The Sun.
London, England, 1857-08-12 00:00:00

SUPPLY.

On the vote of 27,8101. iorPlnTilico Improvements,
Mr. WILLIAMS said it was time to put a stop to the
expense incurradin the purchase of houses around Buck-
ingham Palace. The house ha I alrea ly voted 70,0001. for
this purpose, and now they called for another large sum.
Sir B. HALL said his hon. friend could not have read
the paper which was laid on the table of the house, and
which gave an account of the proceedings connected with
this vote. Its object was to carry out the provisions of
an Act'bf Parliament which was passed in 1853.
Mr. WILLIAMS said that the expenditure of the pre-
sent year was most exorbitant. The civil service expen-
diture, which was 2,000,0001. under the Duke of Welling-
ton's administration, was now 7,465,0001.; and in the
present year there was an increase of 741,0001. over the
expenditure of last year. It was time to put a check to
this extravagance on the part of the Government.
After a few words from Sir H. VERNEY,
Lord J. MANNERS supported the vote.
Mr. W. WILLIAMS opposed it on the ground that it
was a vote nut for Pimlico Improvements, bat for improv-
ing the vicinity of Buckingham Palace.
Colonel KNOX supported the vote.
Mr. D. NICOLL objected to such a vote at a period
when so much money was required to re-conquer India,
and intimated that he should divide against it.
A call was made for a division, but none took place, and
the vote was agreed to.
On the vote of 80,0001. for the purchase of the site of the
proposed new public offices,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER observed
that that amount was necessary to carry out the object of
the 18th and 19th Victoria, under which the notices for
the purchase of the land for two new offices had already
been served.
In reply to Mr. HENLEY,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that
before anything definitive was done in the way of building,
the plans would be submitted to the house, and a further
sum of money asked for. All that was wanted now was
the means of acquiring the land.
Mr. W. WILLIAMS thought that an estimate should
be given of the contemplate) outlay after the ground had
been cleared.
Agreed to.
7,5001. was voted for the erection of new buildings in
connection with the Rgistry-office in Edinburgh.
THE MILITIA.

On the vote of 200,0001. for the expensa of embodying
the militia,
Sir J. TRELAWNY wished for explanation of the
delay which had occurred with regard to the settlement of
the accounts of the militia—a delay which had in many
instances caused great inconvenience. In the case of ono
regiment, the accounts for the quarter ending the 30th of
June, 1855, were outstanding at the beginnning of this
year. One consequence of such delay was that the pay-
masters had to pay an additional amount to the guarantee
societies. Another point requiring explanation was the
long period which had often elapsed between the issuing
of the warrants for the embodying of militia regiments and
their actual embodiment. In one case, the regiment hav-
ing been called out ou the 17th of Nevernber, 1851, it was
not embodied till the 18th January, 1855 ; the result being
that an expense of 2,000/. was incurred without any ser-
vice having been performed.
Sir J. RAMSDEN said the cause of the delay in making
up the accounts was that the work thrown.on the depart-
ment during the war was so enormous that though the
number of clerks was considerably increased, it was never-
theless quite impossible to keep pace with the amount of
work required. He thought the hon. b art. was mistaken
in supposing that any additional expense was thrown on
the paymasters by the delay. He believed the Guarantee
Society remained liable after the regiment had been dis-
embodied, without the payment being continued. As
regarded the money paid previous to actual service, it was
not possible for the Government to prevent that, because it
took place under an old act ; but in the bill which his noble
friend at the heal of the War Department had introduced
in another place, and which would soon be before that
house, there was a clause to the effect that the militia
should not bo entitled to any pay between the period of
issuing the warrant for embodiment and the period of
actual service.
Colonel KNOX knew many instances in which great in-
convenience had arisen from the want of promptitude with
regard to the accounts.
Mr. RIDLEY hoped the noble lord would take into his
serious consideration the best method of lodging the militia
after they were embodied.
Colonel NORTH wished to know whether any decision
had been came to by the Government with regard to the
memorial presented by the surgeons of the militia staff
complaining that their remuneration was very inadequate.
Sir J. RAMSDEN said that the subjects referred to in
the memorial had been fully investigated. With respect
to the surgeons' allowance in the militia it was not thought
advisable to increase it; but in all cases where medical
assistance was necessary, it was wished to give the militia
surgeon a preference over the civil practitioner. The sub-
ject had been referred to the Commander-in-Chief, bnt his
answer had not as yet been received. With respect to the
billeting sytem, it was the intention of the authorities to
dispense with it as much as possible, because they deemed
it a great bar to the efficient ;discipline of the soldier.
(Hear.)
Mr. ADAMS complained of the difference in the allow-
ance of line and militia surgeons for the examination of
recruits, the former getting Is. and the latter only half-a-
crown for each. He saw no reason why such a distinction
should be made.
Colonel GILPIN considered that the militia surgeons
had been liberally treated by the Government.
Sir J. RAMSDEN said that with regard to the case of
the militia surgeons, their position should be considered ;
on the whole, it was one now much coveted, for in addi-
tion to the actual allowances, it gave an introduction to
private practice, and the Government did not intend to
make any change.
The vote was then agreed to.
450,000/. for the disembodied militia.
Mr. WILLIAMS wished to know on what principle
this estimate was framed. In 1855 a vote was taken of
3,813,000/. for 136,000 militia ; it appeared from a subse-
quent return that only 62,400, were actually embodied,
yet the expenditure was 2,930,8841. If the whole number
had been raised the expenditure would have exceeded the
estimate by nearly two millions, and it showed that the
militia was a more expensive force than the standing
army.
Lord C. HAMILTON wished to know whether the hon.
gentleman had taken into account the number of men sup-
plied to the army by the militia, whose bounty was de-
frayed out of the militia estimate.
Mr. WILLIAMS said the total expenditure on that
head was only 161,0001.
Sir J. BOLLER wished to know whether the Govern-
ment would take into consideration the case of the rifle and
other volunteer corps raised daring the war? They got no
assistance from Government, not even a supply of ammu-
nition for practice, and if some help was not afforded theta
the colonels would find it difficult to keep them up. He
suggested that they should be allowed ammunition for
practice, and pee day when so engaged.
Sir J. RAMSDEN remarked that these corps were vo-
lunteer corps, and when they wore raised it was understood
that they should not cost anything to the public. Thera
was no intention of altering that arrangement.
1 he vote was then agreed to.
On the next vote, 32,000/. for the Ordnance survey in
Scotland,
Sir D. NORREYS inquired whether the noble lord had
agreed to the appointment of a commission, as recom-
mended by the Lords, and if so, on what teries, and whe-
ther the scale was to be uniform for the whole kingdom.
He also inquired whether there was any system in con-
templation for the registration of title and the transfer of
land, and recommended that if there was, it should be re-
ferred to the commission. He likwiso wished to know
whether if any change in the scale should be recommended
the house would have an opportunity of expressing an
opinion upon it ?
Lord PALMERSTON stated that the appointment of
the commission was not intended to override the decision
of the House of Commons. The commission would inquire
and report, but that report would by no means involve a
decision. There would be no change in the scale without
an opportunity being afforded to the house to consider the
matter. When the commission was issued the names of
the commissioners a dl a copy of the instructions on which
they would be required to act would be laid before the
house.

In reply to Mr. LOCKE,
Sir J. RAMSDEN said this estimate was merely to
conclude work already begun, not to commence the moving
of any fresh ground.
The vote was agreed to, and the announcement was re-
ceived with loud cheers, it being the last vote in the esti-
mates.
The report of the votes agreed to on the previous day
was then brought up and agreed to.
Parochial Schoolmasters (Scotland)' Bill was read a
second time and ordered to be committed.
Pimlico Improvements Bill was road a third time and
passed.
Police (Scotland) Bill was read a third time and passed.
REFORYIATORY SCHOOLS BILL.
The Lord's amendments to this bill were considered,
and some of them having been disagreed to, a committee
was appointed to confer with the Lords on the subject.
INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS BILL.
The Lords' amendments to this bill were considered and
agreed to.
PROBATES AND LETTBIL RS
E OF ADMINISTRATION
L.

The adjourned debate on the consideration of thie bill
was then resumed.
Mr. ROEBUCK said that if Leeds was entitled to ho
constituted a district, Sheffield was equally entitled to the
same privilege. In his opinion the West Riding ought
constitute only one district, and the court ought to be hell
at Wakefield, but as the West Riding was to be divided,
ho submitted that Sheffield ought to be made a separate'
district as well as Leed,.
Mr. 13EBCROFT said the registry at Leeds would be

most convenient -for a large and irnpevtent ahtdot, eLid
ought to be the registry fur the northern district of the
West Riding.
After some discussion, in the course of which Mr.
Vance and Lord Goderich supported the registry being at
:Leeds; a-A Sir Clia,rles Wood and Mr. Hadfield advocated
its being at Wakefield,
The amendment was negatived without a division.
Mr. CLAY then proposed to substitute Hull for York
as the place of registry for the East Riding ; but after a
short discussion the schedule was agreed to as it stood.
Mr. BERESFORD moved that the two divisions of the
• county of Essex be added to the schedule as one district
b for the purposes of registration under the bill, and that
the town of Chelmsford be the place of district registry.
The house divided--
Fur the motion
Against it

.... 9

55

Majority —l6
Mr. FIA.DFIELD (for Mr. DILLWYN) moved after
" counties of Cardigan, Carmarthen, and Pembroke," to
insert ".with the deaneries of East and West Gower, in
the county of Glamorgan ;" and after " counties
Glamorgan," to insert " with the exception of the
deaneries of East and West Gower."

Agreed to.
Sir J. EAST moved to insert "and Isle of Wight,'
after the word Southampton.
Agreed to.
The third roading of the bill was fix,,cl for this day.
CROWDED DWELLINGS PREVENTION BILL.

On the motion for the second rea ling,
Mr. AYRTON asked whether it wag decent to bring
forward at two o'clock a bill to put all the dwellings of the
poor under the control of the police ? The measure was
perfectly monstrous; and he moved that it be read a
second time that day three months.
Mr. COWPER said the hon. gentleman naisunderatood
the bill. Its object was merely to stop a flaw in the
Lodging House Act. The measure was badly worded, but
it Should be corrected in committee.

The bill was read a seconi time, on the understanding
that it should be committed this day, pro forma, in order
to introduce the proposed amendments.
CEIARITY TRUSTS CONTINUANCE BILL.

The bill was read a first time.
The house aljourned at 2) minutes to three o'clock.

BAIL WAY INTELLIGENCE.

----.4,-

EASTERN COUNTIES.

The directors of this company have declared a divi
dend of ss. per share on the consolidated stock for the
half-year ending the 30th of June last, carrying forward
a balance of 6,8791. to the credit of tho current
half-year.