Address for

"Return for each county in Scotland of the name of every parish in which an augmentation was made of ministers stipend and of allowances for communion elements respectively during the period that has elapsed since the 20th March 1876; also the name of each parish in which there are unexhausted teinds, and the amount applicable to the augmentation of ministers stipend, &c. in each such parish (in continuation of former Return, No. 242, 1876."-(The Earl of Minto.)

PALACE OF WESTMINSTER-PUBLIC
IMPROVEMENTS NEAR ST.
MARGARET'S CHURCH.
QUESTION. OBSERVATIONS.

that part of the Report alone, and would only ask whether Her Majesty's Government intended to take down the houses at the end of Parliament Street? The approach to the Houses of Parliament was now a disgrace to the country. Moreover, to leave it in its present state would lead to increased expenditure, as the Government would eventually have to pay more for the leases of the houses. The Government could very well afford to spend £200,000 in buying up the buildings, and they had better do it at once, because, in consequence of the policy which the Government had adopted, they might possibly be en

LORD LAMINGTON, in rising to ask, Whether, before coming to any deter-gaged in a new Transvaal War by this mination as to the comtemplated im- time next year. The improvement of a provements near Saint Margaret's, Her great Metropolis was a question worthy Majesty's Government will consider how of the consideration of statesmen. The far it is desirable to carry out the re- French, after paying some milliards of commendations of the Committee on francs to the Germans, voted, in one Public Buildings of 1878? said, he had year, £1,000,000 sterling for the imput this Question on the Paper, because provement of Paris, and in Spain, the he had seen in the public journals a Government had lately expended statement that Her Majesty's Govern- £2,000,000 in the improvement of the ment intended to give the not very large capital. He trusted Her Majesty's Gosum of £1,000 towards the improvement vernment would be able to hold out a of the ground near St. Margaret's hope that effect would soon be given to Church, Westminster. The Metropoli- the recommendations of the Committee tan Board of Works, it was stated, of 1878. would give another £1,000, and the Government intended to appeal to the public to subscribe the other £2,000 that would be required. He would not ask their Lordships to express an opinion as to whether this was a very dignified mode of proceeding to raise £4,000 for effecting improvements near the Houses of Parliament. At all events, the circumstance of the Government giving £1,000 indicated that they took an interest in the improvement of the ground in the vicinity of the Houses of Parliament. When he brought this question forward last year Her Majesty's Government said they were involved in so many wars that there was no money available for any improvement of the Metropolis. But now it was stated that owing to the policy of the Government there was profound peace in Afghanistan and South Africa; and, therefore, he took the present opportunity of asking the Government whether they meant to do anything in the way of giving effect to the recommendations of the Committee of 1878. In the opinion of that Committee, it would be economical to borrow £1,500,000. However, he would leave

con

THE EARL OF KIMBERLEY said, that he never knew a time, since he had anything to do with public life, when this question was not under the consideration of statesmen. It was under the consideration of the Government of which he was formerly a Member; it was, doubtless, under the consideration of the late Government; and it was under the consideration of the present Government. Therefore, as far as the consideration of statesmen was cerned, his noble Friend had no reason to complain. He understood his noble Friend to argue that, as they were now in a state of profound peace, and were, consequently, relieved from a large war expenditure, this would be the proper time to spend some £2,000,000 on public buildings. He could assure his noble Friend that to embark in the scheme which had been recommended would be to ask for an expenditure that could not be counted by hundreds of thousands. The whole matter had always been one of very great difficulty. Individually, he did not like any more than his noble Friend to see the block of houses in Parliament Street; but, on

WATER SUPPLY (METROPOLIS).

QUESTION. OBSERVATIONS.

the other hand, there were a variety of | Their Lordships were probably not aware matters to be determined before they of what the habitations of the labouring were pulled down. The most important classes were, especially in the Western part of the whole subject was the con- part of London. In Westminster, Soho, venience of the public offices. He was and partially St. Pancras, labouring afraid lest his noble Friend should be men and their families inhabited, for dissatisfied with the only answer he was the most part, single rooms in houses able to give him. That answer was of considerable size, that were built that the subject was really under the at the end of the 17th or the beearnest consideration of the Govern- ginning of the 18th century, and were ment, which would in a very short time, originally occupied by gentlemen; and owing to the pressure from the War the rent was about 58. for each Office and the Admiralty for further room. He had visited whole streets accommodation, have to decide what of such houses, going from house to scheme should be adopted for the ex- house, and his experience was that tension of those Offices; and that, of water was only supplied to them for an course, would involve deciding whether hour or half an hour daily, and collected to act on the recommendations of the in a water butt in the basement, from Committee of 1878. which a large portion of it escaped, rendering the underground portion of the buildings damp and unhealthy. The families living in the different flats were obliged to carry all their water upstairs, and when a woman with a family and a baby had to go into the basement and fetch up every drop of water that was required, they might be sure that she would do with as little as possible. It was distressing to see how a family coming up from the country gradually deteriorated in their habits of cleanliness. Then, it was hardly necessary to say, a dirty room was but a poor counterbalance to the temptations of the publichouse, and the water in a cistern which might not have been cleaned out for years was not a very inviting draught. All these facts were well known. Committee after Committee and Commission after Commission had sat on the subject; and it was agreed on all hands that the first step towards an improvement in the quality and in the distribution of water in the Metropolis was to consolidate the various agencies of supply. It was only some supreme power that could effect the necessary improvements by obtaining water from better sources, and

THE BISHOP OF LONDON, in rising to present a Petition from the National Health Society; and to ask, Whether any measures have been taken, or are in preparation, by Her Majesty's Government for improving the water supply of the Metropolis? said, that this question was one that very much affected the welfare of the Metropolis, and the Petition which he had presented expressed dissatisfaction at the continued delay in reference to legislation upon this subject. The injuries to health arose, in a great degree, from the intermittent supply of water over a great part of the Metropolis, by which water was wasted, spoiled by storage in dirty cisterns, and the basement of houses soaked and made unhealthy; and the Petitioners expressly drew attention to the excess of fires and consequent loss of life being a proved excess of two-thirds beyond the insurable rate in towns where there was a constant supply of water. He sympathized very much with the Petitioners, inasmuch as, from his experience as a London clergy-supplying it in sufficient quantities. By man, he believed that an insufficient supply of water, such as existed in many parts of London, was injurious to the cleanliness, and, consequently, to the temperance, the morals, and, in the last resort, the religion of the population. The working classes living in the West of London were particularly ill-supplied. In the East of London a continuous supply of water was much more common than it was at the West End.

giving a continuous supply, a great waste of water would be got rid of, and this should lead to a great reduction in the cost of supply. There would be a great saving also from the better means of extinguishing fires. No doubt, when negotiations were entered into with the Water Companies, the scheme prepared by the late Mr. Smith showed that a very large sum of money would be required for the purchase of the existing

a

works, and the Vestries became alarmed; | vernment to introduce into Parliament the subject was reconsidered, and then this Session a Bill dealing with the it was decided against. Though, how-question on the basis of the recomever, the cost would be very great, it mendations of the Select Committee of should be borne in mind that the longer the House of Commons, which sat last the scheme was deferred the greater year; but the state of Public Business would be the cost of carrying it out. In had made it impossible for the Governthe last 10 years the population had ment to do so. Their Lordships would increased by 560,000 in the districts understand that in dealing with affected by the Metropolitan water sup- matter of this kind, in which large peply. The erection of houses was still enor- cuniary interests were involved, it would mously increasing. In Hammersmith scarcely be prudent to proceed unless and Fulham, for instance, it was computed with some reasonable prospect of a sucthat two houses were completed every cessful and final issue. The Governday, and South of the Thames four were ment hoped and expected to deal with completed every day. According to the the matter next year. Registrar General, the chief increase in the population occurred in the outer circle of the town, the increase in that circumference having amounted to 50 per cent, while in the inner circle it had only been 10 per cent. This increase of the population, of course, necessitated an additional supply of water day by day, with additional machinery, mains, pipes, cisterns, &c. Now, the new works undertaken by the Water Companies were being erected upon exactly the same principles as those prevailing long ago, so that the defects of the old systems were being continued upon a vast scale. When, therefore, the matter should be taken in hand by the Government, not only would the cost have largely increased, but all the work lately done by the Companies would have to be undertaken de novo. All these circumstances pointed to the necessity of avoiding further delay. It was admitted that the valuable property of the Water Companies must be bought at a fair price. To ascertain what price should be given recourse might be had to arbitration. This initial step, he might add, could be taken without the intervention of an Act of Parliament, If the Government could assure the House that steps had been taken, or were about to be taken, to improve the water supply of the Metropolis, the announcement would be received with very great thankfulness and satisfaction by the large population of London, who were suffering through the present arrangements of our water supply in health, comfort, and morality.

THE EARL OF DALHOUSIE said, he could assure the right rev. Prelate that the Government fully recognized the enormous importance of this question. It had been the intention of the Go

The Bishop of London

EARL FORTESCUE said, he agreed with the right rev. Prelate that delay was most undesirable, and was of opinion that some of the recommendations of the Committee who had investigated the subject were of a nature to cause delay, should the Government determine to act upon them. He would urge the Government to proceed with this matter, as a large number of houses were constantly being erected, the population growing rapidly; and the costs resulting from the separate and independent action of the Water Companies in constructing mains and reservoirs would be much larger than if the works were done by one body under a uniform system. He thought that the Local Government Board, who could command the services of thoroughly competent engineers, might advantageously take the initiative, and begin at once to prepare for legislation. He could confirm what had been said as to the unsatisfactory water-butt and cistern arrangements in very many houses which were let out in tenements, and there could be no doubt whatever that it was most desirable that there should be a constant supply of water. By various Acts of Parliament the Companies, if required, were bound to furnish a constant supply; but, owing to the want of unanimity and co-operation among householders, the cases were very rare where a constant supply was obtained. The question was one of the highest importance, both as regarded sanitary matters, fire, and intemperance, which was largely increased by the want of pure water.

THE EARL OF REDESDALE (CHAIRMAN of COMMITTEES) said, he desired to point out that if any nuisance existed in consequence of a short supply of water,

TURKEY — MIDHAT PASHA - FULFIL

MENT OF SENTENCE.
QUESTION. OBSERVATIONS.

the sanitary authorities of the district | Pasha, but to arrest proceedings. A could take cognizance of it. In mary month ago the noble Lord intimated that cases the owners of houses did not take the Foreign Secretary had not the conproper care that the occupiers obtained trol of the Foreign Office, but that the a supply of water. The Companies were Prime Minister had; and the Prime bound to supply water, and if they did Minister had stated in "another place" not the sanitary authorities should in- that this was a case in which the Goterfere and compel them to do so. The vernment had not the right to interfere. condition of the cisterns was also a mat- The noble Lord should have been satister for the sanitary authorities, and did fied with that answer. When Midhat not concern the Water Companies, who Pasha was Grand Vizier he was responwere frequently blamed indiscriminately sible for what was going on at Constanfor things for which they were not re-tinople; and after the time that Sultan sponsible. Abdul Aziz Khan's death took place he did not institute any inquiry into any of the circumstances that had surrounded it. No doubt, it was unfortunate that in the recent trial the Ottoman Government had adopted European forms; LORD STRATHEDEN AND CAMP-and it would have been better if the BELL, in rising to ask the Government, Turkish Government had followed their Whether their influence at Constanti-own forms of trial in this case. Hownople is being exercised to arrest proceedings in the case of Midhat Pasha ? said, he hoped that in the absencewhich he regretted-of the noble Earl the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, some Member of the Government would beable to give an answer to his Question. No doubt all the Members of the Government knew what answer to give, because the Prime Minister really decided these matters, and his Colleagues must be in possession of his views. The fate of Midhat Pasha was a question in which the people of this country took great interest. There was no doubt that he had not had a fair trial, and obstacles were put in the way of his defending himself. There was little doubt that Abdul Aziz had put an end to his own life; and he thought that the public law of Europe, about which so much had been said of late years, should be put in motion on his behalf. It might be said that public law would be an obstacle to exercising influence to arrest proceedings in the case; but if that were so, public law had been set at nought by every Ambassador whom the Queen had employed at Constantinople recently.

LORD STANLEY OF ALDERLEY said, he regretted the course which the noble Lord had taken, as damaging to his consistency, since he usually respected the Law of Nations; but now he asked the Government to do something which was quite contrary to it. He was not only asking them to obtain a commutation of the sentence passed on Midhat

ever, he had no doubt that substantial justice had been done to Midhat Pasha. The present Question was, moreover, unnecessary, because the sentence had already been commuted, and Midhat Pasha was going into a healthy climate where there need be no fear on account of his health. Midhat Pasha was a good administrator in Bulgaria, but he had been too much praised for what he had done; and, on the whole, he was an ignorant rather than a learned man. However, in Midhat Pasha's present situation, he would rather not make further observations upon his administration of affairs. There was no ground for any alarm in regard to the country to which he was banished.

THE EARL OF KIMBERLEY said, he was sorry that his noble Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs was not present to answer the Question of the noble Lord. As to the actual form of the Question, he agreed with his noble Friend opposite (Lord Stanley of Alderley) that it would be an extraordinary interference on the part of one Government to exercise its influence upon another in order to arrest proceedings which the latter had thought it necessary to take in regard to an accusation against a subject of that Government. But probably his noble Friend desired to know what course had been taken by Her Majesty's Government in the whole matter; and what he had to say was that in a question of so much delicacy, involving the internal government of the Porte, and touching

A Bill to facilitate leases of land for the erec-inquired into. tion thereon of schools and buildings for the promotion of public education in Ireland-Was

presented by The Lord O'HAGAN; read 1". (No. | POOR LAW (IRELAND)-IRREGULARITY 188.)