The Sun.
London, England, 1867-02-18 00:00:00

IN PE RIAL PARLIA ffENT

HOUSE OF LORDS-THIS EVENING.

The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Woolsack
at 5 o'clock.

The following bills were read a second time : —Bodmin
Railway, Bouston-on-the-Water, Hityton and Rihy Gas,
Kilkenny Junction Railway (Abandonment of Kilpurcell
Branch), Wandsworth Bridge, Chester Paraffin Light
Company, Lampeter, Llandyssel, &c., Gas, Mitcham and
Wimbledon Gas, Newcastle-upon-Tyne High Level Hoist,
Paignton Water, Rathkeale and Newcastle Junction Rail-
way, Winestead Level Drainage, and Worcester and Bir
minghatn Canal. •
RENTS IN IRELAND.

Viscount LIFFORD introduced a bill respecting rents
Ireland, and relating to the landlords' and tenants rights
in Ireland. The bill was read a first time.
THE CASE OF MR. FRANCE.
Lord REDESDALE moved, with regard to Mr. France,
that as he had not given to him the explanation that he
had a right to expect, that he should be brought before
the bar of their house.
The Marquis of CLANRICARDE stated that, in the
present stage of the 'case, ho demurred to such a pro-
ceeding.
Lord REDESDALE said that he did not wish him to b.
brought up in custody, but to be summonel to the bar of
that house to give certain explanations of the statements
which he had made, and which he could not sustain.
The motion was then agreed to.
SUSPENSION OF THE HABEAS CORPUS IN
IRE LAND.
The Earl of ESSEX said that he would ask the noble
lord at the head of the Government, what course they in-
tended to pursue in regard to the suspension of the Habeas
Corpus Act in Ireland. It appeared obvious if the Habeas
Corpus was again to be put in force, that many misguided
persons would again flock to Ireland to create further dis-
turbance. lie earnestly hoped that in spite of the opinions of
Exeter Hall that a thorough example would be made of
those offenders who should be caught in the nct of re-
bellion.
Tke Earl of LEITRIM remarked that the people of
Ireland were excited by the fact of people coming over
into their country, and that he should ask on the same
ground the Government to suspend the Habeas Carpus
Act in Chester.

Tho Earl of DERBY said that as far as ho understood
the noble lord who had first spoken to say that he asked
not only the suspmsion of the Habeas Corpus, but that
the utmost rigour of the law might be inflict.] upon any
unfortunate rebel who might be captured. With regard
to the habeas Corpus Act it was not the intention of
her Majesty's Government to make any alteration.
With regard to the late attempt, which had been compa-
ratively insignificant, it had been completely put down. As
far as the ulifortnnato persons were oil'. creed, who might
have been engaged iu the disturbance, his nobla friend
Might rely upon it that the Government would carry out
the rigour of the law. As to the state of Ireland, he could
not decido what it was until he had consulted the Chief
Secretary, who had returned to England that morning.
THE RAILWAYS IN IRELAND.
Tho Marquis of CLANRICARDE thee asked when the
report of Royal, Commission relating to railways might
be expected, and whether her Majesty's Government had
yet had under ,consideration applications for the inter-
ference of Government in the concerns of Irish railways.
The Earl of DERBY could not say anything till the re-
port was produced.
After further discussion the subject dropped.
TRAFFIC REGULATIONS, (METROPOLIS) BILL.
Tho Earl of _BELMORE moved that the Marquis of
Westmeath, Earl of Airlie, and the Earl of Stanhope be
added to the Select Committee on- Traffic Pwgulation.
This was agreed to.
hOUSe then adjourned. •
_ .

HOUSE OF COhZDIONS.—THIS EvEmble
Tho SPEA.KER took the chair at four o'clock.
NEW MEMBERS.
Mr. Chatterton, the Solicitor-General for Ireland, and
Mr. E. R. Karslake took the oaths and their seats for
Dublin and Colchestsr.
ARMY ESTIMATES.
General PEEL laid on the table the army estimates.
They did not, however, contain anything respecting the
recommendations of the Royal Commission relative to re-
cruiting; that would be dealt with seinrately. The copies
of the estimates would, he hoped, leo in the hands of
members on Wednesday, and be would then state when
ho intended to proceed with them. It would, however, ba
at tho earliest opportunity.__ _

Y- ESTIMA.
Lord IL LENNOX laid on the tab TESIe the navy estimates.
1.1.11511 RAILWAYS.
Mr. W. 0. GORE asltc.l the Presideut of the Beard of
.Trade Mica the rwport (so far as rel..teil to Irish railways)
of the Royal Cuminissiouers to inquire into the state of
railways would be issued?
Sir S. NORTIICOTE stated that there was no special
report ou Irish railways, but the Goverumeut report would
be ready in a short thud.

JAMAICA.
Mr. BAXTER asked the Ueder-Sheriff of State for Um
Coloaies whether any despatch relative to the reduction of
the ecclesiastical establishment iii Jamaica bed been for-
warded to the Governor of Jamaica, and if so, whether he
was willing to lay the same before Parliament ; and
whether ho would lay before Parliament the circular re-
lative to such reduction addressed to the clergy by the
Bishop of Kingston ?
Mr. ADDERLEY said the Government was not in pos-
session of the documents required, and therefore he could
not give him the information required.
CATTLE PLAGUE.
Mr. EYKYN asked the Vice-President of the Com-
mittee of Council on Education whether any, and if so,
what measures had been adopted to prevent the importa-
don from Holland and Germany of the carcasses of animals
infected by the cattle plague.
Mr. CORRY said the greatest attention had been given
to the subject., and after mature consideration it had been
thought that no danger would result from the importations
referred to, therefore there would be no order of prohibi-
tion issued.

CORK HARBOUR.

Mr. MURPHY asked the First Lord of the Admiralty
what progress had been made with the works connected with
the Royal ducks in Cork Harbour, and their present position ;
what progress was proposed to be made within the present
year, and whether the supposed amount of convict labour
whether free
would be provided ; and, if not,
whether free labour would be substituted.
Sir .I.TAKINGTON said the progress of the works at
Cork Harbour were merely of a preliminary nature, but
a rrangemen is had boon made by which much grea:erprogress
would be made for the future. At first there were but 150
convicts, and a few skilled artisans engaged on the works
as leading men. There were now about SO skilled artisans
and 270 convicts. A vote would be taken in the estimates
for 20,000 instead of 15,000, to increase the strength of
the free labour engaged on the works.

NUISANCES (SCOTLAND).
Sir R. ANSTRUTHER asked the Secretary of State for
the Home Department whether any measure was being
prepared by the Lord Advocate for Scotland for the con-
solidation and application to Scotland of the various Sana-
tory and Nuisances Acts at present in operation.
Mr. WALPOLE said a bill was in preparation, and
would be introduced in about a fortnight.
MILITARY AT ELECTIONS.
The O'DONOGRUE, in the absence of Mr. Sergeant
Barry, asked the Secretary of State for Wu whether the
military authorities had instituted, or intend to institute
any inquiry, or had taken or intend to take any action,
with respect to the alleged conduct of the sixteen men
of the 12th Lancers who, on the polling day of the
late election for the county of Waterford, according to
the sworn testimony of the officer in command, broke
away from his ct,ntrol, and without orders charged
the people along the quay of Dungarvan, the result being
that two persons were killed—one of them a respectable
inhabitant of that town, having boon, whilst standing near
the door of his dwelling, stabbed by ono of the soldiers
with :t lance, as appears by the reported evidence and ver-
diet of the coroner's jury.
Gen. PEEL said he had received information from the
Commander-in-Chief in Ireland. He was of opinion that
the 12th Lancers conducted themselves very well, and the
casualties which had occurred amongst the populace was
altogether unavoidable.

PARK-LANE.
Sir HENRY WTNSTON BARRON asked the First
Commissioi er of Works if it was intended to widen Park-
lane from Stanhope-gate to Oxford-street.
Lord JOHN MANNERS said it was • the intention to
widen the thoroughfare at the point mentioned.
THE REFORM BILL.
Mr. SCLATER-BOOTH asked the Chancellor of the
Exchequer whether, if the house should agree to the 4th
proposed resolution on the subject of Reform, namely,
"that the occupation franch'se shall be based on the prin-
ciple of rating, " the carrying out of that resolution would, in
the view of the Government, be necessarily contingent on
the passing of the bill " for promoting uniformity of assess-
ment in England and Wales ;" and whether, if the house
should agree to the 13th resolution, praying her Majesty
to appoint a Boundary Commission, the passing of a Re-
form Bill need, on that account, be delayed beyond the
period of the present session of Parliament ?

The CEIA.STCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the
passing of the Reform Bill was not to depend on the pass-
ing of the two other measures. When the Reform Bit
passed ho hoped the house would not deny to devote its
time to the passing of the two other measures. (Laughter
and cheers.)

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
Mr. MILLER asked the Prosident of the Board of Trade
whether it was the fact that the standards of weights and
measures have been in use for 40 years without readjust-
ment; and whether such readjustment was intended?
Mr.CAVE said a measure for the readjustmontof weights
and measures would shortly be introdueod.

RAILWAY INTELLIGMB.

GREAT NORTHERN.

The report of the directors of this company states
that the receipts on capital account for the half-year
amounted to £666,171, including £150,627 received
on account of the ordinary stock (dividend deferred)
of 1865, £217,999 for calls on the permanent pre-
ference stock, and £87,425 on mortgage and on
debenture stock. Original stock to the amount of
1210,000 had also been issued in exchange for a
similar amount of West Riding and Grimsby
Company's stock, for the purchase of a moiety of
that undertaking. The expenditure of capital in-
cluded £415,130 on account of new lines not yet
completed. In reduction of this sum £201,771 had
been received from the Midland company for their
proportion of the amount expended on the Cheshire
and Liverpool lines and the Liverpool Station, leav-
ing the expenditure for the half year on unfinished
works £213,359. The branch from the Leeds and
Bradford line to the passenger station of the Lan-
cashire and Yorkshire Company at Bradford was
opened On the 7th of January, and the company had
now the joint use of a passenger station in the best
part of Bradford. The line from Lincoln to Hon-
ington would be ready for opening in March. The
revenue account for the half-year showed an in-
creased receipt of £44,120, of which £10,242 was
derived from coaching traffic, £17,277 from the
goods and cattle traffic, and £17,815 from the
mineral traffic. Owing to the unfavourable weather
which prevailed during the summer and autumn the
receipts usually derived from excursion and tourist
traffic were reduced, and commercial distrust, with
the accompanying stagnation in trade, affected the
traffic in high class goods. The expenditure was
£38,955 in excess of the corresponding six months
of 1865. Wages generally were higher, and ma-
terials had increased in price. The coal consumed in
the locomotive department had alone cost £5,600
more. The rolling stock had been well maintained,
33 engine boilers having been replaced, 441 wag-
gons rebuilt and materially improved in design and
capacity, as compared with 30 boilers and 308 wag-
gons in 1865. The use of steel tyres instead of iron
had also been further adopted, and 409,000 more
train miles had been run. Notwithstanding the
additional expense of labour and material, the line
and works had been efficiently maintained at only
a slightly increased cost. 'lhe renewal of the per-
manent way had been continuously carried on, 23
miles having been replaced with iron rails and chairs
of heavier descriptions, and five miles with steel.
The fixed and preference charges and interest were
£23,194 more than in 1865, and the stock entitled
to share in the general dividend was also greater by
the £210,000 representing the purchase of the West
Riding and Grimsby Railway. The gross traffic re-
ceipts for the past half-year amounted to £1,089,490
against £1,045,370 in the corresponding half of
1865, showing an increase of £44,020, and the gross
expenditure to £552,808, against £513,853, show-
ing an increase of £38,945. The excess of receipts
over expenditure amounted to £536,682, against
£531,517 ; and the net revenue, including sundry
receipts, to £558,811, against £552,037, showing
an increase of £6,774. The fixed and preference
charges amounted to £277,540, against £254,316 in
the same half of 1865; and the balance available
for ordinary dividend was £281,271, against
£297,691 in the corresponding period. The avail-
able balance would suffice to pay dividend for the
half year at the rate of 8 per cent. per annum on
the ordinary stock, giving for the half-year £4 per
cent. to the original stock, £3 per cent. to the B
Stock, and £5 per cent. to the A Stock, leaving a
balance of £735 for next account. For the year 1866
the dividend would be £6 10s. per cent. on the ori-
ginal stork, £6 per cent. on the B Stock, and £7
per cent. on the A Stock. The requirements of the
Railway Securities Act of last session with respect
to the borrowing powers of the company had
been duly complied with, showing that the com-
pany had created 4 per cent. irredeemable deben-
ture stock to the amount of £2,800,000, and that
terminable mortgages were current to the amount
of £1,300,000 only. The borrowing powers of the
company were thus placed on a substantial and sa-
tisfactory footing. The Additional Powers Bill
would require for new works £75,000 to be raised on
share capital. The joint bill of the Great Northern
and Midland for leasing short lines between King's
Lynn and Bourn would require £24,000 to be
raised on share capital. The bill jointly promoted
by the Great Northern and Sheffield companies for
abandoning the line from Keadby to Lincoln, if
sanctioned by Parliament, would obviate the expen-
diture of £400,000, and authorise each company to
raise £20,000 of share capital to complete the Wake-
field (Westgate) station. The bill promoted by
the Cheshire Lines Committee would require
£34,000 share capital to be raised by the Great
Northern Company. The capital account showed
that £17,417,670 had been expended.