The Week.

as that committed upon Mr . Briggs . He said he was not sure that the construction of English railways would admit of the kind of communication between the carriages which existed on the continent . —On the motion for the second reading of the New Zealand ( Guarantee of Loan ) Bill , Mr . Arthur Mills moved that the bill be read a second time that day three months . The guarantee sought for would , he said , impose a serious burden

upon the mother country , whilst it would check that spirit of self-reliance which should exist in the colonies . The amendment , which was , of course , opposed by the Government , gave rise to a long discussion on our New Zealand policy , in which Mr . Gladstone , Sir Stafford Northcote , Mr . Cardwell , Mr . Adderley , and other members took part , and ultimately the

bill was read a second time . On Friday , the Cattle Diseases Prevention Bill was dropped for the present session . —In reply to a question from Mr . Bevnal Osborne , Lord Palmerston said it was not proposed to appoint an English Consul at Rio , nor had the Government any intention of asking Parliament to repeal the Aberdeen Act , by which English

cruisers are authorised to capture Brazilian slavers . — Sir W . Jolliffe , in replying to a question from Lord Enfield , stated that the number of gates that had been removed in the metropolis -under the Act of last session was twenty-five , and the number of side-bars fifty-four . The number of miles by road given over to the parishes was fifty-five , and the number

constituted as turnpike roads was sixty-seven . The number of new gates on those sixty-seven miles was nine , new side-hars eight . —Mr . M . Gibson announced that he would , early next session , introduce a bill for the amendment of the law of partnership . —Mr . F . Peel announced that the Government intended to postpone the proposed increase in the Australian postage until the colony had been consulted with on the subject of a

bimonthly postal communication . On Monday , Lord Palmerston , in reply to a question from Sir John Pakington , explained the present position of the Treaty of London . It was , he said , that of a treaty which all the signitaries bad agreed to modify . On the motion for going into Committee of Supply , Mr . Bernal Osborne endeavoured to raise another discussion on the Brazilian question , but Lord Palmerston declined to enter into the subject

at length , as negociations were now pending which , ho trusted , would result in the restoration of friendly relations between the the two countries . On Tuesday the Appropriation Bill was read a first time , and the report on the Public Works Extension Bill was brought up and agreed to . At tbe evening sitting , Lord Palmerston gave notice of a motion for Monday next for

rescinding the resolution of the House relative to the School Inspectors' reports which led to Mr . Lowe's retirement from the office of Vice-President of the Committee of Council on Education . In reply to several questions addressed him , to Lord Hartingfcon stated that , in consequence of the state of affairs in Japan , Sir R . Alcook had applied for reinforcements which would

increase the British force lit Yokohama to 800 men . Lord Naas intimated -his intention of questioning the Government more closely on Friday night respecting the object of this expedition . In reply to Mr . AVyld , Mr . Layard said that information had been received of an attack made b y Prussian troops upon a Norwegian mail steamer , at Frederickshaven , but it hacl heen

represented that the vessel was mistaken for a Danish transport employed in landing troops . —In reply to Sir J . AValsh , Mr . Cardwell stated that the question of a British Nol-th American Federation would be considered by the Canadian Government during the coming recess . —Mr . Maguire moved for a Select Committee to inquire into the present position of the British paper trade ; and , in au elaborate speech , stated and supported the case of the paper makers , who represent their prospects to

be hopeless unless some measure can be devised for redressing what they hold to be the unfair advantage which the foreign manufacturer must enjoy so long as a heavy duty is imposed upon the export of rags from foreign countries . Mr . Gladstone apprehended that the hou . gentleman did not propose that the inquiry should take place this session , and Mr . Maguire replied that lie was willing to postpone the committee until next year .

Mr . Gladstone then proceeded to defend the course which the Government had taken in the matter , after which the motion was withdrawn . On AVednesday the order for the second reading of the Inns of Court Bill was , on the motion of Mr . Roebuck , discharged , and the bill withdrawn . —Sir F . Kelly also withdrew the Appeal in Criminal Cases Act Amendment Bill .

—Mr . Collins moved the second reading of the Facilities for Divine Service in Collegiate Schools Bill , which had received the sanction of tbe Lords , and the object of which was to legalise the performance of Divine service iu public schools in accordance with the rites of the Established Church . Mr . Hardcastle opposed the bill on the ground that it would enable the masters

of tho smaller schools to have full religious service , morning and evening , and administer the Lord's Supper to the children , separate and apart from their parents . He also contended that in the case of the King Edward ' s Schools the measure would have an injurious effect upon Nonconformists , and practically exclude their children from their advantages of these institutions . Ho moved , as an

amendment , and Mr . Kinnaird seconded it , that the Bill be read a second time that day month . The bill was also opposed by Mr . Mills and Mr . Neate , and supported by Mr . Powell . Sir G . Grey pointed out the inconvenience of proceeding with a bill of this nature at so late a period of the session . At the same time he thought the alarm it had excited among Nonconformists had been somewhat exaggerated . Looking at the principle involved and the difficulties presented by some of the

details , he recommended that the bill should be referred to a select committee , and re-introduced next session . To this suggestion Mr . Collins acceded . The amendment and original motion were thereupon withdrawn , and the order for second

reading discharged . —A bill has beeu introduced by Mr . Villiers proposing to extend to the 1 st of January next the power of the Poor-law Board to make orders for loans under the Public AVorks Act . The additional sum to be placed at the disposal of the Loan Commissioners is not stated . —The select committee appointed to inquire into the charges of mutilating the reports of education inspectors have made their report . They state instances in which what was thought to be objectionable pasin the marked to the instructions

sages reports were , contrary ofthe Board ; and they trace the whole misunderstanding that has arisen to the fact that the minutes issued by tho Education Board , relating to these matters of detail , were not officially laid before Parliament . GENKRAL HOME NEWS . —There were 1 , 300 deaths registered in London last week , divided in pretty equal proportions between males and females . The deaths from measles continued high

, bnt it docs not appear to be on the increase . There were nearly a hundred deaths from diarrhcoa , and of these 74 were of children less than two years old . The aggregate number of deaths was S 3 in excess of the ten years' average . The births were 1 , 874 in number ; the corresponding number for the last ten years was 1 , 845 . The fancy fair of the Royal Dramatic College was opened on Saturday at the Crystal Palace , when n large and brilliant company was assembled . The stalls over which

the actresses presided were distributed all over the Palace , and as soon as the fair was duly opened , which was done by a herald in gorgeous tabard , with blare of trumpets and in rich doggrel verses , these ladies were surrounded at their stalls by crowds of customers , and drove through the day a roaring trade . The menageries , games , and sensation dramas got up by tbe gentlemen had also their crowds of visitors , and tho " admirable fooling" that was kept up universally proved a never-failing

source of attraction . The file was continued on Monday . The remonstrance on behalf of the Australian and New Zealand colonies against the increase of the postage rates has thus far been successful . It has been intimated officially that the application of the high rate shall be suspended , and that a letter shall go as far as Australia for Gd . the half-ounce from South-