The Sun.
London, England, 1847-07-20 00:00:00

LEITH HARBOUR BILL.

Lord CAMPBELL moved the third reading of the
Leith Harbour Bill, and explained its provisions at con-
siderable length. He said the object of the Bill was to
empower the commissioners of the harbour to expend
the surplus of their capital on improving the harbour,
and to raise, if necessary, 125,000/. by loan, for the
same purpose. He, however, had no objtction to
strike out the clause empowering the commissioners to
create additional capital to this amount, as he believed
the Noble Lord opposite (Lord Redesdale) objected to the
Bill on account of that clause. He could not, however,
consent to the re committal of the Bill.

Lord REDESDALE said he was perfectly justified in
characterising the Bill as a "job." Why there never was
an instance of a Minister of the Crown proceeding with
a Bill to its third reading, and then consenting, for the
purpose of neutralising opposition, to withdraw the
leading clause. The Commissioners sought power to
raise far more money than they themselves admitted
they required. He moved that the Bill be read a third
time this day three months.

Lord BROUGHAM said it was a stupid, jobbing
Bill; he admitted. however, that he had not read it.

Lord CAMPBELL explained, that the Bill merely
*ought power to burrow 125,0001; but the commissioners
could not borrow it without the consent of the Commis-
sioners of the Treasury, which was to be repaid with inte-
rest. In fact, the commissioners might raise the money
without this Bill.

The Duke of RICHMOND also characterised the
Bill as a " job." The commissioners ought to have paid
their surplus funds into the Exchequer, but they had ❑ot
been called upon to do so, because the Lord Advocate
was the Member for Leith.

Earl GREY considered that the aspersions which had
been cast upon those who supported the Bill, were not
creditable to the House—(Hear, hear)—and he believed
that the " vagaries" of the Noble and Learned Lord,
who admitted that he had not read a line of the Bill, and
who treated of general matters instead of the subject be-
fore the House, did much to bring the proceedings of that
House into contempt with the country.—(Hear, hear, and
laughter.) But the Bill was brought in by the late Go-
vernment, and the then Lord Advocate was not the
Member for Leith, but a gentleman strongly opposed to
it on political, as well as other grounds. The reason the
money had not been paid into the Treasury, was
because there was a dispute on the matter between
the Treasury and the commissioners. The reason his
Noble and Learned Friend had consented to withdraw
the money clause, was because the commissioners had
the power without it, and because the drawer of the
Bill had thought that they could not do so without it.
He trusted their Lordships would not reject the Bill on
the grounds stated against it. The work was one of an
important and of a public character.
Earl ST. GERMANS opposed the Bill.
After a short discussion, their Lordships divided,
when there appeared—
For the third reading 26
Against it 2O
Majority for the third reading —6
The House then divided on an amendment of Lord
Redesdale. to the effect that the debt of the Commis-
sioners to the Treasury of 228,3741. 9s. Bd., be taken at
the above amount on Whit-Sunday, 1852, instead of
Whit-Sunday of the present year, when the numbers
were—

For the amendment
Against it
Majority for the amendment —s
After some verbal amendments, the Bill was read a
third time and passed.

PUBLIC WORKS AND DRAINAGE (IRELAND'
BILL. '

The Marquis of LANSDOWNE moved the third
reading of this Bill.
After a few observations from the Earl of ROSSE,

The Bill was read a third time and passed.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE laid on the table of
the House various returns.
MAYNOOTH COLLEGE.

The Earl of REDESDALE wished to know when
the report of the
the House ?

The Marquis of LANSDOWNE thought it highly
desirable that the public should be made acquainted wi h
the management of the college; but the visitation had
only taken place on the 20th of June, and six weeks
must at least elapse ere the report could be ready for
delivery.
THE HERRING FISHERIES (SCOTLAND) BILL.
This Bill went through Committee after a short dis-
cussion.