HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 189, 3 May 1860, Page 3

HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT.

In the House of Lords, Earl Fitzwilliam moved, and Lord Truro seconded, the Address in answer to the Queeu’s Speech (which will be found in another column). Lord iVormanby denounced the French alliance. Lord Derby found fault with the ministry because they gave no information respecting the Congress, and objected to various points of the French commercial treaty. Lord Grey criticised the joint expedition with the French against China, and moved an amendment, censuring ministers for not having informed Parliament of the expedition. These objections having been answered, the amendment was negatived without a division.

Oh Feb. 8, 14," and 17, a discussion was raised as to the intentions of France with respect to Savoy. The principal opposition speakers were Lords Normanby, Grey, and Shaftesbury. Lord Granville, on the 17th Feb., gave the same assurance as Lord John Russell had given in the House of Commons on the previous evening. On Feb. 16, a debate occurred on the commercial treaty with France, chiefly with respect to the 11th article, as to the exportation of coal., Lord Wodehouse said, that in the event of a war the 11th article would no longer have any force.

In the House of Commons the Address was moved by Mr. St. Aubyn and seconded by Lord Henley. No amendment was moved, but Mr. Disraeli and others attacked the ministry, chiefly on the commercial treaty with Erance.

Jan. 27.—1 n answer to a question from Lord A. Churchill, Mr. Laing said, that the Egyptian government received £12,000 a year for the transit of the monthly Indian and Australian mails, and that .£70,000 a year in all was paid for the conveyance of the Australian mails. He justified the additional penny postage on- newspapers, on the ground that it was necessary to pay the expense of transmission.

Jan. 31.—Mr. W. S. Lindsay moved for a select committee to inquire into the operation of the burdens and restrictions especially affecting merchant shipping.

Feb. 2. —Mr. Wise made a motion to the effect, that it would be desirable to appoint every year a select committee to inquire into the miscellaneous civil service expenditure of the previous year. The Government opposed the motion, but it was carried by a majority of 28.

Feb. 3.-—ln answer to a qnestion by Mr. Kinglake, in regard to an alleged increase of the French army, Lord John Russell said, that the Government, which had at Paris an experienced ambassador and a military attache, who had an accurate knowledge of the French army, had received no intelligence of any extraordinary military preparations in France. Feb. B.—The second reading of Sir John Trelawny’s Church Rates Abolition Bill was carried by 263 to 234. Feb. 9.—A motion by Mr. T. Duncombe, for leave to bring in a bill to provide that, at the next elections for Gloucester and Wakefield the votes should be taken by ballot, was lost by 149 to 118. In answer to Colonel Sykes, who asked the result of the transmission of a petition to the Queen from more than 5000 of the inhabitants of Hobart Town, complaining of an act passed by a minority of the Legislative Council, excluding all Judges of the Supreme Courts from sitting in the Council, Mr. Forlescue said, that if there was anything substantially unfair in the mode in which the act was passed, the constituents had the means of redress which a free constitution afforded.

Fel>. 10.—The Budget was brought forward by Mr. Gladstone, and its discussion postponed to the 20t.h February. A condensed statement of its contents will be found in another column. Feb. 13.*—In a discussion on our relations with China Lord John iZussell defended Mr. Bruce, who had acted according to his instructions. Both he and Sir John Pakington agreed in tiie propriety of moderation being exercised in the settlement of the dispute. The Navy estimates for 1860 61 were brought forward by Mr. Clarence Paget- They showed,an increase of £1,026,482. He stated that the Russians had 187 steamships of war and the French 244, while the British ' navy consisted of 244 steam vessels, including guard ships and tenders; besides which there were in commission on the Ist December last 116 sailing vessels. It was proposed to launch during the ensuing financial year, 10 line of battle ships, 12 frigates, 4 iron cased ships, 4 corvettes, 15 sloops, and 23 gun vessels. A detailed statement having been made regarding the various matters in connection with the navy, such as stores, dockyards, &c., the noble lord concluded his speech by placing in the hands of the chairman a vote for 85,500 men, including marines, for the service of the navy. The vote was agreed to. Feb. 14. —Lord John .Russell, in answer to Mr. E. James, stated that he would endeavour to introduce his Reform Bill on the Ist of March, but if he could not do so on that day, then on the 2nd or sth of that month. Feb. 16. —In answer to Sir Robert Peel and Mr. S. Fitzgerald, Lord John Russell said, that the Sardinian government had not couie under any engagement to cede Savoy to France, but that France had communicated to' Sardinia, that if that country received an accession of territory ia Central Italy, France would require the annexation of a part or the whole of Savoy—hot, however, without the consent , of the Savoyards and the other great powers. j

Feb. 17. : —Mr. Du Cane gave notice of a motion on the 20th February, objecting to the increase of the income tax and the reduction of the ordinary revenue proposed in the Budget, but recognising the necessity for increased expenditure. The Army estimates were brought forward by Mr. S. Herbert, showing an increase on last year of £1,600,000, chiefly caused by the improvements of armaments, especially small arms and rifled guns. 2’he whole force for the year was 133,382, being an increase of 20,707. The whole army, including the force in India, was 243,000. Ha hoped to be able to dispense with the whole of the embodied militia. The first vote was taken after some discussion.