The Sun.
London, England, 1866-07-21 00:00:00

MEDICAL OFFICERS.

In reply to Colonel NORTH,
General PEEL said there was no objection to produce
the report of the committee relative to the medical officers
of the army and navy. With respect to the recommenda-
tion of the commissioners it was not only intended to adopt
those recommendations, but to go beyond them.
MILITARY STORE DEPARTMENT.
On the motion of Mr. OLIPHANT, returns of the
names of the officers of the Military Store Department
were ordered.

FLAT-HEADED STEEL SHOT.
Mr. OSBORNE asked the First Lord of the Admiralty
if the experiments commenced by the late Board in firing
at the Royal Sovereign would be completed as originally
contemplated, viz., by firing flat-headed steel shot or shell
from the Whitworth 7-inch gun, thereby ascertaining the
penetration as compared with that of the round-headed
shot fired from the 12-ton gun ?
Sir J. PAKINGTON said with respect to the two de-
scriptions of shot there was no question with respect to the
deeper penetration of the fiat-headed steel shot. It was
not, however, intended to recommend the forming of tur-
rets on board the Royal Sovereign.
CHURCH RATES. _ _ _

Mr. HENLEY asked the hon. member for South Lanca-
shire at what hour he intended to proceed into the Church
Rates Bill.

Mr. GL A.DSTONE said he should not go on with it
that evening if he did not get an opportunity before mid-
Light.

NAVAL GUNNERY.
Mr. B
a 5, 0
.OStBORNE gave notice of his intention on an
early
d calling the attention of the house to the pre-
sent system
of naval gunnery.
PUBLIC EXPENDITURE.
that on goin
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER gave notice
•
8 int° committee of supply he should make a
short statement showing the additional charge that had
been made on the exchequer since the statement of the
right hon. gentleman
the Government intended to_ itet,akand to state what course
on the subject.
IRISH RAILWAYS.
going
callin into
the
ocommittee of supply,
On the motion for
Mr. GREGORY rose toattention of the house
and her Majesty's Government to
the evidencee
of
be-
fore the Royal Commission on Railway aa!ad the
Irish railways. The hon. member en
into the various causes which had
prevented
the railways
entirelyshare-.
at some length
in Ireland from making adequate returns tote railwaYs
holders, and said the whole of the matter wouhih
altered in the event of the Government taking
the
man-
agement of railways in Ireland entirely into their hands.
The bon. member recommended that the whole of the
railways should be purchased and placed under the direc-
tion of ono tribunal, which should be composed of gentle..
men of the highest eminence, appointed for a term of not
less than five years ; that the fares should be revised
and lowered, that all unfinished lines should be
completed, and that such a desirable result
should bo consummated as soon as possible. He
hoped that her Majesty's Government would take the
subject in hand, and, by adopting such suggestions as he
had thrown out, they would earn for themselves the gra-
titude of every class of her Majesty's subjects in Ireland.
Mr. Eiii Said bad management had brought About the

present state of affairs in Ireland, and that if an efficient
system of railway management for Ireland was adopted by
the Government the best results would follow.

Mr. DUTTON hoped that next session the Govern-
ment would be prepared with sorae measure which would
tend to relieve the railways in Ireland from the difficulties
with which they were surrounded. What was wanted
was not the extension of any of the Irish railways,
but a full development of the traffic, which
was, if properly managed, of a• remunerative
nature. The circumstances that had brought about
the present state of railway affairs in Ireland was a loss of
credit. When that was re-established prosperity would re-
turn, and all the railways which were now in a very ques-
tionable situation would become amply remunerative.
Without State interference, in a very short time the rail-
way system in Ireland would come to a close.
Lord NAAS promised that the matter should have the
serious consideration of the Government.
31r. GLADSTONE remarked that if the Government, in
considering the report of the commissioners, should see
their way to deal with the subject in such a manner as to
confer benefit upon Ireland, any proposal with that end
should receive the fair and candid consideration of the
Opposition.