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were in favour of the various proposals which it contained , and that they would offer no opposition to its second reading , which was accordingly proceeded with . SJUIO other matters were discussed , and the House adjourned . Tne following day the Bill passed through Committee without any debate , as

also did the Metropolitan Commons Bill . Various otner measures wero read , and their Lordships adjjurued . Ou Thursday , standing orders haviug been suspended , the Appropriation Bill and the Expiring Laws Continuance Bill passed through their several stages , and others were

read a third time . Lord Straithnairu drew attention to the defective state of the records of services of officers of tho army , and expressed a hope that the matter would be taken into early consideration . Lord Bury promised to bring the matter under the notice of the Field Marshal

Commanding in Chief , but remarked that Lord Stradhnairu was wrong if ho supposed that services of officers were not well known . The House then rose , and adjourned to half-past one on Friday , when Parliament will be formally prorogued . In the House of Commons on Saturday last , The O'Conor

Don proposed the third readiug of the Irish Sunday Closiug Bill . After some discussion an amendment was proposed , which , on a division , was rejected by a majority of 40 iu a House of 84 members . The third reading was thereupon proceeded with . On Monday , the answer of Her Majesty

to the address of the House ou the Berlin Treaty aud the Anglo-Turkish Convention was brought up by Lord Burrington . Her Majesty expressed her satisfaction at the support the House hud g iven hei \ A question asked by Sir H . Havelock , respecting a Consular Convention with

the United States , was answered by Mr . Bourke , who stated that the necessary Bills had been prepared , but for obvious reasons it had been found impossible to introduce them during tho Session . An enquiry made by Sir C . Diike , as to whether the Government had heard of the

refusal of the Porte to arrange with Greece the new frontier as settled by the Congress , was answered iu the negative , but the answer proving unsatisfactory , he gave notice that he should again refer to the matter . Assurance was given on behalf of the Government to introduce , early next

Session , a Bill dealing with Corrupt Practices at Elections . The Intermediate Education ( Ireland ) Bill was read a third time , but not without considerable discussion , followed b y three divisions on the various matters introduced . During the sitting Mr . Gattit was introduced and took his seat as

representative for Boston , iu the place of Mr . Malcolm , who had resigned . On Tuesday , the House attended the Upper Chamber to hear the Royal Assent given to various measures ; notices were given of matters whioh would be introduced next Session , and , after answers had been

given to varions questions , the House went into Committee to consider the Indian Budget , which , as may be expected , lead to considerable discussion . A question was asked by Mr . Monk , ou Wednesday , as to the rumoured unhealthiness of the troops iu Cyprus . This

was answered by Col . Stanley , who stated that a telegram , received two clays siuce from Sir Garnet VVolseley , stated that there was no serious illness among the troops ; there were some cases of mild fever in the hospital , but all were going on well . Some discussion occurred , on the order for

reading the Appropriation Bill a third time , as to the circumstauces attending the murder of Mr . Ogle by Turkish soldiers , and the Chancellor of the Exonequer promised that further inquiry should be made in the matter . Reference was aLo made to the seizure of

Roumanian territory by Liussia , but was allowed to pass , after which the third reading was agreed to . The opposition of Mr . Jeukms to the third reading of the Bishoprics Bill necessitated a division , resulting iu tii ! voting for the

reading , while only 20 supported Mr . Jenkins . I ' lie sitting of Thursday commenced by several notices being given for next Session , afi cr which a question was asked as to whether the Turkish Government had forestalled the collection of fciie

tithes aud taxes in Cyprus lor the current year , aud replied to by Mr . Bourke , who stated there was no reason to suppose such was the case . That gentleman also answered some

questions which were put respecting various i ' urkish matters . The Territorial Waters Jurisdiction Bill was , after discussion , read a third time , and two linls which hud been before the House were withdrawn . On the motiuu

that the House adjourn , Lord C . Bere » tord rose aud defended the naval authorities against the imputation of dilatoriness in conducting the operations in connection with the raising of the Eurychce . Mr . VV . H , Smith described tho cliiligulfci . es of the \ ygrk , aud . stated that legard

Our Weekly Budget.

for the friends of thoso lost b y tho wreck had induced the Admiralty not to blow the shi p up until they had exhausted overy means in their endeavours to raise it . The Attorney-General for Ireland stated , in answer to Mr . Moore , that every effort was being made to alleviate the condition

of pauper children in Irish workhouses , in many cases with the most satisfactory results . Mr . Courtney then urged that immediate steps should bo takeu to restore local authority in the Transvaal , after which the House adjourned .

The forty-eighth session of the British Association opened at Dublin on Wednesday ; the presidential address was delivered in tho grand concert room of the Exhibition building . The largo and spacious hall was crowded by members of the Association and their friends , including a

more than average attendance of ladies . The President , Mr . Spottiswoode , was introduced b y Professor Allen Thompson , F . R . S ., who presided last year . The learned gentleman dealt with the purposes and prospects of the Association , and next with the external aspects and

tendencies of science . Under the first head he showed that the Association was general in its comprehensiveness and special in its sectional arrangements , with regard to which latter he suggested they should adopt tho dictum of the Frenchman , " that no theory can be considered complete

until it is so clear that it can be explained to the first man you meet in the street . " During the last forty-seven years the Association had expended in research £ 44 , 000 . He thought it would not be difficult to " picture to the mind an ideal future , when science and art shall walk hand and

lnind together , led by a willing minister into the green pastures of the endowment of research . " At present , however , they must be content to select the best men for definite work , and depend on the personal co-operation of leading scientists . At the conclusion of the address a vote

ot thanks was carried by acclamation . On Thursday morning one of the sections was devoted to Geography . The President , Sir Wyville Thomson , well known in connection with the voyage of H . M . S . Challenger , in the course of his remarks , stated that Mr . Stanley would in

all probability read a paper before the termination of the sittings . This announcement was loudly applauded , a rumour having been circulated to the efft-ct that the great African explorer had decided not to attend the Congress . In other sections papers were read ou the Adulteration Act

iu so far as it relates to the prosecution of milk sellers , the best means of developing li ght from coal gas aud on various other matters . In the evening the Mechanical Science Section dealt principally with the question of river

control and management , and recommended that special legislation should be initiated with the view of getting all the rivers in the country put uuder the control of a Stato Department .

Tbe review at S pithead on Tuesday last unhappily took place amid storm aud rain sufficient to prevent all evolutions which it was intended should be gone through ; but the spectacle of so many vessels drawn together , as may be said , from the reserves of the country , shows

unmistakabl y our superiority in naval matters , and compensates in some measure for the disappointment which was felt that the vessels were uuable to show their behaviour under steam . The pleasure of witnessing such a sight may be imagined from the statement of Admiral

Key , who guaranteed that within half a minute after the signal was given from the Royal yacht to slip the cables , the whole fleet should be steaming out to sea . Her Majesty the Queen was accompanied b y their Royal Highuesses the Prince and Princess of Wales , Princess Beatrice , and

tbe Lords of the Admiralty , and passed slowly along the hues . At the conclusion of the inspection Her Mnjusty f . igiuilled from the 'loyal yacht , expressing her satisfaction , and regretting that the state of the weather had prevented the evolutions . The diiectors cf the Bank of England considered it

necessary to increase , on Monday last , the rate of interest from 4 to 5 per cert ., which alteration has had the effect of increasing the reserve by no less than £ 309 , 000 , although , in consequence of heavy withdrawals , the proportion to liabilities is nearly the same as last week , viz ., ool per cent .

At Cyprus active preparations arc being made for tho return homo of the Indian troops , somo of whom it is expected will embark immediately . News from the Cape announces the suppression of the Gaeka rebellion , also that the uatiyoa on . tho . 2 u . lu fvoutier ave still hostile , The