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in order to maintain the dignity and independence of the judicial bench?

MR. GLADSTONE: Sir, I will proceed to answer the very effective speech of my hon. Friend, which, I may remark, being framed in the form of a Question, he has had the opportunity of delivering twice in this House. My hon. Friend is rather imperfect in his information upon the case. He supposes that some special measures have been taken to prevent the burning of the effigy of Lundy; but no special measures have been taken. Whatever has been done in the matter of the effigy of Lundy has been done upon sworn information sent to the Government beforehand, and setting forth the probability of acts dangerous to the public peace; and the object of the Government has not been to afford any protection or do any honour to the memory of Lundy, but simply to preserve the public peace, which I presume my hon. Friend thinks an object deserving the attention of the Government, though I am not quite sure of that, having regard to the terms of his Question. ["Oh!"] However that may be, I am informed there has been no attempt to burn the effigy of Mr. Justice Keogh, in the place where the effigy of Lundy is burnt.

SIR THOMAS BATESON: The effigy of Mr. Justice Keogh was publicly burnt in the city of Derry.

MR. GLADSTONE: I am told not. I do not know my hon. Friend's source of information; but if he will supply the Government with any details they shall be investigated. No information has been sent to the Government of any apprehended dangers to the public peace arising out of the burning of the effigy of Mr. Justice Keogh, nor has there been any warning to the Government of such disturbances; but the Government have themselves, as my hon. Friend ought to know, used every exertion for the purpose of preventing these acts, have instituted proceedings against various persons concerned in them, have in many cases procured their punishment, and have at this moment, several prosecutions pending against other persons for acts of this nature. The Government have taken these steps, acting upon the best information they could obtain, though never having the advantage which they enjoy with regard to anniversary observances, such as those of Derry Sir Thomas Bateson

that of obtaining before hand the sworn testimony of inhabitants as to an apprehended breach of the peace. That is the answer I have to give to my hon. Friend. But the Government have all along used efforts to preserve the peace, and to prevent outrage of any kind in connection with this painful matter. As to the last part of the Question-whether, "even at this late period," Her Majesty's Government will take measures "to maintain the dignity and independence of the judicial bench" - I decline to answer such a Question. If my hon. Friend has a charge to make gainst us, let him pluck up his courage and bring his charge, and not merely frame a Question embodying it; but let him not frame a Question in a form that implies that the Government have been remiss in their duty; for, at all events, if he does, he will obtain from me no answer.

SIR THOMAS BATESON: Then, Sir, to accommodate the right hon. Gentleman, I beg to give Notice that tomorrow I will move for a Return of the number of places, if any, where the police were successful in preventing the learned Judge being burnt in effigy, this Return not to include the two occasions upon which the rabble, assisted by the Militia, are reported to have vanquished the police.

MR. GLADSTONE: Perhaps, if my hon. Friend desires further information, he will also move for a Return of the number of persons who have been punished for taking part in those proceedings, or who are now under prosecution. I can assure him I shall have no objection to furnish it.

POST OFFICE-TELEGRAPH CLERKS. QUESTION.

MR. SYNAN asked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether the classification of Telegraph Clerks has been as yet approved of by the Treasury, and when it is likely to be issued; and, whether clerks are not leaving the service in consequence of its being so long delayed?

MR. BAXTER: Sir, the Report of the Post Office on the proposed Telegraphic Establishment, including the classification of clerks, is a document of a voluminous and intricate character, extending to 260 closely-printed folio

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pages, and dealing with a variety of questions which require the most careful consideration. It was only received at the Treasury in the course of last month, so that there has been no long delay; but I hope that we may arrive at a decision in the matter before the end of this month. Out of between 5,000 and 6,000 clerks, only 20 have left the service for all causes during the year.

IRISH CHURCH ACT-INCOME TAX
ON COMMUTATIONS.
QUESTION.

MR. PIM asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether his attention has been called to the refusal of the Commissioners under the Irish Church Act to allow the usual deduction for Income Tax off the payments of the annual instalments of tithe rent-charge when converted into an annuity for fifty-two years, under the thirty-second section of the Church Act, notwithstanding that this section states that the payment of these instalments "shall be subject to the same charges, if any, as the rentcharge in lieu of tithes heretofore payable out of the same lands; whether he does not consider that this House, when passing the Church Act, understood the charge for Income Tax to be one of the "charges" referred to in this section; and, whether, if the present law justifies the Commissioners in their refusal to allow the deduction for Income Tax, he is prepared to propose such legislation as will afford the relief which the circumstances require?

did not feel justfied in stating how it was intended to deal with this or other matters.

INLAND REVENUE-CARRIAGE DUTY.
QUESTION.

MR. F. MONCKTON asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, If his attention has been called to a recent decision of magistrates in Lancashire, whereby a farmer residing at Mellor, near Blackburn, was fined £5 for evasion of horse duty, the said evasion being held to consist in the gratuitous driving home of four friends from market; and, whether such decision be in accordance with the spirit and intention of the Act; and, if not, what steps he is prepared to take to remove the uncertainty that exists as to the liability to duty of farm horses occasionally and gratuitously used for purposes not strictly agricultural ?

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THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER: Sir, I cannot say that the decision is against the letter of the Act, but it has always been my opinion that where the Inland Revenue Department are satisfied these services were really gratuitous the burden of proof lying upon the persons who carried them-it is better that such prosecutions should not be instituted. I do not think there is any case for altering the Act, but I will communicate with the Inland Revenue Department and endeavour still further to mitigate the penalty inflicted in the case under notice.

ARMY-THE MILITIA.--QUESTION.

COLONEL PARKER asked the Secretary of State for War, now that the training of Militia Regiments for the year is at an end, What has been the character of the Reports of those Officers who have inspected them?

THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON said, the Commissioners under the Irish Church Act had fully considered the possibility of allowing deductions for income tax to be made from the payments of the annual instalments of tithe rent-charge when converted into an annuity for 52 years, and they had come MR. CARDWELL: I have referred to the conclusion, in the absence of any this Question to the Inspector General special legislation, that they would not of the Auxiliary Forces, who authorizes be justified in making any such deduc- me to reply as follows:-the character of tions, inasmuch as the annual instal- the Reports already received namely, ments included interest and repayment 48-are satisfactory-many of them exof the principal. The subject, however, tremely so showing, although they had been under the consideration of the were satisfactory last year, a considerChurch Commissioners and of the Go-able improvement to which the excepvernment, with reference to the Bill which would shortly be introduced to further amend the Irish Church Act; but until that Bill was introduced, he

tions are few. The Inspection Reports show that inspecting officers have examined minutely and carefully into the drill of officers and men, reporting upon

the efficiency of commanding officers | no case had, he thought, been made for and permanent Staff.

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MR. CARDWELL: Sir, the subject has been very fully and carefully considered. The latest information up to this day enables me to say that there is no reason connected either with the harvest, or with the convenience of the Auxiliary Forces who are going to take part in the Manœuvres, why the original date should be altered. The principal question has been that of Wilton Fair, which is held on the 12th of September. This is not quite settled, but as far as informed, it appears that if the present arrangements are, adhered to the roads leading to Wilton can be cleared in time to provide for the arrival and departure of the sheep.

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METROPOLITAN POLICE-ALLEGED VIOLENCE. -QUESTION.

MR. EYKYN asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If his attention has been drawn to the report port of a case brought before the magistrate

at Hammersmith Police Court, the statement being that an unfortunate man,

after being handcuffed by two constables, was made fast to the stirrup of one of the mounted patrol, who dragged the prisoner along the road and caused him much suffering; and, If such violence

the alteration of the rules. He felt bound further to say that he thought his hon. Friend might have waited a little time, and have given the Chief Commissioner credit for doing that which was right. If for every misdeed, or alleged misdeed, of the police in Lancashire, Yorkshire, Devonshire, or Sussex Questions like the present were asked, he feared that a very considerable part of the time of the House of Commons would be taken up.

METROPOLITAN BOARD OF WORKS -THAMES EMBANKMENT.-QUESTION.

MR. CRAWFORD asked the honour

able and gallant Member for Truro, as Chairman of the Metropolitan Board of Works, If he can state for what purpose excavations are now being made on the vacant land of the Thames Embankment contiguous to the Metropolitan District Railway Station at Westminster Bridge; whether it is proposed to erect any building on such site; and, whether the erection of any such building will meet with the approval of the Board of Works?

COLONEL HOGG said, he believed the excavations which were being made on the spot mentioned by the hon. Gentleman were for the purpose of erecting a club, which was to be called the St. Stephen's Club. The Metropolitan Board disapproved any erection on the land in

question, and they had done all in their power to prevent it. It was their wish that the line of frontage should have been, if possible, so regulated that the view of the Clock Tower should not be

is permitted by the rules laid down intercepted; but the decision of the Board

for the guidance of the police; and, if so, will the Commissioners take such steps as will prevent its recurrence?

MR. BRUCE, in answer to the first part of the question, said, there was considerable doubt with respect to the charge to which it related, and which was now being investigated by the magistrate. The object of the inquiry was to ascertain the facts of the alleged violence, and, if true, to take steps to pre

vent its recurrence in future. Considering, he might add, that within the last year there were 3,325 charges of assault on the metropolitan police, while only one such charge was brought against the police, and that broke down, Mr. Cardwell

had been overruled on an appeal to the Courts of Law, and they had no alternative but to allow the building in question to proceed.

MR. CRAWFORD: By whom was the land sold on which the Club was to be erected?

COLONEL HOGG said, the land in question belonged to the Metropolitan District Railway, and it was acquired, he believed, in the usual manner by purchase.

Afterwards

MR. CRAWFORD asked the hon. Member for Truro, By whom the transfer of land at Westminster Bridge was made to the Metropolitan District Railway Com

pany; what was the value paid for it; | Friend that the duty of the Secretary of and whether the amount went in dimi- State in such cases was confined to adnution of the cost of the Thames Em- vising Her Majesty in the exercise of bankment? the Prerogative of mercy. If any complaint were made against a magistrate in the discharge of his duty, the proper recipient of such complaint was the Lord Chancellor.

COLONEL HOGG said, that, as far as he was aware, the Metropolitan District Railway Company purchased the land from a tavern near the spot; but having had no Notice of the Question, he was not quite certain from whom the freehold had been purchased.

ARMY-THE VOLUNTEERS-WAR

OFFICE CIRCULAR, 1872.—QUESTION.

MR. H. B. SAMUELSON asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether he has considered that the Volunteers stand upon a different footing from the Regular Army in the time at their disposal for shooting, and that before the issue of the War Office Circular dated May 1872, Volunteer Adjutants were able, with good results, to exercise a discretion in the matter; and whether he will reconsider Clause 34, Section 9, of the above-named Circular, in order, if possible, to insert the words "as far as practicable" after the word "Army" in

the third line?

MR. CARDWELL: Sir, no alteration has been made in the discretion exercised by adjutants as to fixing the time of shooting, and therefore it will be unnecessary to alter the Circular. As regards the second Question, I have referred it to the Commandant of the School of Musketry at Hithe.

CRIMINAL LAW-THE DROITWICHI

MAGISTRATES.-QUESTION. MR. SHERRIFF asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been directed to a case reported in the "Worcestershire Chronicle" of the 3rd instant, wherein it is stated that a farmer, charged before the magistrates at Droitwich with cruelly beating a boy in bed with a whip till it was destroyed, and afterwards attacking him with a stick, was fined 58. and 40s. costs, 58. of which was awarded to the complainant; whether he considers the fine inflicted a sufficient punishment for an assault so aggravated; and, whether he will take any steps in the matter?

MR. BRUCE said, he had received no complaint on the subject, nor had he any information. He would remind his hon.

METROPOLITAN GAS COMPANIES.

QUESTION.

MR. STEPHEN CAVE asked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether Her Majesty's Government contemplate the introduction of any measure for the purpose of extending the provisions of the City of London Gas Act of 1868 to the other Metropolitan Gas Companies?

MR. CHICHESTER FORTESCUE said, that Her Majesty's Government had no present intention of extending the powers conferred by the Gas Act of 1868, and he might remind the right hon. Gentleman that more than one Select Committee since that year conferred powers upon gas companies not in accordance with that Act. By a scheme of amalgamation now being prepared by the Chartered and Western Companies, five out of the thirteen companies would be brought under the operation of the

Act.

IRELAND-DUBLIN METROPOLITAN

POLICE.-QUESTION.

MR. CALLAN asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, with reference to his answer to Sir John Gray on Friday last, Whether Colonel Lake sanctioned or knew of the placing of the spontaneous protest of some of the force on the table in the inspector's room or elsewhere; and, whether he will be good enough to inform the House of the grounds which have been assigned for the dismissal of John Doyle and James Doyle from the Dublin Metropolitan Police?

THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON said, he had the authority of Colonel Lake for stating that he neither sanctioned nor knew of the placing of the spontaneous protest referred to on the table of the inspector's room or elsewhere. In answer to the latter part of the Question, he had to inform the hon. Gentleman that the Chief Commissioner had the power-and it was perfectly well known to every member of the force that

he had it-of dismissing any member of Estimates. The Estimates would, he

it without assigning any cause. The Chief Commissioner had exercised that power in the present instance, and he must decline to state on what grounds he had deemed it right to dismiss John and James Doyle. There were certain other statements which were made in a letter which appeared in a Dublin newspaper-from which he thought the hon. Member had obtained his informationwhich had reference to a superintendent,

and which were false.

believed, be taken with the ordinary Education Vote, but he could not say on what day.

ARMY-REGULATION BILL-MILITIA STOREHOUSES. -QUESTION.

MR. HUNT asked the Secretary of State for War, in the event of the Military Forces Localization (Expenses) Bill becoming Law this Session, How soon afterwards will the War Department be prepared to take possession of and to

ARMY RE-ORGANIZATION-ARMY COM- pay for the Militia storehouses at the

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TENANTS.-QUESTION.

LORD CLAUD HAMILTON asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to accord the same privileges to the Officers of the Line who were gazetted as "Ensigns" prior to the date of the Commissions of the Officers of the Guards, whose appointments have now been confirmed?

MR. CARDWELL: Sir, the officers of the Line who were gazetted as ensigns prior to the date of the officers of the Guards-namely, the 28th of Octoberhave commissions as lieutenants, and will be antedated to the same date as the officers of the Guards, and have precedence of them by virtue of their former commissions. Their number is 834. Those who were gazetted subsequently will be sub-lieutenants, and take their regular place according to the custom of the Service.

IRELAND-THE QUEEN'S COLLEGES. QUESTION.

MR. SYNAN, for the O'CONOR DON, asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland,

Whether the Government intend to take any steps to carry out the recommendation of the Committee on Public Accounts, that the Consolidated Fund be relieved from the annual charge of £21,000 for the maintenance of the Queen's Colleges in Ireland, and that the whole of their requirements be made the subject of estimate?

THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON said, the Government had formed no intention of transferring the charge of £21,000 for the Queen's Colleges in Ire

land from the Consolidated Fund to the The Marquess of Hartington

Depôt Centres?

MR. CARDWELL: Sir, general officers have been called upon in some cases - and will in all, as soon as the final report shall have been received to report after inspection by officers of Royal Engineers in what cases it is desirable to take over the storehouses which belong to the counties. These reports will, as soon as the Bili shall have passed, be taken into immediate consideration, and negotiations for purchase will be immediately entered into with reference to those which it is desirable to purchase. The remainder the counties will be at liberty to dispose of.

ADMIRALTY AND WAR OFFICE RE-
BUILDING BILL.-QUESTION.

MR. CORRY asked the First Commis

sioner of Works, Whether the evidence before the Committee, to which the Admiralty and War Office Rebuilding Bill is to be referred, is to be restricted to that of persons interested in the private property proposed to be taken, or whether the Committee will also be em

powered to consider the plan and the internal arrangements of the New Offices,

and to take evidence thereon?

MR. AYRTON said, that a few days ago he had announced that he deemed it necessary to consult the wishes of the House whether the Bill should pass in its present form. Since that period he had elicited from hon. Members an ex

pression of opinion fatal to the success of the Bill, having regard to the late period of the Session. Indeed, there was no hope of its being discussed with the fullness commensurate with its im

portance till another year.

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