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

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 as authen-
tic, and that the war in Bhootan might be considered
as brought to a termination.

Mr. STANSFELD said ho had no reason to doubt tho
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 of 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. COCIIRANE 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. AYBTON rose to movo the appointment of a select
committee to inquire into the local government and local
taxation of the metropolis.
Mr. TITS seconded the motion.

Lord R. MONTAGU remarked that a similar inquiry in-
stituted five years ago had turned out a 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 pooror classes, and that it
behoved the house, in considering this question, to boar 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. H. Lewis, Lord
Elcho, Mr. Locke, Sir F. Goldsmid, and Lord J. Manners;
and ultimately the motion was agreed to.
Mr. CRAWFORD moved the 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 were now
performed. His complaint of the 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 administrations were 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
insortsiance and indifference which rendered all improve-
ment hopeless. Proposals had been made to the Turki h
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 Franco 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 amOre efficient and satisfactory footing, and with that
object in view he proposed to institute an inquiry by means
I of a committee.

Mr. HORSFALL 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 groat incorrectness when delivered.
To persons who had relatives or friends in India the ques-
tion was a most important social one, and he was sure
that no one could bo more alive to its political bearings
than her Majesty's Government. He hoped if a commit-
tee were granted that practical men would be placed upon
it, and that inquiry would result in the establishment if
not of a perfect at least of au 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 line
was so wretchedly constructed, so badly workod, 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 of the general question
and the adoption of practical improvement, he thought it
would be a judicious measure, and ho hoped the inquiry
would prove successful.
After a few words from the CHANCELLOR of the Ex-
CIIEQUER 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 house adjourned at nine
o'clock. •