officers was that the officers were
under the Superannuation Act, and therefore they were
not entitled to public pensions.
THE POOR LAW BOARD.

In reply to Col. FRENCH,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCIIEQTJER said, in
making the appointment of President of the Poor Law
Board, he had been influenced solely by the consideration
of securing the services of the person most fitted to
fulfil the duties of the office. Although the appointment
had been held since its creation uniformly by members of
the House of Commons, there was nothing in the act cur-
tailing the privileges of the Premier in confining his Cabi-
net appointments to a particular House of Parliament. It
was quite true that Lord Devon had been appointed to
fill the office of President of the Poor-law Board, and he
felt that it was an appointment which Parliament would
approve, and in which the country at large would have
confidence.

Mr. BOUVERIE thought the appointment an excellent
one, and he was of opinion that if both sides of the Houses
of Parliament had been hunted round a better selection
could not have been made. Lord Devon's acquaintance
with the duties of the office were well known, and that
circumstance very greatly strengthened the appointment.