the Bill relating to the Salaries and Pensions for Irish National School Teachers; and, whether, having regard to the delay which has occurred, and the anxiety felt by the teachers, he will state what course the Government are prepared to adopt? MR. J. LOWTHER: Mr. Speaker, if the hon. Gentleman will take a glance at the Order Book, he will, I think, be disposed to concur with me in the opinion that in its present condition it does not hold out much encouragement to the Government to introduce more Bills. I hope, however, that the progress of Public Business will be such that it may be in my power to bring in a Bill upon this subject before very long. POOR LAW (IRELAND) BOARD OF GUARDIANS.—QUESTIONS. MR. CALLAN asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether his attention has been called to certain proceedings at the Monaghan Board of Guardians on the 30th of April, May 7th and 21st, and the correspondence between Mr. MacAleese, the proprietor of the "People's Advocate," and the Local Government Board, Ireland, with reference to the exclusion of the reporter of that journal from the board room of the SOUTH AFRICA-INSTRUCTIONS OF SIR Monaghan Board of Guardians, whilst GARNET WOLSELEY.-QUESTION. MR. SULLIVAN: A typographical error appears in the printed Paper of my Question, the word "terms" being printed instead of "tenour." I wish to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether he can state to the House the tenour of the instructions agreed upon by Her Majesty's Government for the guidance of Sir Garnet Wolseley in South Africa in reference to terms of peace? THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER: Sir, there is a considerable difference between the Question as it now stands on the Paper and the Question as put by the hon. and learned Member last evening. As I stated in the course of the discussion yesterday, I could not undertake to state precisely the terms of Sir Garnet Wolseley's instructions, but as to the tenour of those instructions we have no difficulty; and that tenour was indicated by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies last night. The object of Her Majesty's Government, and the tenour of their instructions to Sir Garnet Wolseley, is to bring this war as speedily as possible to an honourable termination, consistently with the safety of the Colonies; and it will be an instruction to Sir Garnet Wolseley that he should examine and carefully consider any bona fide overtures of peace that may be received from the Zulu King. It is not the object of Her Majesty's Government, as has been more than once stated, to encourage any annexation or the other local Tory journals are admitted to report the proceedings thereat, and the refusal of a Mr. Jesse Lloyd to receive the following notice of motion: : "I beg to give notice, that I will move on this Board on the 1st May 1878, excluding the this day month, that the resolution passed by representative of the People's Advocate' from the meetings, while the reporters of the other local papers are admitted, be rescinded, as unworthy of this or any other Board of Guardians in Ireland;" whether it is in the power of a Board of Guardians, where meetings are open to the Press, nevertheless to admit only certain journals advocating Tory politics, and to exclude the representatives of a Liberal journal; if a chairman of a Board of Guardians can of himself refuse to receive a notice of motion admittedly legal, and within the rights of any individual guardian to propose, and so prevent the matter from being formally brought before the Board; and whether a clerk of the peace, who is the clerk to the magistrates, and from the nature of his office incapable of acting as a magistrate, is nevertheless legally qualified to act as an ex-officio Poor Law Guardian? MR. NEWDEGATE: Before the right hon. Gentleman replies, I wish to put a Question, of which I have given private Notice, to the Chief Secretary. It is, Whether it is customary in Ireland that the Chief Secretary should decide whether the proceedings of each Board of Guardians shall be reported; and if so, whether it is customary that the Chief Secretary should decide whether the representatives of particular papers should be allowed facilities for doing CYPRUS- ADMINISTRATION OF JUS so? MR. CALLAN: I have put the Question to the right hon. Gentleman not as Chief Secretary for Ireland, but as exofficio Chairman of the Local Govern ment Board. MR. J. LOWTHER: The hon. Member for Dundalk is, no doubt, quite correct in saying that his Question is addressed to me, not as Chief Secretary, but in the capacity of President of the Local Government Board. I had rather, however, not undertake at present to say how far I may be the proper authority in either capacity. As I only saw the Question this morning, perhaps the hon. Gentleman will kindly postpone it till a future day. MR. CALLAN: I beg to give Notice that I will repeat my Question after the holidays. THE ADMIRALTY-THE DIRECTOR OF NAVAL CONSTRUCTION. QUESTION. MR. D. JENKINS asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, If it is true, as stated in the "Pall Mall Gazette" of Friday last, that the Director of Naval Construction and a large portion of his staff are actually engaged within the walls of the Admiralty at Whitehall in designing plans for the construction of a powerful ironclad ship for the Argentine Confederation; and, if so, whether, considering the strained relations now existing between that republic and a neighbouring belligerent, such a proceeding is, if not a breach of neutrality, an unfriendly act towards a State with which we are on terms of amity? LORD FRANCIS HERVEY: I rise to Order. This Question involves matter of argument which ought not to be introduced, and particularly as that argument bears prejudicially on the affairs of a State with whom we are on terms of friendship; and still more, especially as far as I am aware, there is not the slightest foundation for the statement involved. MR. SPEAKER: I see no ground for interposing. MR. W. H. SMITH: There is no truth in the story at all. It was contradicted by The Pall Mall Gazette itself yesterday or the day before. Mr. Newdegate TICE THE ORDINANCES. QUESTION. SIR CHARLES W. DILKE asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether he will lay upon the Table the Cyprus Ordinance of the present year, which enables the government of Cyprus to exile without trial any persons whatever? MR. BOURKE: I stated a few days ago that all the Ordinances passed by the Government of Cyprus would be placed in the Library, and I shall be glad to carry out the promise in a short time. We have not got them all yet, and I do not think there is any necessity for making an exception in the case of the Ordinance alluded to by my hon. Friend. I cannot quite accept the description given by the hon. Baronet of the particular Ordinance to which he refers as one allowing the Government of Cyprus to "exile without trial any persons whatever." It gives power to the High Commissioner, with the consent of the Legislative Council, to pass a resolution stating that any person whose presence in that Island is likely, in their opinion, to be prejudicial to the good order or safety of the Island should not be allowed to reside there. That is the purport of the Ordinance in question, and it will, I hope, be in the Library in a few days. GREECE-CYPRUS-FURTHER PAPERS. QUESTIONS. SIR CHARLES W. DILKE asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, On what day the Greek Papers will be in the hands of Members? MR. BOURKE said, in the case of the Greek Papers, it had been found necessary to send some to Athens, others to Constantinople. It would also be necessary to send others to Paris, Vienna, and Rome, before they could be published. He hoped, however, they would be in the hands of hon. Members before long. He did not like to make any promise, but he hoped they would be distributed after the holidays. In regard to the further Papers relating to Cyprus, he had formally presented these that day, and they would be in the hands of hon. Members in a few days.. MR. MONK asked, Whether the Greek | the information in my power. If, howPapers would contain any despatches in ever, he alludes to communications reference to Crete, or whether any which have been passing between Her Papers relating to Crete might be ex- Majesty's Government and our Ambaspected? sador at Paris, I am sure he will see that it would be impossible for me to give even the faintest idea of what those communications are about, as they are, of course, confidential. Therefore, in the present state of affairs, I do not think I can give him any more information than I have already given-namely, that there is no ground for the allegation that there is any substantial difference in the policy of the two Governments. MR. BOURKE replied that the Greek Papers did not contain any despatches relating to Crete. That subject had been treated by itself, and Papers were being prepared with regard to it. A Blue Book had already been published relating to Crete, and it was proposed to continue to keep the despatches respecting Crete separate from the Greek Papers. EGYPT-THE FRENCH AND ENGLISH MR. OTWAY: I wish to ask the hon. Gentleman the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs a Question of which I have given him private Notice, Whether any communication has been received by Her Majesty's Government relating to the tone of an influential portion of the French Press, and especially of the newspapers intimately connected with the present Administration in France, towards Her Majesty's Government on account of their policy and proceedings in Egypt; and, whether there is anything in the present relations of the two Governments which justifies the hostile tone of those French journals, which are usually most friendly towards this country? MR. BOURKE: I am sure my hon. Friend and the House will be glad to hear that there is nothing in the communications which have passed between the Government of France and the Government of England that can give grounds for the allegation that there is any difference whatever in the policy of the two Governments with respect to Egypt. We really know nothing of any of the alleged disagreements which have taken place. MR. OTWAY: The hon. Gentleman has only answered a portion of my Question. He has left unanswered that part which asks whether any communications have been received by Her Majesty's Government relating to this matter? MR. BOURKE: The hon. Gentleman is usually so fair in the Questions which he puts in regard to foreign affairs, that I should be very willing to give him all WELLINGTON COLLEGE-THE COM MISSION.-QUESTION. In reply to Mr. J. R. YORKE, MR. ASSHETON CROSS said, the Government were willing that the Commission which had been asked for by the House should be issued at once. The names were very nearly settled; but they had not yet been submitted to Her Majesty. There would be no further delay, and he hoped that immediately after the Recess the Commission would begin its labours. TURKEY-CONSUL BLUNT'S REPORT. QUESTION. LORD ELCHO asked, When Consul Blunt's long-promised Report would be laid on the Table of the House? MR. BOURKE: The House is well aware that this Report has been prepared for many months, and is quite ready for presentation to Parliament; but that for reasons which it is not necessary I should enter into it has not been presented. Her Majesty's Government have no objection to present it; and I hope I shall be able after the holidays to tell my noble Friend that the Government have come to a decision on the subject. number of hon. Members who frequently | the statements in the morning newssat on the cross-benches below the Bar. papers to which the hon. Member refers. A few evenings ago, Mr. Speaker had I had other business to attend to which ruled an hon. Member to be out of prevented me from reading the papers. Order in attempting to address the House My right hon. and gallant Friend the from those seats, on the ground that Secretary of State for War informs me they were outside the House. He had that he believes Dragoons have been it on the authority of some Members sent to Standerton, but I do not know who had sat in the House for a great for what reason. As to the other matter number of years that in former days to which the hon. Member refers, I canthere was one hon. Member who was in not give any information. the habit of addressing the House from those seats, and that it was in the power of any hon. Member, if so minded, to address the House from any portion of the Gallery. He thought it would be for the convenience of the House generally if Mr. Speaker would state why those seats were debarred from privileges which belonged to other seats in the House? MR. SPEAKER: I am unable to give any reason for the practice to which I referred the other day; but it has been the practice, so far as I am informed, that Members without the Bar--that is to say, on the other side of the Bar that passes across the House from one side to the other-cannot address the House from the seats referred to. It is open to Members to address the House from all other seats exclusively appropriated to the use of Members, including those in the Gallery. SOUTH AFRICA-THE ZULU WAR THE TRANSVAAL.-QUESTION. MR. O'DONNELL: I wish to put a Question to the right hon. Gentleman the Secretary of State for the Colonies of which I have given him private Notice. I desire to ask him, Whether he has received official corroboration any of the statement in the "Standard" of yesterday, that the Zulus have burned the grass in their country, thus rendering the advance of the Cavalry impossible. Also, if he has received any official corroboration of a statement in the correspondence of the "Times," that a portion of the Cavalry-the Dragoons -has been sent into the Transvaal for the purpose of overawing the Boers. SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH: A moment ago, I received from the doorkeeper the Notice of the hon. Member's Question. I submit that that is not a sufficient Notice of a Question to be asked in this House. I have not seen Mr. C. Beckett-Denison PARLIAMENT — PUBLIC BUSINESS DOGS REGULATION (IRELAND) BILL. QUESTION. MAJOR NOLAN asked the Chief Seretary for Ireland, When the second reading of the Dogs Regulation (Ireland) Bill would be taken? MR. J. LOWTHER: The hon. and gallant Gentleman appears very anxious to know when this Bill is to be proceeded with; but I am afraid I cannot tell him, because, of course, that will depend on the state of Business. I shall be glad to give him notice before the day is fixed. SOUTH AFRICA-SIR BARTLE FRERE. QUESTION. MR. COURTNEY: I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies a Question of which I have given him no Notice whatever; but, perhaps, he may be able to answer it. I wish to know, Whether he can give us any information now as to the authenticity of a despatch of Sir Bartle Frere which was published more than a week ago in the "Standard;" and, if the despatch is in his possession, whether he will lay it on the Table? SIR MICHAEL HICKS- BEACH: I have not yet received that despatch. of a Minister of the Crown at Question | spirit of that noble despatch which the time, he did not follow up his Question, Secretary of State for the Colonies wrote though the right hon. Gentleman, he to Sir Bartle Frere condemnatory of must admit, had made an answer which, his policy? If the papers were to be in a great degree, was satisfactory. But trusted, and if they could believe all he rose now, as they were about to ad- they heard, it was almost too late, for journ, to ask the Government to follow Zululand had been again invaded by up-as he hoped the Government would the Imperial Forces, who had waited the exceedingly grateful and welcome and waited until they had a powerful announcement which was made near the and overwhelming strength at their close of their proceedings on the day command. During all these weeks the before by the right hon. Baronet the Zulu King seemed to have avoided reSecretary of State for the Colonies, and taliatory measures upon their Colonial which had been confirmed so far by Possessions. If he were animated by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The such bloodthirsty designs as would warlatter right hon. Gentleman dealt, how-rant the Government in that which was ever, with only these two points-that no annexation of territory was to be attempted in South Africa, and that there was a benevolent intention to end the war if Cetewayo made overtures for peace. He had no doubt in the world of that intention on the part of the Government. He did not believe that the Government were anxious to prolong this war for one day longer than they, in their policy, thought necessary; and it was to their policy that his Question had been directed. The real pith and substance of the Question had been put to the Government on the previous night by the right hon. Baronet the Member for Tamworth (Sir Robert Peel). Would the terms of peace imposed, or sought to be imposed, upon Cetewayo be such as to cause the war to be a protracted and bitter one, or a short war with a happy ending? They knew the terms of peace offered to Cetewayo before the invasion; and they now desired to know whether the circumstances of the moment warranted the Government in desiring to conclude peace on terms less exigent or more exigent than those that were put into Sir Bartle Frere's Ultimatum to Cetewayo? The Government must know the terms of peace which Sir Garnet Wolseley would be empowered to offer. Were they to be less or more severe than those which Cetewayo from first to last had from us? It was no use to say that they were ready to receive proposals for peace; that was merely a civil phrase, and amounted to nothing. What the country desired to know was whether the Government intended to put upon Cetewayo the same rude terms that drove him into the war; or would they give him a chance of coming in upon terms more nearly reflecting the now about to be done, he had his opportunity of giving effect to them, but he had not availed himself of it. No; in his own rude, barbaric way, the man had been silently making an appeal to their chivalry and generosity, and there was that about to happen which would prevent him from sueing for peace. Unless something was done they would be in the midst of scenes of carnage and bloodshed and the havoc of war, and they would find Cetewayo, if he were the brave man he took him to be, sealing his own lips and saying he would make no further offer to us. He urged the Government to make every effort to bring about a speedy peace, and not allow Cetewayo to say that when we were weak he allowed us to wait without attacking us, but when we were strong we invaded his country once more. The Government should not wait for the advent of Sir Garnet Wolseley in South Africa before they made an attempt to conclude peace, if that was their object. He made that appeal in no embittered spirit; but he would say that at the outset of the war it was intensely unjust, and now the time had arrived when the Government should terminate the struggle, and not bring disgrace upon the British flag by prolonging the war. MR. KNATCHBULL-HUGESSEN did not yield to anyone in the desire that such terms should be offered to the Zulu King as might lead to the termination of the war, on conditions consistent with the safety of our Colonists and compatible with that humanity which was as creditable to a great country as was the utmost display of bravery. At the same time, however, he was sensible of the great responsibility which rested upon anyone who |