The Sun.
London, England, 1868-03-20 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF LORDS—THIS EVENING.
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Woolsack
at five o'clock.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The Central Cornwall Railway Bill road a socond
time.

Lord STANHOPE said that he understood that the
right of giving proxies was to be abolished, and he would
ask the Lord Privy Seal what course was to be pursue 1.
The Earl of MALME3I3URY said that he was only
waiting to propose a question until more peers were in
town, then, probably next week, he should lay a statement
before their lordships.
REGULATION OF RAILWAYS BILL.

The Duke of RICHSICND;;,;i the second reading
of this bill, and said that he believed that the enterprises
of the executives of railways were most important, and that
the premium on railway property during the past year had
been over £38,000,000, almost approaching what might be
called the interest of the national debt of this country. It
was of the utmost importance that the general public
should have the opportunity of knowing what was the
actual state of various companies of which they were
shareholders, and to know that there was £138,000,000
which, although authorised, bad not been yet paid up.
He wished that such a regulation of accounts should pre-
vail that there should be an uniform system of accounts
in all railway companies, and one which would enable
any shareholder to understand what would be the ac-
couuts in every railway company. (Hear, hear.)
It was an astonishing fact that it was far more dangerous
to walk about London, according to the railway statistics,
than it was to travel on railways. He hal therefore thought
it better to bring in a small measure to deal
with the salient points than to bring in a much
more comprehensive bill. He would move the second
reading.
Lord REDESDALE opposed the bill, but he thought
that no securities given by railway companies should be
legal unless registered. no spoke also as to the position
of auditors, and thought that there should be some regula-
tion as far as they were concerned. He approved of all
regulations which could ameliorate the condition of rail-
way travellers, and also the vehicles in which they tra-
velled.

[LEFT SITTING}

HOUSE OF COMMONS—THIS EVENING.
The SPEAKER took the chair at 4 o'clock.
THE IRISH CHURCH.

Mr. GLADSTONE gave notice that on Monday next
he should lay on the table the precise terms of a motion
he intended to move with respect to the Irish Church.
Before he made the terms of his motion he should like to
know what arrangement the Government could make, in
order to give him an early day on which ho could bring
forward his motion. If he did not receive a favourable
answer to his request, then he should have to make the
best arrangement open. to him as au independent mein,
ber. (Cheers.)
THE BASUTO COUNTRY.

Mr. MILLER asked the (Secretary of State for the
Colonies if there was any truth in the report contained in
the daily press that the Government had extended British
protection to the Basuto country adjoining the Cape of
Good Hope and Natal, and whether it was intended to
annex the territory ; and, if so, was it to be annexed to
the colony of the Cape or Natal ?
*Mr. ADDERLEY said it was not intended to extend
British protection over the Basuto Territory, but the Go-
7ernor of Natal had been empowered to negotiate the an-
nexation of that territory to Natal, provided the tribe
agree to be governed by the same laws as the colonists.
The object of the arrangement was to bring to a conclu-
sion the question of boundary between the Basuto coun-
try and the Orange Free States, a matter that had given
rise to much inconvenience. He should be quite prepared
to give the correspondence immediately it was completed.
Mr. CRAUFURD asked the First Lord of the Treasury
whether his attention had been called to a meeting held
at the Red Lion Hotel, Cambridge. on Saturday last, for
the purpose of inaugurating the Cambridgeshire, Isle of
Ely, and Town of Cambridge Conservative Registration
Society, which was alleged to have been summoned and
presided over by the Lord-Lieutenant of the county of
Cambridge, the Earl of Hardwicke, and at which he was
reported to have made the following, amongst other obser-
vations, "Some shortperiod of time has elapsed—two months
—since I felt it my duty to take the chair at a preliminary
meeting which was called for the purpose of forming a
Tiwn and County Registration Society. . . . I take
the chair to-day as a Conservative. I look forward to the
necessity for such a society as this for the purpose of guid-
ing those persons who in future will have to exercise the
Parliamentary franchise, and of leading them to their posi-
tion on the register. . . . I hope I shall be able, with
my influence, to establish a Conservative Registration As-
sociation in the county," and whether her Majesty's. Go-
vernment were prepared to sanction and approve such an
interference in electoral matters on the part of a poor of
the realm ?

M.t. DISRAELI said he did not know upon what prin-
ciple the hon. gentleman objected to the conduct of Lord
Hardwicke. There was an ancient resolution which pre-
cluded-peers from interfering in the election of members
of Parliament, passed, he believed, in the year 1641, but
ho did not think that could be c ,nstrued to extend to regis-
trations. (Laughter.) It would be more convenient if the
hon. gentleman felt it desirable that the house should
express its opinion on the matter for him to bring the
subject forward in a more precise form, in order that the
sense of the house might be taken on it. His own impres-
sion was that all efforts to promote registration in the new
constituencies ought to be encouraged, and so far as his
own feelings were concerned, he was in favourof everything
calculated to increase the general body. The conduct of
Lord Ifardwicke did not appear of a character to surprise
him (Mr. Disraeli). He naturally took great interest in
the county in which he resided, and no doubt he exerted
himself amongst his neighbours to promote registration—
(laughter)—in order that they might be in a position to
take advantage of the great boon that Parliament had con-
ferred upon them. (Laughter.)
PARTY PROCESSIONS (IRELAND.)
Mr. O. LANYON asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland
whether he intended to recommend during this session the
repeal of the Party Processions Act ; or, if not, whether he
intended to recommend any alterations in the said Act
with a view of removing all doubts as to the interpretation
of said law, and of satisfying the public mind that an im-
partial administration of the same will, as far as possible,
be secured in all parts of Ireland ?
Earl MAYO said he did not intend to postpone the repeal
of the act, but he thought it was more than likely that
something would be done to remove any misapprehension
that might exist on the subject..
THE AUSTRALIAN MAILS.
Mr. VERNER asked the Secretary to the Treasury for
what reason the outgoiag Australian mails were now
arranged to start the day before the arrival of the incom-
ing, and thereby cause most serious inconvenience, and
also expense to correspondents with those colonies ?
Mr. SCLATER-I3OOTH said the opportunity of an-
swering letters by the Australian mail, as now arranged,
extended to five days, via Marseilles, at an increased
chaige of only 4d. The present dates of departure had
been fixed after the greatest consideration, and he did not
think they could be altered to meet the views of the hon.
member. He thought that the facilities afforded vie
Marseilles quite compensated fur the increase of the pox
tage.

THE INDIAN FINANCES.
Mr. CRAWFORD asked whether it was true that the
Government had received, by telegraph, the heads of the
stat mont made by the Financial Minister in India ; if so,
whether he zould state to the house if they were of a fa-
vourable character.

Sir S. NORTHCOTE said it was quito true that he had
received the heads of the statement made by Mr. Massey,
and that they were of a very favourable character. (Hear,
hear.) The surplus, after all charges, had been met,
exceptirrigation. There was no new loan or Lew taxa-
tion, and the income tax was to be reconsidered and im-
proved. (Hear, hear.)
ALLEGIANCE TO THE QUEEN.
On the motion for the house going into !committee of
supply,
Mr. W. E. FOSTER called attention of the house to
the effect of the law regulating the allegiance of the
Queen who had emigrated to foreign countries, and
especially to the United States of America, and
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether
he did not think the time was inopportune for attempting
to arrive at a mutual understanding betweer! her Majesty's
Government and the Government of the United States re-
specting the right of expatriation.
Sir J. COLLIER followed the hon. member with some
remarks on the same subject, and was of the opinion that
the laws of both England and America required revision.
[LEFT SPEAKING.]

'his Evening.

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