The Sun.
London, England, 1868-02-15 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT,

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

RAILWAYS.
The Duke of RUTLAND laid upon the table some re-
ports relative to railways.
The house then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—LAST EVENING.
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.
THE BRIBERY BILL.

Mr. K. HUGESSEN gave notice that on Monday next
he should ask the Chancellor'of the Exchequer whether he
would lay upon the table of the house a copy of the com-
munication received from the -judges relative to the course
they had taken with respect to the proposed bill for the
prevention of corrupt practiees at elections.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he
had already anticipated the question, and he hoped a copy
of the communication would be in the hands of members
on Monday next.
COLLIERY ACCIDENTS.

Mr. GREEN gave notice of his intention on an early
day to call the attention of the house to the subject of col-
liery accidents.

LEASEHOLD PROPERTY.

Mr. KINNAIRD asked the Secretary to the Treasury
whether it was the intention of the Government to bring
in a bill to carry into effect the recommendations made by
the Inland Revenue Commissioners in their last report re-
lative to the assessment of probate duty on leasehold pro-
perty subject to mortgage.

Mr. HUNT said it was the intention of the Government
to re-introduce the measure.
INLAND REVENUE.

Mr. CRAWFORD (for Mr. Alderman Lawrence) asked
the Secretary to the Treasury when the report of the
Commissioners of Inland Revenue for the year ended the
31st March, 1867, which was presented to the house in
August last, would be printed and placed in the hands of
members.

Mr. HUNT replied that it would, he hoped, be in the
hands of members to-morrow.
THE FORTIFICATIONS.

Mr. O'BEIRNE asked the Secretary of State fox War
when the report of the committee appointed to superin-
tend the experiments upon the Malta and Gibraltar shields
would be placed upon the table ; and whether the com-
mittee had been instructed to superintend and report upon
the experiments to be made a ith reference to the Ber-
muda Fort and the Plymouth Breakwater Fort ; and if
the committee had not been so instructed, was it his in-
tention to place those experiments also under their super-
intendence?

Sir J. PAKINGTON said the report relative to the
Malta and Gibraltar shields was almost completed, and
would, he hoped, be produced in about a week. The com-
mittee had not been instructed to report upon the shields
at either Bermuda or Plymouth; but the hon. member
would recollect that four shields similar to those sent to
Malta had been sent to Bermuda, so that the report would
state the strength of those shields. The target at Ply-
mouth, he believed, would be completed in a few weeks,
when the experiments would be made at that place.
THE COMPOUND HOUSEHOLDER.

Mr. SANDFORD asked the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer whether her Majesty's Government intended to bring
forward any measure to relieve the compound house-
holders from the personal payment of rates, to which they
had been made liable by the repeal of the Small Tene-
ments Act ? _ .

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he
presumed that the hon. member did not refer to those who
lived in Parliamentary boroughs, because there were none
in those places. With respect to the point in question he
had to remind the hon. member that the alteration with
respect I o tho compound householder had been carried
unanimously by the house. Tho act that terminated
their existence only came into operation on the 29th of
September, and as yet there had been only one rate
levied Aitider it, so that experience at the present mo-
ment was so very limited that her M ijesty's Go vorernment
had thought it unseemly to impugn a decision of the houso
come to so unanimously. (jea-, hear, and " Oh, oh.")
NATIVE RULE IN INDIA.
Mr. KINNAIRD asked the Secretary of State for India
if he had any objection to lay upon the table of the house
a copy of the papers containing the opinions as to the
comparative merits of British and native rule in India,
which had been collected and sent home by Sir John
Lawrence ?

Sir S. NORTUCOTE said there would be no objection
to produce the papers.
THE ISLAND OF ST. THOMAS.
Mr. KINNAIRD asked the Under Secretary of State for
the Colonies whether the royal mail steamers were to
continue running to St. Thomas as the place for deliver-
ing and receiving the mails, or whether it was intended to
adopt any English island for this purpose; and, if so,
what island and harbour.
Mr. ADDERLEY said the mails did not continue to
run to St. Thomas, but that another island was about to
be selected for the purpose, but no final decision had yet
been come to on the subject.
TRENT VALLEY RAILWAY.
Mr. NE WDEGATE asked the Vice-President of the
Board of Trade, whether his attention had been directed
to the dangerous state of the Nuneaton Station and level
crossing on the Trent Valley Railway, and to the fatal
accidents which have recently occurred there ; and
whether he would have any objection to lay upon the
table of the house two reports of Colonel Yolland to the
Board of Trade on the subject?
Mr. CAVE said the attention of the Board had been
directed to the matter, and he should have no objection to
lay the reports moved for on the table of the house as
soon as they were made.
THE BOUNDARY COMMISSION.
Mr. BEAUMONT asked the Secretary of State for the
Home Department when the report of the Boundary Com-
mission would be delivered to Members of Parliament ?
Mr. HARDY said the report had been received, but that
it was very voluminous. It would be placed in the hands
of members without the least delay.

TUE COURTS OF JUSTICE.
Mr. BENTINCR asked the Secretary to the Treasury
whether an 'architect for the New Courts of Justice had
been appointed

Sir G. BO WYER asked if Sir H. Cairns's proposals had
been considered, because it was most important that that
learned gentleman's proposals should ba fully considered
before the new courts were erected.
➢ir. HUNT said in reply that no architect had yet been
appointed. The Royal Commission had no directions to
inquire into other matter than the best means of erecting
the new law courts.