Lords Sitting of 29 March 1898

COMMISSION.
THE LORDS COMMISSIONERS [The LORD CHANCELLOR (the Earl of Halsbury), the Earl of KINTORE, and Lord BALFOUR] assembled at Two of the clock, when the Royal Assent was given to the following Bills—

1. Consolidated Fund (No. 1).

2. Registration (Ireland).

3. Army (Annual).

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

PRIVATE BILL BUSINESS.
  HEYWOOD CORPORATION WATER. [H.L.]
  Petition for additional Provision; Presented, and ordered to lie on the Table.
  GENERAL POWER DISTRIBUTING COMPANY BILL. [H.L.]
  Committed; Committees to be proposed by Committee of Selection.
  CENTRAL ELECTRIC SUPPLY BILL. [H.L.]
  Committed; Committees to be proposed by Committee of Selection.
  CHELSEA ELECTRICITY SUPPLY BILL. [H.L.]
  Committed; Committees to be proposed by Committee of Selection.
  METROPOLITAN ELECTRIC SUPPLY BILL. [H.L.]
  Committed; Committees to be proposed by Committee of Selection.
  LONDON, BRIGHTON, AND SOUTH COAST RAILWAY BILL. [H.L.]
  Reported from Select Committee with Amendments.
  FOLKESTONE GAS BILL. [H.L.]
  Reported with Amendments.
  SOUTH-EASTERN RAILWAY BILL. [H.L.]
  Reported with Amendments.
  EASTERN TELEGRAPH COMPANY BILL. [H.L.]
  Reported with Amendments.
  LANCASHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL BILL.
  Reported without Amendment.
  WRITERS TO THE SIGNET WIDOWS' FUND BILL.
  Reported without Amendment.
  WOLVERHAMPTON AND ESSINGTON MINERAL RAILWAY BILL. [H.L.]
  Report from Select Committee, That it is not expedient to proceed further with the Bill; Read, and ordered to lie on the Table.
  SAINT MARYLEBONE CHURCHES BILL. [H.L.]
  Read second time, according to order.
  SHERINGHAM GAS AND WATER BILL. [H.L.]
  Read third time; Passed, and sent to Commons.
  EDINBURGH AND DISTRICT WATER BILL. [H.L.]
  Read third time; Passed, and sent to Commons.
  MIDLAND RAILWAY BILL. [H.L.]
  Read third time; Passed, and sent to Commons.
  SWANSEA GAS BILL. [H.L.]
  Read third time; Passed, and sent to Commons.
  CRANBROOK AND PADDOCK WOOD RAILWAY BILL. [H.L.]
  Read third time; Passed, and sent to Commons.
  WATERFORD CITY GAS BILL. [H.L.]
  Read third time; Passed, and sent to Commons.
  WHITWICK AND COALVILLE GAS BILL.
  Brought from Commons; Read first time, and referred to the Examiners.
RETURNS, REPORTS, ETC.

  SCIENCE AND ART DEPARTMENT.
  Directory for the year 1898, with regulations for establishing and conducting science and art schools and classes.
  Presented (by command), and ordered to lie on the Table.

  TRADE REPORTS.
  Annual Series; Diplomatic and Consular Reports on Trade and Finance—

  No. 2042. Prussian Estimates, 1898–99;

  No. 2043. Ecuador (Guayaquil);

  Presented (by command), and ordered to lie on the Table.

  CHARITY COMMISSION (ENGLAND AND WALES).
  Forty-fifth Annual Report.
  Presented (by command), and ordered to lie on the Table.

  LIGHT RAILWAYS ACT, 1896.
  Orders made by the Light Railway Commissioners, and modified and confirmed by the Board of Trade, authorising the construction of light railways between—

  1. Flamborough and Bridlington, in the County of York, and

  2. Congresbury to Blagdon, with branches, in the County of Somerset.

  Presented (by command), and ordered to lie on the Table.

  SUPERANNUATION.
  Treasury Minutes dated—

  1. 26th February, 1898, declaring that Mr. Charles Locke Eastlake, Keeper and Secretary, National Gallery; and

  2. 17th March, 1898, declaring that Edward Henry Rawson Walker, Vice-Consul at Tripoli

  were appointed without Civil Service certificates through inadvertence on the part of the heads of their departments.

  NATIONAL DEBT (ANNUITIES).
  Account of the gross amount of all bank annuities and any annuities for terms of years transferred, and of all sums of money paid to the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt; and the gross amount of annuities for lives and for terms of years which have been granted for the same, and contracts for payments on death, which have been made within the year ended 5th January, 1898.

  POLLING DISTRICTS (COUNTY BOROUGH OF SALFORD).
  Order of the Council of the County Borough of Salford, re-dividing the Seedley Ward into convenient polling districts, and altering the numbers of the polling districts in Weaste and Hope Wards within the said borough.
  Laid before the House (pursuant to Act), and ordered to lie on the Table.

  ALLOTMENTS (LONDON) BILL.
  EARL CARRINGTON: At the suggestion of Lord HARRIS, I ask the House to allow me to postpone the Second Reading of the Allotments (London) Bill till after Easter.
  Adjourned at 5.30.