§ MR. SPEAKERinformed the House that he had received from Mr. Justice Field, one of the Judges appointed in pursuance of the Parliamentary Elections Act, 1868, for the Trial of Election Petitions, and from J. Talbot Airey, esquire, the prescribed Officer appointed by the Court of Common Pleas under the provisions of the same Act, Reports relating to the Election for the Southern Division of the County of Northumberland:—
§ Reports read, as follow:—
§ Northumberland County (Southern Division) Election.
§ Common Pleas Office,
§ Chancery Lane, W.C.
§ 4th July, 1878.
§ Sir,
§ In the Matter of the South Northumberland Election.
§ Henry Milvain and others, Petitioners.
§ Albert Henry George Grey, Respondent.
§ I have the honour to Report to you, in pursuance of the 40th section of "The Parliamentary Elections Act, 1868," that the Petition in the above matter is this day withdrawn by the said Petitioners.
§ I have the honour to be,
§ Sir,
§ Your most obedient humble Servant,
§ J. TALBOT AIREY,
§ The Prescribed Officer appointed under the Act.
§ To the Right Honble.
§ The Speaker.
§ The Parliamentary Elections Act, 1868.
§ Southern Division of Northumberland Election Petition.
§ Arthur Edward Middleton, Petitioner; and Edward Ridley, Respondent.
§ To the Right Honourable
§ The Speaker of the House of Commons,
§ I, Sir William Ventris Field, knight, one of the Justices of the High Court of Justice, Queen's 854 Bench Division, and one of the Judges for the time being for the trial of Election Petitions in England, do hereby, in pursuance of the said Act, report to you that a Summons came on to be heard before me in the matter of the above Petition, on behalf of the Petitioner, for leave to withdraw such Petition, and upon hearing the Solicitors or Agents on both sides, and upon reading the affidavits produced before me by and on behalf of the respective parties, I ordered that the Petitioner be at liberty to withdraw such Petition; and I report, that in my opinion the withdrawal of such Petition was not the result of any corrupt arrangement, or in consideration of the withdrawal of any other Petition.
§ WILLIAM V. FIELD.
§ Dated this fifth day of July, 1878.
§ Letter and Notice received from Mr. Justice Field [19th June] again read:—
§ Northumberland County (Southern Division) Election,—
§ Westminster Hall,
§ 18th June, 1878.
§ Sir,
§ I beg to inform you, pursuant to "The Parliamentary Elections Act, 1868," that a Notice, of which a copy is herewith enclosed, was duly filed on the 15th instant.
§ I am Sir,
§ Your obedient Servant,
§ WILLIAM VENTRIS FIELD.
§ To the Right Honourable The Speaker.
§ (Copy.)
§ In the High Court of Justice, Common Pleas Division.
§ The Parliamentary Elections Act, 1868.
§ Election for the Southern Division of the County of Northumberland holden on the 10th and 17th days of April in the year of our Lord 1878.
§ Between Henry Milvain and others, Petitioners; and Albert Henry George Grey, Respondent.
§ I hereby give notice that I do not intend to oppose this Petition.
§ Dated this 15th day of June 1878.
§ ALBERT HENRY GEORGE GREY.
§ Ordered, That the Deputy Clerk of the Crown do attend this House forthwith, with the last Return for the Southern Division of the County of Northumberland, and amend the same by rasing out the name of Albert Henry George Grey, esquire.
§ The Deputy Clerk of the Crown attended and amended the said Return accordingly.