The Sun.
London, England, 1861-02-18 00:00:00

CHURCH RATES.

Lord Colville, the Duke of Marlborough, and Lord
Egerton presented petitions against the abolition of church
rates.

INDIAN CADETSHIPS.

The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH inquired what mea-
sures had been taken for the purpose of carrying into effect
the proviso in the act of the last session, cap. 100, in favour
of the sons of persons who had served in India ?
The Earl of RIPON could assure the noble lord that the
Government had every intention to carry out the provisions
of the act. Certain changes were under the consideration
of the Government, which were not, however, finally de-
termined upon, but as soon as they were decided he should
communicate the result to their lordships. The Govern-
ment were fully sensible of the importance of the new
arrangements for the admission of officers into the army of
India. The utmost care would be taken to fulfil the provi-
sions of the act.
CONSTRUCTIVE NOTICE AMENDMENT BILL.
This bill, after a few words from Lord CRANWORTU and
Lord St. LEONARDS, was read a second time.
METROPOLITAN BOARD OF WORKS.
Viscount TORRINGTON moved for a return showing
the sources and amounts of receipts and payments in con-
nection with the Metropolitan Board of Works.
Earl GRANVILLE read a letter from Mr. Thwaites,
the chairman of the Board,the purport of which was inaud-
able in the gallery. The noble lord was understood to
oppose the motion.
Lord MONTEAGLE thought the return ought to be
granted, as the Metropolitan Board of Works had an un-
reasonably large power of taxation.
Alter a few words from Earl ST. GERMANS,

The return was agreed to.
DIVORCE COURTS.

The LORD CHANCELLOR said on an early day he
should move for a select committee to inquire into the law
with respect to parties suing or those who ought to be en-
titled to sue in the Divorce Court of England or the Court
of Session in Scotlamd.
The lordships then adjourned.

7

HOUSE 'OF COMMONS.—(Turs EVENING).
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.

NEW MEMBER.
Colonel HARVEY BATIIURST took the oaths and his seat
on his election for South Wilts.
PRIVATE 'BUISINE
The standing orders were declared to have been com-
plied with in the case of a number of private bills.
The folowing bills were read a second time :—Andover
and Redbridge Railway, Atherstone and Whitacre Rail-
way, Barnsley Coal Railway, Biddenden. and Stockershead
Roads, Birmingham Canal Navigations, Brecon and Mer-
thyr Tydfil Junction Railway (Additional Money),
Burton-upon-Trent Water, Clifton and Durdham
Downs (Bristol), Cork and Youghal Railway,
Disley and Hayfield .Railway, Dublin and Meath
Railway, Dublin (City) Steam Packet Company,
Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway, Elton and Blackburn
Roads, Forest of Dean Central Railway, Horsham and
Guildford Direct Railway, Hull and Doncaster Railway,
Kendal Fell, Kingstown Water, Leven and East of Fite
Railway Companies (Amalgamation, &c.), London and
North Western Railway (Chester and Holyhead Railway);
London, Chatham, and Dover Railway (Deviations, &c.) ;
London, Chatham, and Dover Railway ((Lease of Margate
Railway, &e.), Londonderry and Coleraine Railway,
Margate Railway (Ramsgate Extension, &c.), County
of Mayo (Grand Jury Cess), Midland Railway (Addi-
tional Powers), Neath Water, Newgate and Metropolitan
Meat and Poultry Markets, New Ross Port and Har-
bour, North-Eastern Railway (Castleton and Grosmont
Branch, &c.), North Somerset Railway, Oldham and
Ripponden Roads, Parsonstown and Portumna Bridge
Railway, Petersfield Railway (Extension to Southampton);
Portadown, Dungannon, and Omagh Junction Raikway ;
Hyde Water. Scottish North-Eastern Railway, Scottish
Widows' Fund and Life Assurance Society, Sittingbourne
and Sheerness Railway, South Wales Railway, Swansea
Vale Railway, Thames Embankment, Universal Lime
Light Company, Walton and Edgehill Junction Railway,
Witney Railway, and Worksop and Staveley Railway.
Several private bills were also read a first time.
PETITIONS. _ _

Petitions were presented against the unconditional aboli-
tion of church rates ; in favour of a reduction of the public
expenditure, and the appointment of a finance committee to
consider this subject; in favour of the passing speedily of a
new reform bill ; in favour of an uniform duty on wines
imported into this country ; by Colonel SYKES, against
the Caledonian, Edinburgh and Glasgow, and Scottish
Central Railways Bill, which was numerously signed, and
in which the petitioners prayed the house to reject the bill
as being founded on the principle of amalgamation, which
they considered injurious to the public interests; by Mr.
HADFIELD, from the town council of Sheffield, for a redis-
tribution of seats, vote by ballot, and other alterations in
electing members of Parliament ; by Mr. W. EWART, in
favour of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Bill, &c.
CORONERS' INQUESTS (METROPOLIS).
Mr T. DUNCOMBE moved an address for the return of
the number of coroners' inquests held in each year upon the
bodies of infants, from the 31st day of December, 1855, to
the 31st day of December, 1860, within the metropolitan
district, stating the parish, age, sex, and verdict in each
case.—Ordered.
GOVERNMENT PROPERTY.