Lords Sitting of 22 February 1898

Preamble
THE LORD CHANCELLOR THE LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Woolsack at a Quarter to Four of the clock.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.
THE LORD CHANCELLOR (The Earl of HALSBURY)THE LORD CHANCELLOR (The Earl of HALSBURY) acquainted the House that the Clerk of the Parliaments had laid upon the Table the Certificate from the Examiners that the further Standing Orders applicable to the following Bills have been complied with:
Blackpool Sea Water [H.L.]: Patriotic Assurance Company [H.L.]: Yeovil Gas [H.L.]. The same ordered to lie on the Table.
Halifax Corporation Bill [H.L.]: Newcastle-upon-Tyne Corporation Bill [H.L.]. Report of Her Majesty's Attorney-Genera], received, and ordered to lie on the Table.
Agricultural Company of Mauritius Bill [H.L.]: Clontarf and Hill of Howth Tramroad Bill [H.L.]: Dundee Suburban Railway (Extension of Time) Bill [H.L.]: Filey Water and Gas Bill [H.L.]: Newhaven and Seaforth Water Board Bill [H.L.]: Sheringham and Beeston Protection Bill [H.L.]. Examiner's Certificates of noncompliance with the Standing Orders, referred to the Standing Orders Committee on Monday next.
General Power Distributing Company Bill [H.L.]. TO be read a second time on Tuesday, the 8th of March next.
Halifax Corporation Bill [H.L.]: Tod-morden Corporation Water Bill [H.L.]: Paisley Corporation (Loans) Bill [H.L.]. Read a second time.
Newcastle-upon-Tyne Corporation Bill [H.L.]. Read a second time (according to order).

REPORTS PRESENTED.
  EDUCATION (SCOTLAND).
  Code of Regulations for Day Schools, 1898.
  FACTORY AND WORKSHOP (FISH-CURING TRADE).
  Report to the Secretary of State for the Home Department by Her Majesty's Inspectors of Factories appointed to inquire into the fish-curing trade of the United Kingdom: Presented (by command), and ordered to lie on the Table.
  BOARD OF AGRICULTURE PROCEEDINGS.
  Report by the Board of Agriculture of their proceedings under the Metropolitan Commons Acts, 1866 to 1878, during the year ended 31st December, 1897.
  PENAL SERVITUDE ACTS, 1853 TO 1891 (SPECIAL LICENCE TO BE AT LARGE).
  Licence to be granted to Henry Swinnerton under the provisions of the Penal Servitude Acts, 1853 to 1891, to which are annexed conditions other than those contained in Schedule A of the Penal Servitude Act, 1864.
  FACTORY AND WORKSHOP (INDIA-RUBBER WORKS).
  Special rules with regard to the employment of persons in the process of vulcanising of india-rubber by means of bisulphide of carbon.
  POLICE PROPERTY ACT, 1897 (DISPOSAL OF UNCLAIMED PROPERTY).
  Regulations, dated 14th February, 1898, made by the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in pursuance of section 2 of the Police (Property) Act, 1897 (650 and 651 Victoria, chap. 30), with respect to the disposal of unclaimed property in the possession of the police.

  LIGHTHOUSES, ETC. (LOCAL INSPECTIONS).
  Reports to Board of Trade by the Trinity House of Deptford Strond, the Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses, and the Commissioners of Irish Lights, of their inspection of local lighthouses, buoys, and beacons:
  Laid before the House (pursuant to Act), and ordered to lie on the Table.

PUBLIC BILLS.
Bail Bill [H.L.]: Public Record Office Bill [H.L.]. To be read a second time on Thursday next.
Marine Insurance Bill [H.L.]. House in Committee (according to order): Bill reported without amendment; and recommitted to the Standing Committee.
London University Commission Bill [H.L.]. To be read a second time on Monday next.

PUBLIC BILLS.

  STANDING COMMITTEE.
  Report from, That the Committee have nominated the following Lords to serve as Chairmen of the Standing Committee:

  E. Halsbury (L. Chancellor.)

  V. Cross (L. Privy Seal.)

  E. Belmore.

  E. Morley.

  E. Camperdown.

  E. Kimberley.

  L. Herschell.

  And that the Committee have nominated the following Lords to serve on the Standing Committee:

  L. Archbishop of Canterbury.

  E. Halsbury (L. Chancellor.)

  L. Archbishop of York.

  D. Devonshire (L. President.)

  V. Cross (L. Privy Seal.)

  D. Bedford.

  D. Leeds.

  D. Rutland.

  M. Lansdowne.

  M. Salisbury.

  1336

  M. Bath.

  M. Exeter.

  M. Ripon.

  M. Breadalbane.

  E. Pembroke and Montgomery (L. Steward.)

  E. Denbigh.

  E. Stamford.

  E. Chesterfield.

  E. Jersey.

  E. Lauderdale.

  E. Carnwath.

  E. Cowper.

  E. Stanhope.

  E. Waldegrave.

  E. Buckinghamshire.

  E. Spencer.

  E. Clarendon.

  E. Belmore.

  E. Onslow.

  E. Grey.

  E. Morley.

  E. Vane (M. Londonderry.)

  E. Beauchamp.

  E. Camperdown.

  E. Yarborough.

  E. Strafford.

  E. Kimberley.

  E. Wharncliffe.

  E. Selborne.

  E. Cranbrook.

  E. Ancaster.

  E. Crewe.

  V. Falkland.

  V. Sidmouth.

  V. Knutsford.

  V. Llandaff.

  V. Peel.

  L. Bishop London.

  L. Bishop Winchester.

  L. Clinton.

  L. Zouche of Haryngworth.

  L. Balfour of Burleigh.

  L. Boyle (E. Cork and Orrery.)

  L. Lovaine (E. Percy.)

  L. Ribblesdale.

  L. Churchill.

  L. Harris.

  L. Colchester.

  L. Rosebery (E. Rosebery.)

  L. Poltimore.

  L. Leigh.

  L. Wenlock.

  L. Belper.

  L. Lawrence.

  L. Aberdare.

  L. Norton.

  L. Shute (V. Barrington.)

  L. Watson.

  L. Rowton.

  L. Ampthill.

  1337

  L. Reay.

  L. Tweedmouth.

  L. Monk Bretton.

  L. Northbourne.

  L. Monkswell.

  L. Lingen.

  L. Ashbourne.

  L. Herschell.

  L. Hillingdon.

  L. Thring.

  L. Macnaghten.

  L. Cheylesmore.

  L. Morris.

  L. Iveagh.

  L. Mount Stephen.

  L. Rookwood.

  L. Ashcombe.

  L. Hawkesbury.

  L. Stanmore.

  L. Welby.

  L. Russell of Killowen.

  L. Burghclere.

  L. James.

  L. Pirbright.

  L. Glenesk.

  Read, and ordered to lie on the Table.

  ENGLAND AND FRANCE IN WEST AFRICA.
  THE PRIME MINISTER AND SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (The Marquess of SALISBURY): My Lords, before moving the Adjournment, perhaps, it may be convenient that I should read a telegram which I have received from Paris in reference to matters which have excited some attention. It is from Sir E. Monson, and reads as follows—
  "I placed in M. Hanotaux's hands, as soon as I could obtain an interview, a note, drawing his attention to the report which had been published this morning of a French advance into Sokoto, and I said that if the report was correct, the news must be regarded as having a very serious character. M. Hanotaux, in reply, told me that he had no knowledge of any such proceedings. If anything of the kind had occurred, it would have been done, not only without orders from the French Government, but against their wishes and instructions, as they had no desire of approaching Sokoto. He said that he did not believe the news to be true, and he has since communicated to me an assurance which he has received from the Minister of the Colonies, that there are no French troops in that region."
  House adjourned at 4.35 to Thursday next, 10.30.