The Sun.
London, England, 1863-02-19 00:00:00

SECOND READINGS.

The following bills were read a second time :—Boston
and Frieston Shore, Railway, and Pin—Bristol Railways
Junction Railways—Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway—
Penarth Harbour, Dock, and Railway—and London and
Epsom Downs Railway.
COMMITTEE ON ELECTIONS.

The general committee on elections were then sworn at
the table.

THAMES CONSERVANCY BILL.

On the second reading,
Alderman SALOMONS opposed the measure. His
constituents complained that they had to go through all
the inconveniences incidental to those interested in private
bills, whereas this was a public measure of considerable im-
portance. The Thames Conservators enjoyed enormous
powers over the river utterly inimical to the
interests of denizens on the banks of the river.
The bill would endow the Board with enormous taxing
powers on parties selling goods on the river, and endblo
them to charge tol s upon all who travelled on the river.
As it would materially interfere, and unjustly so, with the
trade of the river, he begged to move that the bill be read a
second time that day six months.
Mr. W. WILLIAMS seconded the motion. This should
have been a public not a private bill. It would
endow a private board with enormous and exceedingly
arbitrary powers to interfere with the trade of
the river, and all people transacting business on its
banks. He confessed he was surprised to see the name of
the hon. members for Bath (Mr. rite) and Abingdon (Mr.
Norris) on the back of the bill.
Mr. NORRIS supported the bill. The object of the bill
was simply to interpolate the same anomalous features in
the bill of 1857 which was introduced and passed as a pri-
vate bill. A toll would be charged per head on pas-
EPrigers by steamboats, irstead of now a specific sum
for tho o.dinary license. The conservators would ob
fain no more power by this bill than they now enjoyed by
law. The fishing powers proposed by the bill would be like
those in force before the passing( f the Act of 1c57. Power,
ton, would be taken to punish, by flue, persons shooting
offensive matter from barges or otherwise into the
Thames; thus the cleanliness of the river would be
promoted. The house ought to read the bill a second
time, and then subject it to an ordeal of a committee
up stairs.

-Dir. TITE supported the bill, and bad put his name on
the back of it, because it would enable the Conservators to
punish gas companies and others who polluted the river.
Surely this was an objtcc worthy of the support of the
house. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. LOCKE supported the amendment, because the bill
would be inimical to the interests and pursuits of his con-
stituents.

Nr. CRAWFORD opposed the bill, and trusted that the
Governineut would institute an early inquiry into the con-
dition of the river and the powers of the various municipal
bodies under whose management it was placed. There
were innumerable objections to the bill.
Mr. MASSEY said the act of 18 was a compromise,
under which certain disputed rights between the Crown
and the Conservators were accommodated and defined.
That bill had existed well for six years, but the Conser-
vators urged that they need some slight extension of their
powers, the chief of which was the right to frame bye-laws
to prevent the pollution of the river. He agreed with his
hon. friend that it would be well to make the inquiry he
proposed, but that was no reason why the salutary
powers sought by this bill should not be granted. He
wished to express no opinion as to the mode in which the
Conservators had performed their duties. It would be
best to read the bill a second time, and to enter up stairs
in committee into a careful examination of its provisions.
Alderman SIDNEY and Alr. ANGEESTEIN supported the
amendment.
_ _

Mr. HENLEY considered it rather anomalous, after
giving the Conservators taxing powers, to suggest in-
quiry. This should have been done etore the powers
were given.
The house negatived,the bill without a division,
SPIRITS LUTY.
In reply to Mr. STANSFELD,

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER intimated
that her Majesty's Government had obtained all the infor-
mation requisite to ascertain the exact nature of the work-
ing of these duties. He wished decidedly to state that it
was not the intention of the Government to propose any
change in the spirit duties. (Hear, bear.)