The Sun.
London, England, 1866-02-28 00:00:00

DEVONPORT DOCKYARD.

Sir J. YAKINGTON gave notice that on going into
committee of supply on Thursday next he should call the
attention of the house to the preliminary investigation that
had taken place against the dockyard voters with respect
to the evidence that was to be given before the Devonport
Election Committee. Ho should, in conclusion, ask the
Government certain questions connected with the matter.
THE CUSTOMS' CLERKS.
In reply to an HON. MEMBEIt,

Mr. CIIILDERS said the attention of the Govern
went had been directed to the addresses that had
been presented to the Treasury. An inquiry had
been made, and it had been determined to issue
a new scale of salaries in place of that now in use, and
which would be found referred to in the estimates.
The number of classes would be reduced, and the
salaries re-arranged and augmented, by which means
promotion would be facilitated. The Government also
proposed to introduce into the service a large body of ser-
vants, to be called " writers," who would be quite a dis-
tinct body from those gentlemen now engaged as Govern-
ment clerks.

INDIA.

Mr. OTWAY begged to ask the hon. Secretary for

India whether the telegram from India which appeared in

the newspapers of the day mightbe looked upon al3 authen-
tic, and that the war in Bhootan might be considered
as brought to a termination.
Mr. STANSFELD said he had no reason to doubt the
authenticity of the telegram referred to. He had no posi-
tive information as yet on the matter.
RAILWAY TRAVELLING.

Mr. H. B. SHERIDAN moved for leave to introduce a
bill to compel railway companies to provide efficient
means of communication between the passengers and guard

and guard and engine driver in charge Tof passenger

trains. The system was to a great extent in operation in
France,and to a small extent on some of our principal rail-
ways ; but the object in introducing the bill was to make
the arrangement general in all railways in the country.
Mr. M. GIBSON said he had no objection to the intro-
duction of the bill, but he could not commit himself to ap-
prove of the measure until he had considered it in detail.
The bill was then brought in and read a first time.
COLONIAL GOVERNORS.

Mr. B. COCHRANE moved for and obtained leave to
bring in a bill to amend an act passed last session called
the Colonial Governors' Retiring Pensions Act.
METROPOLITAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

Mr. AYRTON rose to move the appointment of a select
committee to inquire into the local government and local
taxation of the metropolis.
Mr. TITE seconded the motion.
Lord R. MONTAGU remarked that a similar inquiry in-
stituted five years ago had turned out &failure, and he did
not anticipate any more satisfactory conclusion to the in-
quiry now proposed. An investigation of the questions of
direct and indirect taxation was enough of itself to over-
whelm any committee composed of ordinary men.
Mr. CRAWFORD supported the motion.
Sir G. GREY also assented to it on behalf of the Govern-
ment, considering that certain parts of the local manage-
ment of the metropolis, such as the conflicting jurisdictions
and other matters, formed sufficient ground for inquiry.
Mr. LIDDELL contended that, as a rule, metropolitan
improvements did not benefit the poorer classeEi, and that it
behoved the house, in considering this question, to bear in
mind that, whilst they sanctioned interference with the
dwellings of the poor, they ought to be careful how they
touched the pockets of the poor. There was scarcely a
more objectionable impost than the coal tax ; and he pro-
tested against the continuance of the mortgage of that tax
for any extended period_
The discussion was continued by Mr. Jr. Lewis, Lord
Elcho, Mr. Locke, Sir F. Goldsmid, and Lord J. Manners;
and ultimately the motion was agreed to.

Mr. CRAWFORD moved tte appointment of a select
committee to inquire into the practical working of the pre-
sent system of telegraphic and postal communications be-
tween this country and the East Indies. The hon. member
laid as ground for the proposed inquiry the very imperfect
and inefficient manner in which these services wore now
performed. His complaint of tbe telegraphic communica-
tion principally rested upon the fact that for the purpose
of transmitting a message from London to India not less
than seven or eight different administrationg wore em-
ployed on the route. The service in this country, and in
France and Germany, was all that could be desired, but in
Turkey it was in the hands of persons who were totally
ignorant of our language, and exhibited an amount of
insousiance and indifference which rendered all improve-
ment hopeless. Proposals had been made to the Turkish
Government to employ Englishmen in the service; but at
once the jealousy of France and Russia was excited, and
no improvement whatever took place. In like manner, it
was only just to say that any suggestions for improvement
which came from France were regarded with equal jealousy
by Russia and England. Great inconvenience and injury
to our commercial interests was obviously and too generally
the consequence. With regard to the postal service, at pre-
sent the Peninsular and Oriental Company had a mono-
poly, but that would expire in the course of time, and
when the Indian railway system was completed, and it
was now fast approaching completion, the whole of the
postal service with India would pass through Bombay.
The time was therefore near at hand when our communi-
cations with our Indian empire might and ought to be put
on a more efficient and satisfactory footing, and with that
object in view he proposed to institute aninquiry by means
of a committee.

Mr. lIORSFALL seconded the motion, although he
believed it would have
been preferable to limit the inquiry
to the subject of telegraphic communication, the complaints
of which related to the great irregularity in the delivery of
the telegrams and their great incorrectness when delivered.
To persons who had relatives or friends in India the ques-
tion was a most important social ono, and he was sure
that no ono could be more alive to its political bearings
than her Majesty's Government. He hoped if a commit-
tee were granted that practical men would bo placed upon
it, and that inquiry would result in the establishment if
not of a perfect at least of an effective communication by
telegraph.
Sir C. BRIGHT said that but for the defective state of
the Turkish line of telegraph messages might be des-
patched to India in three or four hours. Indeed, that lino
was so wretchedly constructed, so badly worked, and its
staff so utterly unfitted for the performance of the duty
entrusted to them, that, until improved, it would be in vain
to expect that telegraphic coMmunication would ever be
extended to China and Australia.

Mr. MOFFAT supported the motion, and approved of
including the subject of postal' communication in the in-
quiries of the committee.
Mr. CHILDERS said the Government did not object to
inquiry. He admitted that the present state of things was
not satisfactory, and if the committee entered upon the
investigation with the understanding that the object was
simply and solely the consideration 0; the general question
and the adoption of practical improvement, be thought it
would be a judicious measure, and he hoped the ;2,017
would prove successful.
After a few words from the CHANCELLOR of the Ex-
CHEQUER and Mr. AYRTON, the motion was agreed to.
Mr. EWART obtained leave to bring in a bill to amend
the Free Public Libraries Act.
The National Debt Reduction Bill, and the Savings'
Banks and Post-office Savings Bill, were read a third time
and passed. The Cattle Diseases (Ireland) Bill was passed
through committee, and the houso adjourned at nine
o'clock.

The Mauritius Land Credit and Agency Company
(Limited) have issued the warrants for the interim
dividend of 10 per cent. per annum, declared ou the
20th inst, and that the same is now payable at the
Union Bank of London.

CHECK FOR A PENNY.—The Treasury Depart-
ment, in settling a balance of 2c. due to Erastus Foote, sent
a draught to him worded and numbered as follow/ss—
" Draught 2,950 on Treasury warrant. Treasury of the
United States. No. 1,951, Washington, Jan. 8, 18G6. At
sight pay to Erastus Foote, collector and disbursing_agent,
or order, two cents. F. E. Spinner, Treasurer of United
States. Recorded Jan. 8, 1866. S. B. Colby, Registrar of
the Treasury. Assistant Treasurer U.S., Boston, Mass."
On this important document there weir seven signatures,
and all for two cents. The gentleman who owned the
draught was offered S 1 for it, but said he would not sell it
for ss.—Boston Traveller.
A GRATEFUL DONATION.—The National Life-
boat Institution received yesterday, from Hamburgb, £5
from "Ono Saved with God's help by a British 1-Jileboat
I from a Wrecked Steamer."