might incur. They will therefore refrain from petitioning for a Bill and asking for additional capital, and the suburbs in question would be deprived of the benefit they would derive from the extension of the supply of gas or water. The mere extension of works, for which Parliamentary authority is required, might be made the ground for a renewed contest all along the line. I think, therefore, that it would be inexpedient to give the local authorities, on a question of raising additional capital, a locus standi in matters relating to the quality of the water or the supply of water, or to the quality of the gas or the supply of gas, when these questions have once been decided. I do not think it would be right, in such a case, to allow the local authorities to rake up every question that has been previously decided, for this would inflict great expense not only upon the private Company promoting the Bill, but upon the Municipality itself, and it must be borne in mind that this double expense ultimately falls on the consumer. I see nothing, however, but advantage in asking for a locus standi on the subject-matter of the Bill. For these reasons, I am prepared to support the Amendment moved by the hon. Member for East Kent. MR. RODWELL was anxious to say a few words upon the question before the division took place. He had had a considerable amount of practical experience, and he certainly agreed to the principle of the proposition made by the hon. Member for Mid Lincoln. He also agreed with his right hon. Friend opposite (Mr. Lyon Playfair) as to the danger of allowing the municipal authorities to be heard in opposition upon points that had no connection with the subjectmatter of the Bill. The state of things in regard to Water Companies and the municipal authorities was very different from what it was a few years ago. The relations with these Companies now with the public were of such a description that it was necessary that Gas and Water Companies should be opposed when they went to Parliament for the purpose of increasing their capital, because that increase of capital involved a great many considerations, which might be fairly raised before a Committee. He should be the last person to say a word in disparagement of the Referees, who had rendered such great service to Private Bill Committees by lessening time and expense; but while he recognized the principle of the Standing Order proposed by his hon. Friend the Member for Mid Lincoln he should certainly vote for the Amendment. SIR JOHN MOWBRAY admitted the long experience which his hon. and learned Friend the Member for Cambridgeshire (Mr. Rodwell) possessed; but he begged to say at once that, as far as his judgment went, he should support the original Motion of his hon. Friend the Member for Mid Lincoln, for the considerations which had been so well put by the right hon. Gentleman the President of the Board of Trade. The Motion of the hon. Member for Mid Lincoln was not intended as a reflection upon the Court of Referees, but to assimilate the practice of that House with that of the House of Lords and of the Board of Trade. He hoped his hon. Friend the Member for East Kent (Mr. Pemberton) would not put the House to the trouble of a division. MR. WHITLEY entertained a strong feeling in favour of the Motion which had been made by the hon. Member for Mid Lincoln (Mr. E. Stanhope), and was quite satisfied that the Municipalities, as a body, would be much indebted to the right hon. Gentleman the President of the Board of Trade for giving his support to the Resolution. He was sure he was expressing the feeling of everyone who had anything to do with municipal government when he said that they always felt a great difficulty in opposing any provisions submitted in a Private Bill by Gas and Water Companies. Representing, as they did, the localities, and bearing in mind the interests that were at stake when measures of this kind were promoted, they felt that they should always be allowed the opportunity of going before Parliament whenever such Bills were submitted. Question put. The House divided:-Ayes 65; Noes 311: Majority 255.-(Div. List, No. 200.) Main Question put, and agreed to. Ordered, That the municipal or other local authority of any town or district alleging in their Petition that such town or district may be injuriously affected by the provisions of any Bill relating to the lighting or water supply thereof, or the raising of capital for any such purpose, shall be entitled to be heard against such Bill. Ordered, That the said Standing Order (Local Authorities to have a locus standi against Gas and Water Bills) be a Standing Order of this House. LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROVISIONAL ORDERS (HALIFAX, &c.) BILL. On Motion of Mr. HIBBERT, Bill to confirm certain Provisional Orders of the Local Government Board relating to the Boroughs of Halifax and Leeds and the City of Manchester, ordered to be brought in by Mr. HIBBERT and Mr. DODSON. Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 158.] LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROVISIONAL ORDERS (ACTON, &c.) BILL. On Motion of Mr. HIBBERT, Bill to confirm certain Provisional Orders of the Local Govern- Normanton, the Borough of Pontefract, the to be brought in by Mr. HIBBERT and Mr. DODSON. 1877 the number of sub-inspectors was reduced. It was again increased last year; but it was still under what it was in 1874. The sub-inspectors received considerable allowances, and, as a general rule, the allowances were not taken into account when the pensions were being calculated. CRIMINAL LAW - CASE OF CHARLES MR. WARTON asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether it is his intention in the case of Charles Frost and Edward Smith (who were on the 1st of November 1878 convicted of burglary, but who being subsequently shown to be innocent received on the 26th of August 1880 a free pardon) to recommend that they, or either of them, should receive any compensation or solatium in the shape of money or otherwise? SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT, in rePly, said, that after careful inquiry into this case he had come to the conclusion that it was a case of mistaken identity, and consequently he had advised that a free pardon should be given to those men. But he did not find that the cirthe very rare instances in which comcumstances of the case brought it within pensation had been made for the miscarriage of justice. He was happy to say that, as to one of the men, he had been able to find employment for him in the Public Service, for which the man had expressed himself grateful. The other man he had heard nothing of since. CURRENCY-MONETARY CONFERENCE MR. FAY asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Is it the case that, when the pay of the Irish Constabulary was increased in 1872, the sub-inspectors were the only members of the Force whose work was increased by the enlargement of their districts, and yet they got the smallest addition to their pay; so small, in fact, that it did not do more than cover the extra travelling expenses consequent on the enlarged district; is nearly half the in- MR. THOROLD ROGERS asked the come of Constabulary officers made up First Lord of the Treasury, Whether of "allowances;" and, is it the case the mission of Sir Louis Mallet to Paris, that these "allowances" are ignored who is understood to have gone thither when pensions are calculated, whereas with a view of taking part in the Monein all other branches of the Civil Ser-tary Conferences, is to be interpreted as vice the officials have one fixed sum for salary, on the whole of which their pensions are calculated? MR. W. E. FORSTER was understood to say it was the case that when the pay of the Constabulary was increased in 1872 the sub-inspectors were the only members of the Force whose work was increased. Between 1874 and AT PARIS-BI-METALLISM. giving any sanction on the part of Her Majesty's Government to the project of conferring a fictitious value on one of the metals employed as currency, and of aiding whatever consequences may reasonably be anticipated from the adoption of what is called "Bi-metallism?" MR. GLADSTONE: In answer to the Question of my hon. Friend, what STATE OF IRELAND-ALLEGED an I have to state is this. The French and | question as to the best portable enAmerican Governments have accepted trenching tool is not yet settled. the terms on which the delegates were to be sent, on the part of India, to the Monetary Conference before these delegates were nominated, and therefore the view supposed to be entertained by Sir Louis Mallet does not enter into the question. The terms upon which the attendance of the British delegate was accepted were these-The Secretary of State for India, in Council, would not be held by his actions to commit the Government of India to any act or proceeding in the nature of the adoption of the principle of bi-metallism. He was unwilling to encourage the expectation of any material change in the monetary policy of India; but he would favourably consider any measure for adoption in India calculated to promote the re-establishment of the value of silver. That is the extent of the pledge given; and I do not believe there is any necessity for making any additional proposal. ARMY-PORTABLE ENTRENCHING TOOLS. SIR BALDWYN LEIGHTON asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether any, and, if so, what, steps have been taken with a view to providing English infantry regiments or portions of such regiments with portable entrenching tools, such as have long been in use in the Austrian and Roumanian armies; and, if not, whether he can state the reason why such equipment is deemed unnecessary or undesirable? MR. CHILDERS: In reply to the hon. Baronet, I have to state that this question has not been neglected. Two hundred and eighty-five Roumanian spades were issued last year to eight battalions for trial. The reports were generally satisfactory; the spade was well adapted for use in light soil, but not in heavy or hard soils. Seventy spades, of a pattern recommended by the School of Military Engineering, are now being tried in the same battalions. This spade is longer than the other, and has a different shaped head. A portable spade is included in the proposed equipment for the Infantry soldier, and the Roumanian spade can be so carried. Three thousand spades of this pattern have been sent to South Africa; but the MR. BURT asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If his attention has been called to article which appeared in the "Newcastle Chronicle" of the 3rd instant, under the heading of "What the Miner's Agents saw in Galway," in which, among other statements of great hardship and poverty suffered by the tenants and labourers, it is declared that a system of slavery and forced labour exists in that part of Ireland; whether, in particular, he has noticed the following passage :— "Mr. Bryson remarked, on the principle that a horse may be led to the water yet he cannot be made to drink, that, after going to the landharder than they liked; but he was met by the lord's place by compulsion, they need not work retort from the men to the effect that the agent, or some one deputed by him, stood over the tenant, armed with a stout cudgel, which he did not fail to lay on to the back and shoulders of the tenant if he showed any signs of shirking his work. The exclamation Impossible!' broke out from both of us involuntarily, as we could not for one moment realise that such a system of slave-driving could exist. Up jumped one of the men before us, a respectable-looking man enough, who told us that if we had the slightest and there strip to the skin, and show us undenidoubt on this matter of the stick, he would then able evidence of the beatings he had sustained, the shape of sundry bruises and discolouration which he had received at the hands of the bailiff;" whether he can confirm, contradict, or give any information relative to these statements; and, if they are true, whether he can do anything to afford protection to these tenants and labourers against the infliction of such gross cruelties and indignities upon them? MR. W. E. FORSTER: The hon. Member was kind enough to show me the newspaper from which he has made an extract, and I cannot believe that there is any truth in the statements referred to. I have received no information, either official or otherwise, which tends in the slightest degree to confirm. them, and I really think the statements appear to be quite incredible. MR. T. P. O'CONNOR asked, whether the right hon. Gentleman had received information contradicting those statements? MR. W. E. FORSTER: If the House | he can state the number of British sublooks at this Question, it will see that it jects murdered since the 1st of January is utterly impossible for me to have re- 1880, including the officers and crews of ceived such information. The statement the "Ripple," "Esperanza," "Lolia," is that injury has been inflicted on some "Mystery," "Borealis," "Dauntless," persons in the county of Galway. I Annie Brooks," and H.M.S. "Sanddo not suppose that anyone who is in fly," in the Pacific, and how many of official communication with me is ac- the murderers have been tried at Levuka quainted with everybody in the county or elsewhere? of Galway. We have never received any information which gives us the slightest reason to believe it is true, and I do not believe it. STATE OF IRELAND-RELIGIOUS PRO- MR. BURT asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If he can state whether it is true, as reported in the Belfast newspapers, that three Primitive Methodist Ministers have been summoned before the magistrates of that town and sentenced to fourteen days' imprisonment for singing hymns and conducting a procession through the streets, though it was proved by the testimony of the policemen who prosecuted that the procession was most orderly and well-behaved; and, whether, if this is true, the conviction was legal; and in any event he will obtain an explanation regarding a sentence apparently extremely severe under the cir cumstances? MR. W. E. FORSTER: I find that three Primitive Methodist ministers were summoned before the Belfast borough magistrates, under the Borough Act, magistrates, under the Borough Act, which provides that any person who shall be guilty of riotous or indecent behaviour shall be liable to a penalty of 408. In two cases the defendants were fined 40s., and in default to be imprisoned 14 days. The case against the third was adjourned, and an appeal is to be heard on the 17th instant. I cannot pronounce any opinion on the legality of the conviction. I am informed that singing hymns in the public streets, accompanied by a large crowd, was considered to be an offence; and I must remind my hon. Friend and the House that very frequently crowds and processions in Bel fast have excited serious disturbance. MR. GRANT DUFF: I fear it is but too true that not a few British subjects have recently been murdered by savages in the Pacific; and if the right hon. and gallant Admiral will repeat his Question some day next week-perhaps on Thursday-I will endeavour to get full particulars for him. SOUTH AFRICA-THE BASUTOS (NEGOTIATIONS). MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT asked Colonies, Whether it is true that the the Under Secretary of State for the Basutos have rejected the terms of about to be installed in Cape Town. peace, that an Africander Ministry is that a repudiation of British sovereignty is imminent in consequence of the general disgust at the Transvaal Peace, that the governor, Sir Hercules Robinson, is now 1,000 miles away in the Transvaal, and that a Colonist of influence is on his way to England with claims against the Home Goverment to the amount of £5,000,000 from loyal Colonists who are being driven out of the Transvaal; will state what steps they propose taking and, whether Her Majesty's Government to preserve British sovereignty and the ten million pounds' worth of yearly trade between this Country and South Africa? heard that the Basutos have rejected the MR. GRANT DUFF: We have not terms of peace, nor have we any news nistry seems a very fairly representative from Basutoland. The new Cape Mione, sc far as we can judge from the lists British sovereignty is not imminent. Sir which have appeared. A repudiation of Hercules Robinson is, I should think, quite 1,000 miles from Cape Town, munication with that place. He is not though in constant telegraphic comin the Transvaal, but in Natal. We have heard nothing of the influential Colonist; and I should regret that any THE ISLANDS OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC Colonist, influential or otherwise, had -MURDER OF BRITISH SUBJECTS. SIR JOHN HAY asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, If embarked upon what could hardly be described as a wise man's errand." In reply to the hon. Member's sixth and last Question, I would say that it will be my duty to answer it pretty fully when the right hon. Gentleman the Member for East Gloucestershire (Sir Michael Hicks-Beach) makes his intended Motion; but that to do so now, even in the most cursory manner, would oblige me to tax the patience of the House to an altogether intolerable extent. FRANCE AND TUNIS-INVASION OF TUNISIAN TERRITORY. SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFF asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether any assurance has been given in writing to Her Majesty's Government by the French Government to the effect that the French Forces will be withdrawn from Tunisian territory as soon as the Kroumir question has been disposed of? SIR CHARLES W. DILKE: Her Majesty's Government have received no written assurance to this effect from the French Government; but the French Minister for Foreign Affairs has more than once disclaimed in his conversations with Lord Lyons any intention on the part of the French Government to annex Tunis. The latest assurances given to Lord Lyons by M. Barthélemy St. Hilaire, which were of a very decided character against conquest or annexation, have already been made known to Parliament by my noble Friend, Lord Granville. STATE OF IRELAND-ALLEGED OUT. RAGE AT BALTINGLASS. MR. M'COAN asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If he can state to the House the Report received from the Irish Police authorities respecting an alleged riot at Baltinglass on Thursday last, in which, according to the Dublin correspondence of the "Times" of Saturday, many Protestant houses were wrecked, and other serious outrages committed? He wished to add that he had received telegrams contradicting the report, and stating that it was a case of a few boys throwing some stones, the matter being grossly exaggerated. MR. W. E. FORSTER: All I can say is, I have not yet received sufficient information with regard to this matter, and the hon. Member will be kind enough to repeat the Question on Thursday or Monday. LAW AND POLICE-ELIZABETH BURLEY. MR. HOPWOOD asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been called to the letters of Elizabeth Burley and Mr. Alfred Dyer, in the "Daily News" of yesterday, Monday 9th May, the former asserting her innocence of the conduct imputed to her, and the latter detailing circumstances and the opinions of others in confirmation of her assertion; and, whether he will deem it right to cause inquiry to be made by an impartial person with such care and discretion as an investigation into the character of a woman demands? SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT, in reply, said, if this poor girl were innocent, there was no doubt that a great wrong had been done her, and she was entitled to entire sympathy and redress; and he was sure that his hon. and learned Friend would not doubt that he was as anxious as he was that entire justice should be done to her. When he was questioned on this subject, he was bound to answer according to the information which was accessible to him. Anyone conversant with this painful class of cases must know how difficult it was, in the midst of prejudice by which such cases were surrounded, to arrive at the exact truth. When called upon to form a judgment in this instance, he did not think it right to rely on the statement of the girl herself, or upon the statement of the police, both of which would be naturally biassed. He looked rather to the surrounding circumstances, and to the statements of unprejudiced witnesses and persons not likely to be deceived. In the proceedings before the magistrates, the chaplain, who had acted as the girl's friend, made a statement which appeared to be altogether inconsistent with his belief in her innocence. At the conclusion of the proceedings, one of the magistrates who heard the case said he had had some conversation with the unfortunate girl, and that she had expressed her willingness to act properly if anything could be done for her. The Chairman said he "could do no more." If the magistrates had been of a different opinion, they would have condemned the conduct of the police, which they did not do. His (Sir William Harcourt's) position was not an easy one. He had, on the |