The Sun.
London, England, 1857-07-17 00:00:00

THIRD READINGS.

On the motion of Lord REDESDALE, the followina:
bille were read a third time and passed :—Bristol, South
Wales and Southampton Union R tdway ; Newcastle-
under-Lyme and Leek Roads ; Langoort, Somerton,
Castle Cary Reads ; Lowestoft Water Gas and Market;
Keith and Dufitown Railway ; and Manchester Cor •
poration.
GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY (CAPITAL)
BILL.

On the motion that this bill be read albird

Lord ST. LEONARDS objected to the bill. The
noble lord entered at some length into the various objec-
tions he had to the bill, which was one to empower the
directors to legalise the fraudulent stock crated by
Redpath in the Great Northern Railway. The pre-
ference shareholders considered themselves most unjustly
treated by the provisions of the bill. The effect
of cutting off an entire half year's dividend from
the preference shareholders, many of whom
were females, whose dependence was upon
the dividends they received from the company, would Le
most distressing. He did not think that the
ordinary shareholder should be benefited at the ex-
pense of the preference shareholder, and the passing
of such a measure as the present would have
the effect of generally damaging railway property. The
noble and learned lord urged upon their lordships to
restore the bill to the state it was when it came from the
House of Commons, and concluded by moving an
amendment to that effect.

Lord WENSLEYDALE seconded the motion ; and,
in doing so, stated that he was himself a shareholder in
the company, but considered that he was not thereby
precluded from expressing his opinion on what he con-
ceived to be a flagrant wrong. (Hear.) He .vas of opi-
nion that the holders of preference shares were entitled
to annual dividends on their shares.

The Marquis of WESTMINSTER said the bill had
been amended by the promoters, and in its amended
form had received the unanimous sanction of a commit
~tee of the House of Commons. Out of 6,000 preference
shareholders, only 1,800 were opposed to the bill. The
preference shareholders would not suffer as much as the
ordinary shareholders. He believed that the remedy
provided by this bill was the one most consonant with
justice, and therefore he hoped their lordships would
pass the bill as it stood.
The Earl of STRADBROKE supported the bill. It
had been thoroughly investigated by a committee of
which he was a member,

Lord ST. LEONARDS said his object was to provide
for the legal right of the preferential shareholders here-
after.

• Lord REDESDALE also supported the bill as it
stood.
Lord STANLEY of ALDERLEY said the bill was
founded in justice, and there was no reason why they
should place the preference shareholders, as far as lia-
bility was concerned, on a different footing to the ordi-
nary shareholders.
The house then divided—
For the amendment 7
Against it 43
Majority
The bill was then read a third time and passed.
PRISONERS REMOVAL BILL.

The Marquis of SALISBURY, in movingthe second
reading of this bill, said it was intended to give the Se-
cretary of State the power of employing convict labour
on the public works.
Eari GRANVILLE did not object to the bill being
read a a cond time, but in the committee the Govern-
ment would state what their objections to it were, and
what modifications they would pr.,pose in it.
The Earl of CHICHESTER was understood to sup-
port the bill.
The bill was then read a second time.
REPRESENTATIVE PEERS (IRELAND) BILL.
This bill went through committee.
CROWDED DWELLINGS PREVENTION BILL-
The Earl of SHAFTESBURY moved the recommit-
ment of this bill. He said that the Lodging Houses Act
bad been of great benefit in the metropolis. The com-
missioner of police in his report stated that the condition
of these houses was much improved, and 40 medical men
bad corro!mrated that statement. In each of their dis-
tric's fever and other abominations that used to ex;st bad
abated. There still remained a number of houses and
rooms called tenements, that required to be brought under
the beneficial operations of that or a similar act, and it
was for that purpose he had introduced this measure.
As an instance of the state of these houses he quoted
an instance, which he said could be multiplied by
thousands. In one room in St. Giles's, which measured
about 14 feet square, 27 men, women, and children were
found lying together on the floor like beasts, with
scarcely anything to cover them but the rags they
had worn during the day. The bill created new du-
ties, but no new powers. If the bill passed be felt cer-
tain it would conduce to the removal of a mighty evil.
The bill was then recommitted.
JOINT-STOCK COMPANIES BILL.

The house went inTo committee on this bill.

- -
The LORD CHANCELLOR explained that it was
based on the Bankruptcy Arrangement Act, and that it
wai introduced to remedy the evils found to exist in pro-
ceeding against joint-stock companies, as exemplified in
the recent failures of the Tipperary and Royal British
Banks.

The bill then passed through committee.
REGISTRATION OF LONG LEASES (SCOT.

LAND) BILL.
This bill passed through committee.
TURNPIKE TRUSTS ABOLITION (IRELAND)

BILL.

On the motion of Lord STANLEY of ALDERLEY,
this bill was read a second time.
ORDNANCE SURVEY.

The Earl of DONCASTER moved an address to her
Majesty to appoint a royal commission to inquire into the
whole subject of the national survey, and the scale or
scales on which it should be made and published.
Lord PA.NMURE concurred in the motion, and dis-
sented from the statement that had been made in the
other house that the 25-inch survey was a job. The 6-
inch survey in Ireland had been found to be a failure for
the purposes for which it was commenced. The coat in
the difference of the two scales was a trifle in compari-on
with the national advantages to be derived from the 25-
inch scale. In consequence of the recent vote of the House
of Commons, the Government would only finish the pre-
sent parishes under survey on the 25-inch scale.
The motion was agreed to, and the house adjourned at
5 minutes to 8 o'clock.