The Sun.
London, England, 1866-02-16 00:00:00

LIFEBOATS, &c.

The Earl of MALMESBURY called the attention of
Government to the deficiency of lifeboats and other means
of saving life on the coasts of Great Britain and Ireland,
and moved for a return of the number of lifeboats and rocket
apparatus now appointed, with the names of the places at
which they exist. The noble lord referred in terms of the
highest eulogium to the services rendered by the National
Association, but he contended that a more extended sys-
tem and under the control of the Government should be
adopted. He adverted in detail to the different
parts of • the coasts which were unsupplied with
the means of preserving life in cases of
great disasters at sea. He complained that
the Coastguard were not so efficient as they might have
been in rescuing persons in cases of shipwreck or distress.
He cited one case in illustration of this statement.
The Duke of SOMERSET said that the National Life-
boat Institution was one of the noblest in the United
Kingdom, and he thought much injury would be done by
the Government interfering with that institution. He vin-
dicated the conduct of th• Coastguard who had boen mainly
instrumental during the last two years in saving a largo
amount of property and life on the coast. The Board of
Trade did render pecuniary assistance to the National
Lifeboat Institution in certain cases. He adverted to the
course pursued by the Emperor of the French, who refused
to transfer from private control the lifeboats in France to
the French Admiralty. With regard to the rocket apparatus
there were 250 stations on the coast under the control of
the coastguard, which had been of great service.
After a few words from the Duke of SOMERSET,

Lord STANLEY of ALDERLEY deprecated the in-
terference of Government with the National Lifeboat
Association.

The subject then dropped.
• (LEFT SITTING.]

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—(Tms EVENING.)
The SPEAKER took the chair at the usual hour.
NAVY ESTIMATES.

Lord C. PAGET laid on the table the navy estimates,
and also tho estimates for Greenwich Hospital.
CIVIL SERVICE ESTIMATES.
Mr. CHILDERS laid on the table civil service estimates
connected with the navy.
FIRE INSURANCE.

Mr. SHERIDAN gave notice that on an early day he
should submit a resolution to the house to the effect that
it was desirable to further reduce the fire insurance duty.

COLONIAL GOVERNMENT,

Mr. B. COCHRANE gave notice that on an early day he
should bring in a bill with respect to the Colonial Govern-
ments.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

Mr. AYRTON gave notice of his intention to move the
appointment of a committee to consider the subject of
local government and local taxation in the metropolis.
UNION CHARGEABILITY (SCOTLAND).

_ .
Mr. E. CRAUFURD asked the Lord Advocate whether
he was prepared to extend to Scotland the beneficial prin-
ciples of the Union Chargeability Act passed last
session for England, by introducing a measure to charge
the relief of the poor in each county in Scotland on a com-
mon fund to be raised over the whole county ?

The LORD-ADVOCATE said he had no such intention.

PLAIN CLOTHES POLICEMEN.

Lord H. LENNOX asked the Secretary of State for
the Home Department whether his attention had
been called to the employment of police constables
in plain clothes, in the suburban districts of the
Metropolis, and to the serious results which
have already occurred, and are likely to occur, in
consequence ; and especially to the recent case at Syden-
ham, when Police-constable Maddock was wounded on
the highway by a man named Joseph Ferguson, now con-
fined in Maidstone Gaol, but who at the time of the
assault believed that he was only defending himself and
his property against the attacks of a robber.
Sir G. GREY said he did not know anything of the par-
ticular case referred to. In 1862, in consequence of the
frequency of garotte robberies, it had been found neces-
sary to have police-constables in plain clothe; as the men
in uniform were watched, and it was whilst they were
away that many of these robberies were committed. It
was only by employing officers in plain clothes that they
could keep down robberies in the highways.