The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1835-08-21 00:00:00

MUNICIPAL. CORPORATIONS BII.!

On the notion of Viscount Melbourne, the house resolved
itself into committee on the above bill.
The 35th ,clause, which provides "that existing mayors and
councils shall go nut of office on the election of councils under
this act, and that these persons who are justices of the peace in
any. borough at the time of passing this act shall continue to ex-
ercise their powers until the lst day of May, 1836; and no
longer," having been read,
Lord LYNDHURST rose and said, he had first to propose a
verbal amendment, and he should next move to strike out the
wools " until the Ist day of May, in the year 1836; and no
longer." To explain his reason fur proposing that amendment,
he should refer to the 96th clause, which set forth, "That it
shall be lawful for. the council of every borough to which his
Majesty shall at any time hereafter be pleased to grant license
in that behalf, and each of them is required,,from time to time,
to name so many fit persons as to the council or each of the said
boroughs respectively from time to time shall deem expedient,
for the purpose of being qualified to receive his Majesty's com-
mission to act as justices of the peace in and for such boroughs
and counties; and his Majesty thereupon may assign so many
of the persons so'named as to his Majesty shall seem fit, to be
his Majesty's justices, and to keep the peace in the said boroughs
and comities," &c. Now, this involved a direct limitation of
the power of the crown, to which he strongly objected. In his
opinion those persons who were at present justices of the peace
in boroughs or counties, in consequence of the right which they
claimed under charter, should continue to hold the same situa-
tion which they now held, but which, under this bill, they were
only empowered to hold until the Ist of May, 1836. He there-
fore proposed to omit the words " until the Ist day of May,
1836, and no longer.".

Lord BannGui-sr said his noble and learned friend had again
got the knife with which, on a former night, he had butchered
the bill. Did he mean that all borough magistrates were to be
justices of the peace, although they might not belong to the
corporation? It was extraordinary to say that an individual
should continue during his life a justice of the peace, because,
as an alderman, he had exercised judicial functions. He did
rot wish to argue as if he were at the bar before his noble and
learned friend, and vet he felt as if he ought to plead before
him, as he appeared to be sitting in judicial authority on the
bill. He should, therefore, request the court (a laugh) to re-
consider the subject, and pass a different sentence from that
which the noble and learned lord has been pleased to pronounce.
(Laughter.)

r. •
Lord LYNDHURST had heard with patience the argum..at of
his noble friend, but it had not induced him to come to a differ-
ent conclusion. (Hear, hear.) He saw no reason why those
individuals who had filled the office of justice of the peace un-
der charter, and bad performed their duties efficiently, should
be removed from that situation. If the noble and learned ad- ,
vocate choose to cause a writ of error to be moved in the other
house of parliament, he must patiently await the decision.
Lord BROUGHAM.—You wrote your judgment before hearing
the case. (Laughter.)
Viscount 111LcaollaNE said their lordships had agreed
that to the principle' of the measure ; they had admitted that a
reform of the municipal corporations was necessary, and how
were they now proceeding ? They were sweeping away from
this bill almost everything—almost every point that could be
useful. It was impossible that their lordships could have taken
means more effectual to prevent this measure from remedying
any of the evils that had been complained of, or from producing
auy of the advantages which was expected to arise from it, than
those which they had adopted. (Hear.) The preservation of
so mach abuse, and, moreover, the preservation of so much of '
that which it was desirable on every account to get rid of, ren-
dered the bill perfectly inefficient fur 'the purposes for which it
was originally intended. He should make no opposition either
to this or to any other amendment, because from the determina-
tion by which their lordships had shown themselves actuated at
present, such opposition would be evidently useless. But when
these amendments of their lordships should all be adopted, and
when the bill should be seen in the state in which their lordships
might be diiposed to leave it, it would then be matter of serious
—ay, of very serious consideration, whether his Nlajesty's minis-
ters could proceed with a measure so mutilated and so spoiled.
(" Hear, hear," from the ministerial benches.)

After a few words from the Marquis of Northampton and the
Duke of Richmond, the amendments were carried without a
division.

On the 30th clause being proposed, which relates to the divi-
sioh of certain boroughs into wards,
Lord ELLENnotroUGH called their lordships' attention to ;erne,
amenthrients which he should. propose to it. In the first' place,.
be objected to giving his Majesty in council the power of *di-
viding the diffeient municipal boroughs into wards. Under the
reform bill the boundaries of the different parliamentary bo-
rougSs had been taken by a parliamentary commission, and
their lordships had already decided that the municipal bounda-
ries of such boroughs as were not parliamentary boroughs should
remain as they were until parliament decided otherwise. The
difficulty, however, of dividing the municipal .boroughs into
wards was greater than that of fixing their boundaries, for their
lordships had no information respecting what ought ao be the
internal limits of the different wards in the differenteorporate
towns Of the kingdom. He was unwilling to say anything that
might prove painful to the feelings of hon. gentlemen who had
been engaged in arduous public duties; yet a sense of public
duty compelled him to say, that in many respects the boundary
commissioners as well as the corporation commissioners had not
acted in a satisfactory manner. (Loud cries of `• Hear " from
the opposition lords.) It was evident to him that they did not
nnderstand the objects for which they were appOinted;—(hear,
hear)—it was likewise evident to him that the instructions issued
to them by his Majesty's government were not calculated to give
them a proper notion of the duties which they had to discharge;
—(hear, hear)—and having that feeliug on his mind, having a
great wantof confidence in these commissioners, and also in the
government which appointed these commissioners, he was un-
willing tottelegate to his Majesty in council the power of dividing,
the municipal boroughs into wards. If such power were granted
to his Majesty in council, or in other words to commissioners
appointed by the government, those commissioners must also be
intrusted with the power of apportioning to the different wards
their lespective number of councillors. Thus they would have
the power of giving to any party which they pleased the power
of deciding all the elections in its own favour. (Cheers from
the opposition benches.) By whom, then, ought this power of
dividing the boroughs into wards to be exercised? It ought to
be placed in the hands of those who had the fullest local informa-
tion, and who were the most likely to be free from all suspicion
of abusing the confidence reposed in them. Now, we should
choose the members of the existing corporate bodies as those who
had the fullest local information; but as they were unfortunately,
he did tot say justly, open to suspicion, they did not combine in
themselves the two qualifications which he deemed necessary,
and therefore his choice would not full upon them. Under the
reform act power was granted to the magistrates assembled in
quarter sessions to divide counties into districts, and to select
the polling places for the several districts. There was, however,
this objection to granting to the magistrates assembled in
quarter sessions the power of dividing the boroughs into wards.
They had not the local information that was necessary to the
proper making of such divisions, though they must be admitted
on all hands to be far above Suspicion. There were, however,
the magistrates of the division neighbouring on the municipal
borough, who most have the requisite local knowledge, and as
they were above suspicion, this power might safely be delegated
to them; and such being the case, he should propose an amend-
ment on this clause giving them that power. (Hear, hear.) He
had also to object to the mode in which this clause limited the
division iuto warts. Under this clause no borough was to be
silivid&l hate swats unless.its popolation. exceeded 12,00tIsinst
habitrirn- But halfilfe.66rOug.as comprised in this bilrcontained
less than 12,000 inhabitants. If their objectin dividing boroughs
into wards was to avoid disturbance at the election of coun-
cillors, that object might be accomplished by increasing the
number of polling places; but the object of dividing boroughs
into wards was, as he conceived, to give all classes and interests
in the community a fair chance of being equally represented.
He would therefore carry the division into wards as low down
as it was possible. For instance, he would assign to every bo-
rough of which the population exceeded 6,00), and was under
9,010 persons, two wards; to every borough of which the popu-
lation exceeded 9,000, and was under 13,, three wards; to
every ' M
bnrongli of which the population exceeded 13,000, and was
under 18,000, four wards; and so on, until you get to boroughs
of which the population varied from 55,000 to 70,000 inhabitants,
when he would divide the boroughs into eight wards. This
mode, he contended, would be more effectual than that proposed
in the bill, if the object of the promoters of it were to give each
and every interest in the borough a fair abate of the representa-
tion. Then came the question, how were the number of coun-
cillors to be apportioned to each ward ? To decide that ques-
tion, their lordships must consider the nature and character of
the constituency which they hail created. He believed that their
lordships had determined to take the constituency as it stood in
the bill as sent up from the House of Commons. Now, its ap-
roared to him that in no way could their lordships have testified
their disposition to adhere as far as they could to the arrange-
ments of the other house of parliament than by adepting that
new constituency. He thought that his Majesty's government
had acted wisely in Riot creating for the municipal elections
the same constituency as had votes for the elections of
members of parliament. It would be dangerous, if not fatal, to
the tranquillity and well-being of the corporate towns, if on
every election of mayor, or town councillnr, or auditor, or any
other municipal officer, there were a trial made of the electoral
strength of the two parties in the state, which would be the case
were the parliamentary and municipal constituency of the bo-
rough the same. He saw great advantage in appointing for the
municipal boroughs a constituency lower than that of the £lO
householders, for it created a dependence of the 'higher classes
on the lower classes of the community, which was done away
with by the reform bill. He thought that their lordships would
admit that in all towns subject to municipal government the
persons rated at a lower sum than £lO would have a great nu.-
merical preponderancy over those who were rated at a higher
suns than EH). Their lordships were, therefore, creating under
this bill a constituency far more numerous than that which ex-
isted under the reform act. Under such circumstances it be-
came a question upon what principle parliament should appor-
tion the number of councillors allotted to the borough among
its different wards—whether it should pay regard to the num-
bers and property combined., For his own part, be thought that
the latter was the consideration to which their lordships ought
principally to look. The combined ratio of numbers and pro-
perty was the' principle.whicts the house adopted in saving the
parliamentary boroughs from the schedhles A arid B of the re-
form bill—it was the principle which the house had adopted in

AV-vestry act—it wa. the principle which the house had adopted
in 4,y_fri excellent act which had passed for the local govern-
met4plManchester. lie, therefore, thought it desirable that
thi4 piinciple should be adopted in this bill; for if you wished
the.bill to be permanent, you ought not. to frame the censti-
tderkey under it in such a Manner as would deprive six-eighths
of them of all real power. lie then moved that the original
clause be left out of the bill, and that in lieu of it a clause con-
taining his amendments be inserted. The noble baron did not
read his clause, and therefore its import must be gathered from
his speech.
__

VISCOLUIt MELBOURNE would not argue against the want of
confidence which the noble baron entertained,- not only towards
the corporation commissioners, but to those who appointed them.
They bad been instructed as follciits.—" You shall not divide
the boroughs into wards, so as to throw the rich inhabitants into
one ward, and the poor into another, but you shall so divide
them as to throw the rich and poor into wards together in nearly
equal proportions." That appeared to him a reasonable in-
struction. The noble baron, who was in general such a stickler
for the prerogatives of the crown, proposed to place the power of
dividing boroughs into wards in the hands of the magistrates of
the divisions neighbouring on the boroughs to be divided, and
refused to place it in the hands Of the king in council, or in
those of the commissioners whom the king in council might ap-
point. Now, he (Lord Melbourne) did not think the course
proposed by the noble baron a prudent course. It was not a
course calculated to secure a wise and tempe6te administration
of the bill. It was taking at haphazard menlvith more or less
discretion, with more or less interest in the local affairs and
prejudices of the different boroughs, and placing in their hands
a power which the noble baron said was of a very delicate na-
ture, and most difficult to be exercised with impartiality. He
could not but think that this power would be more prudently
and more skilfully exercised by commissioners appointed by the
crown than it would be by any magistrates taken at haphazard.
The noble baron had taken upon himself to assert, that the
commissioners under the boundaries act had not conducted them-
selves with discretion and propriety. This was the first time
that he had ever heard such a charge made against them, and
all he should say in reply to it was, that all their pioceedings
had passed under the review of parliament, and that the ob-
jections made against them had been few in number and insig-
nificant in point of weight. It appeared to hint that this
amendment gave a still more aristocratical character to the bill
than was already impressed upon it.
The Earl of Witscitasua supported the amendment. He
expressed his conviction that the bill was brought forward for
party purposes, and for party purposes only—was intended to
depressone party and raise another. The country was sick of
party feelings and party- agitation, and only wished to be at
rest.

The'Earl of RiPow thought, that in fixing 6,00 as the limit
at which division into wards was to commence it as too low, and
that the bill in fixing 12,000 for the same object began ton high.
He doubted the policy of leaving the division of boroughs into
wards to the magistrates of divisions bordering on boroughs,
instead of leaving it to the king in council. He thought that
the king in council was the party to whom this power of divi-
sion ought to be left. The best plan, as it appeared to him,
would be for their lordships to enact in the schedules of the bill
precikely those divisions which they wished to have made. He
admitted, however, that in the present session it was too late to
take that course. To whom, then, ought this power to be in-
trusted? In his opinion to the king in council. By granting
this power to the magistrates of the neighbouring division, you
would, place them in an inconveniently invidious position—
(hear, hear)—because. though they. might be perfectly im-
partial, it did not follow that the inhabitants of the boroughs
would think them so. In conclusion, he expressed an opinion
that in every case where a town had a population of 10,000
souls, there two wards should be established.
The Duke of RICHMOND objected to that part of the amend-
ment which threw upon .the neighbouring magistracy the re-
sponsibility of dividing towns into wards. He thought the power
ought to be confided to commissioners appointed by the crown,
because, if they should happen to do wrong, it would be in the
the power of their lordships to remedy that misconduct after-
wards.

Lord Baouonaat protested against the argument now too
common in the house, namely, that of binding all the parties
to a project, of a bill, when it was first introduced, to every
principle it might contain. Great discontent existed in various
parts of the country owing to the manner in which the 'magis-
trates at quarter sessions had divided counties into districts
under the reform act. •
Lord SXRLMERSDA Le said, that as chairman of the quarter
sessions of the peace for one division of thecounty of Lancaster,
he had been concerned in the nomination of-the polling places
in that county, under the reform act, and he could say that the
magistrates with whom he had acted discharged those duties
with the utmost cheerfulness and unanimity, and he could as-
sure the house that no dissatisfaction had, up to the present
moment; been expressed by any party as to the arrangements
which bs them bad been so made. For his own pert, be would
say he would most cheerfully undertake the duties which, under
the amendment of his noble friend, would devolve upon the ma-
gistracy, and he did not know any magistrate in the same dis-
trict as himself who would not also most cheerfully take his
share of the labour. As it had been said the number of magis-
trates attending petty serions was small, he would suggest that
instead of the clause confining these duties to them, it should
be provided that •the magistrates of the diiision should bold a
special sessions -for the purposes of this bill, and he had no doubt
that special sessions would- be numerously attended. On the
whole, he thought thematter would be better placed in thnhands
of the magistracy than in those of a body of cemmissioncts. He,
however, had no objection to the magistrates first making a
report to the King in Council, and that on that report final sr-
raugements should be made.
The Earl of HARROWHY said that under existing circum-
stances be had strong objections to leave the matter of this divi-
sion into wards to the decision of the King in council. That
body must rely upon information coming from a body of com-
missioners, and it was quite clear to him, looking at the manner
in which they were appointed, and the manner in which they
had already executed the duties intrusted to them, they would
exercise their functions with one particular view and object.
(-lea; hear.) Seeing, therefore the quarter from 'which the
information was to come, ho owned
,he should regret to see the
apportionmont of these boroughs into wards left to the King
council. At the same time, he felt considerable doubts.as to the
propriety of the mode proposed by his noble friend. He agreed
with the noble individuals on the cross benches in thinking
there would be great inconvenience in throwing upon the•ma-
iistracy the responsibility of dividing the boroughainto wards.
The proposition that they should report to the King in council
was well worthy of consideration, and he thought that would he
the least objectionable mode of proceeding. With regard
to the apportionment of the number of councillors to each
ward, he thought the good feeling of the people would' be best
secured by giving the Caine number to each. He threw out this
suggestion for consideration before the bill again was discussed,
and in the meantime be should hope that the clauses proposed,
by his noble friend would be adopted, subject of course to dis-
cussion in a future stage.
After a few words from the Earl of HARROWDY in explana-
tion, and from the Marquis of Bute in support of the amend-
ment, clause 36 was struck out, and the amended clause proposed
by Lord ELLENBOROUGH ordered to stand part of the bill: ,
Clauses 37 to 46 inclusive, after a few verbal amendments
proposed by Lord LYNDHURST, were agreed to, and ordered to
stand part of the bill.
On clause 47 being proposed,
Tice Marquis of BETE objected to the imposition of any fine
on parties refusing to serve the office of mayor or councilman,
and moved that the clause be omitted.

After a short conversation, in which Lord BROUGHAM,
Viscount MRLBOURNk, and Lord LYNDHURST, took part, the
motion was agreed to, and the clause struck out.
Clauses 48 to 52 inclusive were agreed to without any dis-
cussion,

Lord LYNDHURST observing that in a future stage of the bill
he should move a clause, with Which he was not at present pre-
pared, for the purpose of doing justice to the town-clerks and
others who by this bill would be removed. He should bring
forward an amendment to that effect on the recommitment of
the bill.

The clauses up to 64 being money clauses, were, upon the
motion of Lord LYNDHURST, agreed to without discussion.
On clause 65 Lord WHARNCLIFFE observed that this and the
next clause went to give to the town-council a power of licensing
which now lay with the magistrates. He considered that the
power would be better in the hands of the magistrates, as it now
was by law. He moved, accordingly, that clauses 65 and 66 be-
omitted.
Viscount MELBOURNE remarked that the mode in which the
licensing powers were exercised by magistrates had for a long
series of years been complained of. There was an infinife deal
of meddling. Gentlemen were always fretting themselves about
what was going on at "the One Bell," or "the Red Lion."
For his part, he was sure the town-council. would be able to
regulate -this matter in a more satisfactory manner than the
magistrates.
The Duke of Rteinumen proposed that if the power were
transferred to the town-council, It should be under the same
restriction with respect to beer licenses as under the present
system.
_

Lord Briocatisn considered the proposition to strike out
those clauses excessively absurd. The noble ford wopid not
tinder other Circumstances have proposed if, but now be knew
that he might carry anything. Certainly this amendment would
render the bill less acceptable to the people; the noble lord
Surely must be aware of this. He referred to the excellent
working of the new vestries, and staled that he was morally cer-
tain the town-council would execute their tasks in the. exercise
of this power better than the magistrates. He; ould nut cljeide,
however: he wmiid no more think of dividing on flie4neiti‘n
than be would think of taking up the house in his hands, lords
and all, and carrying it over to the other side of the way.
Lord A s HRURTON remarked that more extensive powers would
be given to the town-council than to the new vestries, which he
acknowledged worked well. Nobody ever dreamed before the
introduction of this bill of putting such a power into the hands
of a popularly elected body. No better plan could be devised
of upsetting all form and order.
The Earl of RA ,NOR thought that the town-conncil bein
directly interested in the affairs they had to administer would
manage them.
The Earl of WINCHILSEA supported the amendment, and
thought great evil would result from giving such power to the
town-council.--Amendment agreed to.
Laird LYNDHURST, on clause 67, the purport of which was
to ebat that the council should appolfit charitable trustees,
proputtOd that for "the tat day of January," in the line where
it first ocCurred, should be substituted "the lit day of August."
The words were, "The first council of such borough. to be
elected under the provisions of this act shall, on the Ist day of
January, in the year 1836, appoint a fit number of persons; not
less than nine persons, who shall be charitable trustees of such
borough." His noble and learned friend had a bill on the sub-
ject of charitable trusts, which it was utterly impossible could
pass into a law that session from the time to which they had come,
and the complexity of many of the details. He was anxious to
give the measure his best consideration, and if the noble and
learned lord would bring it in at the commencement of the next
session, and give their lordships something to do at that period,
a law might be made upon this difficult and delicate subject of
charitable trusts before August, and no inconvenience would be
experienced. He would, in addition to August, guard himself
by saying "or until parliament shall otherwise order it ;" or,
should nothing be done before August, he should propose to
have the matter referred to the Court of Chancery; and then
perhaps his noble and learned friend—perhaps the lords com-
missioners, would have an opportunity of settling it as they
thought hest.

Lord BROUGHAM said that if be had been supported by his
noble friend at the head of the government in the resolutions
he proposed two months ago, and if they bad been carried, a
bill might have been at once founded upon them, and migbt
have been before the end of the session made into a law. He
agreed with his noble and learned friend as to the delicacy and
difficulty of dealing with charitable trusts, and, protesting
against being .considered in any degree guilty of the delay,
agreed to bring in his bill on the very first week of the session,
if he should be in that house.

The amendment was agreeik to,
The, clauses up to 74 were\.then, as well as we could collect
from the observations made across the table, agreed to with some
verbal alterations; as were also those as far as 99, without any
uoterial alteration, excepting such as bad been previOusly
agreed on by noble lords on troth sides of the house:
.ctriese 101, Lord LvivntruirsT• proposed an amendment, to
the effect that the existing recorders'in boionglis, being barris-

AI; G L;,T 21. 1535.

tern of five yearc* standing. should retain their present offices
unaffected bM the provisions of the bill, Ohigh weti agreed to
witisiout a division.

The remaining clauses, with some unimportant verbal amend-
ments, were then agreed to.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE wished to ask the noble and
learned lord (Lyndhurst) whether Ute principle of qualification
which he hid proposed was still intended by him to apply to
those corporators who having been self-elected held their offices
for life ?

Lord LYNDnUKST said, than at the time he pmposed the
amendment it was certainly his intention that part of the town
councillors should be elected for life, in the proportion of one-
fourth of the whole number. He would now take the oppor-
tunity to add, that in consequence of what had passed since be
proposed that amendment, he should probably find it necessary
to make some alteration with regard to the qualification of the
'town councillors.

A desultory •conversation ensued which it -was unde-stood
ended in an order that the bill as amended should be printed
and be recommitted for further consideration on Friday next,
(this day week.)

HOCSA OF COMMONS, TUESDAY.
The house met at twelve o'clock.
The public institutions bill was withdrawn, after a. short dis-
Cussion.

The cruelty to animals bill went through committee.
The committee on the public carriages (metropolis) bill was.
in the absence of Mr. Alderman Wood, postponed till Tuesday,
as was also the second reading of the steam-vessels (Thames)
bill.

On the motion of Lord J. Russell, the prisons' regulation bill
was read a third time and passed.
The special constables' bill was considered in committee, and
the house having resumed, the report was brought up and agreed
to, and the bill was ordered to be read a third time to-day.
The St. Margaret't rectory bill was read a second time, and
ordered to be committed.

The lords' amendments to the bankrupts' estates bill were
considered, and agreed to; and the report upon the charity
commissioners bill was brought up and agreed to, and the bill
ordered to be read a third time to-day.
Upon the motion of Mr. P. Thornton, the tonnage admea-
surement bill was read a third time and passed.
The report on the customs' acts was brought up and agreed to.
The wood duties' bill went through committee, was reported,
and ordered to be read a third time to-day.
The spirit licenses and wine permits' bill was read a second
time, and ordered to he committed to-day:
The clerk of the crown bill went through committee, was re-
ported, and ordered to be read a third time to-day.
The consolidated fund bill was read a second time, and or-
dered to be committed on Friday.

The Exchequer.bills bill was read a second time, and ordered
to be committed to-day.
The forgery (Scotland) bill 'and the Court of Exchequer
(Scotland) bi►l were read a third time, and passed.
The insolvent courts (Ireland) bill was reported, and ordered
to be read a third time to-day.
' The larceny (Ireland) bill was read a second time, and or-
dered to be committed to-day.

The report of the sheriffs (Ireland) bill was received, anclehe
bill ordered to be read a third time to-day.
The constabulary force (Ireland) bill went through committee.
The letters patent bill went through committee with amend-
ments—report to-day.
A report from the select committee appointed to inquire into
the existence of Orange lodges in that portionof our army which
is in the colonies was presented to the house. The report stated,
that the committee had summoned befoie them Colonel Fair-
man, deputy grand treasurer and deputy secretary of the Loyal
Orange Lodge of Great Britain, and required him to produce a
letter-book nhich lie admitted he had in his possession, contain-
ing ccpies of letters addressed to persons in the colonies, and
answers thereto, and having reference to that association, and
that he had refused to produce the said letter-book. The hon.
member having bander.' in the report, moved that Colonel Fair-
man be ordered to attend at the bar to-morrow.—Ordered.
On the motion that the report of the marriage act amendment
bill be further considered, Mr. Divett said "he had art amend-
ment to propose to the second clause of the bill, to the effect
that a marriage with the sister of a deceased wife where there
was a child, or children, under twelve years of age, should be
exempt from the operation of the bill. There could be no doubt
that cases might occur where it might ne of essential importance
both to the father and the children that such a marriage should
be permitted." The discussion, however, was stopped by an
bon. member moving that the house be counted, when there
being found to be not forty members present, the house ad-
journed.
HOUSE OF LORDS.--WEogesna v.

The West India slave owners' compensation bill was read a
third time and passed.
A great number of petitions- were presented, principally
against the corporation? bill.
The. peace preservation (Ireland) bill was passed through th e
committee, with some verbal amendments. _ _

Lord DuNcANicoN called the attention of their lordships to
the subject of some temporary accommodation being provided
upon which he wished to receive the instructions- of the house
Left sitting.
HOUSE OF COMMONS.—WEDNESDAY.
The Speaker took the chair at five o'clock.

CARLOW ELECTION.

Mr. C. BA RCL A Y brought up the report of the committee ap-
pinted to try the merits of this election, declaring that Mr.
N igors hod Mr. Sheriff. Raphael were not duly elected; that
Mr. Cavannagh and Mr. Bruen were duly elected knights of
the shire; and that neither the petition nor the opposition were
frivolous or vexatious.

CONSTABULARY FORCE (IRELAND) BILL.
Lord Mom>Ent brought up the report of the committee on
this bill, which was ordered to be read a third time to-morrow..
EXCHEQUER BILLS' BILL.
This bill went through committee and was reported.

ORANGE SOCIETIES.

Mr. Huai gave notice that he should present a petition from
Dublin, to-morrow, complaining of the conduct of the recorder
of Dublin. The. hoe. member then moved. that Col. Fairman
be called to thp bar. of the house. The colonel had refused to
anstver questions put to hini by the orange ledge'conamittee.
The colonel was called in and examined touching the questions
he had refused to answer. The following, among others, are
some of Colonel Fairinan's answers to questions puttc; him by
the speaker:—
Have you answered all the questions that have been put to
you ?—Yes, gratuitously almost.
Is there anv thing that you have refused to answer ?—Not
question thatl am aware of.
Have you produced any document which was demanded ?—I
have produced a great variety of documents. •
Have you produced all the documents that were asked —All
that I consider documents I have produced, or rather they were
extorted from me.

Have you produced all that were required ?-1 don't know
that I have; but I have produced them all with the greatest
pleasure—no, not with the greatest pleasure, but, with great
readiness.

Is there any book that you have refused to produce ?—Not
ans. that I considered the Committee entitled to call for.
Is there any book required from you which you have refused
to produce r—Yes ; there is one.
For what reason have you refused to produce it ?—Becanse it
is a private book. It never was before the Grand Lodge, or the
Committee of the Grand Lodge; and if they had asked for it,
I should have refused it.

Does that Book contain any information respectinr the pro-
ceedings of Orange Lodges ?—lt contains the answers to some
letters; but they more particularly relate to private matters,
unconnected with Orange Lodges.
By Mr. Sergeant Jac snn.—Does the book already produced
before the committee belong to you or to the orange lodge wit-
ness?

I found it in the office, and therefore consider that it belongs
to the lodge. I received it as an heir-loom of my office.
But the book you refuse to produce you consider as your own
private property. ?—I do, certainly.
Does it contain private correspondence ?—Yes, in many in-
stances it does. I made an offer to the committee which I was
blitzed to withdraw, as no honourable mind e4uld act under
threats.—Left sitting.