The Sun.
London, England, 1867-05-03 00:00:00

PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The following bills were read a third time and passed :
—Birkenhead Improvement Commissioners, Devon and
Somerset Railway (Deviation), Great Northern Railway,
Halifax and Ovendeu Junction Railway, Holborn Valley
Improvement.
THE MEETING IN HYDE PARK.

Mr. HEIGHT gave notice that to-morrow on the motion
for going into committee of supply he should call the
attention of the house to the proposed meeting in Hyde
Park on Monday next.

Sir C. RUSSELL gave notice that he should ask the
Secretary of State for the Home Department whether
his attention had been called to the resolution passed
by the Reform League, held at the Sussex Hall last night,
after the notification of the Government prohibiting the
meeting, had been received ; and whether the president
and vice-presidents of the Reform League would be held
responsible for a deliberate infraction of the law; also
whether he had received a list of the members of the
Reform League, in which the names of Mr. Hughes, Mr.
Potter, Mr. Taylor, and the O'Donoghue, members of Par-
liament, appeared as vice-presidents of the Reform League.
(Hear, hear.)
Mr. WALPOLE gave notice to-morrow to move for
leave to bring in a bill for more amply securing the royal
parks for the recreation and enjoyment of her Majesty's
subjects. (Hear, hear )
THE BANDA AND KIRWEE PRIZE MONEY.

In reply to Mr. S. DENMAN,
Sir S. NORTHCOTE said no part of the prize money
referred to had been distributed, the delay had taken place
in consequence of getting the names of the whole of the
officers entitled to participate in it. Special instructions
had been sent out to India on the subject, and he had no
doubt the distribution would take place very shortly.
(Hear, hear.)
THE STATUE OF CANNING.
Mr. GOLDSMID asked the First Commissioner of
Works what had become of the statue of Canning, which
used to stand opposite to Palace-yard.
Lord J. MANNERS said the statue had been removed,
in consequence of the increased traffic in the neighbour-
hood, and in order that a new carriage and footway might
be made between Victoria-street and the House of Parlia-
ment. The removal took place under the sanction of the
House of Commous. It was proposed to place the statue of
Canning at one eiyi of the new footway, and the Peel
statue, by Baron Marochetti, at the other. (Hear.) The
statue of Lord Palmerston would be placed in the vicinity
of the house, and he had no doubt the whole, when
finished, would be looked upon as a great public im-
provement. (Hear.)
THE REFORM BILL.
Mr. W. E. FORSTER asked the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer whether the proviso at the end of the 31th clause
of the Representation of the People Bill, viz.: " Provided
that the rates to be paid by such occupier in order to en-
title him tothe franchise, shall be rates calculated on the
full rateable value of the premises," had reference to the
third section of the Compound Householders Act(l4 and 15
Vic. c. 14), which enacts " That in cases where by any
composition with the landlord a less sum should be payable
than the full amount of rate which except for such com-
position would be due in respect of the s.tine premises, the
occupier claiming to be rated should not be bound to pay
or tender more than the amount then payable under such
composition." Whether the new compound house-
holder whose vote depended on the occupation of a house
rented under £lO would obtain the benefit of the above-
mentioned third section of the Compound Householders
Act; and whether it was the intention of the Government
to subject the compound householders under £lO to a dis-
advantage which does not apply to the compound house-
holders above £lO, by putting them in a different position
as regards getting on the register of voters.

Tho CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, with
respect to the fist inquiry, he had to say that the clause

referred to was not intended to have any reference to
the third section of the act referred to. He was aware
there was some ambig,nity in the wording of the clause in
the bill now under consideration of the house, and he
should be prepared at the proper time to make certain alte-
rations, but in order that there might be no ambiguity he

had to state that the clause in the bill had no reference to

11 and IL Vic. That explanation would render any reference
to the second inquiry unnecessary. With respect to the
third inquiry, the Government had no wish to attach to
the new franchises any of the obligations that attached to
those now in existence. There was no wish to placo the
voters by the bill of the Government under the 11th and
15th of Victoria, which he looked upon as a bad act, and
althou4h he was not prepared to move its repeal, he did
not wish to be a party to an extension of its provisions.
(Hear, hear.)