POSTSCRIPT.
BOTH Houses of Parliament sat last night.
In the House of Lords, after a conversation as to the large number of bills which had been sent up from the other House so late in the Session,
Lord LYVEDEN asked the Colonial Secretary whether he would state what instructions he had given to Sir George Grey respecting the settlement of the tribal rights of the natives, and the expenses of the war in the colony of New Zealand ?
The Duke of NEWCASTLE replied that it was impossible to legislate in Down- ing-street on the subject of tribal rights ; and Sir George Grey had therefore been sent out with general instructions. The colony was to pay Si. for every soldier sent out., and to pay all their own military expenses. The LORD-CHANCELLOR then moved that the Lords agree to the amend- ments made on the Bankruptcy Bill, as sent down from their Lordships' House, and a protracted debate ensued. In the House of Commons there was a morning sitting, at which the Drainage of Lands Bill passed through Committee, and estimates were voted in Committee of Supply. Lord C. Paairr also made a statement as to the fleet, and the prepa- ration of iron-plated vessels. On the House resuming in the evening, a discus- sion arose as to the expediency of sending out a Consul to Mozambique, in order to preveni the slave-trade being carried on upon the Eastern Coast of Africa. Lord PALMERSTON closed the debate by briefly recapitulating what the Govern- ment had done in its relations with the French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Ame- rican Governments for the suppression of the slave-trade. He regretted that Cuba still continued to be the great plague-spot of this abominable system, and that the traffic was mostly carried on under the American flag. Mr. LINDSAY originated a short discussion on the grievances of the mercantile shipping interest, and elicited a promise from Mr. MILNER GIESON that remedial measures will be introduced next year. The House than went into Committee of Supply, and a Tong debate ensued on the proposal of a supplemental vote of two millions and a half for the construc- tion of iron-cased ships. Lord PaLmnitsrosi, in the course of the debate, stated that France could, in the course of the next two years, place at sea sixteen large iron-cased ships and eleven powerful batteries. The vote was agreed to, and the remaining votes having been passed, the House will assemble to-day to forward business, so that the prorogation may take place on the 6th of August.
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