The Sun.
London, England, 1845-07-30 00:00:00

SMALL DEBTS BILL

After some slight discussion, in which Mr. BOUVERIE anl
Mr. P. AI. STEwART took part, the several clauses of the 13 ill
were read and agreed to.
The House then resumed, and the report on the Bill was
received.

WAKEFIELD AND GOOLE RAILWAY.
The Lords' amendments to the Wakefield and Gaole Railway
Bill were read and agreed to.
• The House then adjourned till Five o'clock.

The House resumed at Five o'clock.
LONDON AND YORK RAILWAY.
Viicount COURTENAY moved that the Chairman of the
Select Committee on Group X be empowered, in the case of
the London and York Railway, to report forthwith, and the
further consideration to be taken on Friday next.—Agreed to.
RAILWAY STANDING ORDERS.
Lord G. SOMERSET rose to move that the following
clauses be added to the Standing Orders :—To follow Standing
Order 101—A declaration, in writing, signed by the agent
for the proposed Bill (or some one of such agents), shall be
annexed to such petition, stating to which of the three clasres of
Bills such Bill in his judgment belongs ; and if the proposed
Bills shall give power to effect any of the fol-
lowing objects, that is to say—power to take any
larx:s or houses compulsorily, or to extend the time
granted by any former Act, for that purpose; power to levy
tolls, rates, or duties, or to alter any existing tolls, rates or
duties ; or to confer, vary, or extinguish any exemption from
payment of tolls, rates, or duties, or any other right or privilege ;
power to interfere with any rown, Church, or Corporation
property, held in trust for public or charitable purposes ;
power to make a burial-ground ; power to relinquish
any part of a work authorised by a former Act ;
power to divert into any intended cut, canal, reservoir, aque-
duct, or navigation, or into any intended variation, extension,
or enlargement thereof respectively, any water from any ex-
isting cut, canal, reservoir, aqueduct, or navigation, whether
directly or derivatively, and whether under any agree-
ment with the proprietors thereof, or otherwise ;
power to make, vary, extend, or enlarge any cut, canal, re-
servoir, aqueduct, er navigation; power to make, vary,
extend, or enlarge any railway. The said declaration
shall state which of such powers are given by the Bill, and
shall indicate in which clauses of the Bill (referring to them
by their number,) such powers are given, and shall further
state that the Bill does not give power to effect any of the ob-
jects enumerated in this order, other than those stated in the
declaration. If the proposed Bill shall not give power to effect
any of the objects enumerated in the ',seceding order, the said
declaration shall state that the Bill does riot give power to effect
any such object. Amend st inding orders 103 and 128.
Sir G. CLERK also moved the following addition to Stand-
ing Order 23 a :--Together with the line of the projected rail-
way, laid down on a map not less than that of the Ordnance map
of England ; and also a written statement, setting forth the
course of the railway, its capital, its maximum fares and
charges, and generally all the principal provisions of the pro-
povd Bill.
Lord G. SOMERSET explained that the principal alter,—
tion would be the increasing the deposits on all noltrays, ex-
cepting those which hail been considered in the House in the
past session, from 5 to 10 per cent.
Sir R. FERGUSON objected to this part of the motion.
which would have the effect of raising the deposits. He con.
sidered this would operate most injuriously on those lines that
were already projected.
Lord GRANVILLE SOMERSET said that some step of
the kind was necessary to protect the public from the crude
speculations that were before it.
Mr. J. S. WORTLEY supported the same view of the
question.
Dr. BOWRING said that it would be greatly in favour of
those railroads which were already in existence, and against
those which were only as yet in a state of projection; and he
thought it was a neediess imposition on this species of property.
Mr. E. B. DENISON said that the institution of this order
would be an unjust, if not a tyrannical, oppression on those who
had signed the share list under the faith of the existing standing
orders, and who calculated on the payment of a certain sum,
and now were called upon to pay one much larger.
Lord GRANVILLE SOMERSET said that the exemp-
tions to the evil effects of the order would be so numerous that
it was not worth while to consider those whose interests might
be affected.
Mr. GREENE said that the objection might be obviated by
exempting all signed and registered shareholders who had
already paid their deposits.
Lord GRANVILLE SOMERSET said that if the gene; al
feeling of the House was against him, lie must give way, but
he would do so entirely contrary to his own opinion and in-
clination.
Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, and on our return
to the gallery we found that the amendment was negatived
without a division.
The several amendments were then considered, and agreed
to.

Mr. GREENE moved, that the sectional order, No. 60,
should for the future form portion of the standing orders.—
Agreed to. _

LONDON AND YORK RAILWAY.
Mr. P. M. STEWART presented a petition from the Mid-
land Counties Railway, complaining that the London and
York, which had just passed a Committee of that House, would
intersect their line ; and praying that that portion of those
works should not be allowed to be constructed without the
sanction of the former Company.
ME'SAGE FROM THE HOUSE OF LORDS.
Messengers from the House of Lords brought up the Glas•
gow Junction Railway and other Bills, with amendments.
COLONEL A. LAUTOUR.
Mr. MILNER GIBSON then brought forward the mo-
tion of which he had given notice, that a Select Com-
mittee be appointed to investigate the allegations contained in
the petition of Colonel Augustus Lautour, presented to this
House, June 6th, 1844, and printed with the votes, June
the 26 th, 1844, and to report their opinion to
the House. The Honourable Member stated that
this related to what took place in 1828, when the Colonial-
office invited parties to invest their money in the Swan
River settlement. Among others who were induced to
do so was the petitioner, and from circums,ances
that afterwards transpired he now petitioned the House.
These regulations were officially issued, and under them Col.
Lautour had acted. The question, then,was whether the Crown
could escape from its engagements. Bethought it could not, and
the opinion of the law officers of the Crown had been taken on the
subject, and there was some doubt respecting one or
two points, and there might be a weak feature which he had
not observed, and he had seen so much of these casts that he
was always ready to suspect that there was something more
than he saw. But if the matter were, at it was laid
down, he could not see how, in justice, or even legal
equity, the Crown could escape from its engagements.
He had been informed that Sir Thomas Wilde had given an
opinion in favour of Colonel Lautour's claim, which opinion was
present, d to the Government when they came into office, but
the Government said it was not binding on them, because the
He
original contract had not been officially promulgated.
(Mr. M. Gibson) trusted that a generous and fa
would
r
con-
struction might be expected, and that no advantage
be taken of any trifling want of foresight on ColonelLautour's
part. It appeared to him (Mr. Gibson) t.ustice, and he
that the claims
alluded to in the petition were founded
in J
thought that Government should ta
con-
sideration. In bringing forward_ this ke the matter into its
seutbs of the Govern
subject he did not mean
to impute blame on any of the Members
He did, however, trust that the subject would be
immediatelymen.
t
attended to.
Mr. HOPE said that he should be obliged to state shortly
the history of the circumstances connected with this matter.
In 1828 a plan was proposed, and published for the purpose of
bringing Colonel Lautour 's attention to it. The Hon. Member
grounded his motion upon the fact that no formal or official
notice was given to the colonel of this document,
land.r. M. GIBSON—But in the meantime you took his
—( Hear, hear.)
Mr HOPE observed that this was really no ground for the
complaint. Colonel Lautour was one of the parties to whom
the publication was addressed, and he would not fail to have
known its purport. In point of fact, that gentleman had got
possession of 100,006 acres to which he had no title whatever.
Mr. M. GIBSON then ‘eithdrew his motion.
The Service of Heirs (Scotland) Bill, and the Crown
Charters (Scotland) Bill were read a second time,
SUPPLY,
The report of the Committee of Supply was then brought up
and agreed to after which the House adjourned.

Sir .1. GRA HAM moved the third reading of this Bill, when
Mr. H. BERKELEY objected to the seventh clause, on
the ground that the Secretary of State would be put in pos-
session of an unconstitutional power, by being en-
abled to increase or diminish indefinitely the number
of courts. He thought, however, there was a great deal of good
in the Bill, and should be glad to see it pass, provided that the
objection he had stated to the power which' would be possessed
by the Secretary of State were removed,
Sir JAMES GRAHAM-said that he had, in the clause re-
ferred to by the
.Hon. Gentleman, struck out the name of the
Secretary of State and substituted the name of her Majesty.
He trusted with that the Hon. Member would be satisfied.
The Bill was then read a third time and passed.
CUSTOMS BILL.
On the motion of the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHE.
QUER, the Customs' Laws Repeal Bill was read a third time
and passed, as was the Customs Management Bill and the
Customs' Duties Bill
WAREHOUSING OF GOODS BILL.
This Bill was read a third time and passed.
BRITISH VESSELS BILL.
On the order of the day fur the third reading of this Bill,
Captain PECHELL hoped that some improvement in the
transmission of letters to the Scilly Island would be effected.
The Bill was then read a third time and passed.
'i.ei Shipping •and Navigation Bill, the Trade of British
Possessions Abroad all, the Customs Bounties and Allowances
Bill, the Isle of Man Trade Bill, the Smuggling Prevention
Bill, were read a third time and passed, without discussion.
CUSTOMS REGULATION BILL.
On the order of the day for the third reading of this Bill,
Mr. WA WN trusted that vessels teturning, to a British port
in ballast, after landing a cargo at another British port, would
be exempted from the pilotage dues exacted from foreign ves-
sels. The Hon. Mcmber moved the insertion of certain words
to give effect to thi, distinction.
-aptain PECHELL seconded the amendment.
Mr. CORRY thought the amendment was brought forward
at too late a period in the session, and he should distinctly
oppose any alteration in the clause.
The gallery was then cleared for a division. On strangers
being admitted, the numbers were—
For the amendment
Against it
Majority
—l5
The Bill was then read a third time and passed:
JOINT-STOCK BANKS (SCO ILAND AND IRE-
LAND) BILL.
On the order of the day for bringing up the report on this
Bill being read,
Mr. BOUVERIE objected to the hurry with which the Bill
was carried through the Howie. The Scotch system of bank-
ing had been in existence for a great number of years, and had
%sorked in a most satisfactory manner. He thought that at
least more time should be given to consider the details of the
measure. He would move that the Bill be recommitted that
day six months.
The motion being seconded,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he
could net agree that the Bill had been hurried through the
House. He considered it had been fully discussed. In the
absence of the other members of the Government, he could not
advise any alteration in the Bill. He had, however, no objec-
tion to go into Committee at present, with the understanding
that nothing beyond discussion should take place at present, and
that any t.:ecision on controverted points should take place in a
fuller Houle.
Mr. P. M. STEWART supported the postponement. The
people of Scotland, he considered, had a right to complain of
the manner in which they had been treated on this question.
There was no hurry for legislation. It would be time enough
to do so next session. There was not the least danger that any
harm would come to Scotland if the Bill were not passed this
session. If they persisted in pushing forward this Bill, after
the way in which they had treated another Bill on Friday last,
they would be acting inconsistently, and doing serious injury to
the people of Scotland. All he prayed for was postponement,
that the Bill might be fully considered.
After a few words from the CHANCELLOR. of the Excite.
QUER anti Mr. P. M. STEWART, the motion was withdrawn,
and the Bill was recommitted.