The Sun.
London, England, 1868-03-21 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF LORDS—LAST EVENING.
The Lorin CHANCELLOR took his s,3at on the Woolsack
at five o'clock.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The Central Cornwall Railway Bill was read a second
time.

Lord STANHOPE said that he understood that the
right of giving proxies was to be abolished, and ho would
ask the Lord Privy Seal what course was to be pursued.
The Earl of MALMESBURY said that ho was only
waiting to propose a question until more peers were in
town, then, probably next week, he should lay a statement
beforo their lordships.
REGULATION OF RAILWAYS BILL.
The Duke of RICHMOND moved 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, had 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-
counts in every railway company. (Hoar, 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. Ho spoke also as to the position
of auditors, and thought that there should be some regula-
tion as far as they were concerned, lie approved of all
regulations which could ameliorate the condition of rail-
way travellers, and also the vehicles in which they tra-
velled.

After some observations from Lord WEnBURY, who
suggested some alterations, the bill was read a second
time.

The house then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—LAST 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 7 respect to the Irish Church.
Before he made the terms of his motion ho 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 ho did not receive a favourable
answer to his request, then he should have to make the
best arrangement open to him as an independent mem-
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
CinciktoPe end /[4to, ituci wintim it Tow inttiacitcl to

annex the territory; and, if so, was it to bo 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 conch--
son 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.