Lords Sitting of 2 June 1865

MINUTES.
PUBLIC BILLS—First Reading— Dockyard Extensions * (143); Local Government Supplemental (No. 4.) * (144).
Second Reading—General Post Office (Additional Site) (124).
Committee—Dogs Regulation (Ireland) * (129); Inclosure (No. 2) * (135); Lancaster Court of Chancery * (78).
Report—Dogs Regulation (Ireland) * (129); Sewage Utilization * (134); Inclosure (No. 2) * (135); Lancaster Court of Chancery * (78).
Third Reading—Commissioners of Supply Meetings (Scotland) * (118); Parsonages * (137), and passed.
Royal Assent—Metropolitan Houseless Poor [28 Vict. c. 34]; Public Offices (Site and Approaches) [28 Vict. c. 31] I India Office (Site and Approaches) [28 Vict. c. 32]; Tories, Robbers, and Rapparees [28 Vict. c. 33]; Police Superannuation [28 Vict. c. 35]; County Voters Registration [28 Vict. c. 36]; County of Sussex [28 Vict. c. 37].

CASE OF CATHERINE GAUGHAN.

  QUESTION.
  THE EARL OF BANDONasked the noble Bail the Lord President of the Council, Why the Sentence which was passed on or about the 20th April last, on sub-Inspector Burke and other individuals of the Police Force concerned in the outrage on Catherine Gaughan, at Ballisodare, in the county of Sligo, was not carried into effect?
  EARL GRANVILLEsaid, the Irish Government had believed that the sentences pronounced upon sub-Inspector Burke and two constables bad been carried out; but it appeared that such was not the case, and the explanation was that the removal of the sub-Inspector from the district had not taken place because of his illness, but, although he had remained in the neighbourhood, he had not done duty. The constables would be removed as opportunities presented themselves.
  THE EARL OF LEITRIMsaid, the Irish Government refused to carry out the law in cases of this kind, because they feared to do so; and expressed a hope that the Imperial Government would institute an inquiry into the whole system of Government by the Lord Lieutenant.
  THE MARQUESS OF WESTMEATHtrusted that the noble Earl would give some more satisfactory answer to the question. A great failure of justice bad taken place, when an officer charged with such an offence was retained in the public service, and would hereafter be entitled to a pension.

GENERAL POST OFFICE (ADDITIONAL SITE) BILL— [No. 124]

  SECOND READING.
  LORD STANLEY OF ALDERLEY, in moving the second reading of this Bill, said, that when he mentioned that the number of letters transmitted and received through the Post Office in this country had increased from 70,000,000 in the year 1839

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  to 700,000,000 now; and that the number of letters received in and despatched from London alone was nearly one quarter of the whole correspondence of the kingdom, he thought he would have almost adduced enough to prove to their Lordships the necessity for a large addition to the present accommodation of the Central Office. The business of the Department had also been greatly increased in the Money Order branch, as also by the establishment of the Post Office savings banks, by the book post, pattern post, and other valuable adjuncts, all of which rendered it necessary that they should have an enlarged space for their operations. Indeed, so great had been the pressure upon them that they could not have gone on but for the opening of the district offices which now existed in various parts of the metropolis, by means of which a considerable portion of the business had been taken off the hands of the Central Office. However, the business of the Chief Office had at present to be transacted in four or five separate places, the Money Order Office being in one spot, the Savings Bank in another, and so forth. That was found to be on inconvenient arrangement, and it was very desirable that, as far as possible, the various branches of the chief establishment should be consolidated. It was, therefore, proposed to purchase certain property adjoining St. Martin's-le-Grand, and there to construct buildings for the purpose of supplying the requisite accommodation.
  Motion agreed to: Bill read 2a, and committed for Tuesday, the 13th Instant.
  House adjourned at a quarter past Six o'clock, till Monday, the 12th Instant, at One o'clock.