value upon which they ought to be Clauses 1 to 4, inclusive, agreed to. Clause 5 (Repeal of s. 37 of 8 & 9 Vict. c. 83, and s. 3 of 30 & 31 Vict. c. 80). MR. J. G. HUBBARD said, that this clause was one in which a proper equitable provision ought to be inserted. such mines in the immediately preceding year, or (where such minerals are not let) of the fair letting value thereof in the same parish." He said that railways were increasing, whereas mines were always decreasing in value. For that reason, he proposed the insertion of this clause; and he proposed to insert 25 per cent of the lordship paid for the minerals as the criterion of the yearly rent. The clause was in accordance with the principle which had been adopted with regard to railways, and evidence was given before the Select Committee on the Valuation of Lands and Assessments Bill of 1870, which made out a stronger case for relieving mines than railways. THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. WATsox) said, that he could not accept this clause, which would make an entire change in the system of rating. In the case of railways they were compelled to resort to a very artificial system of valuation, for they were obliged to value them in a very special manner, because they were situate in a great many parishes. So they had resorted to the system of taking the railways as a whole; and, after making proper deductions for the expenses of working, they had assessed the annual value of the railway, and then they divided the amount so found amongst the different parishes through which the railways ran according to mileage. That, no doubt, was an artificial system; but they had been compelled to adopt it for want of a better. He did not think there was any moved, in page 3, after Clause 8, to in-with regard to mines; for, if they did, in reason for adopting the same principle sert the following clause : There was no doubt that assessments ought to be made upon the rateable value, and that proper deductions ought to be made in accordance with a scale. It was the laziness of the Scotch which prevented their adopting the scale recommended by Parliamentary Committees. He, therefore, begged to propose that it be inserted in that part of the Bill. Clause agreed to. Clauses 6 to 8, inclusive, agreed to. Clause 9 (Amendment of 37 & 38 Vict. c. 20). SIR GRAHAM MONTGOMERY moved, in page 3, line 26, to leave out from "if," inclusive, to end of clause. Amendment agreed to. Clause, as amended, agreed to. SIR WINDHAM ANSTRUTHER (As to ascertaining the annual value of mines and minerals.) "The yearly rent or value of all mines and minerals and of the works connected therewith all similar cases-such as iron-works Amendment negatived. Bill reported; as amended, to be con- GREAT SEAL BILL [Lords]-[BILL 180.] (Mr. Attorney General.) SECOND READING. Order for Second Reading read. Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read a second time."-(Mr. Attorney General.) SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT said, that he should like to know something about the Bill, inasmuch as it contained certain clauses in red ink, indicating an addition to the National Expenditure. He could not understand the meaning of the 5th clause of the Bill, in which it was stated "Whereas by the Great Seal (Offices) Act, 1874, all duties and powers required to be performed by or vested in the purse-bearer to the Lord Chancellor (including the duties of chaff wax, sealer, and deputy sealer) are required to be performed by and vested in the Gentleman of the Chamber attending the Great Seal and it is expedient to amend the said enactment: Be it therefore enacted as follows: The said duties and powers, so far as they relate to passing documents under the Great Seal, shall, as the Lord Chancellor from time to time by order directs, be performed by and vested in the Gentleman of the Chamber attending the Great Seal, or in the officer performing the duties of Messenger to the Great Seal." That, so far as he could see, made no particular difference in the state of things that now existed; only the next paragraph, which was in red ink, enabled this Gentleman of the Chamber to receive an additional salary for doing the duties he had already to perform. A few years ago, they had endeavoured to get rid of the expenditure upon some of these useless offices. Amongst the offices which had disappeared, he was happy to say was that of a lady, who was called "the embroideress," and who enjoyed a considerable salary. The Bill spoke of a gentleman called the "chaff wax, the sealer, and the deputy sealer." But he had already been appointed, and received a salary of £400 a-year, with an additional £100 for discharging the duties of purse-bearer. But, by the clause in red ink, the Lord Chancellor was to be allowed to give him such additional salary or remuneration as he pleased. Thus the public were to be called upon to pay an additional salary to the officer performing the duty of messenger to the Great Seal, who had already £400 a-year, and an additional £100 for discharging the duties of chaff wax and messenger to the Great Seal. Thus a provision was made for increasing such sums, and the Secretary to the Treasury was responsible for a Bill accumulating salaries upon the chaff wax, sealer, and deputy sealer, and officers, whom the public knew nothing at all about. It seemed to him that it was nothing more than a job. Everyone, who knew anything about the matter, knew the persons who received these salaries were those who had held confidential posts in the household of the Lord Chancellor at former periods; and the object of the Bill was to enable the Lord Chancellor to give them such sums as might appear right to him. He should certainly oppose this Bill, until he knew something more about it. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir JOHN HOLKER) said, that his hon. and learned Friend seemed to think that this Bill was intended to increase the Expenditure of the country; that was not the case, for one great object of the Bill was to abolish an office that had hitherto been occupied at considerable expenditure. A short time ago, there was an officer who was called "Clerk to the Attorney and Solicitor Generals. All patents, upon passing under the Great Seal, were prepared by the Clerk to the Attorney and Solicitor Generals, and for doing this he was paid by fees. The duties which that officer was called upon to perform were not very onerous, and by no means complicated; but these warrants for the passing of letters patent being very much alike, their preparation did not involve any great amount of trouble-the trouble, if trouble there was, devolving upon the Attorney and Solicitor Generals. This officer was in existence at the time his. hon. and learned Friend occupied the post of Law Officer, although he did not seem to be acquainted with him, possibly because he was so occupied in the Office he filled that he had not become thoroughly acquainted with all under him. The occupier of that office had recently died; and it had been thought right to abolish the office altogether, with the consent of the Attorney General and the Solicitor General, and to confer the duties of the office upon the Clerk of the Crown in Chancery, who, according to this Bill, was not to get any additional remuneration for performing those duties. In other respects, the duties of the office would be performed as hitherto; and if any warrant for the passing of letters patent was required to be prepared, it would be sent to the Law Officers of the Crown to be settled by them. With reference to the other officer to which his hon. and learned Friend had directed attention-the office of purse-bearer, MR. WHITWELL said, that no explanation had been given the House with regard to this Bill. So far as he could see, the Bill proposed to give the Governor General powers similar to those in the Mutiny Act, and for a certain branch of the Service, called the Indian Marine Service, including a great many persons, some of whom might be considered ordinary labourers. Power was given to inflict exemplary and speedy punishments, and some of the punishments were very heavy, and some were of a very light character. The Bill gave the Governor General power to authorize these laws to be put in force before receiving instructions from England; but they were to be repealed, if disallowed. With the exception of death, nearly all the punishments might be inflicted upon a British subject born in England. The Bill also gave power, under these laws, to punish by death Natives of India. Powers to inflict penal servitude upon British subjects, with the sanction of the Government at home, were also given. Therefore, he thought that this Bill was one of the most serious character, and that it should not be read a second time at that hour. He should move the adjournment of the debate. including the duties of the chaff wax, sealer, and deputy sealer-there was, in fact, no chaff wax, sealer, or deputy sealer. The duties of the office were to be transferred to officers to be nominated by the Lord Chancellor, in accordance with the Great Seal (Offices) Act, 1874; and, in order to carry out the provisions of that Act, this clause had been inserted in the Bill, by which all the duties and powers to be performed and vested in the purse-bearer to the Lord Chancellor, including the duties of the chaff wax, sealer, and deputy sealer, were to be performed by the Gentleman of the Chamber attending the Great Seal, or upon the officer performing the duties of messenger to the Great Seal. The object of that was to diminish the expense of these offices. The officers mentioned, as would be seen by referring to the Great Seal Act of 1874, had already certain duties to perform; and he would find that that Act provided that the additional duties in question were to be performed by gentlemen nominated by the Lord Chancellor. They were to be paid out of the money provided by Parliament, and the officers so performing the duties were to receive such additional salary as the Treasury, on the recommendation of the Lord Chancellor, should see fit and proper to allow. It was only right, when extra offices were thrown upon an officer, who had at present a great many duties to perform, that some slight increase to his salary should be made. For that reason, it had been thought right to insert the present provision in the Bill, enabling the slight increase to be made, on the recommendation of the Lord Chancellor to the Treasury, and the Treasury would then grant it. The hon. and learned Gentleman might be quite sure that no additional salary would be allowed by the Treasury, unless it were absolutely necessary. Motion agreed to. Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Debate be now adjourned." (Mr. Whitwell.) MR. E. STANHOPE said, that the Bill was of a very simple character indeed. It contained powers exactly similar to those which had been in force a great many years, by which the Government of India was empowered to make regulations with regard to persons serving in the Marine Service. The Indian Navy was abolished; but it had been subsequently found, after very careful inquiry, that it would be necessary for India to have under its own control a few vessels for local purposes. For that reason, the Government of Bill read a second time, and committed India had authorized a small Marine for Thursday. INDIAN MARINE BILL-[BILL 182.] (Mr. Edward Stanhope, Mr. John G. Talbot.) SECOND READING. Order for Second Reading read. Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read a second time."-(Mr. Edward Stanhope.) The Attorney General Service; but they had no power, as the matter stood, to enforce any discipline in the Service. For that reason, they proposed to give to the Governor General, by this Bill, power to regulate the Service. There was nothing peculiar in the Bill, and any regulations made under it were not to be enforced if the Secretary of State disallowed them. That was all it was necessary to say upon the subject; the hon. Gentleman, I therefore, would see that the Bill was of a simple character. MR. BARING inquired whether the powers were given to the Governor General, or to the Governor General in Couneil, to make regulations under the Act? MR. E STANHOPE observed, that the phrase used of the Governor General in Council was the one always made use of in Acts of Parliament. SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT was surprised that this Bill should be taken so late at night. It was not the annual Mutiny Bill for India-that had been repealed. This was a new Bill, and he did not think that it should be taken at that time. Tuesday, 20th May, 1879. MINUTES.]-PUBLIC BILLS-Second Reading— Third Reading Local Government Provisional Orders (Ashton-under-Lyne, &c.) * (79), and passed. MR. ONSLOW thought that some further information should be furnished by the Under Secretary of State for India with regard to the state of this Marine. The Indian Marine was abolished some years ago, on the understanding that Her Majesty's Navy should undertake all its then duties, and the Indian Government agreed to pay about £70,000 a-year towards the expenses of the Navy. Now, it seemed that the Indian Marine was to be established on its old footing; and it INDIA-DISTURBANCES IN BOMBAY. appeared that many of the duties which ought, in his opinion, to be performed by Her Majesty's Navy were to be thrown. upon the Indian Marine. He thought that they should be told the reason for this expenditure, and the necessity for an Indian Marine co-existent with Her Majesty's Navy in Indian waters. If this Bill were to be extended to a great extent, he thought it would be in the interests of the Indian Exchequer that it should be opposed. MR. DILLWYN thought that such a Bill as this should be taken in a full House. OBSERVATIONS. QUESTION. THE EARL OF CARNARVON: I wish to put a Question to the noble Viscount the Secretary of State for India, of which I have given him private Notice, on a subject of great importance, mention of which has again been made in the newspapers this morning. For some days past, very strange reports have apof peared in the newspapers disgrave turbances which have taken place in the Presidency of Bombay, in the Deccan, and of incendiary fires near Poonah; and, in the papers of yesterday, there was a more detailed account. It was reported that the magistrate's court, and other public buildings, had been fired, that large bands of armed Dacoits were marauding the country, and at great loss of property has ensued. Lastly-which is a very remarkable circumstance-a manifesto is said to have been put out by some of these bands, in which there are not only statements made as to the great distress of the country, the severe pressure of taxes on the people, but a reward of 1,000 rupees is placed on the head of the Governor, Sir Richard Temple, unless he complies THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER consented to the adjournment of the debate. Question put, and agreed to. Debate adjourned till To-morrow, Two of the clock. TERMS OF REMOVAL (SCOTLAND) bill. On Motion of Mr. MONTGOMERIE, Bill to provide for uniform Terms of Removal from lands and houses in Scotland, ordered to be brought in by Mr. MONTGOMERIE, Sir WILLIAM CUNINGHAME, Mr. MACKINTOSH, and Sir WINDHAM ANSTRUTHER. Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 189.] with their demands. The state of things | was much to be regretted; but as he is no doubt serious. It is impossible believed this step was founded on certo say quite what it means, and what tain misapprehensions, he would now causes have produced it-whether these endeavour to remove them. The Bill, if are merely armed bands, or bands acting amended in accordance with his views, in concert and sympathy with the popu- would be practically the same as that lation; but I believe that it is al- introduced by Mr. Mulholland, the Memmost unprecedented in Indian history ber for Downpatrick, in the other House in our day that such a manifesto should some time ago, but which did not reach be issued threatening the life of the this House. The Bill, so amended, Governor of one of the British Pro- would not work any alteration in the vinces. I shall be glad to hear from present state of the law affecting land my noble Friend, Whether or not these in Ireland. It would simply be a destatements are correct, and whether he claratory Bill, intended to clear up a can throw any light upon the subject? point which caused a considerable amount of useless and vexatious litigation in Ireland. At the time when the Land Act of 1870 was passed, the Government considered that in legalizing the usages of the Province of Ulster, they were not only legalizing tenant right in the case of tenants from year to VISCOUNT CRANBROOK: There can be no doubt that great distress prevails in the Deccan; and I have, in private letters, received accounts of that distress. It is also true that within some weeks past, to a certain extent, the Dacoits have committed numerous robberies and other outrages; but I have no know-year, but also in the case of tenants ledge of the particular transactions reported in the newspapers within the last few days-though I think them not unlikely, inasmuch as it has been reported that bands of Dacoits have been traversing the Provinces and committing outrages to a certain extent. Seeing such detailed accounts in the newspapers, I telegraphed this morning to the Governor of Bombay asking for information; but I have not as yet received a reply. The latest accounts which I received by last mail conveyed the intelligence that although bands of Dacoits had been traversing the country, the Deccan was quieter, and that things seemed to be settling down. The holding by lease. But after the Land Act became law, it was questioned whether this was so, and more than one decision was given in opposition to the views of the Government. He himself believed that those views were correctan opinion in which he was fortified by the expressions of the noble and learned Earl on the Woolsack, and of the noble and learned Lord the then Lord Chancellor of Ireland (Lord O'Hagan); and since the Bill had been laid on the Table of the House, one of the Judges of Assizes in Ireland had given judgment in a case in the same direction as that to which the Bill pointed. Amendments which he wished to introduce into the Bill were of two kinds. There were certain words in the Bill which, if they were allowed to remain unqualified, would extend the operation Read-Ulster. The words to which he referred of the measure beyond the Province of were not within the scope of the PreTHE EARL OF BELMORE, in moving amble of the Bill, which expressly pointed that the Bill be now read a second time, out that the Bill was intended to apply said, he desired to explain what the in the case of the usages of Ulster. He Bill proposed to do, and endeavour to proposed, therefore, that all such words. remove some misapprehensions which in the 2nd section of the Bill as would existed with regard to it, and then he extend the operation of the measure bewould explain some two or three Amend-yond the Province of Ulster, as well as ments which he desired to introduce into it in Committee, if the Bill should reach that stage. The noble Viscount sitting near him (Viscount Lifford) had given Notice of his intention to move the rejection of the Bill. That, he thought, The Earl of Carnarvon TENANT RIGHT (IRELAND) BILL. (The Earl of Belmore.) (No. 35.) SECOND READING. Order of the Day for the Second ing, read. the words "or other usages analogous thereto," to be found further on, should be struck out of the Bill. He had no desire to legislate in the dark for the other Provinces, and it would only lead to confusion to introduce this custom |