themselves heard, if the hon. Member | simple requisites of the statute under for Glasgow (Mr. Anderson) divided the which the magistrates had made several House on the first two Amendments, he previous decisions; and, if it be the fact (Mr. Raikes) should confess it his duty that when the cases came on before the to go into the Lobby with him, leaving same court on 31st July 1875, that the to the promoters of the Bill the respon- complainant, Sub-Inspector MacDermott, sibility of any further steps. during the hearing of the cases occupied a seat on the bench, and held conversations with the magistrates, and that the stipendiary magistrates refused to hear evidence for the defence as to the inability of the poor parents to comply with the summonses issued against them, and actually made orders against the parties, who, with their witnesses, had to retire from the court unheard?

SIR GEORGE CAMPBELL said, he would not have appeared in opposition to the ratepayers, but the Petition had been put into his hands, and he found that it was from some of the ratepayers. He would not dispute the authority of the Chairman of Committees as to the general question affecting the particular clause.

MR. ANDERSON said, he would adopt the suggestion of the Chairman of Committees, and disagree to the two first Amendments, but not divide on the minor ones.

MR. M'LAREN said, there was an Act in operation in Scotland analogous to the Borough Funds Act, known popularly as Sir William Rae's Act-the Lord Advocate at the time-and that its provisions were most stringent.

Several Amendments agreed to; several disagreed to.

Committee appointed, "to draw up Reasons to be assigned to The Lords for disagreeing to the Amendments to which this House hath disagreed: "Mr. RAIKES, Mr. ANDERSON, Mr. M'LAREN, Sir GEORGE CAMPBELL, Mr. ADAM, Mr. ROWLEY HILL, and Mr. M'LAGAN:-To withdraw immediately; Three to be the quorum. Reasons for disagreeing to certain of the Lords Amendments reported, and agreed to:-To

be communicated to The Lords.

IRELAND REFORMATORIES · BELFAST MAGISTRATES.-QUESTION. MR. WARD said, he wished to ask the Chief Secretary for Ireland a Question standing in the name of the hon. Member for Cavan (Mr. Biggar), respecting certain prosecutions at Belfast. [Cries of "Read!"] He wished to know, whether it was essential that he should occupy the time of the House by reading the Question. [Renewed cries of "Read!"] It was as follows:-Is it a fact that prosecutions were heard before the Belfast stipendiary magistrates on 20th June 1875, for compelling parents to contribute to the support of their children in reformatories, and that orders were made by said magistrates which were afterwards discovered (on a case being defended by a solicitor) to be nullities for want of conformity with the

Mr. Raikes

SIR MICHAEL HICKS - BEACH: Sir, on the 19th of June several persons were summoned to the Belfast police court to show cause why they should not increase their weekly contribution towards their children's support in reformatories. The sitting magistrate, having heard evidence, made the usual orders against the parties; but one case having been defended upon a technical point-namely, short service of notice, all the cases were ordered to be struck out and fresh summonses issued. The same cases were again heard before two magistrates on the 31st of July, when, after a full investigation, including, I believe, an inquiry into the circumstances of the parents, the necessary orders were made. Sub-Inspector MacDermott, who was the nominal complainant on behalf of the public, sat on the bench, apart from the magistrates, during the hearing of these cases; but the magistrate states that he had no communication with him with regard to them.

CENTRAL ASIA-RUSSIAN EXPEDITION

TO MERV.--QUESTION.

SIR CHARLES W. DILKE asked

the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether there is any truth in the rumour of a Russian expedition to Merv?

MR. BOURKE, in reply, said, he was not aware whether there was any truth in the rumour-because the Foreign Office had no official information on the subject.

ARMY-ADJUTANTS OF MILITIA.

QUESTION.

MR. HUBBARD (for Mr. FRESHFIELD) asked the Secretary of State for War,

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON
FOREIGN LOANS THE HONDURAS
REPRESENTATIVE.-QUESTION.

SIR JOHN LUBBOCK asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether, in consequence of the statement contained in the Report of the Committee on Foreign Loans, any steps had been taken by Her Majesty's Go

Whether it is true that a Royal Warrant has been issued, by which it is provided that Adjutants of Militia shall be eligible on retirement, and without limit as to age, for appointment as Majors in the Regiment from which they shall retire; whether the effect of such a regulation will not be to interfere with the ordinary course of promotion of the Officers in the Regiment; and, if he would state what means will be taken to prevent in-vernment with reference to the Reprejustice to the Officers in the Regiment if an Officer not in the Regiment may be admitted into it as Major, to the prejudice of the Officer who would otherwise succeed to the vacancy ?

MR. GATHORNE HARDY, in reply, said, that there was such a Warrant as that to which the Question referred, and that the regulations were entirely in the hands of the commanding officers, who might be taken to be the best guardians of the interests of the officers of their regiments. No pressure whatever was put upon the commanding officers in reference to these appointments.

CIVIL SERVICE ESTIMATES.

QUESTION.

sentative of Honduras in this Country? MR. BOURKE: Sir, in answer to the Question of the hon. Baronet, I have to state that the Report of the Committee of this House on Foreign Loans has only appeared within the last few days, and the evidence upon which it is based has not yet been circulated. The Secretary of State was therefore of opinion that it would be premature on his part to express any opinion on the conduct of the Representative of the Honduras Government in this country until he had had an opportunity of carefully perusing both the Report and the evidence on which that Report was founded. His noble Friend was also of opinion that it would be only just, in the event of any action being contemplated affecting the position of that gentleman, that previous to such action being taken he should have the opportunity of referring to his own Government on the matter, and of making such statement as he might think fit in his own defence.

METROPOLIS-BOW STREET POLICE

COURT.-QUESTION.

GENERAL SIR GEORGE BALFOUR asked the Secretary to the Treasury, To add, if unobjectionable, to the Civil Service Estimates of 1876-77 the expenditure of 1874-5; also the items of expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund for any branch of the Public Service included in the Civil Service Estimates, so as to show the total charge for each branch under suitable heads; also the MR. FORSYTH (for Mr. EDWARDS) Minutes of the Treasury, naming the asked the First Commissioner of Works, officers, to account for the expenditure Whether any steps have been taken toof the several Votes, and the names and wards providing a police court in lieu of offices of these accounting officers and the existing court at Bow Street; whetheir responsibilities; also, to fill up, ther an offer has been made by the Duke whenever necessary, the numbers re- of Bedford of an eligible site on advanceiving public money in addition to the tageous terms near the present police rank or office, and in all cases of pen-court; and, if so, whether such offer has sions, compensations, &c. to show age of party, length of service, as well as why granted?

MR. W. H. SMITH, in reply, said, it would cause delay to add to the Civil Service Estimates of 1876-7 the expenditure of the previous year, which was shown in the Appropriation accounts. If the hon. and gallant Gentleman would point out any omission in the Estimates, he should be happy to have it supplied.

been communicated by him to the Treasury, and if any action has been taken thereon ?

LORD HENRY LENNOX: Sir, I hope my hon. and learned Friend will inform the hon. Member for Weymouth that I have for some time past been taking very active steps towards providing a police court in lieu of the existing court in Bow Street. But I regret very much that I am unable at the pre

sent time to inform the hon. Member of | Question at once to the Charity Commisthe decision at which I shall arrive. I sion, and beg to read the reply they have hope, however, very soon to be in a sent meposition to lay before my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department the details of a site which, both as to size and position, will afford adequate accommodation for the business of the central police court.

ENDOWED SCHOOLS-FELSTED SCHOOL-DISMISSAL OF THE HEAD

MASTER.-QUESTION.

MR. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTH asked the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education, Whether it is true, as reported in the public prints, that the Reverend William Stanford Grignon, Head Master of Felsted School, Essex, has been summarily removed from that post by the Trustees of the Felsted Charities, against the wish of the whole body of the parents of the boys, after nearly twenty years' service, during which time the number of scholars has risen from 67 to 220; whether the

Bishop of Rochester, visitor of the school, sanctioned this summary dismissal without giving Mr. Grignon any opportunity whatever of being heard in his own defence; whether the Endowed Schools Commissioners have determined not to inquire into the case on the ground that Mr. Grignon, having been dismissed, was no longer an officer of an endowed school, and consequently not within their jurisdiction; and, whether the Charity Commissioners intend to comply with an application made by a large number of the parents of the scholars, and will cause an inquiry to be made forthwith into the government of the school?

"It is believed that Mr. Grignon was appointed to the office of Head Master of Felsted School under a scheme established by the Court of Chancery in 1851, by which the Trustees are time with the approbation of the Bishop of the empowered to remove the Head Master at any

diocese. The Commissioners are informed that
Mr. Grignon has been removed by the Trustees,
and that the Bishop has approved of his re-
moval, but they have no power to control or
interfere with either the Trustees or the Bishop
in the exercise of the authority given them by
the scheme. The Commissioners have recently
of the School with a view to the preparation of
caused inquiry to be made into the circumstances
a new scheme for its management, which is now
in course of preparation."

MERCANTILE MARINE-TRANSFER OF
BRITISH VESSELS TO FOREIGN FLAGS.

QUESTION.

of the Board of Trade, If he can state MR. NORWOOD asked the President approximatively the number of British since the 1st day of January 1873 ? Vessels transferred to Foreign Flags

ply, said, that the exact number of SIR CHARLES ADDERLEY, in reBritish vessels so transferred was 875.

VALUATION (METROPOLIS) ACT, 1869.

QUESTION.

SIR WILLIAM FRASER asked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether he will amend "The Valuation (Metropolis) Act, 1869," whereby overseers of parishes are permitted to deliver notices of increased assessment, requiring an appeal within 25 days, late in the evening of the 24th day, and will afford a remedy to those persons who have been unable to appeal in consequence of such late delivery?

VISCOUNT SANDON: Sir, I am sorry not to be able to give my hon. Friend MR. SCLATER - BOOTH, in reply, any information on the subject of his said, he did not think the hon. and Question on my own personal responsi- gallant Baronet was correct in stating bility; but my hon. Friend doubtless re-that notices of increased assessment members that I gave an undertaking to this House last Session that I would take no part in the business of the Charity Commission, as there would be an obvious impropriety in my assisting as a Charity Commissioner in the preparation of schemes respecting which, as Vice President, I might have to act in somewhat of a judicial capacity. I therefore know nothing of these matters until a scheme is submitted to the Privy Council for approval. I referred the

Lord Henry Lennox

were by the Act permitted to be delivered until the 24th day. On the contrary, the overseers were required to give immediate notice to the parties interested. If, however, such a thing could take place as that mentioned by the hon. and gallant Baronet, he should be happy to have an opportunity of amending the Act in reference to the matter in question. He believed that as to the remedy in the meantime, anybody making an appeal under the cir

cumstances could do so with a very fair | "had not thought that Mr. Patterson had

grant of money for the public Service use of them, should be conducted at a were before the House, of drawing the safe distance from places where large attention of the Government to any par- bodies of workmen were congregated. ticular subject, and more particularly to The point in connection with this accithe necessity for redressing some griev- dent to which he particularly wished to ance. Representing, as he did, a con- draw the attention of Her Majesty's stituency that contained perhaps as great Government, was the amount of the a number of persons in the service of compassionate allowances awarded to Her Majesty's Government as any other the widows of the two men who were in the country, it was not surprising that killed, and he thought hon. Members he had acquired a certain degree of fa- would agree with him, that they were miliarity with the many hardships inci- miserably inadequate and utterly undental to such employment. These, he worthy of the country. Both men were was bound to say, had hitherto always specially selected for the duty that cost received fair and impartial consideration them their lives, on account of their at the hands of those Members of Her skill, experience, and trustworthiness. Majesty's Government to whom he had Young, the foreman, was 40 years of felt it to be his duty to make represen- age, had been employed 20 years in tations; and it was therefore with feel- the Royal Arsenal, and at the time of ings of regret that he now found himself his death was in receipt of 57s. per compelled to ask the indulgence of the week, consequently he would have been House, whilst he briefly drew the atten- entitled to a pension of about 16s. per tion of his right hon. Friend the Chan-week, if he had retired the day before cellor of the Exchequer to what appeared the accident occurred. He left a widow to him to be a grievance of no ordinary and seven children, to whom a gratuity magnitude. On the 24th of May last, of £49 and a compassionate allowance for the purpose of trying an experiment, of 7s. 10d. per week had been given. a 7-inch Palliser shell was being filled Walstow was 42 years of age, he at the Royal Arsenal, with compressed had been 25 years in the service, gun cotton, by three men-Charles his wages were 33s. per week, and Young (foreman), and two assistants, he would have been entitled to a retiring Joseph Walstow and Joseph Bardon. pension of 14s. 5d. per week. He left a The place selected for this-as it proved to be-exceedingly dangerous operation, was the Cap Factory, where, in a workshop, which, usually and then, was crowded with men and boys tending the machines employed in preparing the copper capsules used in the manufacture of percussion caps, the shell exploded, presumably from the enormous hydraulic pressure required to force the gun cotton into its position. The foreman, Young, was killed on the spot, Walstow survived but a few hours, and Bardon was grievously mutilated; but, by an accident of fortune, little short of a miracle-and certainly in no way due to the prudence of the person who chose such a place for the performance of the operation-none of the other workmen employed in the shop were injured. It was true that the gun cotton in question was wet, and in that condition considered safe; but it seemed to him that, in dealing with such dangerous materials, the nature of which was, by that very occurrence, shown to be yet but imperfectly understood, the greatest caution should be used, and, above all, operations involving an experimental Mr. Boord

widow and three children, and in his case a gratuity of £40 and an allowance of 58. per week had been granted. Thus it would be seen that these widows received less than half the amount their husbands would have been entitled to on retirement, if their characters had been less exemplary than they were; for it was on account of their excellent characters that they were chosen for employment on this dangerous experiment: and it must be remembered that no negligence on their part had ever been suggested, either at the inquest or at the official inquiry that took place immediately after the accident. To put the case in plain language, the Government had actually saved money by the death of these men-they would probably have profited by the success of the experiment, but its failure was to be dearly paid for by the men. He had no wish unduly to blame the Government, but that was practically the result of the transaction, and he repeated that it was unworthy of the country. Economy was no doubt an excellent thing-as the attribute of a statesman it ranked as a virtue-but this was not economy-it