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

INLAND REVENUE.

Mr. CRAWFORD (for Mr. Alderman Lawrence) asked
the Secretary to the Treasury when the report of the
Commissioners of Inland Revenue for tle 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 loped, be in the
hands of members to-morrow.

THE FORTIFICATIONS.

Mr. O'BEIRNE asked the Secretary of State for 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 aad report upon
the experiments to be made n 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 reek. 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 repaal 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 io the compound householder had been carried
unanimously by the house. The act that terminated
their existence only came into operation on the 29th of
September, and as yet there had, been only one rate
levied under it, so that experience at the presort mo-
ment was so very limited that her Majesty's Government
had thought it unseemly to impugn a decision of the house
come to so unanimously. (gear, 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 some to on the subject.
TRENT VALLEY RAILWAY.
Mr. NEWDEGATE 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.
Hr. BEA.UMONT asked the Secretary of State for the
Home Department whop 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.
THE COURTS OF JUSTICE.
Mr. BENTINCR asked the Secretary to the Treasury
whether an architect for the New Courts of Justice had
been appointed I

Sir G. BO WYER asked if Sir A. Cairns's proposals had
been considered, because it was most important that that
learned gentleman's Proposals should be fully considered
before the new courts Were erected.
Mr. 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.