The Sun.
London, England, 1859-03-15 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS-(YESTERDAY)•

The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at five o'clock. -
CHURCH-RATES RELIEF BILL.
A NOBLE LORD gave notice 'that, on the second read-
ing of the Church--Rate Relief Bill, he should move that it
be read a second time that day six months.
THIRD READING.
On the motion of Lord REDESDALE the Norwich
New Streets Bill, and the Victoria London Docks Bill,
were read a third time and passed.
The Earl of RIPON presented a petition from Boston,
praying that Dissenters might be enabled to act as trustees
of endowed schools.
ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHS.
Lord STANLEY of ALDERLEY moved for copies of
any contracts which may have been made by her Majesty's
Government with any individual or company for the con••
atruction of electric telegraphs. As he understood there was
no opposition to the returns he should not trouble their
lordships with any lengthened remarks, but he thought it.
was desirable in any future bills that a clause should be in-
troduced empowering her Majesty's Government to have
the exclusive right, in time of war, or any other public
emergency, as long as was required. He thought in any
arrangements which the Govtrnment made with telegraph
companies, no subsidy should be guaranteed absolutely, and
that no guarantee should be given until the line was com-
pleted, and the subsidy should only continue so long as the
line was in working order.
The Earl of DONOUGHMORE said the question of elec-
tric telegraphs was under the consideration of the Govern-
ment, with a view of ascertaining the best mode of getting
them erected wherever they might be required, with the
least public inconvenience.
Lord REDESDALE thought that guarantees were alto-
gether objectionable and unnecessary. The effect of any
public company succeeding in obtaining a Government
guarantee would be that a monopoly would unduly be
treated.
ECCLESIASTICAL COURTS (IRELAND) BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
THE VICE-CHANCERY COURTS.

The LORD CHANCELLOR rose to ask leave
to introduce a bill for the purpose of extending the
power of the Lord Chancellor, and of providing better
accommodation to the Vice-Chancellors. He believed
a scheme was in preparation for erecting new
courts on the site of a plot of buildings extending from
Carey-street to the Strand, and that it was proposed to take
£BOO,OOO from the suitors' fee fund for defraying the ex-
penses. He did not object to such a scheme, but he felt, as
Lord Chancellor and guardian of the suitors' fee fund, that
he must protect it against invasion. He therefore pro-
tested against any proposition to apply that fund to any
other purposes than to those for which it was collected.
The bill was read a first time.
Their lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—(YESTERDAY.
the SPEAKER. took the chair at four o'clock.
NEW MEMBERS.
Lord LOVAINE took the oaths and his seat for North
Northumberland, and Mr. COLE for Enniskillen.
PETITIONS.
Several petitions were presented, praying for the rejec-
tion of the Highways Bill ; for an mvestiption into the
subject of the Newfoundland fisheries question; for the re-
jection of the Government Reform Bill ; for the adoption of
vote by ballot for members of Parliament; for the aboli-
tion of church rates, &c., &c.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The Shepton Mallet Water Bill was read a third time
and passed.

Tile following bills were considered and ordered for third
reading :—Falmouth Docks and Harbour, Great Western
and Brentford Railway, Kirkwall Harbour, Much Wen-
lock and Severn Junction Railway, Norwich (City) Water,
Sunderland and South Shields Water, Wimbledon and
Dorking and Epsom and Leatherhead Railways.
The Kingston-upon-Thames Gas Bill was read a second
time and ordered to be committed.
The report of the committee on the Red Sea and India
Telegraph Company Bill was considered and agreed to.
On the motion of Mr. C. FORSTER, the following was
agreed to :—That the order, that the Sittingbourne and
Sheerness Railway (Working Arrangements, &c.) Bill be
committed, be read and discharged.