Lords Sitting of 22 April 1879

MINUTES.
PUBLIC BILLS—Second Reading—Friendly Societies Act (1875) Amendment* (25).
Committee—Rivers Conservancy* (20–59).
Committee—Report—Registration of Births, Deaths, and Marriages (Army)* (27).
Third Reading—Local Government (Ireland) Provisional Order Confirmation (Downpatrick)* (21); Local Government (Ireland) Provisional Orders Confirmation (Cashel, &c.)* (22), and passed.

SOUTH AFRICA—THE ZULU WAR—TELEGRAMS FROM THE SEAT OF WAR.—QUESTIONS.
THE EARL OF KIMBERLEY: My Lords, seeing my noble Friend the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies in his place, perhaps I may be permitted to ask him, Whether he will state what is the latest news that has been received from Cape Colony?
EARL CADOGAN: My Lords, a despatch has been received at the Colonial Office, and one in almost identical terms at the War Office. The one to the Colonial Office is in these words—
"From J. Gordon Sprigg, Colonial Secretary, Cape Town, to the Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies, London, dated Cape Town, 7th April, 1879.
"The Lieutenant Governor of Natal, Sir Henry Bulwer, desires me to communicate the following message which he has received from Colonel Hopton at Fort Pearson, Tugela River:—'I am directed by Lord Chelmsford to send the following communication:—The relieving column, under Lord Chelmsford, formed laager near Gingihlovo, on afternoon of 1st April. Very heavy rain throughout evening and night. At 6 a.m. on the 2nd Zulus attacked laager, on each side in succession—two distinct forces em-
820
ployed. Enemy advanced in most courageous manner, but never got within 20 yards of shelter trench. At 7.30 a.m. the attack was repulsed, and the enemy retired precipitately, followed for some miles by the mounted Infantry and Natives under Barrow and Barton, and Nettleton's regiment of Natal Contingent. Sabres of the mounted Infantry did great execution. The fight was witnessed from Ekowe, and Colonel Pearson, flashing signals, congratulated General upon success. Casualties—Lieutenant Johnson, Privates J. Smith and Lawrence, 99th, Private R. Marshal, 91st, and Private J. J. Pratt, 60th Rifles, killed. Colonel Northey, 60th Rifles, and Dr. Longfield, of Her Majesty's ship Tenedos, dangerously wounded. Major Barrow, of the 19th Hussars, and Captain Hinxman, 57th, slightly wounded. Twenty soldiers and sailors wounded, one Native killed and 10 wounded. There were 471 bodies of Zulus counted within 1,000 yards of the laager. The long grass and bushes helped their approach and assisted their retreat. Total loss must have been double. Portions of 11 regiments are known to have taken part in attack—viz., Ngoxamonosi, Uvemmsityu, Unambonambu, Zulwana, Nokenka, Nodwena, and others. Prisoners state that 195 companies were engaged, which, at 60 men each, would give 11,000. Dabulmanzu, mounted, led the final attack. Somapo was in chief command. Lord Chelmsford intends to abandon Ekowe, both roads being very difficult of approach; he will establish a permanent post on the coast road. Gingihlovo laager will be reduced to permit its being held by a garrison. The General goes to Ekowe with three regiments and carts. Prisoners state that messengers arrived yesterday with news of Colonel Wood's victory on the 29th.'
"Since the foregoing message was received, further intelligence has arrived from the Natal Government that Lord Chelmsford has relieved Colonel Pearson at Ekowe, and has returned with the whole garrison to his camp."
Another telegram in these terms has been received—
"Telegram from Government House to Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, dated Cape Town, April 7.
"No news from High Commissioner's Camp since last mail. Postmaster at Pietermaritzburg telegraphed to Under Colonial Secretary Capo Town, 4th April: High Commissioner and Staff 30 miles beyond Newcastle, on road to Standerton, 31st March; all well. Lord Chelmsford has successfully relieved Ekowe, and brought away garrison safely. Relieving force under Lord Chelmsford left Fort Tenedos 29th March; attacked by enemy about 12,000 strong at Gingihlovo 2nd April; completely defeated them. General continued march to Ekowe with part of column; reached it 3rd April. I understand particulars of engagement have been telegraphed to Sir Henry Bulwer—Colonel Hopton, Fort Tenedos, telegraphs to me, 6th April—General and Staff all well. Pearson and Ekowe garrison now encamped 15 miles hence, and will come here to-morrow. Transport Clyde wrecked off Dyer's Island and sunk; all on board safe and unhurt; troops, taken on board Her Majefty's ship Tamar, proceed to

821
Durban to-day. All other Infantry reinforcements landed at Durban; also 17th Lancers by England. Loss of Buller'a men at Hlobane less than newspapers reported. Telegram from Maritzburg 3 p.m. to-day states: General, Commodore, and Staff arrived at Fort Pearson noon to-day."
LORD VIVIAN: Has any telegram been received from Colonel Wood's force?
EARL CADOGAN: I have read all that have been received at the Colonial Office.
THE DUKE OF ARGYLL: Has any list been received at the War Office of the casualties which have occurred in Colonel Wood's column?
EARL CADOGAN: I am not aware that any such list has been received.
THE EARL OF CAMPERDOWN: It is stated in the newspapers that there has been a loss of seven officers and 400 men in that column. Is there any official Report confirmatory of that statement?
EARL CADOGAN: The only telegrams which have reached the Colonial Office are those which I have just read.
THE DUKE OF ARGYLL: Some accounts that have not come to the Colonial Office may have reached the War Office.
VISCOUNT BURY: The news received at the War Office does not purport to come from Colonel Wood. Information from another source has readied the War Office; but as we have no details, I can give your Lordships no further information.

RIVERS CONSERVANCY BILL.—(No. 20.)
(The Lord President.)
RIVERS CONSERVANCY BILL.—(No. 20.)

  COMMITTEE.
  Order of the Day for the House to be put into a Committee, read.
  Moved, "That the House do now resolve itself into Committee."—(The Lord President.)
  THE EARL OF REDESDALEsaid, that the Bill as it stood embodied the extraordinary proposition that the property of one person was to be taxed for the improvement of that of another. The Bill gave compulsory powers for the removal of impediments in the channels of rivers; and full compensation was to be made for injury sustained by any persons by reason of the exercise of such powers by the conservancy board. The proprietors of upper lands were not,
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  however, to be so dealt with. It was assumed that the upland drainage carried on by them had the effect of flooding lowlands, and they were to be taxed under the Bill for having done that which they were legally entitled to do. If their Lordships would refer to the Report of the Committee, they would find that the eminent engineer, Mr. Rawlinson, dissented from the conclusions of the Committee. The proposition was so monstrous tha the thought it could not be persevered with; and he had, acccordingly, given Notice of a Resolution which he would now move—
  Amendment moved, to leave out all the words after ("That,") and insert—
  "If A having ten years ago purchased a property in the uplands of a river conservancy district in the valuation of which the liability to a charge for a conservancy rate could not have been included, and B having in the same year purchased a property in the Hood lands of the same district in the valuation of which the damage from floods must have been necessarily estimated, it will be unreasonable and unjust that A's property should be taxed for the improvement of B's property, when his lands cannot receive any benefit from the outlay to which under the Rivers Conservancy Bill he is to be compelled to contribute."—(The Earl of Redesdale.)
  THE EARL OF SANDWICHthought the noble Earl the Chairman of Committees entirely overlooked the fact that the floods from which the lowlands suffered were caused in a great degree by the drainage of the uplands; and he was of opinion, therefore, that the proposition to tax the proprietors of the latter class of lands was a just one.
  THE EARL OF KIMBERLEYsaid, he felt considerable hesitation in opposing any proposition which came before their Lordships with such high recommendations in favour of the proposition to tax the proprietors of the uplands. He was aware that, with the exception of Mr. Rawlinson, all the engineers who had been examined before the Committee of their Lordships' House were of opinion that the drainage of the uplands was the cause of the flooding of the lowlands. Mr. Rawlinson, however, who was a high authority on such subjects, dissented from that opinion; and for himself he (the Earl of Kimberley), notwithstanding the high authority for that proposition, begged to dissent from it. This Bill went too far in the way of taxation, and he could not but think a

  823
  moment like the present, when there was such distress in the agricultural districts, was an awkward one for promoting a measure which would impose additional taxation on the occupiers of land. The works which were to be executed under the Bill were of a permanent character, and he thought that if this charge was to be imposed at all the burden should be borne wholly by the owner.
  THE MARQUESS OF HUNTLYsaid, the criticism of the noble Earl went to the principle of the Bill; but that had been accepted when the House assented to the second reading, whereas the objections which had been raised were properly matters for consideration in Committee. He saw no reason whatever for excluding the uplands from the taxation necessary for carrying out the Bill. He hoped the House would not be led into an attempt to solve such an alphabetical conundrum as that contained in the Amendment of the noble Earl (the Earl of Redesdale), and he trusted the Government would not give way.
  THE DUKE OF RICHMOND AND GORDONsaid, there could be no doubt that the agricultural depression existing at the present moment was very severe; but, with reference to the argument that this made it a very inopportune moment to propose an additional burden on the owners and occupiers of land, it should be remembered that the Government had brought in this Bill only after they had been pressed over and over again to take action on the Report of the Select Committee. The Government could not allow the inquiry to remain a dead letter, and he had met some of the objections which had been made on the second reading of the Bill by Amendments which he would move in Committee. But he could not consent to the general proposition which his noble Friend the Chairman of Committees wanted to establish. His noble Friend's Resolution was an abstract one, and would in no way change the Bill. His noble Friend's proposition seemed to be that an owner of property should not be subject to any tax to which his property was not subject when he became possessed of it. The evidence taken by the Select Committee showed that the increased drainage of the upper lands brought down an amount of silt and stuff to the channel of the river in its course through the lowlands, and for that reason it was thought but
  824
  just that the proprietors of the upper lands should be included in the area of taxation.
  THE DUKE OF SOMERSETsaid, the Bill opened up a new area of taxation, and it imposed new taxes; and their expenditure was to be, to a certain extent, controlled by the Local Government Board. He hoped, therefore, when it reached the other House of Parliament, it would be carefully gone into by a Committee. The Bill was, moreover, to be put into operation by the objectionable process of Provisional Orders, also under the discretion of the Local Government Board. It had often been said by those who sat opposite that legislation by Provisional Order ought to be very carefully watched, and he thought that remark was specially applicable to the present case. It was true that these Provisional Orders were to be laid upon the Table of the House; but who would care to take up the questions which would be involved in these Provisional Orders when laid on the Table of the House? And even if anyone was found it would be impossible for the House to inquire into such details; therefore, the Local Government Board would have an absolute uncontrolled power.
  THE MARQUESS OF RIPONdemurred to the noble Duke's description of the Provisional Order system. It had this great advantage—that all action under the Bill was to be initiated by local inquiry, and that nothing could be done by the Board itself, until after local inquiry had been made. Nor was it strictly accurate to say that the Provisional Order was merely laid on the Table of the House. It had to be embodied in a Bill, against which the persons affected might be heard before a Committee in the same way as on an ordinary Private Bill. The Committee recommended proceeding by Provisional Order to save expense to the parties, and to gain the advantage of an inquiry in the locality interested instead of a general inquiry before a Committee of Parliament. As to the extent to which the uplands caused the floods, the weight of evidence, both professional and practical, was entirely against the view of the noble Earl the Chairman of Committees. His noble Friend took the same view as Mr. Rawlinson; but, with all respect to that gentleman, he must point out that he was the only one of the professional wit-

  825
  nesses who held that view. Eleven out of the 12 witnesses who spoke to this point expressed an opinion that the drainage from the uplands did lead to the dangerous floods which had recently prevailed.
  THE DUKE OF MANCHESTERthought it was quite necessary that the Government should deal with the question; but he should have preferred that a conservancy board should have been made compulsory on every river, with somewhat less extensive powers than were given by this Bill. But he thought it was entirely unjust that the uplands should be rated for the improvement of the lowlands. He protested against the view that the floods were produced by underground drainage; in his opinion, they were due only to the wet seasons which had prevailed of late. He maintained that floods were a benefit to meadows, provided they did not remain upon them too long. The meadows derived benefit from the silt and other dressings brought down from the higher grounds, and therefore should pay for the benefit they derived; and it was hard that the uplands should have to pay for benefits with which they parted. It was quite true that 11 out of the 12 professional witnesses who were called had expressed an opinion that the drainage from the uplands led to the floods; but only one of the 11 (Mr. Bailey Denton) ventured upon giving reasons for that opinion.
  THE EARL OF REDESDALEheld that his arguments had not been controverted. At the same time, it was not his intention to press the matter to the extent of opposing the Bill getting into Committee; and he should, therefore, withdraw his Amendment.
  Amendment (by leave of the House) withdrawn.
  Then the Original Motion agreed to.
  House in Committee accordingly.
  Clauses 1 and 2 (Preliminary) agreed to.
  Proceedings for Establishing River Conservancy Boards.
  Clause 3 (Power to establish conservancy board), agreed to.
  Clause 4 (Local inquiry on application for establishment of board), agreed to.
  Clause 5 (Provisional Order for establishment of board).
  THE MARQUESS OF RIPONsaid, he wished the system of election to the conservancy boards to be as elastic as possible; and, therefore, he wished to give power to the local authorities to sub-divide the present conservancy districts into sub-districts, if it should be considered that it would be more convenient than the mode of election by sanitary authorities.
  Amendment moved, in line 14, after ("board,") insert—
  ("dividing the district, if they think fit, into sub-districts, establishing, if they think fit, sub-district boards in such sub-districts.")
  EARL STANHOPEsupported the Amendment.
  Amendment agreed to.
  Clause, as amended, agreed to.
  THE DUKE OF MANCHESTERsaid, he contended that the lower grounds derived benefit from the silt and manurial deposits brought down from the upper lands, and therefore ought to be rated proportionately; and he, therefore, proposed to insert in that portion of the clause which directed the definition of the lands which were to be deemed flood lands, intermediate lands, and uplands for the purposes of the Order, and in what proportion the intermediate lands and uplands were to contribute to the rates, the words "according to the benefit to be derived." He intended this by way of instruction to Local Government Boards in setting up a conservancy board.
  Amendment moved, page 2, line 18, after ("proportion,") insert ("according to the benefit to be derived.")—(The Duke of Manchester.)
  THE DUKE OF RICHMOND AND GORDONasked how "the benefit to be derived" was to be ascertained by the Local Government Board when setting up the conservancy board?
  THE DUKE OF MANCHESTERsaid, he did not care to press his Amendment.
  THE EARL OF KIMBERLEYsaid, he was surprised that the noble Duke should be so ready to abandon his Amendment. The principle of the Bill was that some benefit was to be derived by those who

  827
  were to be taxed, and it was well known that meadow lands usually derived great benefit from floods, if not too long continued. The Lord President asked how the Local Government could know what the benefit was to be in any particular case, and, therefore, in setting up a conservancy board, could not assess it?
  THE DUKE OF RICHMOND AND GORDONsaid, the Local Government Board were to set up a conservancy board; but it was impossible that the Board could beforehand declare what would be the benefit to be derived by the persons who were to be rated.
  THE EARL OF KIMBERLEY: Therefore, the Amendment of the noble Duke lays down the only sound principle on which the Local Government Board could act.
  THE MARQUESS OF RIPONsaid, the Act of Henry VIII. laid down that only those lands were to be taxed that derived direct benefit—that was to say, the lowlands, and that was the meaning of the Amendment, which raised the whole question whether uplands were to be taxed or not.
  LORD SELBORNEsaid, that, as he read the Bill, the question involved was to be determined, in the first instance, by the Local Government Board.
  THE DUKE OF RICHMOND AND GORDONsaid, they were to do so by means of a Provisional Order; but the Local Government Board could not determine the character of the benefit to be derived before a conservancy board had been set up.
  THE EARL OF CAMPERDOWNsaid, the clause appeared to devolve upon the Local Government Board the duty of defining the lands which were to be deemed "flood lands," "intermediate lands," and "uplands," for the purposes of the Order. In what part of the Bill was any principle laid down on which the Local Government Board were to act?
  THE DUKE OF MANCHESTERsaid, the Board would have to apportion the area to the three different classes of land, and he desired to suggest the principle on which the proportions should be determined.
  On Question? Their Lordships divided:—Contents 20; Not-Contents 42: Majority 22.

  CONTENTS.

  Manchester, D. [Teller.]

  Canterbury, V.

  Somerset, D.

  Ellenborough, L.

  Foley, L.

  Bathurst, E.

  Forester, L.

  Camperdown, E. [Teller.]

  Monson, L.

  Northwick, L.

  Ducie, E.

  Poltimore, L.

  Kimberley, E.

  Selborne, L.

  Lucan, E.

  Strafford, L. (V. Enfield.)

  Northbrook, E.

  Redesdale, E.

  Truro, L.

  Selkirk, E.

  NOT-CONTENTS.

  Cairns, E. (L. Chancellor.)

  Brodrick, L. (V. Midleton.)

  Colchester, L.

  Bedford, D.

  Colville of Culross, L.

  Northumberland, D.

  Delamere, L.

  Richmond, D.

  Denman, L.

  de Ros, L. [Teller.]

  Ailesbury, M.

  Gordon of Drumearn, L.

  Lansdowne, M.

  Ripon, M.

  Granard, L. (E. Granard.)

  Salisbury, M.

  Hampton, L.

  Beaconsfield, E.

  Meldrum, L. (M. Huntly.)

  Beauchamp, E.

  Caledon, E.

  Norton, L.

  Cowper, E.

  Ormonde, L. (M. Ormonde.)

  Sandwich, E.

  Stanhope, E.

  Rodney, L.

  Saltoun, L.

  Silchester, L. (E. Longford.)

  Cranbrook, V.

  Hawarden, V. [Teller.]

  Stewart of Garlies, L. (E. Galloway.)

  Melville, V.

  Strathallan, V.

  Sudeley, L.

  Templetown, V.

  Thurlow, L.

  Ventry, L.

  Ashford, L. (V. Bury.)

  Windsor, L.

  Auckland, L.

  Winmarleigh, L.

  Resolved in the Negative.
  THE DUKE OF MANCHESTERthen moved, in line 18, after ("the,") to insert ("floodlands and,") and leave out ("and uplands").
  On Question, That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the Clause? Their Lordships divided:—Contents 41; Not-Contents 19: Majority 22.

  CONTENTS.

  Cairns, E. (L. Chancellor.)

  Beaconsfield, E.

  Beauchamp, E.

  Caledon, E.

  Bedford, D.

  Cowper, E.

  Northumberland, D.

  Sandwich, E.

  Richmond, D.

  Stanhope, E.

  Cranbrook, V.

  Ailesbury, M.

  Hardinge, V. [Teller.]

  Lansdowne, M.

  Melville, V.

  Ripon, M.

  Strathallan, V.

  Salisbury, M.

  Templetown, V.

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  Ashford, L. (V. Bury.)

  Norton, L.

  Auckland, L.

  Ormonde, L. (M. Ormonde.)

  Brodrick, L. (V. Midleton.)

  Rodney, L.

  Colville of Culross, L.

  Saltoun, L.

  Delamere, L.

  Silchester, L. (E. Longford.)

  Denman, L.

  de Ros, L. [Teller.]

  Stewart of Garlies, L. (E. Galloway.)

  Gordon of Drumearn, L.

  Sudeley, L.

  Granard, L. (E. Granard.)

  Thurlow, L.

  Ventry, L.

  Hampton, L.

  Windsor, L.

  Meldrum, L. (M. Huntly.)

  Winmarleigh, L.

  NOT-CONTENTS.

  Manchester, D. [Teller.]

  Canterbury, V.

  Somerset, D.

  Colchester, L.

  Foley, L.

  Bathurst, E.

  Forester, L.

  Camperdown, E. [Teller.]

  Monson, L.

  Northwick, L.

  Kimberley, E.

  Poltimore, L.

  Lucan, E.

  Selborne, L.

  Northbrook, E.

  Strafford, L. (V. Enfield.)

  Redesdale, E.

  Selkirk, E.

  Truro, L.

  Resolved in the Negative.
  THE MARQUESS OF HUNTLYmoved, at the end of the clause, to insert the following Proviso:—
  ("Provision may be made in any such order for contribution by any urban sanitary authority within the limits of a conservancy district of a gross sum to be applied towards the expenses of the works of the conservancy board of such district in exoneration of the district of such urban sanitary authority, or any part thereof, from all further liability to be rated for the purposes of such works, and for regulating the time and manner in which such gross sum shall be raised and paid.")
  THE DUKE OF RICHMOND AND GORDONcould not accept the Amendment. It would be impossible to say what the gross sum would be of the works undertaken by the conservancy board.
  Amendment (by leave of the Committee), withdrawn.
  Clause agreed to.
  Constitution of Conservancy Board.
  Clause 6 (Constitution of conservancy board.)
  EARL COWPERsaid, the proposition of the clause was that a conservancy board should consist of life members and elective members, the life members to be not less than one-third of the whole.
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  Under these words, the board might consist entirely of life members, which would be very objectionable. His opinion was that all the members of the board should be elective. He would propose Amendments which would have the effect of enacting that the board should consist of elective members only. The noble Earl accordingly moved, in line 38, to leave out ("life members and").
  THE DUKE OF RICHMOND AND GORDONsaid, it would be a great advantage to have life members, as the boards would have to consider questions of engineering and draining, and therefore they should have a permanency of character; they should not be shifting bodies, without any experience of the work to be done. This was the constitution of the Commissioners of Sewage.
  THE MARQUESS OF RIPONhad no objection to the boards being, to a certain extent permanent; and he hoped that his noble Friend (Earl Cowper) would not press his Amendment. He would suggest the insertion of words to the effect that the life members should not be more than one-third of the total number.
  Amendment (by leave of the Committee), withdrawn.
  Clause agreed to.
  Clause 7 (Board to be a body corporate), agreed to.
  Duties and Powers of Conservancy Board.
  Clauses 8 to 21, inclusive, agreed to, with Amendments.
  Rates.
  Clauses 22 to 24, inclusive, agreed to, with Amendments.
  Borrowing.
  Clause 25 (Power to conservancy board to borrow on rates, 38 and 39 Vict., 83), agreed to.
  Clause 26 (Power to discharge loan by sinking fund).
  THE MARQUESS OF HUNTLYproposed to insert a new clause, giving to the owners of three-fourths, at least, of the lands charged, the power of appeal to the Local Government Board.
  THE DUKE OF RICHMOND AND GORDONobjected to the clause, pointing out that sufficient provision for

  831
  appeal was already contained in the Bill.
  Amendment (by leave of the Committee) withdrawn.
  Then the remaining clauses agreed to, with Amendments.
  The Report of the Amendments to be received on Thursday the 1st of May; and Bill to be printed as amended. (No. 59.)

SOUTH AFRICA—THE ZULU WAR—FURTHER TELEGRAMS.

  OBSERVATIONS.
  VISCOUNT BURY: My Lords, since the noble Earl the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies (Earl Cadogan) read the telegrams which we had received from the Cape, the following further telegram has been received at the War Office; and as it contains the names of the officers killed in the action with Colonel Wood, perhaps your Lordships will permit me to read it. It is from Colonel Bellairs, is dated from Durban, and is as follows:—
  "St. Vincent, April 22.
  "From Colonel Bellairs, D.A.G., Durban, to Secretary of State for War, London.
  "Intelligence of important victories gained by Lord Chelmsford and Colonel Wood having reached mo, have taken it upon myself to arrange for mail to leave Cape Town one day earlier, and to call specially at St. Vincent, enabling you to receive the news earlier than viâ Madeira. Colonel Wood's despatches state that on the 29th the Inhlobani successfully attacked. Some thousand cattle taken by Mounted Corps and Natives; but Zulus, 20,000 strong, coming up, we suffered considerable losses, and cattle were retaken. Weather-ley's corps cut off and all killed, with the exception of Captain Denison and a few men; also three fives Frontier Horse, under Captain Barton, Coldstream Guards, only seven escaping. Eleven officers and 80 men are returned killed, including Captains Campbell and Barton, Coldstream Guards; Lieutenant Williams, 58th; Colonel Weatherley, Captain Rice Hamilton, Lieutenants von Steiten, Cronlys, Pool, Weathcrley, and Messrs. Riot Uys and Lloyd, of Colonial Corps. Colonel Wood's horse killed under him on 29th. The Zulu army, the regiment of which had come from Ulundi, attacked Kambulama camp. Action commenced 1.30 p.m.; lasted four hours. Enemy driven off and pursued by mounted troops seven miles. Their loss very heavy, 500 bodies lying close into camp; 300 firearms, including several Martini-Henry rifles, picked up. Enemy advanced close up, some even penetrating into cattle laager. Our casualties 80 killed, 2 wounded. Lieutenants Nicolson, R.A., and Bright, 90th,
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  killed; Major Hackett and Lieutenant Smith, 90th, dangerously wounded; Captains Gardner, 14th Hussars, Cox, and Persse, 13th Foot, slightly wounded. Natives nearly all deserted. Unymana, King's Minister and chief commander, did not come under fire.
  "Relieving column under Lord Chelmsford laagered near the Gingihlovo on afternoon of 1st of April. Very heavy rain throughout evening and night. Zulus hovering about during evening. 6 a.m. on the 2nd, Zulus attacked laager, each side in. succession, two distinct forces were employed. Enemy advanced in most courageous manner, but never got within 20 yards of shelter trench. At 7.30 a.m. the attack was repulsed, and the enemy retired precipitately, followed for some miles by the Mounted Infantry Volunteers and Natives, under Barrow, and Barton's and Nettleton's Battalion of Native Contingent's sabres of the mounted Infantry, did great execution. The fight was witnessed from Ekowe, and Pearson flashed signals congratulating General on success. Casualties:—Lieutenant Johnson, Privates Smith and Law-rence,99th; Private R. Marshall, 91st; Private J. J. Pratt, 60th Rifles, killed. Colonel Northey, 60th Rifles, and Dr. Longfield, of Her Majesty's ship Tenedos, dangerously wounded. Major Barrow, of the 19th Hussars, and Captain Hinxman, 57th, slightly wounded. Twenty-nine soldiers and sailors wounded; one Native killed and 10 wounded. 471 bodies of Zulus lying within 1,000 yards of the laager, the long grass and bushes helped in approach and retreat. Total loss must have been double. Portions of 11 regiments are known to have taken part—viz., Ngoxamoski, Umamsityu, Unanbonamdi, Zulwana, Nokenke, Nodwena, and others. Prisoners state that 195 companies were engaged, which, at 60 men each, would give 11,000. Dabulemanze, mounted, led the final attack. Somapo was in chief command. Lord Chelmsford intends to abandon Ekowe, both roads being so difficult of approach. He will establish a permanent post on the coast road. Gingihlovo laager will be reduced to permit being held by a garrison. The General goes to Ekowe tomorrow with three regiments and carts. Prisoners state that messengers arrived yesterday with news of Wood's victory of 29th."
  House adjourned at half past Seven o'clock, to Thursday next, a quarter before Five o'clock.