Northern Times. — 1857-07-01 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

WEDNESDAY, JUDY 1, 1857.  THE DAY'S NEWS.  The Select Committee of the House of Commons has concluded its inquiry respecting the Mersey Conservancy Bill. The whole' of the clauses unconsidered were gone through yesterday, and several amendments made. -Our readers will observe that Mr. Calvert made a determined effort-on the part of the Great Western aailway-Company, to secure to that body certain rights and privileges; but this Sir Jemes-Graharn resisted, remarking that the Great Western Railway Company were the promoters of the bill, and the committee were obliged to create a new trust at their suggestion.; and yet they did not seem ,to have confidence in their own trust. Failing in this attempt, Mr. Calvert next sought to have compensation for injuries sustained in consequence of the stream of the Mersey being diverted from its proper course by certain dock works on the Lancashire side of the-river The committee, although admitting that injury had been done to the Cheshire frontage, would not sonsect that the clause should -be retrospective. The °Conservancy Bill beingeompleted, a discussion ensued, as to the course to be adopted with the Construction Bill Mr. Merewether, on the part of the. C,ornoratinn -I,,,timAt;r:?a would edispute the Committee's decision in the House. -of Lords. The -Construction Bill will be taken into consideration to-day. Her Xejesty the Queen paid her promised visit to the Art Treasures Ellibition, at Manchester, yesterday, where she met a cordial and -truly loyal reception. The Mayor of Manchester had the honauz of being knighted. The scene at-the Palace is deocribed as being one ofeanusualinterest. Great preparations were made 'for the occasion, not only in. Manchester, bat the borough of .Salford. Nothing could exceed the enthusiasm and loyalty of the LaWr thousands who congregated to do honour to the first of sovereigns, and the -best ofladies. -We are gratified to learn that her Majesty seemed in the enjoyment of excellent health and Spirits. The fact of the Princess Royal, and her inte-nded husband, Prince Frederick of Prussia being -present, added additional intereseto the whole affair. An address was presented to his goyal Highness from the Corporation of Man chestier. The eeretnony took place in the Townhall; and the Prince appears to have won the good opinioc. of all with whom he came in contact. Theellouse of Commons was last night engaged in dieeuesing the motion of Mr. Berkeley, for the adoption of Vote by Ballot. As a matter of course, the resolution was not carried. But the -vote of last night:is particularly interesting, from the fact that it is the first time we had the opporunity of te.sting what real progress has been made in . the cause of Reform by the late general elections end the division list will be anxiously looked for. The debate was not characterised by any new argument, but the fact of so many election petitions being before the House, complaining of bribery and corruption, intimidation, and other acts of illegality, JAW have satiseed all sides of the House., that postpone as we may the adoption of the ballot, it must ultimately be conceded, as one of the beat meaos to do away with the many awl glaring evils connected with our parliamentary elections. TheChaecellor of the Exchequer opposed Mr. Berkeleyh emotion, on the ground that he could net consent to force uponethe people of this country institutimis altogether etheagnant to their habits and .feelings, and he morhover considers that the ballot w0p.14 not provide t;;a secrecy for which it was proposed. In corinceion with this subject, we may ,mention that, on Uoeday night, a large and highly iteduential meetipg was held in London, for the purpose of suppertiog the cause, Among the chief speakers were .the Eight Honourable Milnerklibs-on, who urged .at the time for argument upon the subject was gone by, and, that the present was the time for action. They had to compel Lord Palmerston to concede the ballot, and to make its part of his new Reform Bill. On a division, the motion for leave to bring in a bill upon the subject was rejected : the nunabere being 199 for, and 257 against—majority 68. We shall eablish the division list to-morrow, whereby our readers can perceive how honourable rhembers have ,acted up to their hustings pledges at the last general election The other parliamentary business was net of any importance. We give-in another nart of this day'e impression, C brief report, of the exemination of Spoiler), who ie charged with the murder of Mr. Little." The testimony of his own daughter, Lucy, is very