CURRENT EVENTS.

New Zealander, Volume XV, Issue 1365, 18 May 1859, Page 1 (Supplement)

CURRENT EVENTS.

(From the" European Time*,” February 23.) When Lord Derby was in office, in 1852, his friends boasted that, short as the term was, his Government had done more to improve and simplify the law than their predecessors who had enjoyed power for a much longer period, and the desire to gain credit with the country by practical measures of this kind is evidently influencing the Ministers of the Crown at the present moment. On the 7th the Lord Chancellor drew the attention of the branch of the Legislature over which he presides to the imperfect state of the law of debtor and creditor, a matter which has been a good deal tampered with of recent years, hut never placed on a satisfactory basis. As far as we can judge, the proposed changes seem judicious, and appear to bo relished by the commercial community. L >rd John Russell lias also been studying the same subject, and when the Government measure reaches the Lower House it will receive the benefit of his lordship’s supervision. Mr. Duncombe, the same evening, questioned the leader of the House of Commons respecting the Government measure of reform, and the answer was satisfactory, as showing that it will be introduced in the course of three or four weeks, and the discussion on the second reading is expected to take place before Easter. On the Bth the subject of immigration into Jamaica was discussed by the Peers, the assault being led by Lord Brougham, who professed his readiness to prove that the Jamaica bill was fraught with danger to the Eastern Possessions of the Crown, and was likely to encourage the slave trade. Lord Rrouglnmi and Lord Grey were at issue respecting the merits of this bill, the lastnamod nobleman contending that a system of immigration in the West India Colonies would, if properly conducted, be of great benefit to them, and could not do evil. The colonists found a warm supporter in Lard Airlie, who showed that they hud been brought to the verge of ruin by the absence of labour. It transpired iu the course of the discussion that some amendments would be made in the bill, which would shortly be placed in the hands of members, when the question will be again re-opened, In the other house the most notable circumstances had referenced the Law of Settlement, Mr. Estcourt having moved for the appointment of a select committee to investigate the entire question. A select committee, on the motion of Mr. Ewart, was appointed relative to Indian Colonisation. From the statement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, it appeared that the whole building iu Trafalgarsquare will soon be appropriated to the national pictures, and the Government were about to offer the Royal Academy a site on which to erect a new-building.

I On the 9th the Peers did not meet, and the I business in the House of Commons was not important. As usual, on Wednesday, the representatives of the people met on that day at noon, but they broke up speedily, after the appointment of eighteen members to sit on Mr, Ewart’s committee respecting India. A very important petition was presented by Mr. Joseph Ewart, from the Liverpool Financial Reform Association, praying for a new mode of keeping the Government accounts. At present these accounts are prepared in so misty a way that they are all but unintelligible to the uninitiated, and the interests involved are too important to be dealt with in this manner. The two leading Parliamentary events since have been Lord Stanley’s great speech on Indian finance, and what is termed “the Chelmsford job.” Referring to the fix-st, an observer who was present says :—“ Lord Stanley held the House for more than three hours in close and placid attention. Time has been when an Indian Minister emptied the benches. Lord Stanley has a peculiar capacity for putting away facts in mental pigeon holes, and pulling them out at the right moment. His is a tabulating mind, with a very rare ranging and recording faculty. This stands him in special stead, when dealing with a subject at once so wide in its field, and so minute in its facts as the finance, past, present, and future of our Indian Empire. The House held its breath when Lord Stanley spoke of the “ moral guarantee” of England as attaching to the Indian debt; and looked almost dismayed when he hinted at possibilities of this moral guarantee being converted some day or other into a legal one, Lord Stanley as far excels in mental vigour any other member of his father’s Cabinet as he stands in point of age below the eldest of that respectable bunch of mediocrities.” The Army Estimates. —The usual Parliamentary document has been issued. There is to be a reduction of home and colonial establishment of about 7500, and an increase to the India establishment of about 14,000 men. As the former is only provided for by Parliament, there is a decrease of the sum to be voted, but the net decrease amounts only to £9965. The total amount required for the ensuing financial year is £11,503,000. The whole imperial force for the defence of the United Kingdom and the colonies and for the occupation of India will be 229,000 men as compared with 122,000 in last year. The army constituting the home and colonial establishment, exclusive of India, will amount to 222,000 men. The total strength of the imperial troops to he maintained on the Indian establishment is 10(5,000 of home, 15,000 form the regimental depots at home, leaving as the garrison of India 91,000 men, or about 12,000 more than was fixed last year. The Royal artillery in India is increased from 4700 to 7800 men ; the infantry will be 10,000 men in excess of the number fixed a year ago. Strk.ngth of the British Army.— The Globe remarks that the reduction of the army, as proposed in the annual estimates, shows that our Government is not apprehensive as regards events on the continent of Europe, while the increase of the number of tire Queen’s troops to be employed in India indicates that the force there will be mainly composed of the imperial army. HOUSE OF COMMONS.— Feb. 21. French VcssF.r.s at Spitiiead. —ln answer to Sir C. Napier, Sir J. Pakington said that he received information from Portsmouth that two or three nights ago a French vesie', an aviso, with two cutters, had anchored at Spithead; that during the night the aviso got under weigh, and that she was at anchor again in the morning ; hut whether she took soundings or not in Stokes’ Ray he was not in a position to state. Those vessels had been constantly up and down all parts of the coast of England, and they were engaged in the protection of the French fisheries. That was the ground on which they were constantly in our waters. They had also anchored in Portland Roads under similar circumstances. He was not aware whether anything particular had been done upon this occasion, but these vessels had been for a considerable time hovering about the coast of England. Sir C. Napier asked if the aviso had more than her usual complement of officers on board. Sir J. Pakington was not aware whether she had on board more than her proper number of officers.