MR. SHAW said, that so far as he was concerned he was disposed to make a concession to the hon. Member for Roscommon, if the hon. Gentleman would make a concession to him. At the same time, he did not hesitate to say that the hon. Member had acted very fairly in making concessions during the progress of the Bill, and he did not think that, in that respect, the opponents of the measure had any ground whatever for complaint. He had an Amendment on the Paper; but he was perfectly willing to withdraw it at the present stage, and bring it up on Report, if the hon. Gentleman could give him any assurance that Report would come on at such a time that the proposition could be fairly discussed. It had been said, however, that Report would be put down for the first day after the Whitsuntide Recess, and that he regarded as quite unreasonable. Those for whom he spoke had no wish to prolong discussion on the Bill. They could now do but little good by sitting up in the House night after night and debating it. The only two Amendments of any consequence which remained to be disposed of, were that of which he had given Notice and that which the hon. Member for Westmeath (Mr. P. J. Smyth) had placed upon the Paper with regard to compensation; and, as he had already indicated, if any assurance could be given in respect to time, he would be willing to reserve his Amendment until the Report. carry the Bill. He did not say that there was any undue interference with the proceedings of the House, when hon. Gentlemen sat up night after night for the purpose of promoting a certain measure; but their doing so certainly showed that they took a deep interest in the Bill which was under consideration. Well, the advocates of this measure had not only accepted the Amendments which had been originally proposed by the Government, but they had also accepted a very important Amendment which his right hon. Friend (Mr. Lowther) had advised them to adopt, limiting the operation of the Act to a certain number of years. Under these circumstances, and having arrived at this stage, he did not think that anyone could fairly find fault with the promoters of the Bill for endeavouring to conduct it in such a manner as they considered best. On the one hand, he was afraid that he was not in a position to offer them very much in the way of facilities; and, on the other hand, he did not feel that he had any right to interfere with their liberty of judgment as to the way in which they should proceed with the Bill in its remaining stages. He would suggest, if he might, to hon. Members who intended to propose new clauses or Amendments that, instead of delaying, it would be more reasonable on their part to move those clauses or Amendments at the present stage, so that the opinion of the Committee might at once be taken upon them. Or, if they did not do so now, they might reserve to themselves the right of doing it on Report. He certainly thought it was not at all to be wondered at that the promoters of the Bill, having gone through so much, and having been supported by a large number of Members in bringing the measure to the point which it had now reached, should be anxious to proceed with it and to carry it forward. SIR JOSEPH M KENNA deprecated the adoption of such a course as that of merely proposing dilatory Motions to the effect that the Chairman should report Progress, or that the Chairman should leave the Chair. At the same time, he hoped that, after the Amendment which stood next on the Paper had been dealt with, the hon. Member for Roscommon (the O'Conor Don) would consent to Progress being reported. The Chancellor of the Exchequer MR. ONSLOW said, he desired to ease the minds of any hon. Members who might be troubled with reference to the Report. It was his intention to move, when the Report came on, that it should be considered that day three months. He considered that it was quite unjustifiable to ask the Committee to continue sitting at that hour of the morning (10 minutes past 2 o'clock), for the purpose of endeavouring to make some progress with the Bill. MR. J. LOWTHER hoped that the hon. Member who was in charge of the Bill would, when he thought of the interests which were at stake, see his way to affording an assurance that due Notice would be given, in order that there might be a fair discussion on Report. THE O'CONOR DON said, he could not really understand these appeals which were made to him. An appeal the Bill, of which he had no cognizance, and which were not then before the Committee. As to the remarks that had just been made respecting the fact that he (Mr. J. Lowther) had not taken part in the last, or, in fact, it might have been added, all the recent divisions, he must enter a protest against the doctrine it was attempted thus to lay downnamely, that by the granting of facilities in respect of time which the Government had loyally carried out, they were bound, also, to record their votes in favour of a Bill for which they were in no sense responsible; and he must emphatically protest that he could not be expected to be attached to the triumphal car of the hon. Member for Roscommon at all hours of the morning, and to walk through the Lobbies in constant divisions upon a measure of which he had frequently expressed his disapproval. With regard to the proposal of the hon. Member for Cork (Mr. Shaw), he did not understand that hon. Gentleman to wish any specific day mentioned for consideration of the Report on the Bill. What he understood the hon. Member to object to was a particular day on which he did not think the Report ought to be taken up; and that was the first day after the Recess. It would be unreasonable to expect the hon. Member for Roscommon to name a day when the Report would be dealt with. That hon. Gentleman had not command of the time or the arrangements of the House. had been made to him on a previous | agreements respecting other portions of occasion, to the effect that if he consented to make this a temporary measure, further opposition to it would be withdrawn. "No!"] He had consented to the principle of the Amendment which had been proposed in that direction; but he had only done so to find that, instead of the concession having any effect, he now met with the same opposition as before. His hon. Friend talked of his naming a day for the Report, as if he had at his disposal the remaining days of the Session. The day when the Report might be taken was not a matter within his discretion. He could not, except by consent, bring it on after half-past 12 o'clock; but, the Bill having met with such persistent and consistent opposition, its promoters had no other resource open to them than that of endeavouring to take advantage of whatever chance they could get. Hon. Gentlemen could stop Report being proceeded with after the hour he had mentioned; and they knew what likelihood there was, until the Government gave the promoters of the Bill another day, of it coming on at an earlier hour. In these circumstances, he could only tell his hon. Friends distinctly that, whenever he found an opportunity of bringing it forward, he should feel obliged to take advantage of that opportunity. What good, however, could possibly result from these constant wrangles in the early hours of the morning? So far, the concessions which he had made had not had the slightest effect in reducing the opposition to the Bill; and, at the present moment, he did not know that there was any real offer before him. If his hon. Friends would say that they would allow the Bill to pass through its remaining stages, and be reported to the House, then that would be some ground for asking him not to take advantage of every chance which might be afforded him of getting on with the measure; but, so far as he understood, there was no such proposal before him or the Committee. MR. J. LOWTHER said, that while he had suggested at a previous Sitting that the operation of the Act should be limited to a certain number of years, he had done so upon the merits of the proposition itself, and not in connection with any supposed understandings or MR. SHAW said, he had intended to point out that it was not advisable to take the Report before the expiration of a certain period. There would be but a short Recess; Irish Members had long distances to go, and they had a good deal of business to attend to within a limited period. MR. SULLIVAN said, he had exerted himself on the previous day with the hon. Member for Roscommon in order, if possible, to meet the views of the more reasonable section of the opponents of the Bill; but now, whenever a compromise was suggested, the latter hon. Gentlemen appeared to be desirous of having it all their own way. There were surely two sides to a compromise; and if the supporters of the Bill mentioned a day, as a matter of fact, before which the Report would not be taken, would there be an undertaking given, on the part of its opponents, that the threat of the hon. Member for Guildford (Mr. Onslow) would not be carried out? If no such undertaking were forthcoming, and if the advocates of the measure were to be met with implacable opposition, there was no course open to those who supported the Bill except to push the measure forward by every means in their power, and thereby vindicate their own self-respect and the position and honour of the House. MR. SHAW could only say what he had said before; and, in doing so, he spoke for himself alone. As far as his Amendment went, he was now willing to take it off the Paper and to bring it on upon Report, and he would strongly recommend other hon. Members to adopt a similar course. At such an hour as that it did not appear to him that there was any prospect or possibility of discussing Amendments with any degree of satisfaction. MR. ONSLOW said, that the remarks which he had made appeared to have been somewhat misunderstood. All he had intended to say was that it was his purpose to oppose the Bill on Report. MR. DICKSON suggested that the opponents of the measure should allow the Bill to pass through Committee that night, on the understanding that the discussion on the remaining new clauses should be taken on the Report, and that the Report itself should not be proceeded with before the 17th of June. On such an understanding as this, the measure might now be reported pro formâ. MR. J. LOWTHER said, he regarded the proposal of the hon. Member as very reasonable, and he hoped that it would be agreed to. MR. ONSLOW said, that on the distinct understanding that those who objected to the Bill would have an opportunity of opposing it on Report, he asked leave to withdraw his Motion for reporting Progress. Motion, by leave, withdrawn. TENANT RIGHT (IRELAND) BILL. (Lord Arthur Hill-Trevor, The Marquess of Hamilton, Mr. Mulholland, Captain Corry, Mr. Chaine.) [BILL 31.] COMMITTEE. Bill considered in Committee. (In the Committee.) MR. MACARTNEY said, that this measure was one of great importance to Ireland. He had given Notice of two new clauses which it was his intention to move; but the Committee could not be expected to discuss them at that late hour. Moreover, the Irish Members had all left the House under the impression that the noble Lord who had charge of the Bill did not intend to bring it on. Under these circumstances, he hoped that the noble Lord would allow Progress to be reported. SIR SYDNEY WATERLOW also trusted that the Committee would agree to Progress being reported. He had two Amendments to bring forward which really touched the principle of the Bill. Committee report Progress; to sit again upon Tuesday next. MINUTES.]-PUBLIC BILLS-First ReadingHighways (South Wales) (98); Poor Law Amendment Act (1876) Amendment (99); Monuments (Metropolis) (No. 2) * (100); Local Government Provisional Orders (Artizans' and Labourers' Dwellings)* (101); Public Health (Scotland) Provisional Order (Lochgelly)* (102); Truro Bishopric * (103). Second Reading-Telegraphs (77). Bill reported; as amended, to be con- Report-Acknowledgment of Deeds by Married sidered upon Monday, 17th June. Women (Ireland) * (87). Third Reading-Contagious Diseases (Animals)* (88), and passed, Mr. Sullivan THE GERMAN NAVY-DESTRUCTION OF THE IRON-CLAD "DER GROSSER Whether Lord Russell's political and personal claims are such that the public would not be unwilling to make some recognition of the services of so distinguished a statesman whose name has so long been associated with the political history of the country? I have reason to believe that Her Majesty's Government, sympathizing with that feeling, have anticipated the purpose of my inquiry, and that there have been some munications-I do not know precisely what they have been-with the family of the deceased Earl. Perhaps the noble Earl the First Lord of the Treasury will state to the House what has been the nature of those communications, and what has been their result? com EARL DE LA WARR asked the noble Lord who represented the Admiralty in that House, Whether he could give their Lordships any information as to the reported loss of a German ironclad ? LORD ELPHINSTONE: I am sorry not to be in a position to give a full statement of details with regard to this unfortunate loss to the German Navy. The facts are simply these-The German iron-clad Squadron, consisting of the Preussen, König Wilhelm, and Grosser Kurfürst, left Wilhelmshavn on the evening of the 29th instant, for Plymouth, en route to the Mediterrranean. The THE EARL OF BEACONSFIELD: My Squadron was observed passing Dover at Lords, Her Majesty, and Her Majesty's 8.45 A.M.; and at 9.50 A.M., when about Government, felt they were only expressseven miles S.S.W. of Folkestone, a ing the general feeling of the nation, collision took place between the König when they offered that the interment of Wilhelm and the Grosser Kurfürst in the that great statesman whom we have endeavour to avoid a collision with a lost should be public, and that he should merchant vessel. The Grosser Kurfürst be buried in the shadow, as it were, of appears to have sunk at once, and the that venerable Abbey where in youth he Konig Wilhelm to have been severely was educated, and where the greater damaged. The Coastguard at Folkestone part of his eminent career was passed. and Sandgate rendered immediate as-It was, of course, impossible to come to sistance; and, on the unfortunate occurrence being reported to the Admiralty, orders were sent to Portsmouth for the Lord Warden and Hercules to proceed to Folkestone at full speed to assist the König Wilhelm, and a powerful tug was also ordered from Sheerness for the same object. The Coastguard officers reported that between 180 and 200 of the crew have been saved, and about 300 lives lost. Orders have been sent to Portsmouth for dock accommodation to be prepared for the König Wilhelm, and she is now on her way to that port. She is reported to be making water fast. The Grosser Kurfürst is like our Monarch; tonnage, 6,663; guns, four 10-inch Krupp, in two turrets. The Konig Wil-hamshire. helm is a broadside iron-clad frigate; tonnage, 9,425; guns, 26 Krupp. THE LATE EARL RUSSELL. EARL GRANVILLE: My Lords, if it be not regarded as presumptuous in one who for 40 years was politically connected with the late Earl Russell in Parliament, I would ask a Question of which I have given private Notice to the noble Earl the First Lord of the Treasury. It is, any decision on the subject without making ourselves acquainted with the feelings of his family, and with the desire, were it expressed, of the departed himself. I will not say I regret it, because I am sure the result has been brought about by sentiments and considerations with which we must all sympathize, and which all of us must respect; but, within the last few minutes, I have been authoritatively informed that the widow of this illustrious man declines the public mark of the veneration of the Nation, in consequence of the express declaration in the will of Earl Russell that he should be buried with his family and ancestors at Chenies, in Bucking TELEGRAPHS BILL-(No. 77.) (The Lord Chancellor.) Order of the Day for the Second Reading, read. THE LORD CHANCELLOR, in moving that the Bill be now read a second time, said, its object was a simple onenamely, to determine the rights of the Post Office in respect of the establishment of telegraphic lines on undertakings authorized by special Act of Parliament, | captains and commanders, under whom to lay down regulations in respect of such lieutenants had only recently served compensation and fine for injury to tele- and acquired the knowledge of their graphic lines of the Post Office, and to duties. provide for other such matters. He thought it right to bring in the Bill, in consequence of a wish expressed in their Lordships' House last year that such legislation should be embraced in a general Act rather than in special clauses of particular Acts of Parliament. MR. W. H. SMITH: Sir, I am hardly able to admit that the_old_navigating officers are suffering under the injustice suggested in this Question. No right or privilege has been taken away from them, and the Admiralty is careful not to place old navigating officers under the Motion agreed to; Bill read 2a accord-been subordinate to them as navigating command of young officers who have ingly, and committed to a Committee of officers before promotion. The case of the Whole House on Monday next. the navigating officers is now under consideration, and the interests of the older navigating officers will be duly considered. COMMISSIONERS OF NATIONAL EDU- MR. RICHARD POWER asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, If he is aware that the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland have discontinued several of the Agricultural Model Schools throughout Ireland, and advertised for sale the buildings and farms used for the purposes of agricultural instruction; and can he state under what circumstances and for what reasons such course has been taken by the Commissioners? MR. J. LOWTHER: Sir, this is a subject which does not come within the jurisdiction of the Irish Government, as sales of the farms have been carried out by the National Board of Education, under instructions from the Treasury. This course is in accordance with the Treasury Departmental Committee, of which the hon. Member for Whitby (Mr. W.H.Gladstone) acted asChairman, which inquired into the National Board during the years 1873 and 1874. With regard to the reasons which are advanced for these sales, I may say that these farms were originally instituted for the purpose of affording instruction in good farming throughout the country. The expectation that they would effect that filled, and the scheme, having proved a object, unfortunately, has not been fulfailure, has been abandoned. MR. SAMPSON LLOYD asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, Whether any (and if any, what) steps have been taken or are in contemplation to do justice to the old navigating officers of the Royal Navy, now that the navigating duties have been thrown open to all executive officers, and thus young navigating sub-lieutenants become on proMR. ARTHUR MILLS asked the motion the seniors of navigating staff Under Secretary of State for India, The Lord Chancellor INDIA-THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT. QUESTION. |