The Sun.
London, England, 1866-04-24 00:00:00

THE BISHOPRIC OF NELSON.

In reply to a question from Mr. SELWYN,
Mr. CARDWELL said it was quite true that represen-
tations had been made to the Government, in consequence
of their not giving their assent to the consecration of the
Bishop of Nelson. The refusal had arisen in
consequence of thol law proceedings which had taken
place in the Privy Council with respect to
Natal. The Government were of opinion that
before any action was taken by the Crown a bill
ought to be introduced, when the whole subject could be
considered by Parliament. That was the solo reason for
the refusal of the Government. With respect to Prince
Rupert's Land, the bishop had been appointed, and was
awaiting consecration previous to the delivery of the
judgment of the Privy Council.
COOLIES FOR THE EAST INDIES.
Mr. B. COCHRANE asked the Under Secretary for
Foreign Affairs whether ho could inform the house if the
French Government did not intend to press for a renewal
of the treaty for the immigration of coolies from the East
Indies ?
Mr. LAYARD said at that moment he could not give
the hon. gentleman the information he required.
NEW ZEALAND. _ _ _

Mr. ADDERLEY asked the Secretary for the Colonies
what reply the Government had given to the addresses from
New Zealand for the separation of the two islands under
distinct Governments ?
Mr. CARDWELL said the Government had intimated
that they were not prepared to sanction such a proceeding.
THE FENIANS.

Lord DUNKELLIN asked the Secretary of State for
the Colonies whether her Majesty's Government had re-
ceived any intelligence of an attack made or threatened by
the Fenians on any of our North American colonies ; and
if ho would communicate the purport. of it to the house?
Mr. CARDWELL said that ho had no account of the
attack of the Fenians on our North American colonies.
There had been threatenings, however, for some time past,
but that had given rise to a manifestation of loyal feeling
on the part of her Majesty's subjects there, and the most
active steps had been taken to meet, both by sea and land,
any such threatened attack.
WESTMINSTER BOULEVARDS.
Mr. B. COCHRANE said on Tuesday next he should
move for a committee to inquire and report whether proper
provision was made for the poor in the proposed construc-
tion of the Westminster Boulevards.
RATES ON GOVERNMENT PROPERTY..
Mr. Alderman SALOMONS called attention to the
ex-
emption from local rates now claimed for houses, s,
lands,
and buildings in the occupation of themoved Governmentmovthat, in the
Depart-
ments throughout the country ; and _
opinion of this house, her Majesty',souGdomvg to Parliamenternment should
mn
consider the expediency of reco
and occupied for public
that all lands and buildings
usedlocal:rates in the same man-
ner as other property, and pay rates accordingly. The
hon. gentleman took the opportunity of statinghow pecu-

liarly unjust it was to the ratepayers of different parts
of the metropolis. In Chelsea the Government buildings
occupied 72 acres, which was about 1-10th 0r the whole
parish, the amount of the taxation for which was £55,000,
to which the Government only contributed £515. Green-
wich also suffered very severely from the same cause, and
he did not see why post-offices and savings banks should
not pay their quota to poor rates like any ether
buildings.
Mr. TITE seconded the motion, because he knew how
grievous the burden of the poor rates were in Chelsea.
In that part of the metropolis the poor rate amounted to
one-fourth of the rack rent paid by every small shopkeeper
in Chelsea.

Mr. W. MARTIN supported the motion.
$lllMr. CHILDERS hoped the house would hesitate before
they agreed to the motion of his hon. friend, because it not
only proposed to bring all existing Government property
under local rating, but it proposed also to deal with imagi-
nary property. It appeared to him that the motion went
to the extent of saying that because a large area
of building land was held by the Government, butwas not
not built upon those imaginary buildings should pay rates.
If Government were called on to pay on this basis, there
was no knowing to what extent the general taxpayer
might be called upon to pay local rates. At the present
time the Government paid rates on a great deal
of public property wfiere a beneficial occupation
was proved. He, therefore, called upon the house
not to adopt the principle laid down in the resolution, be-
cause it would lead to changes of which the hon. member
who brought forward the motion did not himself see the
end.

Mr. Forrand, Mr. Denman, and Major Dickson sup-
ported the motion.
Dr. BRADY opposed the motion.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the
motion of the hon. member was most extensive in its ap-
plication, and he thought it would be inadvisable at the
present moment to force it to a division. He would freely
admit that it was a subject which demanded full inquiry.
The motion was ultimately withdrawn.
[LEFT SITTING.I

LONDON GAZETTETLT his Evening.

ADMIRALTY, AsfnllL 17.
Commander Thomas Henry yrogistiohaa been promoted
to be Retired Captain, under the pvi
in Council of Ist August, 1860, 9th ;1 the Orders
64,and 24th
March, 1866, with senority fro
APRIL
2mo the 13th inst.
John Sloan, Esq., M.D., has this day been promoted to
the rank of Deputy Inspector-General of Hospitals and
Fleets on the Retired List.
APRIL 21.
The undermentioned Sub-Lieutenants and Acting sub_
Lieutenants have been promoted to rank of Lieutenant
and Acting Lieutenant respectively in her Majesty's
fleet :—Francis Romilly, Edward Albert Liardet, Frede-
rick Augustus Gardner (Acting), Arthur Stephens
Phillpotts, Frederick Ralph Carr, Fred. Echlin (Acting),
Charles Alfred Woodroffe, Charles Saville Broome,
St. Vincent Nepean (Acting), Algernon Heber Percy,
George Harvey Rainier (Acting), Harry Laurence Hender-
son Veitch (Acting), Gerard Henry Ultred Noel, Robert
Henry Paul, Astley Robert Cooper, Edward Seymour
Evans, Philip Henry Worgan, Edward Alverne Bolitho,
Honourable Archibald Robert Hewitt, John J. Frushard
Bell, John James Ava Campbell (Acting).
The Rev. George Haynes W. MacDowall has been this
day appointed a Chaplain in her Majesty's Fleet.
APRIL 23.
Herbert Frank Roe, E:l., to be Paymaster in her Ma-
jesty's Fleet, with seniority of 13th March, 1866.

Dreadful Explosion at Southampton.

_s- __

(REUTER'S TELEGRAM.)
SOUTHAMPTON, APRIL 24.

The London and South Western Co.'s steamer
Havre is on fire. Every effort is being made to
save her.

She arrived this morning from Havre with a
cargo of French goods, chiefly for transhipment to
the steamer sailing to-morrow for New York.
The fire was caused by the explosion of a case of
combustibles in the hold. Two of the crew and the
stewardess are said to be seriously injured.
One man has just been got from the hold of the
vessel dead.