The Sun.
London, England, 1857-03-07 00:00:00

GUANO.

Mr. SCOTT called the attention cf the Government
to the necessity of taking n.ea,ures to obtain guano
from the Arabian Islands, on terms more moderate than
those lately concfuded by the Government, provided pro-
tection be afforded to those engaged in its exportation,
and to secure its importation !ram those ilatids to this
country. lie complained that the supply, of guano was most
unsatisfactory, the trade being a monopoly in a few bands.
The. Government had obtained a cession of these islands
from the Imaum of Muscat, which they leased to mer-
chants and created a monopoly, instead of securing them
for the advantage of the British agriculturists.
That was an abuse of the prerogative of the Crown, and
showed the negligence of the Government to the agri-
cultural interest.
Mr. LABOUCHERE said he was able to add but
little to his previous answers to similar questions. The
Government had followed the conduct of Lord Derby's
Government with reference to guano islands on the
coast of Australia, when they gave a licence to
private persons for six years, only banding them down
to import 500,000 tons per year into this cquotry. He
had endeavoured to impress on Messrs. Ord and Co,
the necessity of supplying guano at a small cost,
and they had consented to throw open the trade on a
royalty of 1/. per ton. The president of the Royal Agri-
cultural Society and Mr. Caird had expressed their sa-
tisfaction at that arrangement, as being advanta-
geous to the British agriculturists. The atten-
tion of the Government had been called to facilitat-
ing the supply of guano, and Lord Clarendon had re-
quested the Admiralty to give instructions to masters of
vessels to give all the information they could on procur-
ing supplies of guano.
The subject then dropped.
WRECKS AND CASUALTIES.
Mr. HENLEY called attention to the returns of
wrecks and casualties, lately presented to Parliament,
and asked the Vice-President of the Board of Trade if he
had any objection to have a return prepared, showing the
number of vessels entered inwards in the years 1852, 1853,
1854, 1855, and 1856 ; distinguishing the foreign and
coasting trades, and foreign and British ships employed
in each respectively, showing the total number of Bri-
tish and foreign vessels, and the total number of wrecks
and casualties in each year, and the percentage of British
and foreign vessels wrecked, or to which casualties have
happened in each year.
Mr. LOWE said the Government were unable to give
such a return for the past. The fault had been seen and
instructions had been given to rectify that evil for the
future.

Mr. CARDWELL expressed his satisfaction at the
return,
which showed a decrease in the loss of life since
the alterations made by Parliament through the Board
of Trade.
POSTAL COMMUNICATION WITH IRELAND.
Lord NAAS called the attention of the botve to the
proposed improved postal communication with Ireland.
Mr. H. HERBERT said that the greatest possible
dissatisfaction prevailed in Ireland with reference to
this subject, and pressed the Government to show that
they had done all that was possible to effect this desir-
able object.
Colonel FRENCH also complained of the present
communication.
Mr. WILSON explained the circumstances of the
case with reference to the
subject, and said that con-
tinued negotiations were
goin on t eff the objeef
desired. The clrnmercial popug lationo of Ireland had no
doubt cause to complain of what appeared to be delay
on the part of the Government, but it arose
from the Government being unable to act on
, _
presided the 'evidence
committeegiven before a Parliamentaryrsny
over by Lard Naas. T
companies had stated their desire to ve t evenhro et on
ye railway
to the Government, but that
they
wouldt
the basis of Captain Huish's evidence as
e the period
of transit. They wanted
it a longer period,
and there lay the diffi" yl a
because if
facility