and gallant Friend. A small Com- missioners for the Paris Exhibition, mittee had been appointed to consider this subject. The Committee had presented their Report; but he thought that it would be necessary to refer it back to them with reference to certain particular points. 1878, have (out of the moneys granted THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER: Sir, the arrangement that has been made with respect to the grant for the Paris Exhibition is that it shall be entirely at the disposal of the Commissioners, subject to the control of the Treasury, and the necessity of providing proper vouchers. It would not be consistent with the arrangement that has been made that the Government should interfere in any way with the appropriation of that money, and such a suggestion as that contained in the hon. and learned Member's Question should be addressed to the Royal Commissioners themselves. MR. LYON PLAYFAIR, as Chairman of the Finance Committee of the Exhibition, answering a further Question by the hon. and learned Member, said, that he would remind the House that in 1867 Parliament granted for the expense of the British section £130,000, and on this occasion had only granted £50,000. Therefore, great economy was required. The utmost the Commission could grant for the benefit of artizans visiting the Exhibition was £100, and this would be applied through the Society of Arts, who were gathering subscriptions in order, if possible, to send artizans from all parts of the United Kingdom. COAL MINES-THE BLANTYRE COL LIERY EXPLOSION.-QUESTION. MR. MACDONALD asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If his attention has been called to the Report of Inspector Moore as to the explosion which took place on the 20th August 1877, in the No. 2 Pit, Blantyre, in which he states "That a fall of the roof took place in the waste close to them, which brought down some fire-damp. It ignited at their naked lights, and burned them both;" MR. MELDON asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether, having re- whether Inspector Moore visited the surgard to the fact that the Royal Čom-vivor, Francis McMulty, to get any in formation as to the cause of the explosion | Government will adopt to save these to frame the Report, as the survivor poor people from such expense? alone could give a true account of the explosion; and, whether it be true that an order was given for the fireman Black to be prosecuted for a breach of the special rules; and, if so, why the prosecution was abandoned some time before the explosion on the 22nd October, by which he lost his life? THE LORD ADVOCATE: Sir, I would remind the hon. Member that he has been long familiar with the terms of a Mr. Moore's Report, and that Report correctly ascribes the death of one man and the injury of another to an explosion of fire-damp on the 20th of August, 1877. Inspector Moore did not visit the boy who was injured, because while in the pit he received information from number of men who professed to have been present, and to have witnessed the accident. No order was ever issued, and therefore no order was cancelled for a prosecution against the fireman Black. It was the duty of the Procurator Fiscal to make an investigation, with a view to prosecute anyone concerned who might be legally liable for the result. The Procurator Fiscal had not completed his investigation at the time the second explosion took place, when Black lost his life. MR. MACDONALD: The right hon. and learned Gentleman fails to notice whether Inspector Moore examined the boy or not. THE LORD ADVOCATE: Sir, I was under the apprehension misapprehen sion, it seems-that I had stated that Inspector Moore did not examine the boy because he had received in the pit information from persons who had seen the accident. ARMY-THE RESERVE FORCES. QUESTION. MR. ALDERMAN M'ARTHUR asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether it is a fact that the wives of the men of the Reserve Forces who have been called out are required to produce certificates of their marriage and the birth of their children, involving a cost of about three shillings and seven pence for each certificate, before the allowance granted by Government is paid them; and, if so, what steps the COLONEL STANLEY: Sir, the regula tions require no such certificates as those mentioned; but only a declaration to be made by the Reserve man when he first comes up for service with the Colours, in which he gives the particulars of his family. COUNTY GOVERNMENT BILL-MANAGEMENT OF RIVERS.-QUESTION. President of the Local Government Board, Whether, pending the passing of the County Government Bill, he will take any steps to carry out the recommendation of the Lords' Committee on Floods; and, whether he will introduce or facilitate any measure for placing the control and management of Rivers in the hands either of new Conservancy Boards or of existing Local Authorities? MR. ARTHUR PEEL asked the MR. SCLATER-BOOTH, in reply, said, the clause referred to was inserted in the County Government Bill, not with the view of giving complete_effect to the recommendations of the Lords' Committee on Floods, but with the object of taking a useful step in the direction indicated by that Report. The subject had not been lost sight of by the Government, and he hoped there would be more complete legislation with respect to it before long. He could not, however, give any assurance that he would lay on the Table any further measure dealing with it during the pre sent Session. MERCHANT SHIPPING-CARDIFF PILOTS.-QUESTION. MR. PULESTON asked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether his attention has been given to the circumstances under which two Cardiff pilots were and are still suspended; whether the explanations which have been offered by the Cardiff Pilotage Board, in reply to a Memorial to the Board of Trade by the general body of Cardiff pilots against this suspension, are deemed to be satisfactory; if it be a fact that since these pilots were suspended several serious casualties have occurred to vessels while leaving the port of Cardiff; and, whether he is informed of the circumstances under which pilots were induced to take these vessels out? The QUESTIONS. THE O'CONOR DON asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether, under all the circumstances connected with the Irish Sunday Closing Bill and the interest evinced in it, he will give any facilities for proceeding with the Bill at an earlier hour in the evening than would otherwise be possible? VISCOUNT SANDON: Sir, my attention has been called to the circumstances SALE OF INTOXICATING LIQUORS ON SUNDAY (IRELAND) BILL. to which my hon. Friend refers. explanations which have been offered by the Cardiff Pilotage Board are not complete, and I have asked for further inThere is no reformation from them. cord whatever in the Department of any serious casualties, other than collisions to vessels entering or leaving Cardiff, since the first pilot was suspended. The Receiver of Wreck for the district resome "there have been ports that groundings where the damage has not been material," and none of these groundings have been of such a character as to necessitate their being reported casualties." Neither the Board of Trade nor their officer on the spot know anything of the circumstances in which pilots have been induced to take the vessels out. as HON. DIPLOMATIC APPOINTMENTS THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER: Sir, I have always been most anxious, on the part of the Government, to fulfil the engagement which we entered into-that in the event of certain Amendments being adopted we should give facilities for the progress of the Bill. I understand that an agreement has been come to between the promoters and the leading opponents of the Bill that, if a fair opportunity is given for discussion, the discussion should take place on the merits of the clauses, and should not be merely of a dilatory character. In view of that arrangement, I MR. BENETT - STANFORD asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whe- have caused the Order for the Sale of Inther the appointment of Military At-toxicating Liquors on Sunday (Ireland) taché has ever been considered as a Bill to be placed as the second Order diplomatic appointment; whether any after Supply, and I propose to adjourn persons holding that position have ever the Committee of Supply at a reasonbeen promoted into diplomacy in conse-able hour-say between 11 and 12—in and whether on the contrary order that there may be a discussion on it has not always been held as a Military Staff appointment? ATTACHE.-QUESTION. quence; THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER: Sir, I am informed that the appointment of a military attaché is made in the same way as that of all other When Colonel Wellesley's appointment was notified to our Ambassador at St. Petersburg, in 1871, his Excellency was told attachés. "To consider Colonel Wellesley as part of his diplomatic establishment, and to employ him in the business of the Embassy in whatever way he might deem most beneficial to Her Majesty's service." The expenses of military attachés were, the Bill. MR. ONSLOW asked the hon. Member for Roscommon, Whether it is the intention of the Government to proceed with the Bill to-night; and, also, whether it is intended to put down the Bill for the Session? every Government night in the course of THE O'CONOR DON, in reply, said, that the answer given by the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the House was a sufficient reply to the first part of the Question; and of course, as the Government promised facilities for the Bill, it was his intention to proceed with it that night. With regard to the furof power ther progress of the Bill, he should certainly take every means in his pressing it on at any hour which the majority of the House thought a reasonable one for proceeding with it. SIR JOSEPH M'KENNA asked, Whether the right hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer is aware that the agreement entered into upon 34 the last occasion applied only to the 1st | part of the authorities in all those places THE O'CONOR DON said, by way of reply to the Question, he might at once say that it was not his intention to press the Bill farther than the 1st clause that night. THE COTTON MANUFACTORIES-THE SIR WALTER B. BARTTELOT wished to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department a Question of which he had given private Noticenamely, Whether the right hon. Gentleman was in a position to state to the House any particulars as to the riots which had occurred at Blackburn and Accrington, especially with regard to the outrages which had been committed on the houses of Colonel Jackson and Mr. Hornby, what steps had been taken to suppress those outrages, and whether those steps had been successful? MR. DODDS said, the Question of the hon. and gallant Member had anticipated one on the same subject which he intended to put; but he begged further to ask, If the Secretary of State for the Home Department would be good enough to inform the House what steps had been taken for the protection of life and property in the disturbed districts? MR. ASSHETON CROSS: Sir, yesterday morning was the first time that I heard of these outrages, and of the burning down of Mr. Jackson's house. immediately telegraphed to all towns. I where disturbances took place for full information as to the state of affairs, and asked what steps had been taken to preserve order. I found that the military had been called out before that time, and, in fact, before I received information of any rioting, though I am happy to say that no collision has taken place between the military and the persons inhabiting those districts. No one more deeply regrets than I do that the people should have committed outrages in any part of the country, and especially my own county. The authorities are now, I believe, alive to the steps that they ought to take. I telegraphed again this morning that it was absolutely necessary that order should be preserved, and, at the same time, that I relied upon the greatest discretion being used on the in VOL. CCXL. THIRD SERIES.] county.-Rioting has been commenced at Burn"From the Chief Constable of Lancaster ley, where there are one hundred police, who have been reinforced by two troops of cavalry ances in the country districts elsewhere have and the infantry stationed there. No disturbabout Darwen. Three men shot and wounded near Accrington by private individuals (not by commenced at present; but I am apprehensive soldiers); particulars not yet to hand. No effort is being spared to restore order and to avert the actual employment of the military. The area have been for some days largely reinforced from now affected is very extensive, and the police other parts of the country. Since telegram was sent this morning military force has been withdrawn from Darwen, by order of the magistrates, and the Chief Constable fears that serious results may ensue." That telegram was only received a few reply to it. I have received the followminutes ago, and I have not had time to ing telegram from the Mayor of Blackburn:— until strike is ended. No further excitement." "Peace since noon yesterday. Night passed very quietly. Shall keep present military force The Mayor of Burnley telegraphs— disturbed; but we have a good force, civil and The Mayor of Preston telegraphs present, but an uneasy feeling prevails among "There have not been any disturbances at the operatives. All possible precautions have been taken. The excitement appears to be subsiding. Will write report by next post." A telegram from Burnley, dated 2.40 to-day, says-"Quiet prevails. Military are patrolling the streets." received also a message from the Chairman of Quarter Sessions, saying that I have the magistrates are alive to the situation, and are taking every possible precaution. his intention to-morrow to ask the SecreMAJOR O'GORMAN gave Notice of tary of State for the Home Department, Whether any effort on the part of Her Majesty's Government has been made, or is about to be made, to reconcile the unfortunate differences existing in Lancashire between the millowners and с 35 The Bethnal {COMMONS} workers; whether it is true that in cer- I would meet weekly. The time limited tain districts of Lancashire the opera- for the presentation of the Report was tives, having assented to the wages and 12 months from the 22nd of January conditions imposed by the masters, have last; and there was no probability of notwithstanding been driven from their their being able to present their Report work by those very masters who have before the close of the Session. thus openly violated their own solemn engagements; and, whether, should the Government refrain from bringing about amicable relations between the millowners and the operatives, it is the intention of the Cabinet to proclaim the various towns where disturbances have occurred, as would long since have been done under similar circumstances in Ireland? MR. SPEAKER: I have to acquaint the hon. and gallant Gentleman that the Question he has now offered to the House involves matters of argument, and it cannot be put in the form proposed to the Home Secretary. In reply to Mr. GORST, MR. W. H. SMITH said, that a Report had been received from Commodore Hoskyns in reference to the execution of a native of Tanna on board Her Majesty's ship Beagle. That Paper was being considered by the Admiralty, and would be laid on the Table in a few days. In reply to Mr. CHILDERS, MR. W. H. SMITH said, that the decision of the Admiralty with reference to the case would also be laid upon the Table at the same time. REGISTRATION OF DEEDS (IRELAND) QUESTION. In reply to Mr. OSBORNE MORGAN, ORDERS OF THE DAY. SUPPLY.-COMMITTEE. Order for Committee read. THE BETHNAL GREEN MUSEUM. RESOLUTION. MR. RITCHIE, in rising to call attention to the arrangements for admission to the Bethnal Green Museum, and to move "That it is desirable to give greater facilities for admission by extending the arrangements now existing on the three free days to five days in the week," said, the present arrangements were the |