The Sun.
London, England, 1859-08-02 00:00:00

SECOND READINGS

The following bills were read a second time :'—The
Hereford and Brecon Railway, Earl Vane's Estate, Robins's
Estate, and Thames Watermen and Lightermen.

COMMUNICATION BETWEEN HOLYHEAD AND

DUBLIN.

Mr. CA.RDWELL obtained leave to bring in a bill to
facilitate the communication between Holyhead and Dub-
lin.

PATENT LAW AMENDMENT ACT.

On the vote of £20,095 for the salaries and expenses pay-
able under this act,
Mr. BRADY strongly protested against this vote, and
said that under, the present system the money for these
salaries came virtually out of the poor man's pockets. The
hon. member urged further objections, and concluded by
moving the rejection of the vote.
Mr. LAING said that with the exception of the pay-
ment to the law officers of the Crown, the hon. member
would be defeating his own object if he carried his motion.
Mr. WILLIAMS said that at present the law officers of
the Crown received £8,300, while they actually rendered no
service, the clerks doing all the work. He proposed, there-
fore, that their payment should be reduced to £4,150.
Colonel SYKES contended that the operation of the
patent law was very injurious to the inventive genius of
the country.
After some discussion, in which Sir J. Shelley, Mr.
Grogan, Mr. Wyse, Mr. Briscoe, Mr. Brady, Mr. E.
James, and other hon. members, the amendment was nega-
tived without a division.
Some discussion ensued upon some of the other items,
but the vote was ultimately agreed to.
The vote of £9,254 for the Board of Fisheries in Scot-
land was agreed to, as well as a vote of £l,OOO to the Board
of Manufacturers in Scotland under the treaty of union.
A vote of £5,000 for highland roads was agreed to. After
some discussion, in the course of which .
Mr. LAING explained that the money was applied to the
purposes of providing roads in the poorer districts of the
highlands of Scotland, and he added that he would make
inquiries to ascertain if any reduction in the item could be
made.
£9OO was voted for the commission for the publication of
the ancient laws and statutes of Ireland.
The following votes were also agreed to :—L5,000 for
guarantees, £587000 for the pensions of officers in the mer-
chant seamen's service and their widows and children,
£15,000 for the relief of distressed British seamen abroad,
£4o,ooofor dues payable by British or foreign vessels under
the reciprocity treaties.
On the vote of £15,000 to pay bounty &c.,
Mr. CLIVE said that it was believed they were not sin-
cere in their expressions of a desire to put down the slave
trade, and it was asserted that their only object was to cap-
ture vessels with slaves.
Mr. LAING denied the imputation, and defended the
conduct of our officers employed in the suppression of the
slave-trade.

The vote was agreed to.
On the vote for £36,700 for lighthouses,
Mr. A. SMITH objected to payment out of the votes of
the house for the erection of lighthouses in the colonies.
Mr. LAING explained that where lighthouses in the
colonies were erected and maintained for local purposes,
the colonists defrayed the expense, but where they were
for general benefit it was borne by this country.
The vote was agreed to ; as well as a vote of £l,OOO for
payment of half the salaries of the officers lately employed
at the settlement of the Orange River territory.
On the vote of £lO,OOO for promoting the improvement of
the Kaffirs and for the settlement and government of Bri-
tish Kaffraria, _ _

Mr. WYSE inquired for some information as to how the
money had been expended, and with what result.
Mr. C. FORTESCUE said the money had been ex-
pended on public works, and with much profit to the na-
tives. It was not, however, intended to retain the vote at
tha same amount.
It being ten minutes to four o'clock the discussion was
interrupted.
VEXATIOUS INDICTMENTS BILL.

This billva; read a third time and passed.
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHARITIES BILL.
This bill went through committee, and was ordered for
:hird reading.
DUBLIN POLICE BILL.
This bill was read a second time.
CHARITABLE AND PROVIDENT SOCIETIES

BILL.
This bill was read a second time.
CHELTENHAM ELECTION PETITION.
Lord STANLEY, chairman of the committee appointed
to try the merits of the petition against the return of
Colonel Fitzhardinge Berkeley, announced that the com-
mittee decided that the hon. and gallant member had been
duly elected.

ROYAL COMMISSION.
The Usher of the Black Rod summoned hon. members
to the House of Lords to hear the Royal assent given by
conimission to several bills (for which see Lords' report).
The house did not resume till six o'clock.
MERIONETHSHIRE ELECTION PETITION.
The SPEAKER announced that he had received a letter
from the agent for the petitioner, complaining of an undue
return for the county of Merioneth, stating that it was not
their intention to proceed with the petition. (Hear, hear.)
The order referring the petition to the committee was then
discharged.
NEW WRITS FOR VACANT SEATS.
Sir J. SHELLEY gave notice that in the event of any
motion being made for the issuing of a writ to supply a
seat declared vacant .by a committee on the ground of bri-
bery, he would move as an amendment, that no writ issue
until the house had an opportunity of considering the evi-
dence taken before the committee.
EDUCATION IN IRELAND.

Lord FERMOY asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland
whether it was the intention of her Majesty's Government
to introduce, in the next session of Parliament, any mea-
sure dealing with the subject of the endowed schools, and
of intermediate education generally, in Ireland.
Mr. CARDWELL said the noble lord was well aware of
the difficulties attending the general system of education in
Ireland ; no portion of it presented greater difficulties than
the subject of intermediate education; he could only say
that the matter would have his best consideration.
FISCAL EXPENDITURE IN IRELAND.
Mr. DAWSON asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland
what provision it was proposed to Make for carrying out the
recommendations of the select committee of last year (1858),
for defraying the expenses, in county gaols, of the mainte-
nance of felons and misdemeanants convicted for serious
offences ; the expenses of witnesses at assizes and sessions ;
the increase of the salaries of schoolmasters in workhouses;
and the half medical relief in poor-law unions ?
Mr. CARDWELL said the recommendation of the com-
mittee on the first two points was being carried out, but no
change would be made with regard to the two latter.
Mr, DAWSON gave notice that on Friday next, on the

motion for adjournment, he would call attention to the
concluding paragraph of the report of the committee.
SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH CONTRACTS.

Lord. ASHLEY asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer
whether it was the intention of her Majesty's Government
to su.spend fur her proceedings with regard to 'submarine
telegr, aph contracts until the report of the select committee
now sitting upon the packet and telegraph service was laid
upon the table of the house ?
The iCHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER had on a
previous] evening stated it was the intention of the Govern-
ment to .suspend generally all proceedings with regard to
packet contracts until the committee had an opportunity of
conside ring the subject. They entertained a similar inten-
tion with regard to telegraphic contracts ; but it was pos-
sible ciniumstances might arise under which an'exception
should b 9 made. There was one case in which the manufac-
ture of the cable had commenced before the present admi-
nistration came into office, and which would go on. Some-
thing would depend on the time occupied by the committee
in their inquiry, but as a general rule, so far as the Govern-
ment were able to do so, no further proceedings would be
taken.