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IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

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IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. In the HOUSE OF LORDS, June 23, the Royal assent was given by Commission to some 34 bills, which had passed both Houses. The greater number of them were private bills. Earl Granville laid on the table papers on the sub- ject of the negotiations with the other Powers of Europe with respect to the approaching Conference on Egyptian affairs. The noble lord made a statement as to the agreement come to with France and the objects of the Conference, similar to that made by the Prime Minister in the other House. The Marquis of Salisbury expressed his intention to refrain for the present from any critical examination of the grave matters contained in the papers, but wished to know whether there were any other arrangements with France or any further concessions not alluded to in thoee documents. Earl Granville replied in the negative. The Fisheries (Ireland) Bill was read a second time. Lord Oarlingford, in reply to Lord Brabourne, stated that the Lord Lieutenant had prohibited a Loyalist meeting at Newry. on the ground that it would be un- safe to allow it to be held at the same time and place as a meeting of the Nationalist party. In the course of the discussion which ensued, the Lord Chancellor defended the action of the Lord Lieu- tenant as necessary for the preservation of the peace. Having disposed of the other orders, their lordships rose at ten minutes to eight o'clock. In the HOUSE OF COMMONS Major-General Fitzwygram took the oath and his seat for South Hampshire, in the room of Lord Henry Scott, retired. Sir J. Ellis took the oath and his seat for Mid-Surrey, in the room of Sir H. Peek, retired. WEATHER PREDICTIONS. Colonel Nolan asked the Postmaster-General whether he would take steps to publish at the country post- offices during the coming hay and corn harvests such selections from the weather predictions of the Meteoro- logical Department as might be of use to the farmers of ) the districts. Mr. Fawcett said: In reply to a similar question two years ago I expressed my regret that, after very care- fully looking into the matter, I did not see my way to accede to the proposal because it appeared that if the Government supplied telegrams gratuitously to those interested in agriculture it would be impossible to refuse similar applications from those engaged in other trades. I further stated that I believed that there would be little difficulty in securing the object desired, because the Meteorological Office supplies weather forecasts gratuitously to anyone who is willing to pay the ex- pense of telegraphing, which very rarely exceeds Is. I pointed out that if the farmers in any district jointly subscribed the expense to each would be very incon- siderable. The forecasts might be exhibited at the post office, and in the case of those farmers who resided within the area of free delivery the message could be delivered at the small extra cost of 3d. for each addi- tional copy. THE CONFERENCE.—MINISTERIAL STATEMENT. Mr. Gladstone laid on the table papers relating to the proposed Conference on Egyptian affairs, and pro- ceeded to make his promised statement on the subject. Some months ago her Majesty's Government thought it their duty to invite the Powers of Europe to meet in conference on the question of Egyptian finance, and the French Government being the Power most entitled .1 to take the lead in this matter, had asked for explana- tions, which her Majesty's Government most readily gave. The result was to remove the barriers which had formerly obstructed them, and to enable them to lay before Parliament a policy which, both for Egypt and our own position, there would, ho hoped, be a com- plete one-that was, a policy not dependent upon the mere judgment of the Executive Government, but which must have the distinct ratification and assent of Parlia- ment. The French Government had given an un- qualified assurance that they totally abandoned the idea of reviving the dual control, and were ready to enter into the most formal engagements not to occupy Egypt with French troops in the event of our retiring from the country. This assurance therefore put an end to all idea of solitary action on the part of any Particular Power. With respect to the term of our Occupation of Egypt it was proposed by her Majesty's Government that it should cease on the 1st of January, 1888, in case the Powers should then declare that the state of the country was such as to allow of our depar- ture without risk to peace or good order. The Govern- ment, however, were not under any engagement to re- main in Egypt if it were the desire of Parliament and the country to withdraw. With respect to the inter- national arrangements to which Egypt was subject, especially that relating to the machinery for the management of the Egyptian debt, the two Powers had agreed that henceforth there should be no general con- trol over Egyptian finance and that the Budget should not be framed by the Commissioners of the Caisse. A united extension of power would be given to the Caisse m order to prevent the recurrence of financial embar- rassment and disaster. The Commission of the Caisse 'Was composed of four members, and the president of it 'Would be an Englishman. To avert danger in the future, the Govern mer ts of England and France had agreed that the former.should prepare a plan for the neutralisation of the Egyptian territory, including the Suez Canal. This agreement depended on what was done at the Conference, and if no result was arrived at the agreement would fall to the ground. The right 110n. gentleman proceeded to say that what ^as done in the Conference would, be subject to the approval of Parliament. The first meeting ?f the Conference would be held on Saturday next, and m the meantime the figures of the plan would be for- warded to each of the Powers, so that they might arrive the Conference with some degree of preparation. *te gave a pledge to the House that when the Con- ference had come to a decision not a day should be lost 17a submitting it to Parliament, whose positive duty it ^°uld be to pronounce a definite judgment on the sub- let. The Government believed that their plans, if Jdopted, would be favourable to international law, to jhe peace of Europe, and to the civilisation of man- kind and they would be the first to say that if those Plans did not meet with the approval of Parliament ''hen those who had framed them should not for one foment longer continue in the Government of the country. Sir S. Northcote observed that in calling the House Into council on this subject the Government had neces- laid upon it a certain amount of responsibility. Jyith regard to the limitation of the period of occupa- tIon, that raised a question of a serious character, deserving and requiring the judgment of the House as early as possible, even though the complete terms were not before Parliament. As to the financial proposals, "Which might seriously affect the interests of this Country, it was desirable that the House should insist upon further information with respect to them. He should take the earliest opportunity of asking for an expression of the opinion of Parliament before the Con- ference entered into the question. In the course of the discussion that followed, Lord It. Churchill said that, having listened carefully to Mr. Gladstone's statement, he hardly knew whether to laugh at the folly of the proposals or to cry over the dishonour of his country. The Prime Minister, he con- sidered, had gone out of his way to make concessions to France, and he should refuse to give a blank cheque to Ministers to go into the Conference. Mr. Goschen deprecated any discussion on the subject at present as premature. Mr. Bourke, Sir R. Cross, Lord J. Manners, Mr. A. Balfour, Mr. Labouchere, Mr. Forster, and ether mem- bers also made some remarks, and, after a brief reply from Mr. Gladstone, the subject dropped. THE FRANCHISE BILL. On the consideration of the Representation of the People Bill as amended, Mr. Tomlinson moved a new clause establishing a qualification by payment of in- come tax, which, on a division, was rejected by 108 to 24. a, ■M. Lloyd proposed to disqualify for one year after he expiration of,his sentence any person convicted of elony, or other crime, and sentenced to penal servitude or imprisonment with hard labour. ^.The Attorney-General assented to the clause on con- ation that it applied only to convictions on indictment, after a long discussion the second reading of the ^ause wag carrie(j by a majority of 114 to 81, and the Attorney-General's proposal to amend it by the inser- jjpn of the words on indictment was also carried by l98 to 35. On the motion of Colonel Nolan the clause was further amended by providing that the conviction should be by a jury. This was carried by 149 to 111. After a discussion on other amendments, lasting over tour hours, Mr. E. Clarke moved the adjournment of lne debate, which was rejected by 174 to 89. Ultimately a division was taken on the question that the clause stand part of the bill, and it was rejected by 156 to 102. The further consideration of the report was then ad- journed. The Royal Courts of Justice Bill was considered in committee. The House then adiourned at twenty minutes to three o'clock. In the HOUSE OF LORDS, June 24, Lord Carrington, replying to Lord De La Warr, stated that the pre- cautions against the introduction of cholera which were ordered last year by the Local Government Board were still in force. Lord Redesdale s bill for the prevention of cruelty in connexion with pigeon shooting matches passed through Committee after several amendments. The Criminal Law Amendment Bill was read a third time, on a division, by 101 to 45. The Summary Jurisdiction over Children (Ireland) Bill was read a third time and passed, and several bills having been advanced a stage, Their lordships rose at twenty-five minutes to eight o'clock. THE SOUDAN. In the HOUSE OF COMMONS the Marquis of Harting- ton stated, in reply to Mr. Ashmead-Bartlett, that a battalion of British infantry had left Assiout for Assouan, as the tribes were becoming troublesome, to give confidence and support to the Egyptian troops. It was believed that the garrison at Berber had either been taken or had surrendered, but the report of its massacre had not been confirmed. With respect to General Gordon and the garrison of Khartoum, the Government were not in possession of any information beyond that which had already been laid before the House. THE CONFERENCE. Mr. Gladstone, replying to Lord George Hamilton, said that the Powers had not given, and had not been asked to give their assent to any propositions excepting those which had already been stated to the House by her Majesty's Government. In reply to other questions from other members, the Prime Minister stated that there were conclusive objections against making known to Parliament, in the first instance, the financial pro- posals which the Government were about to lay before the Conference, but the whole matter would be sub- mitted to the judgment of Parliament. FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE. r. Pell asked what steps had been taken by the local authority in Lincolnshire to meet the alarming out- break of foot-and-mouth disease in that county; whether measures now adopted by the local authority were sufficient to meet the exigencies of the case and prevent the disease spreading; if not, whether her Majesty's Government would exercise the powers they possessed for stamping out the disorder and thus pro- tecting farming stock in other parts of England; and whether he could give the House an approximate estimate of the cost which would be incurred in this instance by killing the diseased aniirals and selling the carcasses. Mr. Dodson, in reply, said the outbreak in question J took place among sheep within the limits of a large in- fected area which had been declared on May 22 upon the recommendation of our chief inspector, who had visited the locality and held an interview with the local authority in the last part of May in consequence of a previous outbreak. The local authority made regula- tions to restrict the entrance and exit of persons into and out of the infected places I for the disinfection of persons, for the isolation of the disease and infected animals, and they employed the police to carry the regulations into effect. It appeared to the Privy Council that the measures taken by the local authority were suffi- cient. We have since been informed by the inspector of the district that the 338 diseased sheep have all recovered. The estimated value of the sheep was from JE1100 to JB1200, and the estimated cost that would have been in- curred by slaughtering them, allowing for what might be realized by sale of carcasses, from R500 to JE600. The number of animals in Great Britain known to the Privy Council as affected with foot-and-mouth disease was for the week ending June 21 10 in five different counties. The local authorities of these several counties have power to slaughter and compensate, and the Privy Council have written to each urging them to use those powers. I have just heard that one of these local authorities has slaughtered the two animals in its district, thus reducing the total number in the country, assuming that there are no concealed cases, and no fresh outbreaks not reported on June 21, to eight. THE FRANCHISE BILL. The House then resumed the consideration of the report of the Franchise Bill, which was completed at five o'clock. Several amendments were made at the in- stance of the Lord Advocate and the Solicitor-General for Ireland to make the bill applicable to the sister kingdoms, and the third reading was fixed for Thursday. THE MEDICAL ACT AMENDMENT BILL. Mr. Mundella moved the second reading of the Medical A ct Amendment Bill, which had come down from the House of Lords. The main features of the bill, which is founded on the recommendations of the Royal Commission of 1881, are the establishment of uniformity of qualification for the profession, equal rights of practice, direct representation on the Medical Council, and the registration of qualified practitioners. Sir L. Playfair discussed the subject of medical edu- cation and examination, and supported the bill as an important advance in the dignity and efficiency of the medical profession. Colonel King-Harman and Mr. J. Campbell inti- mated their intention to propose amendments in com- mittee for securing the position of the Irish and Scotch bodies; Mr. Bryce and Mr. Gibson accepted the prin- ciple of the measure and Mr. Gray spoke against the bill until the hour for adjournment arrived. The Summary Jurisdiction (Repeal, &c.) Bill was read a third time. At the Evening Sitting the House was counted out before any business was done.

VOTE OF CENSURE.

A FATAL FIGHT.

[No title]

THE RESULT OF PASSION.

ENTHRONEMENT OF THE BISHOP…

I EGYPT AND THE SOUDAN.

LEICESTER WOOL FAIR.

SUDDEN DEATH AT A RAILWAY…

EPITOME OF NEWS.