The Sun.
London, England, 1857-07-06 00:00:00

CASTLE DITCH, CHESTER.

Mr. SALISBURY asked if a plot of laud under lease
from the principal officers of her Majesty', Ordnance to
Mr. Jas. Martin, dated July 3, 1351, and known as
the " Castle Ditch," in the city of Chester, was required
by the authorities far building purposes, and the nature
of the erections proposed to he put on such laud.
Sir J. RAMSD EN said that at present there was no
intention on the part of the Governruen to take this lease.

PETTY SESSIONS CLERKS (IRELAND).
Sir G. FORSTER asked the Chief Secretary for Ire-
land whether the Tressury had come to any decision as
aobllßiiiicaafe:RdaDyse.
cEuR
whether he was
F
provide for pay-
to the unappropriataedpiaineidluill
Ihuatluarneceinofafiidueosf
Baal
ad, pi
salaries
foral-
ties, Ireland, being
salary in place of fees, as
pre-
paredpetty steos sbi or
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alis Lal and,
this
if so
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said he hoped to be able to in-
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DE LION.
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STATUEeIis n' c HERBERT
h
Mr. HANK.EY asked whether any decision had yet
been wade as to the spot where the statue of Richard
Coeur de Lon, by Baron Marochetti, purchaHed 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-
parttuent.

GUANO;

Mr. BAXTER asked why no vessel of war proceeded
to Bird bland, in the Pacific, before December, 1856,
although, as it appeared from the printed papers, Mr.
MiUer, her Majesty's Consul at Woahoo, had made
known to the commanders of all her Majesty's ships
that had touched at that port since August, 1854, and
also to the Commander•in-Chief of her Majesty's naval
forces in the Pacific, the purpert of Mr. klaremond's
circular despatch of May, 1854, directing diligent
search to be made for deposits of guano ; and whether
Bird Island bad since been taken Fossession 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 all the information the GoYernment possessed

the subject. He was unable to state the reason why DO
Eng 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 Goverment had taken possespion of this island.

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 allu-led to was
made four or five years ago, when the trusteeship of the
National Gallery was in a state of transition, and C 01150•
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, bnt neither he nor the trustees were
in any way responsible for the purchases.
THE ONEIDA, MAIL STEAM-SHIP.
Mr. H. BERKELEY asked the Secretary to the
Treasury, in reference to the statement of the First Lord
of the Admiralty, that the steamer Oneida had been
condemned by the Government surveyor, under what
circumstances the sail vessel was employed in the con-
veyance of her Majesty's mails from this country and
Australia, notwithstanding such report; and whether
it were a fact that he had offered the Royal West India
Mail Company to extend for two years beyond the time
now prescribed the subsidy of 270,0001., which they al-
ready received fromGovernmtnt, provided they consented
to amalgamate with the European and Australian Com-
pany, th, owners of the said steamer Oneida, and un-
dertake the Australian mail contract?

Mr. WILSON said that the Oneida had not been
accepted for the conveyance of mails by the Government.
Toe Oneida was one of the vessels offered by the Austra-
lian Company to the Government for the purpose of
conveying the mails to Australia. According to the rule
of the Goisrament, the Oneida was surveyed
at Portsmouth on the 18th 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 Admiralty reported to the
Treasury on the 21st, and of course it was not then pos-
sible to stop her progress, but au 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 bad to say that a similar arrangement
as the hon. member suggested had been made to the
Government, but no conclusic a had been come to by the
Government in reference to it.

Mr. H. BERKELEY asked 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 queaticn 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 scald only.
He thought the Government would have no objection to
continue the survey on the 25-inch scale, if the counties
wishing it would pay the difference of cost out of the
county funds.
INCOME AND PROPERTY TAX RETURNS.
In oinsequence of some remarks from Mr. DIS-
RAELI relative to the Government being unable to
make a full return of what the right hon. gentleman rt.
quired relative to the property tax,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
that the Government d►d not feel themselves at liberty
to grant full returns relative to the income and property
tax. There were no objections 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 bearing on the franchise.
The returu was ordered.
NEW WRITS.

Sir G. GREY, in the absence or Lord Pa!meraton,
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. JASItA.ELI seconded the motion, considering it
oat and czpedient.

Mr. DIfisTCOMBE moved an amendment that seven
days' notice should be given.
Mr; MILES was in favour of the original motion.
Mr. DIVETT considered that if the noose was really
desirous of putting down bribery, it should order pro-
secutions in every instance where it was proved they
had occurred. (Hear.) At present the reports of com-
mittees were allowed to pass without the slightest no-
tine. Talking of bribery was a farce, .ithout they pro-
secuted.

Mr. HENLEY did not see that the issue of the writ
had anything to do with the prosecution, for 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 tit• motion
Against it
Majority... . . ....• •----52
REFORMATORY SCHOOLS BILL.
On the 'lotion of Sir G. GREY, the order ut the day
for the house going into committee on the Reformatory
Schools Bill was fix,iii for Thursday, at 12 o'clock.

SCOTCH BELLS.
On the motion of Lord DUNCAN, in consequence of
the absence of the Lord Advo,ite—the Court of Session;
Crown, &c., Suits ; Bill Chamber and Asseisments
Scotland) Bids, were postponed till ‘Veia_sda).
PROBATE AND LETTERS OF ADMINISTRA-