Lords Sitting of 30 July 1866

MINUTES.
PUBLIC BILLS—First Reading—Railway Companies' Securities* (240).
Second Reading—Parochial Buildings (Scotland) Act Amendment* (226); Thames Navigation* (214), and referred to Select Committee; Fees (Public Departments)* (233); Parishes (Scotland) Act (1844) Amendment* (235); County Assessments (221).
Committee—New Forest Poor Relief* (203); Rochdale Vicarage* (241); Straits Settlements* (242); Courts of Justice* (218); Inland Revenue* (229); Colonial Branch Mints* (227).
Report—New Forest Poor Relief* (203); Courts of Justice* (218); Inland Revenue* (229); Colonial Branch Mints* (227); Oyster and Mussel Fisheries* (243).
Third Reading—Consecration of Churchyards (No. 2) (193), Order discharged; British Columbia* (213); Oyster Bed Licences (Ireland)* (203); Land Tax Commissioners' Names* (179); Militia Pay*; Drainage and Improvement of Lands Act (Ireland) Provisional Order* (217); Public Works, Harbours, &c.* (219); Public Works Loans (Ireland)* (226); Foreign Jurisdiction Act Amendment* (165).
Royal Assent—Sheriff Court Houses (Scotland) Act (1860) Amendment [29 & 30 Vict. c. 53]; Revising Barristers' Qualifications [29 & 30 Vict. c. 54]; Postmaster General [29 & 30 Vict. c. 55]; Pier and Harbour Orders Confirmation (No. 2) [29 & 30 Vict. c. 56]; Charitable Trusts Deeds Enrolment [28 & 30 Vict. c. 57].

THE PRAYER AGAINST THE CATTLE PESTILENCE AND CHOLERA.

  QUESTION.
  LORD EBURY,who had given notice to move for Returns relating to Queen Anne's Bounty, observed that, as he found very similar information had been furnished to the other House of Parliament, he should
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  not press his Motion. He would take that opportunity, however, of putting a question to the noble Earl at the head of the Government with respect to the prayer drawn up last year by the Archbishop of Canterbury, and read in every church, praying for Divine intervention for the repression of the cattle disease, and beseeching Divine protection against the threatened visitation of cholera. Appropriate as the prayer was at the time of its composition, he thought that circumstances had occurred which would render desirable its reconstruction—the cattle plague had been nearly stamped out, while the cholera, which was ravaging other countries at that time, was now fatally prevalent here. He wished, therefore, to know, Whether there was any intention of substituting a fresh form of petition, invoking Divine aid and assistance under present calamities and visitations?
  THE EARL OF DERBYsaid, he admitted that the language of the prayer was not at the present time so applicable as it was at the time when it was composed. He believed, however, that the introduction and continued use of the prayer in our churches had given considerable satisfaction throughout the country. In reply to the question which the noble Lord had put to him, he had to state that he was not aware that at present any intention had been formed of altering the prayer at present in use; but he had no doubt the subject would receive attention from the most rev. Primate and other heads of the Church. The murrain was by no means stamped out, as it prevailed to a large extent among sheep; but, as respected cholera, the language of the prayer was hardly appropriate, for since cholera had broken out in this country the petition against its visitation was scarcely reconcilable with fact.

  CONSECRATION OF CHURCHYARDS (No. 2) BILL—(No. 193).
  (The Lord Redesdale).

  THIRD READING.
  Moved, "That the Order of the Day for the Third Reading of this Bill be discharged."—(The Lord Redesdale.)
  LORD STANLEY OF ALDERLEYobjected to the Bill being dropped. It was generally agreed to be a very useful measure; and although objections had been raised by the right rev. Bench to the Bill as first introduced, the required alterations had been made in the present Bill.
  LORD REDESDALEregretted to be compelled to withdraw the Bill, but on such a subject he held that it was desirable there should be a general concurrence of opinion. As that could not be secured, he deemed it best, under all the circumstances of the case, to withdraw the Bill.
  LORD STANLEY OF ALDERLEYsaid, that no reason having been given for the withdrawal of the Bill, he should feel it his duty to divide the House against the Motion.
  On Question? their Lordships divided: —Contents 28; Not-Contents 19: Majority 9.

  CONTENTS.

  Canterbury, Arcbp.

  Leven and Melville, E.

  Malmesbury, E.

  Chelmsford,L.(L. Chancellor.)

  Powis, E.

  Shrewsbury, E.

  Buckingham and Chandos, D.

  Hawarden, V.

  Limerick, &c., Bp.

  Belmore, E.

  London, Bp.

  Carnarvon, E.

  Manchester, Bp.

  Chichester, E.

  Dartmouth, E.

  Churchill, L.

  Derby, E.

  Colville of Culross, L.

  Devon, E.

  Congleton, L.

  Doncaster, E. (D. Buccleuch and Queensberry.)

  Raglan, L.

  Redesdale, L. [Teller.]

  Silchester, L. (E. Longford.) [Teller.]

  Graham, E. (D. Montrose.)

  Sondes, L.

  Harrowby, E.

  Southampton, L.

  NOT-CONTENTS.

  Normanby, M.

  Ebury, L.

  Foley, L.

  Amherst, E.

  Hunsdon, L. (V. Falkland.)

  Clarendon, E.

  Kimberley, E. [Teller.]

  Lyveden, L.

  Lucan, E.

  Minster, L. (M. Conyngham.)

  Romney, E.

  Russell, E.

  Mostyn, L.

  Ponsonby, L. (E. Bessborough.)

  De Vesci, V.

  Romilly, L.

  Clermont, L.

  Stanley of Alderley, L. [Teller.]

  Cranworth, L.

  Resolved in the Affirmative; Order of the Day for the Third Reading discharged accordingly.

  ROCHDALE VICARAGE BILL—(No. 241.)
  (The Earl of Chichester.)

  COMMITTEE.
  House in Committee (according to Order).
  Clause 12 (Application of the surplus of the annual Proceeds.)
  THE EARL OF POWIS moved an Amend-
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  ment empowering the Commissioners, after they had carried out the other objects of the Bill, to provide, with the concurrence of the Bishop of the diocese, additional curates to celebrate Divine service in the town of Rochdale.
  THE EARL OF CHICHESTERobjected to the Amendment.
  THE EARL OF DERBYsaid, he was prepared to support the Amendment.
  THE BISHOP OF MANCHESTERsaid, he could not, in behalf of those with whom he acted, consent to the Amendment proposed.
  Amendment negatived.
  Amendments made: The Report thereof to be received To-morrow; and Bill to be printed as amended (No. 241).

  COUNTY ASSESSMENTS BILL—(No. 221.)
  (The Earl of Devon.)

  SECOND READING.
  Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
  THE EARL OF DEVON,in moving the second reading of this Bill, said, that the 15 & 16 Vict. c. 81 gave power to the Justices in Quarter Sessions to appoint a committee to arrange the bases of the county rate. The 25 & 26 Vict. called the Union Assessment Committee Act, constituted in each union a committee for the purpose of settling the basis of the assessment for Poor Law purposes. A question had arisen as to whether the latter Act did not deprive the committee of the Justices of the powers given to them by the former one. This Bill declared that nothing in the Union Assessment Committee Act should apply to any assessment made in pursuance of the provisions of the 15 & 16 Vict. c. 81.
  Moved, "That the Bill be now read 2a." —(The Earl of Devon.)
  LORD CRANWORTHexpressed his approval of the object of the Bill.
  LORD REDESDALEobserved, that the Union Assessment Act was passed for the purpose of securing a uniform rating throughout the county; but the present Bill would in effect create two rates, that for the county being different from the parish rate. The Union Assessment Act was not, perhaps, perfect, and it might be very desirable that something should be done to amend it; but be thought the remedy now proposed was far from satisfac-

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  tory. It seemed to have been introduced because certain county committees had surmised that their power had been taken away from them by the Act he had referred to, and to promote the interests of the surveyors. He should move that the Bill be read a second time that day three months.
  Amendment moved, to leave out ("now,") and insert ("this Day Three Months.")
  THE EARL OF DEVONsaid, he was as anxious as any of their Lordships to secure uniform rating, and he would like to see a Bill introduced to effect this object; but that was not likely to be done for some time to come, and until then it was desirable that the Amendment the present Bill proposed should be made.
  THE EARL OF CHICHESTERsaid, that it appeared, from the doubts prevailing as to the Acts now in force, that something should be done, and he would therefore give his support to the Bill.
  THE EARL OF KIMBERLEYsaid, he understood the Bill would rectify the inequality which had been introduced into the union by the county rate. If that were so, the Bill would effect a very important improvement.
  On Question, that ("now") stand Part of the Motion? Resolved in the Affirmative; Bill read 2a accordingly, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House To-morrow.

  THAMES NAVIGATION BILL.
  Read 2a (according to Order); the Order of the Day for Consideration of Standing Orders Nos. 37 & 38., in order to their being dispensed with, discharged; Bill committed: The Committee to be proposed by the Committee of Selection.
  List of the Committee—E. Leven and Melville, E. Lucan, L. Foley, L. Raglan, L. Lyveden, (Chairman).
  House adjourned at half past Six o'clock, till To-morrow, half past Ten o'clock.