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

portions he really required. Such a course would be of
advantage both to the office and the country in saving
expense.

CASTLE DITCH, CHESTER.
Mr. SALISBURY asked if a plot of land under lease
from the principal officers of her Majesty's Ordnance to
Mr. Jas. Martin, dated July 3, 1851, and known as
the "Castle Ditch," in the city of Chester, was required
by the authorities for building purposes, and the nature
of the erections proposed to be put on such land?
Sir J. RAMSDEN said that at present there was no
intention on the part of the Government to take this lease,

PETTY SESSIONS CLERKS (IRELAND).
Sir G. FORSTER asked the Chief Secretary for Ire-
land whether the Treasury had come to any decision as
to the unappropriated annual balance of fines and penal-
ties, Ireland, being applied in future in aid of salaries for
petty sessions clerks ; and, if so, whether he was pre-
pared to bring in a bill this session to provide for pay-
ment of petty sessions clerks by salary in place of foss, as
at present?
Mr. H. HERBERT said he hoped to be able to in-
troduce such a bill in a few days.
STATUE OF RICHARD CGIUR DE LION.
Mr. HANKEY asked whether any decision had yet
been made as to the spot where the statue of Richard
Cceur de Lion, by Baron Marochetti, purchased by sub-
scription, and presented to the nation in 1856, was to
be erected ?

Sir B, HALL said the site bad not yet been decided
on. It was under the consideration of the proper de-
partment.

GUANO.
Mr. BAXIIER, asked why no vessel of war proceeded
to Bird Island, in the Pacific, before December, 1856,
although, as it aoptltred from the printed papers, Mr.
Maier, her Majesty's Consul at Woahoo, had made
known to the commanders of all her Maj-sty's ships
that bad touched at that port since Augu-t, 1854, and
also to the Commander-in-Chiet of her Majesty's naval
forces in the Pacific, the purport of Mr. Hammond's
circular despatch of May, 1854, directing diligent
search to be made for deposits of guano ; and whether
Bird Island had since been taken possession of by the
United States ?

Sir C. WOOD said that the papers already on the
table of the house, relative to the guano deposits, con-
tained ail the information the Government possessed on
the sutject. He was unable to state the reason why no
English vessel visited this island before that of the
United States Government, except that they were other
wise occupied. He was not aware that the United
States Government had taken possesgon of this i.lAnd.
THE NATIONAL GALLERY PICTURES.

Mr. STIRLING asked the Secretary to the Trea-
sury the name of the artist or amateur upon whose re-
commendation the collection of pictures formed by Herr
Kruger were purchased for the National Gallery, and
whether the purchase was effected with the knowledge
and advice of the trustees of the National Gallery ?
Mr. WILSON said that the purchase allude I to was
made four or five years ago, when the trusteeship of the
National Gallery was in a state of transition, and conse
quently without their advice or even knowledge as a
body. The pictures were purchased by Mr. Dyce, and
when one of the specimens was sent home Sir E. East-
lake approved of it, but neither he nor the trustees were
in any way responsible for the purchases.
THE ONEIDA, MAIL STEAK-SHIP.
Mr. H. BERKELEY asked the Secretary to the
Treasury, in reference to the st-itenneot of the First Lord
of the Admiralty, that the steamer Oneida had been
condemned by the Government surveyor, under what
circumstances the said vessel was employed in the con-
veyance of her Majesty's mails from this country and
Australia, notwithitanding such report; and whether
it were a fact that he bad offered the Royal West India
Mail Company to extend for two years beyond the time
now prescribed the subsidy cf 270,0001., which they al-
ready received from Government, provided they consented
to amalgamate with the European and Australian Com-
pany, the owners of the said steamer Oneida, and un-
dertake the Australian mail contract ?

Mr. WILSON said that the Oneida had not been
accepted fur the conveyance of mails by the Government.
The Oneida was one of the vessels offered by the Austra-
lian Company to the Government for the purpose of
conveying the mails to AuAralia. According to the rule
of the Government, the Oneida was surveyed
at Portsmouth on the 18,h September, last year.
She left on the 19th, and the surveyor to the Admiralty
reported to the Government on the 20th, the day after
the vessel had sailed. The Admiral-y reported to the
Treasury on the 21 t, and of course it was Got then pos-
sible to stop h-r progress, but an intimation was made
to the company that the Oneida would not be accepted
under the contract. With regard to the latter part of
the question, he had to say that a similar arrangement
as the hon. member suggested had been made to the
Government, but no conclusion had been come to by the
Government in reference to It.
Mr. H. BERKELEY aQked if the company were
liable for compensation for the loss and inconvenience
sustained by the breaking down of the Oneida?
Mr.WILSON said he was unable to answer the ques-
tion.

THE ORDNANCE SURVEY.
In answer to a question from an HON. MEMBER,
Mr. WILSON said that the construction put by the
Government on the resolution lately come to by the
house relative to the 25 inch survey was that the works
actually in progress should be finished on the 25-inch
scale, but that those parts that had not been com-
menced should be commenced on the 6 inch scale only.
He thought the Government would have no objection to
continue the survey on the 25-inch scale, if the counties
wi-hing it would pay the difference of cost out of the
county funds.
INCOME AND PROPERTY TAX RETURNS.
In e.)nsequence of some remarks from Mr. DIS-
RAELI relative to the Government being unable to
make a full return of what the right hon, gentleman re-
quired relative to the pronerty tax,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
that the Government did not feel themselves at liberty
to grant tall returns relative to the income and property
tax. There were no oljections to make the return as
far as it could be done for the right hon. gentleman as it
related to schedule A, but it must be distinctly under-
stood that the Government would withhold returns un-
der schedule B.
Mr. DISRAELI said that his motion only had refer-
•nce to real property hearing on the franchise.
The return was ordered.
NEW WRITS.
Sir G. GREY, in the absence of Lord Palmereton,
moved that in all cases when the seat of any member had
been declared void by an election committee on the
ground of bribery or treating, no motion for the issuing
of a new writ should be made without two days' previous
notice being given in the votes.
Mr. DISRAELI seconded the motion, considering it
just and expedient.
Mr. DUNCOMBE moved an amendment that seven
days' notice ehoul•1 be given.
Mr. MILES was in favour of the original motion.
Mr. DIVETT considered that if the nouse was really
desirous of putting down bribery, it should order pro-
secutions in every instance where it was proved they
had occurred. (dear.) At present the reports of com-
mittees were allowed to pass without the slightest no-
tice. Talki❑g of bribery was a farce, About They pro-
secuted.
Mr. HENLEY did not see that the issue of the writ
had anything to do with the prosecution, fir nobody
would think of suggesting a prosecution, without read-
ing the evidence, and that might be done at any time.
Mr. ESTCOURT thought it would be unwise to de-
part from a precedent which had acted well, that pre-
cedent being contained in the standing orders of the
house.
After some remarks from Sir G. GREY in reply,
The house divided. The numbers were—
For the motion
Against it
Majority
REFORMATORY SCHOOLS BILL.
On the motion of Sir G. GREY, the order of the day
for the house going into committee on the Reformatory
Schools BM wad fixes for Thursday, at 12 o'clock.