The Sun.
London, England, 1864-05-03 00:00:00

THE MALTA DOCK.

Lord C, PAGET said the vote which he had formerly
asked the house to agree to for constructing a first-rate dock
at Malta was £15,900, but he now had to move that the vote
be reduced by the sum of £5,000, In order to explain the
grounds of the reduction now proposed, he would go back
to 1858, in which year it became manifest that the great
harbour of Malta was entirely insufficient to afford the re 4

quisite accommodation owing to the increased size of her
Majesty's ships and the extended trade of the port. Pro-
posals were accordingly made that a certain part of the
harbour called the French Creek should be given up to the
navy on certain conditions, one of which was that at the
head of the old harbour a new harbour should ha constructed
for mercantile purposes. The head of the harbour was a
very small depth of water, utterly unsuitable for men-of-
war. So stood matters when the first agreement was made
with the Maltese Government. On the 20th May, 1859, it
was provided by an arrangement then come to, th,Nt the
merchant vessels should keep possession of the French Creek
until the Government works were completed. In the p:•o-
-gress of the works the Government engineers suggested
that the basin should be deepened from 18 to 30 feet, so that
it might be available for vessels of war; and also that a
dock should be constructed to open from the basin. The
Maltese Government offered that if the Imperial Govern-
ment would, at their own cost, construct a graving dock
suitable for the largest vessels in the navy—but to which
merchant vessel should also be admitted—then the Maltese
Government would contribute £lO,OOO towards the expense
of that dock. The Admiralty, in December, 1162, ac-
cepted this proposition. There was, therefore, a distinct
agreement between her Majes'y's Government and the
Government of Malta, that the former should carry out
the works which he had described before the navy were
allowed to occupy French Creek. He believed that no
objection was made to deepening the basin, which was
already being proceeded with. The graving dock had
not yet been commenced. It was true that Admiral
Codrington and Admiral Martin had objected to the site of
this dock, but the fact was that both these officers had pet
schemes of their own. He believed that a great deal of their

objection to it arose from their belief that; if the pre-
sent dock were made it would prevent another being made
in the French Creek, But that was not so, for the two
docks did not in any way compete. Malta was daily becom-
ing of more importance to the commerce of this country,
and yet there was no dock there for the accommodation of
merchant vessels. He maintained that this was a state of

things which should riot continue, but then we ought to
contribute towards the formation of a dock in the island of

Malta. And Sir F. Grey and Mr. Whitbread, who had
been sent out to inquire into the matter, came to the conclu-
sion that the site fixed upon for the graving dock now under
consideration was a proper and expedient one. The noble
lord read some correspondence which took place between
the Governor of Malta and the Duke of Newcastle, to show
that the opposition offered to the original agreement by the
four independent councillors of Malta had not been antici-
pated, as nobody expected that any opposition would be
offered to the construction of the dock in the French Creek,
accept that it should not be proceeded with until the Go-
vernment had completed their engagement at the Mersa.
He had read the correspondence also to ehow that her Ma-
jesty's Government, before engaging in this work, stated
that they would proceed with it, provided Parliament would
grant the necessary funds. Last year he brought the ques-
tion before the committee, and the committee granted the
funds; the basin was accordingly proceeded with, but the
dock was delayed in consequence of some vexatious oppo-
sition on the part of certain subordinate officials at
Malta. He believed that this work would be of great
national importance to this country, of great import-
ance to Malta and to the commerce of the
Mediterranean, and, above all, that this country
was under an obligation to the Maltese Government to
proceed with it. He had taken upon himself the re-
sponsibility of asking her Majesty's Government to defer
the question, as he thought it right to refer this matter
to the select committee who were considering the entire
question of dock accommodation at home and abroad, He
trusted that hon. members opposite, however desirous they
might be to criticise the actions of the Government, would
do nothing in this case which would savour of breaking
faith with the Maltese Government.

Captain TALBOT, in rising to move the rejection of the
vote, observed that the speech of the noble lord showed that
the pains and trouble he had bestowed upon this question
had not been thrown way. The hon. and gallant gentle-
man then referred to a lithographed plan of the two sites,
and statel that the relative expense to be borne by the Im-
perial Government and the Maltese Government for the
construction of the works, expressing his opinion that the
estimated sums would be insufficient for the purpose. He
complained that the opinion of the two admirals on the
station—Admiral Martin and:Admiral Codrington—had not
been taken on the subject ; and while he contended that in-
creased dock accommodation was necessary for our navy in
the Mediterranean, having regard to what had been accom-
plished by the French, he pointed out that the proposed
dock at Malta was objectionable, first, because of its distance
—nearly two miles—from the dockyards ; secondly, because
of the difficulty of its approach ; and thirdly, because of the
necessity which its formation would entail of building sup-
plemental workshops. He then noticed the position of
parties in the council at Malta, where 14 of the 18 members
were bound to the policy of the Government ; and having
defended Admiral Codrington from the imputations made
upon him, concluded by expressing a decided opinion that if
* dock were to be constructed at Malta that dock should be
at the French Creek.

Mt, WHITBREAD said great difference of opinion
prevailed with respect to the construction of this dock,
and that the views of Mr. Maclean were controverted by
other engineers. He denied that the governor had cajoled
the Admiralty into the adoption of this dock. It had
been suggested solely by Admiralty engineers. The only
question with the Admiralty was the possible site, and he
asserted that, if they intended to maintain their agreement,
there was no other site that could be adopted than that at
Mersa. He believed the opposition of the two gallant
admirals at Malta arose from a total misapprehension of
the matter, they thinking it possible for the Admiralty to
go on with the dock in French Creek, which was not the
case. The arrangement with the colony was that the dock
at Mersa was to be completed before any works were com-
menced on the shores of French Creek. The original esti-
mate, both as to cost and to time, he believed to be perfectly
sound.

Sir J. PAKINGTON supported the amendment. He
said that faith with the Maltese only pledged us to the
deepening of the Marsa and of the north• west basin. No
time ought to be lost in commencing a dock in the French
Creek. What did the Admiralty now intend to do ?

Lord C. PAGET said he was prepared to refer the matter
to a select committee. The £IQ9OO would be applied to the
completion of the deepening of the basin.

After some further discussion and a few words in reply
from Capt. Talbot. the motion of the noble lord for redu-
cing the vote by £5,000 was carried.

The committee divided then on the amendment of Capt.
Talbot for the rejection of the vote. The numbers were—
For the amendment
Against it _ _

Majority lB

- -
The vote was then agreed to, and the house resumed.
PENAL SERVITUDE ACTS AMENDMENT BILL.
This bill was read a third time snd passed.
CIVIL BILL COURTS (IRELXND) BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
PROMISSORY NOTES AND BILLS OF EX-
CHANGE (IRELAND) BILL.
This bill went through committee.
RIVERS POLLUTION (SCOTLAND).
The LORD ADVOCATE obtained leave to bring in a
bill to prevent the discharge of impure water into the rivers
iu Scotland from manufactories, and it was subsequently
read a first time.

THE ADMIRALTY LAND AND WORKS BILL.
The bill was read a first time, and the house adjourned at
20 minutes past 1 o'clock.

NAILKETS—This Day.

HAY MARKZTS.

SMITHFIELD.—Meadow hay, £3 Os to £4 15s Od ; clover,
£4 Os to £5 15s Od ; and straw, £1 5s to £1 15s per load.
Trade inactive.

CUMBERLAND.--Meadow hay, £3 Os to £4 15s Od ; clover,
£4 Os to £5 15s Od ; and straw, £1 5s to £1 15s per load.
A slow demand.

WHITECHAPEL —Meadow hay, £3 Os to £4 153 ; clover
£4 Os to £5 158 Od ; and straw, £1 4s to £1 15s per load,
Trade lea active.

COLONIAL.

TEA,—There has been very little business transacted, the
trade having been occupied with the samples of the quantity
to be offered at public sale to-day.
SuGAU.—The demand for raw sugar has been rather
inactive, although prices have shown little change of im-
portance.

_
COFFEE.--A steady demand has been experienced for
both Plantation and Native Ceylon, without any material
change in prices.
- -

RICE.--he dealings have been moderately active, at
about previous rates.
TALLOW.—A heavy tone has been apparent as regards
prices. P.Y.C. on the spot is quoted 40s, to 435., and for
last three months' delivery, 435. 6d, per cwt.